[Mick]

Alright, the single season home run record now, which is held by Barry Bonds, who broke Mark McGuire’a record, who broke Roger Marris’ record, who broke Babe Ruth’s record. Ruth broke his own record three times, but whose record did Ruth break?

BC

Sticks in my head that it was someone named Ned Williamson.

EDIT: It was him, in 1884. Some interesting points:
1) At the time, the home team got to set rules. Cap Anson was the manager and captain and decided that balls hit over the fence would be home runs.
2) The fences at the CHicago park in 1884 were EXTREMELY short: 186 feet in left, 190 feet in right, 300 feet in center. They moved after that season.
3) 25 of Williamson's 27 home runs were hit at home in that tiny ballpark.
4) The prior season, Williamson set the record for doubles with 49, beating the prior record of 37.
5) Incidentally, Williamson never hit more than nine home runs or 27 doubles in any other season during his 13 year career.
6) He was a slick fielding third baseman, leading the league in assists five straight years.
7) He died at the age of 36, tuberculosis and edema. And he was in an unmarked grave until last November when SABR rectified that situation and noted his records on his headstone.
8) His background appears to be similar to that of Babe Ruth:
https://ripbaseball.com/2021/12/27/grave...1857-1894/

[Mick]

Alright, the single season home run record now, which is held by Barry Bonds, who broke Mark McGuire’a record, who broke Roger Marris’ record, who broke Babe Ruth’s record. Ruth broke his own record three times, but whose record did Ruth break?

BC

Sticks in my head that it was someone named Ned Williamson.

EDIT: It was him, in 1884. Some interesting points:
1) At the time, the home team got to set rules. Cap Anson was the manager and captain and decided that balls hit over the fence would be home runs.
2) The fences at the CHicago park in 1884 were EXTREMELY short: 186 feet in left, 190 feet in right, 300 feet in center. They moved after that season.
3) 25 of Williamson's 27 home runs were hit at home in that tiny ballpark.
4) The prior season, Williamson set the record for doubles with 49, beating the prior record of 37.
5) Incidentally, Williamson never hit more than nine home runs or 27 doubles in any other season during his 13 year career.
6) He was a slick fielding third baseman, leading the league in assists five straight years.
7) He died at the age of 36, tuberculosis and edema. And he was in an unmarked grave until last November when SABR rectified that situation and noted his records on his headstone.
8) His background appears to be similar to that of Babe Ruth:
https://ripbaseball.com/2021/12/27/grave...1857-1894/