Most home runs in a single season by team

For the third year in a row, a storied franchise has a new single-season home run leader.

On Sept. 19, first-year Dodger Shohei Ohtani hit his 49th, 50th and 51st home runs of the year against the Marlins at loanDepot park in Miami to tie and then immediately surpass the franchise's single-season record, previously held by Shawn Green (49 HR in 2001.) His 50th home run also checked another exclusive box, as it made Ohtani the first player in Major League history ever to record a 50-HR, 50-SB season.

Ohtani is just the latest hitter to shatter his team's single-season mark. Matt Olson did it by hitting 54 home runs for the Braves in 2023, and Aaron Judge did it for the Yankees in 2022 with his AL-record 62 homers; 20 of the 30 franchises have seen new records since 2000.

Here’s a breakdown of the players who hold each franchise's single-season home run record.

AL East

Blue Jays: José Bautista, 54 (2010)

Bautista bashed 97 home runs between the 2010 and 2011 seasons, leading MLB both years; his 54-homer 2010 campaign remains a Blue Jays record. Bautista averaged nearly 30 home runs a year across 10 seasons with Toronto, in which he made six straight All-Star appearances from 2010 to 2015 and finished third in 2011 AL MVP Award voting.
Runner-up: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 48 (2021)

Orioles: Chris Davis, 53 (2013)

One of MLB’s top power hitters of the mid-2010s, Davis’ peak came in 2013, when he led MLB with 53 homers and 138 RBIs. He finished third in AL MVP voting that year, behind a pair of stellar seasons from winner Miguel Cabrera and runner-up Mike Trout. Davis also led MLB in home runs in 2015, but 2013 was his lone All-Star season.
Runner-up: Brady Anderson, 50 (1996)

Rays: Carlos Pena, 46 (2007)

Of the eight teams he played for, Pena spent the most time with the Rays, playing five of his 14 seasons with Tampa Bay. He amassed 168 home runs -- more than half of his career total -- with the Rays, including a franchise-record 46 in 2007. Alex Rodriguez (54), Prince Fielder (50) and Ryan Howard (47) all outhomered Pena that year. The Rays slugger led the American League in homers in 2009, when he hit 39.
Runners-up: Pena (2009) and Brandon Lowe (2021), 39

Red Sox: David Ortiz, 54 (2006)

A list of legendary names could’ve taken this spot, as each of Jimmie Foxx, Jim Rice, Manny Ramirez, Mo Vaughn and Carl Yastrzemski had a season with Boston finishing within 10 homers of Ortiz’s total. But Big Papi took the cake here, being at the top of his powers in his age-30 season. 2006 was in the middle of a four-season streak of top-four MVP finishes for Ortiz, one that was bookended by World Series wins in 2004 and 2007. As for the 2006 MVP race, he finished third behind Justin Morneau and Derek Jeter despite leading the AL in homers and RBIs (137).
Runner-up: Jimmie Foxx, 50 (1938)

Yankees: Aaron Judge, 62 (2022)

It’s no secret that the Yankees have the most competitive race here. Between Judge, Roger Maris and Babe Ruth, the Yankees have half of the players in MLB history to hit 60 homers in a season (others are Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire). But after Judge hit No. 62 on Oct. 5, 2022, he surpassed Maris for both the all-time franchise and all-time AL records. There’s no shortage of fun facts regarding Judge’s historic season, but here’s a good starting point.
Runner-up: Roger Maris, 61 (1961)

AL Central

Guardians: Jim Thome, 52 (2002)

One of only nine players in the 600-HR club, Thome is among the greatest power hitters the sport has ever seen. But he was never better than he was in his final season with Cleveland in 2002, when he had a career-high 52 dingers and also led the AL in slugging percentage (.677) and OPS (1.122). Thome surprised the MLB world by signing with the Phillies after that season, and while he did some good things there, his peak run of dominance came in his decade-plus with Cleveland.
Runner-up: Albert Belle, 50 (1995)

