Most feared 1-2 punches in history.

[Bill Burgess]

Anyone ever wonder who were the greatest 1-2 punch in BB history? Which bruisers were the most feared by opposing pitchers? The following must have given opposing pitchers some sleepless nights.

1. Ruth-Gehrig-Lazzeri
2. Simmons-Foxx-Cochrane
3. Aaron-Mathews
4. Jackson-Lajoie
5. DiMaggio-Gehrig-Dickey
6. Cobb-Crawford-Veach
7. Mantle-Maris
8. Mays-(McCovey,Cepeda)
9. Canseco-McGuire
10. Gehringer-Greenberg
11. Kent-Bonds
12. Snider-Campanella
13. Cobb-Heilmann-(Veach,Fothergill,Manush)
14. Sisler-Williams
15. Rose-Morgan-Bench
16. Wagner-Clarke
17. Hornsby-Hack Wilson
18. Delahanty-Thompson

Does anyone have any additions? I'm sure I've forgotten many. Just to make this a little spicier, if you can think of any 1-2-3 punches, knock yourself out!

Bill Burgess

[csh19792001]

Originally posted by william_burgess@usa.net
Anyone ever wonder who were the greatest 1-2 punch in BB history? Which bruisers were the most feared by opposing pitchers? The following must have given opposing pitchers some sleepless nights.

1. Ruth-Gehrig
2. Simmons-Foxx
3. Aaron-Mathews
4. Jackson-Lajoie
5. DiMaggio-Gehrig
6. Cobb-Crawford
7. Mantle-Maris
8. Canseco-McGuire
9. Gehringer-Greenberg
10. Kent-Bonds
11. Cobb-Heilmann
12. Sisler-Williams

Does anyone have any additions? I'm sure I've forgotten many.

Bill Burgess

I'd put Walker-Helton up there somewhere. I don't know the numbers, but I'm sure they are through the roof.

Chris

[yellowdog]

What about Mays & McCovey?

[bluezebra]

Ruth and Gehrig. Everyone else is fighting for second place.

The duo played together for a total of 10 complete seasons.

They hit 771 home runs out of a MLB total of 11,799. That's a pct. of .0653.

Gehrig had over 200 hits 6 times. They had 3558 hits in 10,438 at bats, for a combined avg. of .341.

No other pair are even close.

The Yankees finished in First Place 5 times, and won 3 World Series.

Bob

[Bill Burgess]

Bob,

Have to agree with you, Bob. Interesting how Lou was able to collect so many RBIs after the Babe had cleared the bases so often.

What if Lou would shake Babe's hand and mutter, "Thanks a lot, Babe!"

Bill Burgess

[bluezebra]

Originally posted by william_burgess@usa.net
Bob,

Have to agree with you, Bob. Interesting how Lou was able to collect so many RBIs after the Babe had cleared the bases so often.

What if Lou would shake Babe's hand and mutter, "Thanks a lot, Babe!"

Bill Burgess

Bill:

In those 10 seasons, The Babe had 1558 hits and 1161 walks, for a total of 2719. Not counting reaching on errors, there were plenty of times Ruth himself was in position to be driven in. Even when you subtract his 424 HRs, that leaves 2295 oportunities for Lou, just from Ruth. He drove in 1436 in those 10 seasons.

Bob

[Bill Burgess]

bluezebra,

Yeah, I hear ya. Lou really lived to drive in those runs. One of the only guys who could keep up with Lou in that respect was Hank Greenberg. He also lived to gobble up those RBIs. Only difference was that Hank's set-up man was Charlie Gehringer, not a slouch himself, but he wasn't Babe. Buth then, who was?

Bill

[Eddie Collins]

Who can forget that lethal combination of Mar Thornberry and Elio Chacon?:p

[Bill Burgess]

Eddie,

I was unsure whether or not to include that devestating duo, Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio. Single, walk, or walk, single.

Those pitchers would quake. Have I missed them?

Bill Burgess

[bluezebra]

Originally posted by william_burgess@usa.net
Eddie,

I was unsure whether or not to include that devestating duo, Nellie Fox and Luis Apparicio. Single, walk, or walk, single.

Those pitchers would quake. Have I missed them?

Bill Burgess

Pitchers DID worry about those two. In my opinion, they were one of the best #1-#2 hitters in the game. Fox was possibly the perfect #2 man. If Aparicio got on base, Nellie would hit behind him, sending him to 2B or 3B. If Louie made an out, Nellie would get on somehow. They set the table for hitters like Minnie Minoso, Larry Doby and Sherm Lollar.

