Best Home Run Swings (of my generation)
I've wanted to write about this specific topic since the day I started this site. I also have come to terms with The Batting Stance Guy and his ability to steal my thunder (by "steal my thunder", I mean he figured out how to get rich and famous at something I've been known for my entire life by my peers...so hats off to him). So, naturally, the next idea would be to blog about the best home run swings of my generation. I'm using 1989 as the cutoff year as I was 7 years old, and that is when I feel I started to grasp the beauty of the game of baseball. Let me explain the qualities that one must have while swinging a baseball bat and causing the miracle that is...a good looking home run.
1) "Awe factor" - Some hitters just flat out make your jaw drop every time they unload on a baseball. Others, strangely enough, hit home runs that just make you think "how did that swing produce that outcome?". A key element to the "awe factor" is leaving little doubt that the ball is leaving the park. Not every power hitter has this ability, but if you do, it's a hell of an item to add to your brag book. To me, that special "awe factor" is only obtained by the gifted...and is extremely key to making the list below.
2) Smoothness - Different than the above "awe factor" because some hitters have "sweet" swings...while others don't. It might not stop you in your tracks, but you acknowledge the phenomenon of such a skill. But not all smoothness swings result in power. Jon Olerud will not be found on this list, but his stroke was something I could watch time and time again (that's what she said...). Joe Mauer will also not find his way on to this list due to similar reasons. Mauer has a great swing, but he hits some ugly home runs that leave you wondering if he was trying to hit a home run or line drive single.
3) Follow through - Some of the greatest hitters have some of the greatest follow throughs with their home runs. Some have some down right awful follow throughs (they will be featured in my follow up post: Ten worst home run swings of my generation). Left handed hitters have a HUGE advantage with follow throughs as they get to step towards first when finishing up their swing. I tried to not let lefties dominate the list...but it wasn't easy.
4) "Fear Factor" - Some hitters are just flat out power hitters. Sure, they may strike out more times than the average quality hitter, but every time they step in the box...the pitcher gains a few more sweat buds down the back of his neck. They are also the hitters that bring that "ooooh man...this could be a game changer moment" feeling to you every time he comes to bat in the late innings (regardless of how his current season is going). Lastly, to gain the "fear factor" receptiveness...you also gain the "it's OK" status when you do strikeout or not deliver a home run. Some hitters NEVER gain this status from the fans due to their lack of the before mentioned qualities of a true home run hitter (Delmon Young would be a great example).
Hopefully I explained myself with enough detail above to guide you through the list below. You may not agree with me...but you should at least be able to give each hitter a "touche" after checking out the list. And the list is...
10. Adam Dunn:
Every time Adam Dunn swings a bat, you expect one of two things: a hard hit ball or a swing and a miss. You know what? I don't care. I'd take him on the Twins roster any day of the week. The "awe factor" combined with his "fear factor" alone are enough to put him on the list. He may not be the most marketable guy, but NEVER has steroids been mentioned with him...and you have to give him props for that.
9. Manny Ramirez
Hands down, one of the best hitters in the history of baseball. It hurts me to know that he used steroids because I believe he didn't need to. He has a great swing that every pitcher in baseball fears. Sure, maybe his "Manny Swagger" is a bit too much for some...but all he does is produce...steroids or not. He is one of the pioneers of the "follow through"...because only the guy at #1 on this list has a better follow through than Manny.
8. Rafael Palmeiro
This one may surprise some people. Put aside a few things...like the porn star mustache (which he wears very well), the steroids, the lying to the grand jury, the Viagra commercials (ok, so he gets props for publicly speaking about his problems with...um...that), and you have a fantastic home run swing. Maybe I moved him up the list from honorable mention to #8 due to the fact that I love imitating his swing. Palmerio took the exact same swing at every baseball...so it seemed. He may have lacked some of the "awe factor", but he definitely mastered the qualities of smoothness, follow through and "fear factor". And lets not forget...he hit A LOT of home runs. 569 to be exact. Steroids or not...that's a lot of home runs.
7. Justin Morneau
Let me explain myself on this one. Yes, maybe this choice comes with a little "homerness"...but can you really argue? What's most impressive to me is that Morneau isn't your typical home run hitter. He doesn't hit 40+ home runs year in and year out. That doesn't mean he doesn't have to the power to do so...he's just a quality power hitter. The Twins groom their hitters to hit to all parts of the field. Morneau grooms himself to hit the ball hard every time...regardless of where it ends up. But when he turns on an inside fastball and crushes one to right field...ooooo0000ooo my word. The sound of the ball hitting Morneau's bat is sick. Add to that the "awe" and "fear" factor that he has, he easily deserves to be #7 on my list.
6. Barry Bonds
Aaaahh yes...now we're getting in to the purely iconic home run swings of my generation. It kills me that Barry Bonds allegedly used steroids to enhance his power.......because HE DIDN'T HAVE TO! Ever since his days at Arizona State University, he was a true power hitter. Again, not just a home run hitter...but a power hitter. Who doesn't love Bonds' follow through? I have mimicked that swing and follow through thousands of times. Even is PRE swing routine was classic. Clearly he had the "awe" and and "fear" going on, but his smoothness was overlooked. He made it look so effortless...and steroids don't swing the bat for you. And for that, I tip my hat to Barry Bonds.