Royals: Jorge Soler (2019) and Salvador Perez (2021), 48

Perez and Soler were teammates in Kansas City from 2017-21, and they are far ahead of any other Royals, as no other player in team history has had more than 38 homers in a season. First came Soler, who picked up the slack in a major way when Perez missed the entire 2019 season due to an elbow injury. Soler’s breakout came out of nowhere, as he never had more than 12 homers in a season from 2014-18. Two years later, Perez had his own breakout year, setting the all-time AL/NL record for most home runs by a catcher in a season.
Runner-up: Mike Moustakas, 38 (2017)

Tigers: Hank Greenberg, 58 (1938)

It’s difficult to set a record that lasts for 85 years in anything in life, let alone a home run record in a sport that has seen vastly increased power numbers since the early 1900s. (For frame of reference, the average MLB game in 1938 saw a combined 1.21 homers, compared to 2.38 in 2023.) But that’s exactly what the original “Hammerin’ Hank” has managed to do, thanks to a stellar 1938 season in which he led MLB in both home runs and walks (with 119). Greenberg won two MVP Awards in his career; strangely, neither one came in the season he hit 58 homers or the season he had 184 RBIs (1937).
Runner-up: Cecil Fielder, 51 (1990)

Twins: Harmon Killebrew, 49 (1964 and 1969)

You think it’s cool that Killebrew has the record in two separate seasons? It doesn’t stop there. In fact, Killebrew is responsible for each of the six highest single-season home run totals in franchise history, having 44 or more homers in six different years of the 1960s. (The most by a player not named Killebrew is 42, by Brian Dozier in 2016.) While he had 49 homers in both 1964 and 1969, the latter season was the better one in other ways for Killebrew, as he won the AL MVP Award and the Twins won the first-ever AL West title.
Runner-up: Killebrew, 48 (1962)

White Sox: Albert Belle, 49 (1998)

Given some of the other numbers we saw around the sport in 1998 (more on that later), Belle’s total of 49 might not sound spectacular in comparison. But it still was enough to set the White Sox franchise record, and it was also one shy of Belle’s career high, set when he led MLB with 50 home runs in 1995 with Cleveland (also a franchise record at the time). Belle led the AL in slugging percentage (.655) and OPS (1.055) for a White Sox team that finished with a record that you don’t see every day: 80-82-1.
Runner-up: Jermaine Dye, 44 (2006)

AL West

Angels: Troy Glaus, 47 (2000)

The Angels’ two current superstars have both knocked on the door in recent years, with Trout hitting 45 home runs in 2019 and Ohtani hitting 46 two years later. But for now, Glaus reigns supreme with his career-high 47 homers in his third MLB season. That may not be the case for long, though, as Ohtani has Glaus well within his sights.
Runner-up: Shohei Ohtani, 46 (2021)

Astros: Jeff Bagwell, 47 (2000)

It wouldn’t be surprising if Yordan Alvarez threatens this one the next time he has a healthy season, but for the past two decades and change, it’s been Bagwell’s title. Although he remarkably didn’t make the All-Star team, he still led MLB with 152 runs in 2000, to go with his career-high 47 homers and a 1.039 OPS. The Astros finished 72-90, the lone blip in a five-year stretch when they made the playoffs four times.
Runner-up: Lance Berkman, 45 (2006)

Athletics: Jimmie Foxx, 58 (1932)

Remarkably, someone has held his franchise’s record for even longer than the aforementioned Greenberg. Set back when the A’s played in Philadelphia, Foxx’s record is nearing its 100th birthday. Foxx had a staggering 17 more home runs than the second-place finisher in 1932 (Babe Ruth, 41), and he won the first of two consecutive (and three total) MVP Awards. Foxx led MLB in both home runs and RBIs in both 1932 and 1933, also winning the AL Triple Crown in 1933.
Runner-up: Mark McGwire, 52 (1996)

Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr., 56 (1997 and 1998)

Like Killebrew with the Twins, Griffey dominates the Mariners’ record books in terms of home runs. He owns the top five single-season homer totals in Seattle’s history, all accomplished within a seven-year span. Griffey reached his apex with 56 homers apiece in 1997 and again in 1998, leading the AL in homers both years and topping the Majors in RBIs in ‘97. No other Mariner has yet to record a season with 45 or more home runs.
Runner-up: Griffey, 49 (1996)