Fox gave up probably 20 points on his lifetime batting average, giving himself up to move Aparicio ahead on the bases.

Bob

[Bill Burgess]

Bob,

In my files, I can't tell you how many quotes I have from pitchers who claimed that they'd much rather face the big bruisers than the little bingles slappers.

And I'm talking about guys the quality of Grove, Pennock, Johnson and Spahn. They just hated to see guys like Cobb, Sewell, Fox, Waner, Rose, Gwynn, Boggs, Carew, Collins, Sisler, etc.

Those kind of slappers were very hard to whiff and didn't swing real big. The pitchers often felt that they could blow the ball by the big swingers, unless the hitters adjusted and cut their stroke.

Bill Burgess

[tonypug]

Bill, expand that to one, two , three punch and you have Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, and Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers. During the period from 1949-1957 they put up some big numbers.

[bluezebra]

For these four seasons, 1925-1928, Bob Meusel followed Gehrig in the line up. In this order, BA, HR, RBI, here are his stats:

1925..290, 33*, 138* *led American League
1926..315, 12, 81
1927..337, 8, 103
1928..297, 11, 113

Amazing amount of RBIs following Ruth and Gehrig.

Bob

[Eddie Collins]

Don't forget Delahanty-Thompson!

[Sashag]

jimmy foxx-bobby doer-1939
bobby doer-johnny pesky-1951
hank bauer-mickey mantle-1954
duke snider, sany amaros, roy campanella-1956
pee wee reese-jackie robinson-1955
gehrig, crosetti, lazzeri-1936
gehrig, lazzeri, crosetti-1937

[rich]

Between 1953 & 1962 Hammerin' Hank, Eddie Mathews & Joe Adcock banged 1,148 Homeruns! Aaron came up in '54. Not to shabby.

[tearforamariner]

Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado are establishing themselves as a dominant 1-2 punch.

[Sashag]

I noticed that we forgot the "Killer Bees" Biggio, Bell and Bagwell. -Sasha

[Eddie Collins]

Originally posted by Sashag
I noticed that we forgot the "Killer Bees" Biggio, Bell and Bagwell. -Sasha

Don't forget "David "Where the Hell Am I" Bell :D

[Biofury]

Not the greatest, but my two favorite duo's were the bash brothers from Oakland and Clark, Bonds and Williams

[Bill Burgess]

Does anyone else have any candidates for "Most feared 1-2 sluggers ever?"

Surely we haven't exhausted the list already. We did this last January, 2004, but I feel we can still wring some mileage out of it. Do Jeter/Arod qualify? I realize Jeter might be too light a hitter.

Bill Burgess

[Edgartohof]

griffey jr/martinez/a-rod

[ElHalo]

Now that Jeter's hitting has finally turned around, I think he can be included.

Jeter's not a real slugger, but he's a .320/.390/.460 guy, and that means he's going to be on base a lot for ARod to bash in.

As far as all time groups...

Cronin/Foxx/Williams

Collins/Baker

Belle/Ramirez/Thome/Murray

Bill Terry/ Hornsby

Mantle/Yogi

Vaughan/Waner

Magee/Cravath

[prof93]

Maris-Mantle

[prof93]

Snider-Hodges

[BoSox Rule]

I'll add Ortiz/Ramirez/Garciaparra

[ElHalo]

Originally posted by BoSox Rule
I'll add Ortiz/Ramirez/Garciaparra

Come on.

Ramirez and Garciaparra are great players, and I'd give each a better than 50/50 shot at one day making the Hall of Fame.

But David Ortiz? His most similar players are Brian Daubach, Luke Easter, Kevin Millar, and Joe Hauser. I don't even know if he's the third most feared Red Sock now. At least Mueller's won a batting title.

I'd hold off on the Ortiz accolades until he proves that he's as good as, say, Carl Everett.

[julusnc]

Stargell and Parker

Murphy and Horner

Schmidt and Luzinski

Clark Mitchell Williams

Bonds Bonilla Van Slyke

McGwire Canseco Baylor

Strawberry and HOJO

Johnson Aaron Evans

Powell and F. Robinson

Cecil Fielder and Rob Deer :)

Mattingly and Winfield

Winfield and Colbert

Aaron Mathews Adcock

Foxx and Williams

Thomas and Bell

Thomas and Ordonez

[julusnc]

Morgan Rose Bench Foster

Carter and Gruber

[Imapotato]

How about

Lajoie-Delahanty-Flick of the pre AL Phillies?

or later

Cy Williams-Gavvy Cravath...but only in the Baker Bowl and one year...

and to expand on El Halo's
I think underrated Fred Luderus would make Magee-Cravath a nice trifecta...but again...only in the Baker Bowl

[BoSox Rule]

Originally posted by ElHalo
Come on.

