Will Giancarlo Stanton hit 62 home runs? - A Hunt and Peck

According to Baseball Reference, Giancarlo Stanton is currently on pace to hit 61 home runs in 2017. For those in the know about baseball records, that would tie him with Roger Maris, whose 1961 season total of 61 dingers puts him at number seven on the list, behind only Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds. Many baseball fans are aware of the allegations that have caused these three players records to be questioned. Some even go further to not acknowledge these records at all, calling Roger Maris the true home run leader. While the ethical question of the use of performance enhancing drugs diminishes the feats of these athletes is a part of a interesting and worthy discourse, the fact remains the record was broken. Records are context-less. That is the whole point. It is why as humans advance they continue to fall and be created anew. The fact that Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in 2001 does nothing to diminish the fact that Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961. It is just a cool fact to show off at parties. Or not.

So, with that being said, Giancarlo Stanton is on pace to hit 61 homers in 2017. Would that give him the home run record? No, but it would be the most home runs someone has hit since 2001. And that would be pretty darn cool.

Single-Season Leaders & Records for Home Runs | Baseball-Reference.com

Giancarlo Stanton broke the right-field camera with his 53rd home run of the year | MLB.com

what else is going on in baseball...

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• The unlikely story of how No. 762 became Barry Bonds' final home run | ESPN

what the cardinals are up to...

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KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the san diego padres

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• Cards Beat Padres 2-0 Behind Martinez CGSO | Viva El Birdos
• Cardinals should destroy the Padres | Viva El Birdos
• Series preview: Cardinals at San Diego | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

the nl central

• Kris Bryant homers as Cubs win fourth straight | MLB.com
• Cubs reach high point with 5th win in a row | MLB.com
• Jake Arrieta leaves Cubs game with leg injury | SBNation.com
• After hitting a home run, Joey Votto gave his bat and jersey to a young Reds fan | MLB.com
• Jimmy Nelson and Brewers shut out Nationals | MLB.com
• Why the Pirates Gifted Juan Nicasio | FanGraphs Baseball

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