Rangers: Alex Rodriguez, 57 (2002)

After signing what was then the biggest contract in sports history, Rodriguez made sure the Rangers got their money’s worth. In his second year of the 10-year deal -- after setting the new franchise single-season home run record with 52 homers in 2001 -- Rodriguez one-upped himself with an MLB-best 57. He also led MLB in RBIs and won the AL Gold Glove at shortstop but still finished second in AL MVP Award voting to Oakland’s Miguel Tejada.
Runner-up: Rodriguez, 52 (2001)

NL East

Braves: Matt Olson (2023), 54

Wait, Hank Aaron doesn’t hold the record? It might seem impossible given that all but 22 of Aaron’s 755 career homers came with the Braves, but indeed, the edge goes to Olson, as Aaron never had more than 47 home runs in a season. Olson tied Andruw Jones with 51 home runs on Sept. 12 in Philadelphia and broke the record with No. 52 four days later in Miami. The lefty slugger blew way past his previous career high of 39 home runs in the 2021 season.
Runner-up: Andruw Jones (2005), 51

Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton, 59 (2017)

What was prime Stanton capable of when he stayed healthy for a full year? In 2017, we got to find out -- and it was spectacular. His 59 homers are 17 more than any other Marlins player has ever had in a season and seven more than the next-closest MLB player in 2017 -- then-rookie and current Yankees teammate Judge. Also leading MLB with 132 RBIs, Stanton edged Joey Votto in an extremely close MVP race, fulfilling the potential that had been obvious to the baseball world for years.
Runner-up: Gary Sheffield, 42 (1996)

Mets: Pete Alonso, 53 (2019)

Can Pete Alonso take down Pete Alonso? That’s the million-dollar question, as the 2023 version of Alonso has a shot to break his own mark. As for the 2019 version, Alonso emerged with a debut season for the ages, setting the all-time rookie record with 53 home runs, one higher than Judge in 2017. He also became the first rookie to lead MLB outright in home runs, setting the tone for a career that has been dominant ever since then.
Runners-up: Carlos Beltrán (2006) and Todd Hundley (1996), 41

Nationals: Alfonso Soriano, 46 (2006)

Soriano is better known for his time with the Yankees and Cubs, but he managed to make some history in his lone season with the Nationals. His 46 home runs remain the single-season franchise record; with a career-high 41 steals, Soriano also became one of four members of the elite 40-40 club. Soriano finished his 16-year career with 412 homers, but he never hit more than 40 in any other season.
Runner-up: Vladimir Guerrero, 44 (2000)

Phillies: Ryan Howard, 58 (2006)

Who knows where Howard’s career might have gone if he hadn’t torn his Achilles on the final out of a 1-0 loss in Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS against the Cardinals? All we know is that he was on an elite trajectory up to that point. Howard had at least 30 homers in each of his first six full seasons (2006-11). He had 279 homers in his first 1,000 games, the most by any player in the Modern Era (since 1900). But 2006 was as good as it got, as Howard led MLB in home runs and RBIs (149) to take home NL MVP honors in his third season.
Runners-up: Mike Schmidt (1980) and Howard (2008), 48

NL Central

Brewers: Prince Fielder, 50 (2007)

Fielder was among MLB’s most feared power hitters in his heyday, and 2007 was when he burst onto the scene, having his first of what ended up being six consecutive 30-HR seasons. He finished third in a close NL MVP race, trailing Jimmy Rollins and Matt Holliday. While the Brewers didn't make the playoffs, they did have their first winning season since going 92-70 in 1992.
Runner-up: Fielder, 46 (2009)

Cardinals: Mark McGwire, 70 (1998)

In 1998, McGwire and Sammy Sosa went toe to toe in an all-time battle, as it became increasingly clear that both would break Roger Maris’ single-season record of 61. McGwire ended up prevailing by becoming the sport’s first-ever 70-homer hitter. He followed it up with 65 more homers the following year -- 16 clear of Pujols, whose 49 homers in 2006 rank third in Cards history.
Runner-up: McGwire, 65 (1999)