5. Joe Carter
I'll admit it...Joe Carter was a man crush of mine when I was 10 years old. I liked the Blue Jays (except during the 1991 ALCS) and they were fun to watch. Carter was a fun guy and had a basic, yet dynamic swing. I moved him ahead of Bonds for one reason: THE home run (shown in the photo above). Carter was also a right handed hitter...and that makes the follow through aspect hard to achieve. But he did it...with ease. He was feared and he hit almost 400 home runs. Maybe not the sexiest swing to be at #5, but had Barry Bonds hit a World Series ending home run, he'd have the upper hand on Carter. But if you were a baseball fan in the 80's and 90's...you enjoyed watching Joe Carter hit mammoth home runs.
4. Darryl Strawberry
If you didn't enjoy watching Darrly Strawberry hit home runs...you don't enjoy baseball. Straw's swing was similar to Bonds in that his pre swing was classic, his power through the zone was awesome, and his follow through was effortless. Strawberry is hands down one of the best swings you can watch or imitate. Not only that, but if I grabbed a bat and asked an above average baseball fan (who watched baseball in the 80's and 90's) whose swing I was doing...they'd probably answer correctly. Even Strawberry's swing on RBI BASEBALL for the original Nintendo was crazy good! I honestly remember myself stopping in my tracks during "This Week In Baseball" when they featured him...it was that great of a swing. Legendary.
3. Jim Thome
It's unfortunate that it took until 2010 to get Jim Thome in Twins uniform. He's only been killing the Twins since the early 90's! That's probably one of the reasons I absolutely LOVE watching Jim Thome hit home runs...because he hit so many agains the Twins! I was at the game in the Metrodome when he hit the white curtain in the upper deck of right center field...............twice. As far as raw power goes, Thome pretty much tops the list. Unless he hits one the opposite way (which showcases power), 99% of Thome's home runs are "no doubters". Probably one of the best pre swing routines of all time as well. And if you go back and watch some of his early swings, they don't look all that different. He's had that same stroke since he put on a major league uniform. I am glad he's in a Twins uniform this year, because he is already showing how feared he was/is to opposing pitchers. And to top it off...my left handed swing during my bar league softball games look identical sort of like Thome's, but without the results.
2. Albert Pujols
There isn't much to be said about this guy...he's border line non human. Albert Pujols is the classic example of an iconic hitter. It's hard to even call him a power hitter because he hits the ball with a force that is almost harder than "power" (if that's even possible). He openly admits he doesn't try to hit home runs when he steps up to the plate. Stop for a second.............he says what? OK, well that makes me feel like an idiot as I am ALWAYS trying to hit a home run when I play softball and don't look nearly as good as he does when I actually do hit one. His pre swing is great, his follow through is off the charts and his "fear factor" is second to none. But what I love most about Pujols is his "awe factor". Who doesn't remember that home run vs Brad Lidge and the Astros in the playoffs a few years ago? When Pujols lays in to baseball...you almost feel bad for that ball. And how about those first few steps he takes, holding on to the bat with one hand, after he hits a moon shot? It's a sight that non baseball fans can appreciate. Who in the world can top Albert Pujols and his home run swing of my generation?? It's not even close...(see below)
1. Ken Griffey Jr.
This isn't negotiable. Anyone who is a fan of baseball knows the swing of Ken Griffey Jr. Take a minute after reading this to search Google Images for Ken Griffey Jr. The above photo shows the pose you'll see in 90% of the results. He made every home run look so easy. If he could have avoided the injuries he had, we'd be plugged in to the "Ken Griffery Jr. chase for #755"...with no steroid ties. Think about that...a major league baseball HOME RUN RECORD being broken by a guy that hasn't been linked to performance enhancing drugs. It'd be bigger than McGuire/Sosa of '98 and Bonds' accomplishments COMBINED. Lets check his resume: Smoothness? #1. Follow through? #1. "Awe Factor"? #1. "Fear Factor"? #1. It's not even close. Go ahead, ask any 26 to 34 year old who they think has the best HR swing since 1989...their answer will be Ken Griffery Jr. I almost teared up this year when "The Kid" announced his retirement...he was THE baseball idol of my childhood, and what better role model for kids to look up to. Many can mimic his swing, but none can duplicate it.
Honorable Mention: Juan Gonzalez, Albert Belle, Will Clark, Fred McGriff, Kirby Puckett, Mark McGuire, Gary Sheffield, Robin Ventura, Alex Rodriguez, Tino Martinez, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Delgado, David Ortiz, Troy Glaus, Chipper Jones.
Working towards consideration: Josh Hamilton, Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Evan Longoria, Chase Utley, David Wright, Kendry Morales, Billy Butler, Mark Renyolds
Show/hide comments
written by BSG, July 01, 2010
For me, Will Clark was the best, but most the other guys have more awe factor.
nice job.
Keep making lists like this .
-
- +0
-
-
written by THE dw, July 01, 2010
Thanks again big guy...keep on keepin on.
-
- +0
-
-
Show/hide comment form
And with lists like this I prefer to delve back a little farther in time, that being said Prince Fielder has the most ridiculous uppercut violent homerun swing of anyone in the bunch. So fun to watch.
While I agree that Jr.'s is the smoothest we've ever seen, Bonds is a close second in my book.