Ramirez and Garciaparra are great players, and I'd give each a better than 50/50 shot at one day making the Hall of Fame.

But David Ortiz? His most similar players are Brian Daubach, Luke Easter, Kevin Millar, and Joe Hauser. I don't even know if he's the third most feared Red Sock now. At least Mueller's won a batting title.

I'd hold off on the Ortiz accolades until he proves that he's as good as, say, Carl Everett.

I'd say its time for you to come out from under that rock.

[Hammerin Hank]

No one will agree but how about Sosa-Rodriguez? They set some records as teammates.

[ElHalo]

Originally posted by BoSox Rule
I'd say its time for you to come out from under that rock.

Ortiz is having a great year. But as another thread in this forum has shown, Rico Petrocelli had a great year too.

When we talk about Ortiz, we're talking about a guy with a career high of 101 RBI's, who's never scored 90 runs, who's never hit over .290, gotten on base over .370, or slugged .600.

We're talking about who, while on pace for a spectacular 137 RBI's, is also hitting .286, has a .346 OBP, is slugging .538 (none of those are in the top 10 in the AL) and has an OPS that doesn't crack the AL's top 20. He's on pace to score only 77 runs. And there is absolutely nothing in his track record to show that he's any better than this.

All Ortiz has going for him is RBI's and decent (30-35) HR power. Carl Everett's career highs of 108 RBI's and 34 Homers both top Ortiz' career highs. And Everett has proven that he can be a .300/.375/.550 player when he wants to be. Ortiz has not.

[BoSox Rule]

Ortiz was 5th in MVP voting last year.

He slugged .592, only behind Carlos Delgado and Alex Rodriguez. He is going to top almost all of that this year.

[leecemark]

Bosox, Ortiz is a pretty decent hitter. Most teams would find a spot for him (although any could have had him cheap before last year). He is miles from great. There are dozens of 1B/DH types just like Ortiz having a few good years in every era. 20 years from now few outside of Boston will even remember who he was.

--How about Kaline, Cash and Colavito in 1961?

[The Dude]

Ken Griffey Jr./Jay Buhner:'97-'98

[leecemark]

--Those mid-late 90s Mariners teams could really rake - Rodreguiz/Griffey/Martinez/Buhner.

[ElHalo]

And they had Randy Johnson. Don't ask me how they managed to never win an ALCS.

[leecemark]

--It was mostly the serial arsonists in the bullpen

[The Dude]

A closer with a 7.38 ERA will do yah in.

[Edgartohof]

Between '95-'99, a-rod, griffey jr, martinez, and buhner each averaged:

AB - 493
TB - 279
Hits - 147
HR - 33
RBI - 101
Runs - 96
BB - 75
Avg - .299
Slg - .567
(these numbers would be higher if not for buhner '98 and '99, griffey jr '95 and a-rod '95, where they did not have full seasons)

[cloakedarbiter]

how can anyone argue against Gehrig/Ruth/Lazzeri? Of course they lived in an age... well, ages ago, but Gehrig/Ruth are not only the best combo of all time, they are potentially the two best hitters of all time; lazzeri wasnt a bad hitter too, hit 100 RBIs a season with a .300 average, an ideal no.5 hitter

as blue zebra said, everyone else is just fighting for second place... as for second, i should think hank aaron's punch, or mantle's, hard to say

[tonypug]

how can anyone argue against Gehrig/Ruth/Lazzeri? Of course they lived in an age... well, ages ago, but Gehrig/Ruth are not only the best combo of all time, they are potentially the two best hitters of all time; lazzeri wasnt a bad hitter too, hit 100 RBIs a season with a .300 average, an ideal no.5 hitter

as blue zebra said, everyone else is just fighting for second place... as for second, i should think hank aaron's punch, or mantle's, hard to say
Gehrig/Ruth /LazzeriL, followed by Snider/ Campanella/ Hodges and Aaron/ Mathews/ Adcock.

[Bushrod]

Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx.
Cobb and Heilmann.
Ted Williams and Jackie Jensen for a minute or two. anybody remember what ended Jensen's career?

Adcock combined with Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews for 94 homers a year over a nine-year span, second only to the Ruth-Gehrig-Lazzeri mark of 94.9.

