Vol 17, No. 1: Home Run Histrionics, Part One: 1936-1953
Production of Vol. 17, No. 1: "Home Run Histrionics, The Franchise-leading Teams for Single-season Home Run Production in the American Association"
Part one of two parts, the Spring 2021 issue of the American Association Almanac, released in April 2021, represents my most ambitious undertaking to date. Aside from the usual back-n-forth during the writing process (not smooth), the data comprising the backbone of this issue was under constant scrutiny and revision. It became a nagging sore that just wouldn't go away. I wondered if the issue would ever be born given the perpetual roadblocks. Then came time to print and the printer just did not want to cooperate. This was largely due to the paper stock upgrade I made when I purchased several reams of an 80-lb. paper called Futura with a glossy finish. Several adjustments were required before the printer would accept the new paper on my terms. The covers and centerfold all had to be re-run. I'm only doing runs of 50 now, so it's not a huge deal, but it felt like yet another roadblock in what is usually a fairly seamless process. One might think that after over 55 issues of the Almanac its publisher would have a better grasp of things, but the bottom line is that each issue brings about its own set of challenges. In the end the issue turned out beautifully. I may not use this paper again, however, as its weight increased the postage rate to $1.80 per item which is not a sustainable cost for this low-budget operation.
Purpose
The purpose of this project was to highlight the eight teams of the American Association which achieved franchise-high single-season home run totals. It was an extension of the analysis conducted for the Spring 2019 issue comprising the 1902-1920 seasons, was to determine the statistical value of their home runs when offset against the home runs the team allowed. This issue differed from the first analysis in its focus on the accomplishments of individual players and their contribution to the record. It concentrated on the period 1921 to 1960. Due to the length of the project it was divided into two parts, the first part appearing here, the second part to be published October 1, 2021.
Content
Data collection for Vol. 17, No. 1 began in earnest in September 2020 with the development of a database (in the form of a multi-category spreadsheet) to document each home run for the original eight American Association teams to achieve the franchise single-season home run record. In order to make sure the home run total was accurate, each season record had to be accurate, not only in terms of number of games but in terms of each of the categories which would provide the basis for this analysis. Primarily these categories include the player name, the date, location and opponent. Various other categories were used as well, but in general, these were the heart of the project.
Completing the check for accuracy was extensive. Bearing in mind that eight teams were being compared, it's easy to comprehend how this project would become exhaustive...and exhausting. On more than one occasion, after believing the team data to be accurate, further checks (usually resulting from a discrepancy discovered while performing a data sort such as home vs. road wins and losses) exposed new accuracy concerns which were addressed successfully.
Content hinged upon the organization of the spreadsheet. The first data sort was for team home runs in chronological order, a sort of master list. This allowed patterns to emerge for both the team and the players, such as streaks involving home run hitting or the lack of home runs. This sort included only the subject team, whereas the original database included both the subject team and the opposing team. The next sort separated this "master" into home runs at home and those hit on the road. The value of this listing was for determining whether the team hit more home runs at home or on the road as well as to find players who were more successful at home or away. Next, a listing was developed for homerless games. This was a two-part listing, the first of which included only games in which neither team homered. A subsequent listing was developed for games in which only the subject team's homerless games were analyzed. This allowed for comparisons to be made between the subject team and opposing teams which might shed light on the differences that existed between the two teams so that a conclusion might be reached as to which team may have had an advantage. Once this step was completed, the data were sorted by player. Additional categories for team analysis included multi-homer games and one-run games. Upon the completion of the data sort, the process was completed for opposing teams.
