Pujols Versus A-Rod

Here’s a look at the home run race between Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols. The horizontal axis shows the number of home runs and the vertical axis shows the age.

A-Rod is 4-1/2 years older than Pujols and he currently has 215 more home runs. That’s a nice safe lead, but I wouldn’t say it’s safe. A-Rod has struggled lately. He hit “only” 35 home runs last year and has just 24 so far this year. The big unknown is who will stay healthy. Ken Griffey Jr. would probably be well over 700 home runs if he had stayed off the DL.
The chart shows that for the most part, A-Rod has been on a faster track than Pujols, although Pujols has had the lead a few times (he got his 250th when he was 19 days younger than A-Rod).
Both players are still well ahead of Hank Aaron’s pace, although Hammerin’ Hank had some of his best years when he was over 35. I don’t care what the record books say but I don’t recognize Bonds as the Home Run King.

Posted by Eddy Elfenbein on September 5th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

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