Cubs: Sammy Sosa, 66 (1998)

Even though McGwire won the legendary 1998 home run race, Sosa took home NL MVP honors that season, leading the Majors in runs (134) and RBIs (158). The Cubs slugger went on to also have 64 home runs in 2001, becoming the only player ever to hit the 60 mark three times. Sosa finished his career with 609 homers, including seven seasons of 40 or more.
Runner-up: Sosa, 64 (2001)

Pirates: Ralph Kiner, 54 (1949)

For Kiner, the 1949 season was just more of the same. Kiner managed to lead the NL in home runs in each of his first seven seasons (1946-52), although he didn’t win MVP in any of them. In 1949 specifically, he led the NL in homers, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage and OPS, but he finished fourth on the MVP ballot, with Jackie Robinson taking the award home. Kiner’s record hasn’t been in danger in a long time, as no Pirates player has even had 40 home runs in a year since Willie Stargell’s 44 in 1973.
Runner-up: Kiner, 51 (1947)

Reds: George Foster, 52 (1977)

Foster played a key role on the Reds teams that won World Series in both 1975 and 1976. But even though Cincinnati missed the postseason in 1977, it was Foster’s best season from an individual standpoint. He led MLB with 52 homers and 149 RBIs, both of which were career highs, en route to winning the NL MVP Award. Foster was threatened by Eugenio Suárez, who had 49 homers in 2019, but he remains the only player in franchise history to hit the half-century mark.
Runners-up: Ted Kluszewski (1954) and Eugenio Suárez (2019), 49

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez, 57 (2001)

Is it possible to have a better blend of individual and team success than Gonzalez did in 2001? If so, not by much. We’ll start with the regular season, when Gonzalez hit 57 home runs -- 26 more than he had in any other year of his 19-season career. He finished third in NL MVP voting behind Bonds and Sosa, but what Gonzalez had that those two didn’t was postseason glory. The 33-year-old led Arizona to its first and still only World Series win, capping it all off with an iconic walk-off single off Mariano Rivera to take down the mighty Yankees in Game 7 and end New York's bid for a four-peat.
Runner-up: Mark Reynolds, 44 (2009)

Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (2024), 54

Ohtani's 2024 season -- his first in a Dodgers uniform -- will go down as one of the best offensive performances of all time. His franchise record-breaking 50th home run of the year came as part of an incredible day at the plate, as he went 6-for-6 with two doubles, three homers, two stolen bases and 10 RBIs, and sealed the deal on the first 50-50 season in MLB history.
Runner-up: Shawn Green, 49 (2001)

Giants: Barry Bonds, 73 (2001)

Naturally, MLB’s all-time single-season and career home run leader holds the Giants record. More than 20 years later, Bonds’ tremendous 2001 campaign is more than 20 homers above second-place Willie Mays in the Giants’ record book, and no one has hit more than 64 homers since Bonds’ record-setting campaign. In addition to his 73 homers, Bonds also led MLB in walks, something he did eight times during his career.
Runner-up: Willie Mays, 52 (1965)

Padres: Greg Vaughn, 50 (1998)

After totaling 41 home runs between the Brewers and Padres in 1996, Vaughn’s power dropped off the next year, as he hit just 18 homers in 120 games. But Vaughn rebounded to post his career-best season, a 50-homer campaign that earned him his third All-Star nod and still tops the Padres’ record book. Recently, Fernando Tatis Jr. has come closest, but Vaughn still holds a comfortable lead.
Runner-up: Fernando Tatis Jr., 42 (2021)

Rockies: Larry Walker (1997) and Todd Helton (2001), 49

With the Rockies having been established only 30 years ago, these two players were cornerstones of the franchise’s early days, and they were in fact teammates from 1997-2003. First came Walker, who blasted a career-high 49 homers and led MLB with a 1.172 OPS en route to winning NL MVP honors in 1997 over a group including Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Bonds. Four years later, Helton came along with his own 49-homer season, with Walker putting up a respectable 38 dingers in the same season to boot.
Runner-up: Andres Galarraga, 47 (1996)