This volume contributes to the annals of baseball history on a number of levels and is designed to appeal to a variety of interests. The subject of how the home run as an offensive weapon impacted the outcome of games will have broad appeal, especially for those with an interest in the high minor leagues. In addition, values presented comparing a team's "input vs. their output, in other words, its home runs allowed compared with those it gives up, provide a unique comparison of a team's offensive prowess and provides a macro-level statistical basis for evaluating performance. The world of baseball history would benefit from a similar analysis between major league teams; to the author's knowledge their are many surveys of home runs but nothing which exhaustively compares each team in the way the subject is presented here. The comparisons of the four teams involved in Part One (Part Two will be published in the Fall of 2021) are intellectually accessible to most adult readers with a rudimentary knowledge of statistics. For those truly immersed in a deeper level of statistics, each team is introduced with a summary of its key statistics, the value of which is found in relation to those of the other teams; specifically the value presented for home runs per game, percentage of season total, percentage of games in which home run production is demonstrated, and the team's won-lost record while producing home runs are provided, as are the same statistics for teams hosting the subject team. While this array of values may be viewed by the casual reader, those readers wishing to develop a deeper understanding will benefit from it.
Many readers will benefit from the extensive presentation of tables. For each of the four teams there are 14 unique tables which bring the reader closer to an understanding of the material. Team-to-team comparisons comprise the vast majority of these tables, and include such topics as the introductory (sample) "1936 Columbus Franchise HR Leaders and Average Home Runs to Runs" to the section summary's "1936 Columbus Home Run Comparisons with Opposing Teams (consisting of 12 categories such as number of home runs, home runs per game, home runs at/away, etc.) which represents a culmination of the section's most vital statistics. (please see examples below)
Included in this issue are the 1936 Columbus Red Birds (featuring Jack Winsett), 1936 Milwaukee Brewers (Chet Laabs), 1952 Kansas City Blues (Bill Skowron) and 1953 Indianapolis (Wally Post).
Shortcomings
The content of this issue could have been enhanced by the inclusion of data covering home run potency, in other words, the number of solo home runs compared with the number of two-run, three-run, or grand slam home runs. Grand slam home runs were noted in the content. Also, the content does not list the pitcher against whom a home run was hit. Both topics would be suitable research projects for the enterprising baseball historian to undertake.
Strengths
The depth and breadth of the data presented in this issue of the American Association Almanac is its most important strength. The extent to which I have gone in order to maximize the accuracy is exceptional. The organization of each section is well-thought out and executed in order to follow a rational progression which will help the reader develop expertise in the subject matter. The graphic elements complement the text in ways which reinforce the ideas presented and help break up the narrative. For example, the Home Run Chronology, which brings the reader in touch with a summary of the subject team's home run production, is followed by the table "[Subject Team] HR Parity Ratings by 20-game Set" in which the season is described in eight sections in relation to the production of the opposing team.
Technical Aspects
Volume 17, Number 1 of the American Association Almanac (Spring 2021) is a 60-page issue (booklet format, 8.5 x 5.5 inches) using 11-point Times New Roman on Verso Futura 80-lb. (glossy) stock. It has a color cover featuring a graphic designed by the author and as well as a reproduction of the front cover of Life magazine from April 25, 1938 which features the swinging Jack Winsett as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers; Winsett set the Columbus franchise record for home runs in a single season with 50 in 1936. A centerfold, also printed using color toner, shows the season output for the four team-leading home run hitters for each of the first subject team, in the form of a spreadsheet which provides a chronological breakdown of the players' home runs.
Table of Contents
The following screenshot shows the table of contents as published on the inside front cover of the booklet.
Page Sample 1
Page Sample 2
Page Sample 3
Page Sample 4
Front Cover
Ordering Information
To order a copy of
Vol. 17, No. 1
"Home Run Histrionics: The Franchise-Leading Teams for Single-season Home Run Production"
Please contact the author at
rex457@gmail.com
Cost: $15.00
Cost with 2-yr. Subscription to the Almanac: $10.00
Subscription Information
The American Association Almanac is published twice per year and is available by subscription at the following rates:
1 year: $24.00
2 years: $42.00
Lifetime Subscription (min. 20 issues): $200.00
Institutional 1-year: $60.00
Institutional 2-year: $110.00
Institutional Lifetime (min. 20 issues): $500.00
Mailing Address
For those interested in corresponding with the American Association Almanac by postal mail, please use this address:
Rex Hamann
14201 Crosstown Blvd. NW
Andover, MN. 55304-3311
Please inquire for listing of back issues and their prices.
Comments