Most Career HR at each batting order position

[GiambiJuice]

Name the player with the most career home runs in each spot of the batting order.

I'll start with Rickey Henderson in the leadoff spot since I think this fact is very well known.

batting 1st - Rickey Henderson (293)
batting 2nd - Ryne Sandberg (186)
batting 3rd - Babe Ruth (549*)
batting 4th - Lou Gehrig (383)
batting 5th - Jimmie Foxx (203)
batting 6th - Graig Nettles (143)
batting 7th - Javy Lopez (84)
batting 8th - Del Crandall (109)
batting 9th - Rick Dempsey and Mike Bordick (42)

* since 1919

[Joltin' Joe]

I'm going to guess that #3 is Ruth?

[GiambiJuice]

I'm going to guess that #3 is Ruth?

Babe Ruth is correct. The Babe had at least 549 HR batting in the #3 spot. I say "at least" because the Baseball-Reference play index begins in 1919. Ken Griffey Jr. is 2nd place with 530 HR in the #3 spot.

[PVNICK]

Gehrig 4, Wes Ferrell or Warren Spahn 9

[GiambiJuice]

Gehrig 4, Wes Ferrell or Warren Spahn 9

Gehrig is correct at #4. His 383 HR in the cleanup spot places him just 10 HR ahead of Manny Ramirez who is in 2nd place with 373.

Ferrell and Spahn at #9 are incorrect. There are 2 players tied with 42 HR in the #9 spot and neither one was a pitcher.

[ian2813]

There are 2 players tied with 42 HR in the #9 spot and neither one was a pitcher.

Didn't Kevin Elster hit a bunch of homers from the #9 spot?

[PVNICK]

#2 Dwight Evans?

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Joe Morgan at #2?

[GiambiJuice]

Didn't Kevin Elster hit a bunch of homers from the #9 spot?

Elster had 23 HR from the #9 spot - tied for 23rd place.

[GiambiJuice]

#2 Dwight Evans?

Joe Morgan at #2?

Both are incorrect. Good guesses, though. Evans is 7th all time from the #2 spot with 99 HR and Morgan is 6th all-time with 112 HR.

[ian2813]

I'm trying to think of who would be the leaders for the number 6-8 spots. I'm guessing they'd likely be solid power hitters who spent most of their careers on teams with stacked lineups.

[ian2813]

Derek Jeter for #2?
Jorge Posada for #6?

[GiambiJuice]

Derek Jeter for #2?
Jorge Posada for #6?

Excellent guesses but both are incorrect. Jeter is 3rd in career HR from the #2 spot and Posada is 2nd in career HR from the #6 spot.

[GiambiJuice]

Here are some hints for the #9 spot. Two players are tied with 42 HR from that spot.

One guy played in 24 seasons over 4 different decades but never had more than 500 PA in a season.
The other guy was a SS who was once traded mid-season and ended up playing in a Subway Series that year (for the losing team).

[Utter Chaos]

Here are some hints for the #9 spot. Two players are tied with 42 HR from that spot.

One guy played in 24 seasons over 4 different decades but never had more than 500 PA in a season.
The other guy was a SS who was once traded mid-season and ended up playing in a Subway Series that year (for the losing team).

The first guy sounds like it might be Rick Dempsey.