Nine years, I sez. I don't think any other team ever had 2 guys who, on retiring, held the league home run record, but the Braves, with Mathews and Aaron. Maybe Mays and McCovey in that brief time when Mays led Aaron.

[Bushrod]

maybe Hornsby and Ott both retired as all-time league HR kings.

I know, I strayed from the thread. I got to get my mind right.

[Bill Burgess]

Bushrod,

It's cool to ramble. Some of the best stuff comes out of random meanderings.

Not all who wander are lost.

Bill Burgess

[leecemark]

Bushrod, Jensen retired because of a fear of flying. He tried to stick to trains when the team switched to flying, but with moves and expansion to the further reaches of the country, he couldn't make it work anymore.

[tonypug]

Jensen retired, stayed out one season, came back for one season, and had a decent year. Then retired for good.I guess flying didn't become any easier.

[Bushrod]

that's right. what a hell of a way to lose your career! has anyone else had to quit due to fear of flying? Mickey Mantle said he had a panic attack on a plane, but i think it was after he retired. Poor Mick! To be so famous that everyone is looking at you or wanting to, and then to panic with them all watching, and in a plane. they ought to keep knockout drops for cases like that. have mercy.

let me sleep through this.

anyone know what became of Jensen?

[Bill Burgess]

Hi Bushrod,

So nice to chat with you again. Thanks for the great question. The Baseball Necrology by Bill Lee, 2003, pp. 199, gives this excerpted entry for Jackie Jensen's post baseball career.

"He coached baseball at the University of Nevada and the University of California before moving to Virginia in 1977 to operate a Christmas tree farm and run a baseball camp. Died from a heart attack. Buried Amherst Cemetery, Amherst VA."

Good question.

Bill Burgess

[Bushrod]

Man, Jensen had a hard life for a guy who made All-America in football and major leagues in baseball. there should be an ESPN Classic biography of Jackie Jensen. I think when he first started, he was actually out-hitting Mantle. Ted Williams probably said something about Jensen, being a teammate.

Jensen's family must look back on him with such strange mixed feelings. born into the garden but hit by lightning.

[Edgartohof]

Averaged between 1927 and 1931

Ruth: 51 HR, 155 RBI, 146 runs, 122 BB, .350 Avg, .722 Slg

Gherig: 39 HR, 160 RBI, 144 runs, 108 BB, .353 Avg, .677 Slg

So if that ain't the greatest, I don't know what is.

[Baseball Guru]

Lots of great ones mentioned so its hard to find some good others but for a season only, I'd like to throw in the 1884 Chicago White Stockings quartette of Williamson, Pfeffer, Dalrymple and Anson :D

The 4 of them hit over 20 hr's that year (the next closest was Brouthers with 14)

You can even throw in King Kelly who had 13 hr's and led the league with a .354 avg...

The 5 of them were the top 5 in the league in total bases, amassing 1229 total bases between the 5 of them....

Big #'s for that era....


Bench and Perez were nasty as well...

[tonypug]

During the 50's the Red sox had an outfield of Ted Williams in left, Jim Piersall in center and Jackie Jensen in Right, not too bad.

[Bushrod]

that 1884 white stockings team, I say break them up! It's not fair to be better than everybody else. that's got to be the most dominant team of all time. what did they finish? 70-75?

and how could you tell if Piersall was in center or not?

[BoSox Rule]

Come on.

Ramirez and Garciaparra are great players, and I'd give each a better than 50/50 shot at one day making the Hall of Fame.

But David Ortiz? His most similar players are Brian Daubach, Luke Easter, Kevin Millar, and Joe Hauser. I don't even know if he's the third most feared Red Sock now. At least Mueller's won a batting title.

I'd hold off on the Ortiz accolades until he proves that he's as good as, say, Carl Everett.

:D Just curious if you want to change your statement?

[ElHalo]

:D Just curious if you want to change your statement?

Nope. Stick by it. Let him show that he's not Brady Anderson, and maybe I'll be impressed.

[BoSox Rule]

Nope. Stick by it. Let him show that he's not Brady Anderson, and maybe I'll be impressed.

So, 162 averages of 42 HR, 140 RBI, 50 doubles, for the last two years aren't good enough? Or a 2 year line of .295/.375/.597/.972? Or is it the fact that he is a better hitter than any player the Yankees have to offer?

But, hey why argue it? I'm not the one who thinks Greg Maddux is overrated, or the one comparing Ortiz to Anderson.

[ElHalo]

So, 162 averages of 42 HR, 140 RBI, 50 doubles, for the last two years aren't good enough? Or a 2 year line of .295/.375/.597/.972? Or is it the fact that he is a better hitter than any player the Yankees have to offer?

