Why Do the Home Run Records of Hank Aaron, Roger Maris, and Babe Ruth Still Stand With Shorter Seasons?

Before steroids, Roger Maris’s record of sixty-one home runs entered the books with an asterisk because of the longer length of the baseball season by 1961.

Babe Ruth hit sixty home runs in 1927 during a shorter season.

Most sports fans overlook the fact that Maris broke Ruth’s seasonal record with five fewer at-bats.

And although Hank Aaron has more lifetime homers than Babe Ruth, the Bambino made almost four thousand fewer trips to the plate.

Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961 with 684 at-bats.

Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927 with 689 at-bats. He accomplished 714 career home runs over the course of 8,399 at-bats.

Hank Aaron hit 45 home runs in 1962. He batted 755 career home runs over 12,364 at-bats.