Part 2: Franchise Home Run Records of the American Association, 1936-1955

 The American Association Almanac, Vol. 17-2, Fall 2021

Franchise-high Home Run Records for

1954 St. Paul, 1954 Toledo,

1955 Louisville and 1955 Minneapolis

 The cover:

    In the spring of 2021 the American Association Almanac published Part One of the series focusing on the franchise home run records for each of the eight original teams. It included Columbus in 1936, Milwaukee in 1936, Indianapolis in 1952 and Kansas City in 1953.
    In the fall of 2021 the second part was published, focusing on the 1954 St. Paul Saints, the 1954 Toledo Sox, the 1955 Louisville Colonels and the 1955 Minneapolis Millers.
    This was the most in-depth, research-intensive project yet undertaken by the Almanac. The database for each team’s home runs for the season in which it set the franchise record is exhaustive, including not only the daily record for each of the subject teams (e.g., 1936 Milwaukee),
but for opposing teams as well. The purpose for including opposing teams was to answer this question:

 
    “To what degree were the home runs by each team offset by the home runs hit against them during the season in which they established the franchise record?”

    The database for each team was constructed using the following format (the example from 1936 Milwaukee):

 

     Once completed (verifying the correct number of games), each team’s database for its respective season was broken down into the following categories:

Combined Chronological (subject team only)
HR at Home (inc. W/L record)
HR Away (inc. W/L record)
W/L Record in Games w/Opponent HR
Multi-homer games
Games with No HR (either by subject team or combined subject team and opponent)
Consecutive Games with HR
HR vs. Opposing Teams
Player Chronological HR Record
Player HR Record by Month
Player HR Record by Opposing Team
Combined Player Record
First-half/Second-half production
Head-to-Head HR for and against

    Each category required its own various “checks and balances” in order to ensure the greatest possible accuracy. As time-consuming as it is, this process is vital to the integrity of the account.

    Issues within these various categories invariably arose which prompted a review of the data to see where the breach may have occurred. Oftentimes the culprit was located quickly; in other instances it seemed to take forever. 

    Once this step was completed, a summary section for computing averages was created for the team’s combined chronological production, its home production, and its production on the road. A collective summary section was created along the same lines for opposing teams. Summary sections looked like this (this example from the Combined Chronological record for 1936 Milwaukee):

    These data structures provided the foundation upon which the home run record for each franchise could be accounted for.

    Once the work began, it was organized along the same pattern for each of the four teams. Here is the table of contents for Vol. 17, No. 2 which shows each category presented for analysis for each subject team:

 

 

    The 1955 Minneapolis Millers are highlighted in this issue on account of their all-time league record 242 home runs. The section is more comprehensive than the others, including extra attention to key player performances and the topic of home run potency. It also includes 13 tables covering such topics as the 1955 team’s home runs by player age and the all-time franchise leaders, shown below:

 

    A special section analyzing the club’s 55 home runs during the month of August (the club’s maximum that year) provides a an in-depth slice of history for a close-up view of the Millers' amazing home run production in 1955.
    Finally, four player “homerographies” are included in a full-color centerfold. Each presents a complete chronological home run listing of the five leading players from the featured teams in this issue. The players are St. Paul’s Jim Baxes (22 HR), Louisville’s Dick Gernert (24), Toledo’s George Crowe (34) and the 31 HR belonging to both Bob Lennon and George Wilson of Minneapolis.
    

    Sample pages:

 

 

    The Fall 2021 issue of the American Association Almanac is available at $15.00 per issue. Get 25% off with a one-year subscription ($26.00) or 50% off with a two-year subscription ($44.00). Email Rex Hamann at rex457@gmail.com with inquiries or to place an order.

 

 

The 1955 Minneapolis Millers whose 242 home runs in 1955 established

the league's all-time record.

 

 

 

 (copyright 2021 by Rex Hamann and the American Association Almanac)