But, hey why argue it? I'm not the one who thinks Greg Maddux is overrated, or the one comparing Ortiz to Anderson.

Key part of that statement being "for the last two years."

Sure, he's been awesome with Boston. But I'm very, very skeptical that a guy who had the kind of career in Minnesota that Ortiz did can just all of the sudden jump out and be one of the best hitters in the league. The Anderson comment was meant to say that anybody can have a lucky couple of years (notice Anderson, with one 50 HR/20 SB season, one 20HR/50SB season, and nothing else remotely comparable to those two). I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt whether Ortiz will be able to continue the torrid pace he's produced at the last couple of years...

In my guess, I'd expect something from Ortiz next year along the lines of .280/.350/.450, with 25 homers and 90 RBI's. Maybe I'll be wrong, and he's just busted out with Boston, and we can continue to see this kind of production from him.

But I doubt it. I'd love to be wrong, though.

[BoSox Rule]

The main problem for David Ortiz in Minnesota was turning on inside fastballs. Papa Jack (Red Sox hitting coach) worked on it with him and look at the results. Ortiz will continue this production for years, no doubt.

[prof93]

The main problem for David Ortiz in Minnesota was turning on inside fastballs. Papa Jack (Red Sox hitting coach) worked on it with him and look at the results. Ortiz will continue this production for years, no doubt.

The main problem in MN was he was hurt alot, couldn't play first, and they moved him

[csh19792001]

Key part of that statement being "for the last two years."

Sure, he's been awesome with Boston. But I'm very, very skeptical that a guy who had the kind of career in Minnesota that Ortiz did can just all of the sudden jump out and be one of the best hitters in the league. The Anderson comment was meant to say that anybody can have a lucky couple of years (notice Anderson, with one 50 HR/20 SB season, one 20HR/50SB season, and nothing else remotely comparable to those two). I highly, highly, HIGHLY doubt whether Ortiz will be able to continue the torrid pace he's produced at the last couple of years...

In my guess, I'd expect something from Ortiz next year along the lines of .280/.350/.450, with 25 homers and 90 RBI's. Maybe I'll be wrong, and he's just busted out with Boston, and we can continue to see this kind of production from him.

But I doubt it. I'd love to be wrong, though.

Ortiz hit 51 points higher at Fenway this year than on the road. In 2003, he hit 59 points higher. This is typical of Fenway- in fact I've seen much greater splits (see Wade Boggs).

If you average all his numbers at Fenway vs. on the road, and then look at it against his career performance before Boston, I can certainly see why he shouldn't be expected to keep this up for a long time (although Fenway will certainly help quite a bit, and he certainly might, though.)

So when we look at his production, we have to take into account park and TEAM, which effects production as much as park, if not more. (i.e.- if he was on the Mariners, what would his numbers have been this year)?
Re: Damon-Ichiro switch.

[BoSox Rule]

David Ortiz would be a pretty damn good hitter anywhere. His OPS+'s the last two years were 144 and 145 (5th AL 2004).

[csh19792001]

David Ortiz would be a pretty damn good hitter anywhere. His OPS+'s the last two years were 144 and 145 (5th AL 2004).

Good point. So he's about 6-7th in the AL the last two years in power hitting (which is really what OPS measures). That qualifies as "pretty damn good hitter", I think. (I don't know what the original argument you were making was.)

El Halo's point is that for his CAREER, his OPS+ is 123, which MIGHT be top 50 among only active players (and this includes his fenway years). (So yes, these seasons look like flukes). Time will tell- give him 8-10 years.

[BoSox Rule]

In all fairness to Ortiz, Bonds had his first great year two years before Ortiz had his. (In terms of age, obviously Barry's first great year came well before 2003.)

[csh19792001]

In all fairness to Ortiz, Bonds had his first great year two years before Ortiz had his. (In terms of age, obviously Barry's first great year came well before 2003.)

All I'm trying to be is fair and objective.

[prof93]

Maris and Mantle 1960-1962

Certainly not Ruth and Gehrig, but enough to strike fear into the AL at that time, and good 1-2 punch

Maris 1960-62 Averages

BA-.269
HR-44
RBI-118
OBP-.366
SLG-.562

Mantle 1960-62 Averages

BA-.292
HR-41
RBI-103
OBP-.444
SLG-.616

[Iron Jaw]

Who can forget that lethal combination of Mar Thornberry and Elio Chacon?:p

Unfortunately, it was lethal - to the Mets.

[wingo]

Before the trade for Morgan, Bench/Perez/May

Whoever brought up Aaron/Mathews/Adcock is on the ball. Adcock was a tough hitter who kept breaking bones getting HBP and sliding into bases, having very few full seasons to truly measure his production.

And who could include CROSETTI in any feared sequence, anywhey?

No DiMaggio/Keller/Henrich seen anywhere, either.

ADD: Kaline/Cash/Horton, Killebrew/Oliva/Allison

[SHOELESSJOE3]

bluezebra,

Yeah, I hear ya. Lou really lived to drive in those runs. One of the only guys who could keep up with Lou in that respect was Hank Greenberg. He also lived to gobble up those RBIs. Only difference was that Hank's set-up man was Charlie Gehringer, not a slouch himself, but he wasn't Babe. But then, who was?

Bill

In the 8 seasons they played together, lots of doubles. In the AL from 1933-1940... most doubles... Gehringer 318--- Greenberg 312. Looks like Charlie put himself in scoring position quite often. The leader in all of baseball in those seasons, Joe Medwick 371 doubles. Many who saw him thought he could hit line drives as hard as hitter any they ever saw and consistently.

In a pre game (Dodgers/Cards) long distance hitting contest in St. Louis Medwick finished second to Babe Ruth. Medwick hit a drive of 425 feet over the left field barrier into Sullivan Avenue. Others that took part in that contest Dolph Camilli, Johnnie Mize. Ruth hit a ball out of the park and across Grand Avenue, the ball landing on the second set of steet car tracks, 430 plus feet. Ruth was rewarded with 50 dollars, Medwick 25 dollars.

This took place a few years after Ruth had retired and was coaching for the Dodgers.

New York Times archives....July 24, 1938

[willshad]

The Mitchell-Clark 1989 discussion got me thinking, what was the best single season 1-2 punch in baseball history? Id imagine it was Ruth/Gehrig in 1927, so maybe this should be what was the SECOND best. Its weird how throughout history there havent been really that many hisorically great seasons put up by 2 teammates batting back to back. I cant think of that many in the 'steroid era', which is odd considering the numbers being put up during that time. Maybe its because of more teams, and the elite talent being spread around. Seems like any time there were 2 all time great teammates playing together, they werent both in their prime at the same time. Tandems like Foxx/Williams, Mays/Mccovey, Gehrig,/Dimaggio, and Aaron/ Matthews were kinda ruined by one guy exitting his prime just as the other was entering his. Remember when Thomas and Belle were teamamtes? But even they didnt really both have a typical prime season in the same year during their 2 years together.
Here are some candidates:

Ruth/ Gehrig 1927
Gehrig/Dimaggio 1937
Matthews/Aaron 1959
Clark/Mitchell 1989
mantle/Maris 1961
Ramirez/ ortiz 2006
A-rod/Palmeiro 2001
Griffey/A-rod 1996

what others can people come up with?

[E.Howard 32]

'63 Giants - Mays 38 / McCovey 44
'77 Reds - Foster 52 / Bench 31
'54 Dodgers - Snider 40 / Hodges 42

[ChrisLDuncan]

No love for Koufax/Drysdale?

[willshad]

I was talking about a 1-2 punch of hitters, not pitchers. i guess u can add Campanella/Snider 1953 and Gonzalez/Palmeiro 1999 too

[HDH]

Maybe we can title this "Best 3-4..." Maybe not the greatest HR duos, but as 3-4, all time great. I nominate

Ted Williams - Jimmie Foxx
Ty Cobb - Harry Heilmann
Charlie Gehringer - Hank Greenburg
Rogers Hornsby - Hack Wilson
Chuck Klein - Lefty O'Doul
Sam Thompson - Ed Delehanty

[willshad]

well i really wasnt trying to make it a best home run duo thread,just trying to see what people think is the best SINGLE season by 2 players on the same team. which single seasons would you pick for these tandems? i assume 1929 for Wilson/Hornsby and 1939 for Williams/Foxx.

[willshad]

wow just noticed how good Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx were in 1929/1930. Never knew Al Simmons was THAT good. Too bad both these guys werent the same after age 32.

[four tool]

Simmons was an RBI machine, but not a HR machine--he only hit 30 HR 3 times despite incredible BIs and BA year in and year out.

[rsuriyop]

-Nap Lajoie/Ed Delahanty (1901)
-Ty Cobb/Sam Crawford (1911)
-Cap Anson/King Kelly (1886)
-Rickey Henderson/Don Mattingly (1985)

[Steele]

Billy Hamilton, Sam Thompson, Ed Delahanty, 1894. Best outfield ever.

I do realize that's three guys.

Steele

[PVNICK]

Who hit over .400, as did their backup Tuck Turner in around 300 AB.

[scribe114]

Maybe we can title this "Best 3-4..." Maybe not the greatest HR duos, but as 3-4, all time great. I nominate

Ted Williams - Jimmie Foxx
Ty Cobb - Harry Heilmann
Charlie Gehringer - Hank Greenburg
Rogers Hornsby - Hack Wilson
Chuck Klein - Lefty O'Doul
Sam Thompson - Ed Delehanty

Ted Williams/Vern Stephens

[yankillaz]

These are the best 1-2 Punches per season, based on +OPS in the TOP 20's in the MLB that season:

2007 Prince Fielder 154 Ryan Braun 154 Milwaukee Brewers
2006 David Ortiz 164 Manny Ramirez 168 Boston Red Sox
2005 Alex Rodriguez 167 Jason Giambi 156 New York Yankees
2004 Albert Pujols 175 Jim Edmonds 173 St. Louis Cardinals
2003 Albert Pujols 189 Jim Edmonds 161 St. Louis Cardinals
2002 Barry Bonds 275 Jeff Kent 152 San Francisco Giants
2001 Barry Bonds 262 Jeff Kent 133 San Francisco Giants
2000 Barry Bonds 191 Jeff Kent 165 San Francisco Giants
1999 Derek Jeter 161 Bernie Williams 157 New York Yankees
1998 Mark McGwire 217 Ray Lankford 144 St. Louis Cardinals
1997 Ken Griffey Jr. 164 Edgar Martinez 164 Seattle Mariners
1996 Mark McGwire 203 Scott Brosius 132 Oakland Athletics
1995 Albert Belle 178 Jim Thome 158 Cleveland Indians
1994 Craig Biggio 138 Jeff Bagwell 213 Houston Astros
1993 Barry Bonds 206 Matt Williams 137 San Francisco Giants
1992 Andy Van Slyke 151 Barry Bonds 205 Pittsburgh Pirates
1991 Barry Bonds 161 Bobby Bonilla 150 Pittsburgh Pirates
1990 Eddie Murray 159 Kal Daniels 155 Los Angeles Dodgers
1989 Will Clark 175 Kevin Mitchell 192 San Francisco Giants
1988 Jose Canseco 170 Mark McGwire 134 Oakland Athletics
1987 Dwight Evans 165 Mike Greenwell 147 Boston Red Sox
1986 Don Mattingly 161 Dave Winfield 120 New York Yankees
1985 Pedro Guerrero 181 Mike Marshall 140 Los Angeles Dodgers
1984 Dave Winfield 154 Don Mattingly 156 New York Yankees
1983 Cal Ripken Jr. 144 Eddie Murray 156 Baltimore Orioles
1982 Robin Yount 166 Cecil Cooper 142 Milwaukee Brewers
1981 Gary Mathews 138 Mike Schmidt 199 Philadelphia Phillies
1980 Cecil Cooper 155 Ben Oglivie 153 Milwaukee Brewers
1979 Fred Lynn 176 Jim Rice 154 Boston Red Sox
1978 Willie Stargell 158 Dave Parker 166 Pittsburgh Pirates
1977 Mike Schmidt 152 Greg Luzinski 157 Philadelphia Phillies
1976 Ken Griffey Sr. 140 Joe Morgan 187 Cincinnati Reds
1975 Joe Morgan 169 Johnny Bench 140 Cincinnati Reds
1974 Willie Stargell 168 Richie Zisk 145 Pittsburgh Pirates
1973 Willie Stargell 187 Richie Hebner 129 Pittsburgh Pirates
1972 Dick Allen 200 Carlos May 148 Chicago White Sox
1971 Bobby Murcer 181 Roy White 149 New York Yankees
1970 Willie McCovey 182 Dick Dietz 153 San Francisco Giants
1969 Reggie Jakcson 187 Sal Bando 152 Oakland Athletics
1968 Willie Mays 157 Willie McCovey 175 San Francisco Giants
1967 Carl Yazstremski 195 George Scott 139 Boston Red Sox
1966 Frank Robinson 199 Brooks Robinson 124 Baltimore Orioles
1965 Willie Mays 185 Willie McCovey 154 San Francisco Giants
1964 Brooks Robinson 145 Boog Powell 176 Baltimore Orioles
1963 Willie Mays 175 Orlando Cepeda 165 San Francisco Giants
1962 Mickey Mantle 196 Roger Maris 127 New York Yankees
1961 Mickey Mantle 206 Roger Maris 167 New York Yankees
1960 Mickey Mantle 164 Roger Maris 161 New York Yankees
1959 Eddie Mathews 167 Hank Aaron 181 Milwaukee Braves
1958 Ted Williams 178 Jackie Jensen 153 Boston Red Sox
1957 Eddie Mathews 154 Hank Aaron 166 Milwaukee Braves
1956 Mickey Mantle 210 Yogi Berra 142 New York Yankees
1955 Eddie Mathews 172 Hank Aaron 143 Milwaukee Braves
1954 Duke Snider 172 Gil Hodges 142 Brooklyn Dodgers
1953 Roy Campanella 155 Duke Snider 166 Brooklyn Dodgers
1952 Larry Doby 162 Al Rosen 152 Cleveland Indians
1951 Jackie Robinson 154 Roy Campanella 159 Brooklyn Dodgers
1950 Larry Doby 154 Al Rosen 144 Cleveland Indians
1949 Ted Williams 192 Vern Stephens 138 Boston Red Sox
1948 Stan Musial 200 Enos Slaughter 132 St. Louis Cardinals
1947 Johnny Mize 160 Walker Cooper 141 New York Giants
1946 Mickey Vernon 160 Stan Spence 145 Washington Senators
1945 Tommy Holmes 174 Chuck Workman 122 Boston Braves
1944 Bobby Doerr 165 Bob Johnson 174 Boston Red Sox
1943 Stan Musial 180 Walker Cooper 130 St. Louis Cardinals
1942 Mel Ott 165 Johnny Mize 161 New York Giants
1941 Joe Dimaggio 184 Charlie Keller 162 New York Yankees
1940 Joe Dimaggio 173 Charlie Keller 141 New York Yankees
1939 Jimmie Foxx 188 Ted Williams 160 Boston Red Sox
1938 Joe Cronin 130 Jimmie Foxx 182 Boston Red Sox
1937 Joe Medwick 180 Johnny Mize 172 St. Louis Cardinals
1936 Lou Gehrig 190 Bill Dickey 156 New York Yankees
1935 Arky Vaughan 190 Paul Waner 129 Pittsburgh Pirates
1934 Babe Ruth 161 Lou Gehrig 208 New York Yankees
1933 Mickey Cochrane 157 Jimmie Foxx 200 Philadelphia Athletics
1932 Babe Ruth 201 Lou Gehrig 181 New York Yankees
1931 Babe Ruth 219 Lou Gehrig 195 New York Yankees
1930 Babe Ruth 211 Lou Gehrig 203 New York Yankees
1929 Babe Ruth 194 Lou Gehrig 167 New York Yankees
1928 Babe Ruth 208 Lou Gehrig 194 New York Yankees
1927 Babe Ruth 226 Lou Gehrig 221 New York Yankees
1926 Babe Ruth 227 Lou Gehrig 153 New York Yankees
1925 Roger Hornsby 210 Jim Bottomley 148 St. Louis Cardinals
1924 Roger Hornsby 222 Jim Bottomley 131 St. Louis Cardinals
1923 Roger Hornsby 186 Jim Bottomley 154 St. Louis Cardinals
1922 Ty Cobb 170 Harry Heilmann 169 Detroit Tigers
1921 Austin McHenry 144 Roger Hornsby 190 St. Louis Cardinals
1920 Eddie Collins 146 Joe Jackson 172 Chicago White Sox

[Bill Burgess]

This is an interesting issue. I found this former thread, where we ruminated/mused on it.

http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=13889

Just some of our musings.

1. Ruth-Gehrig-Lazzeri
2. Simmons-Foxx-Cochrane
3. Aaron-Mathews
4. Jackson-Lajoie
5. DiMaggio-Gehrig-Dickey
6. Cobb-Crawford-Veach
7. Mantle-Maris
8. Mays-(McCovey,Cepeda)
9. Canseco-McGuire
10. Gehringer-Greenberg
11. Kent-Bonds
12. Snider-Campanella
13. Cobb-Heilmann-(Veach,Fothergill,Manush)
14. Sisler-Williams
15. Rose-Morgan-Bench
16. Wagner-Clarke
17. Hornsby-Hack Wilson
18. Delahanty-Thompson

[NickU]

Ortiz and Manny have to be up there, I'm them under Mays and McCovey on your list, but above Canseco and McGwire