There was a time in the history of baseball when the home run was sacred and sometimes elusive. I was born in the 1980s and grew up in the 1990s. As far back as I can remember, a player who hit over 40 home runs was considered a very great hitter with potential to enter the Hall of Fame. In this day in age, hitting 40 home runs is like fixing a bowl of cereal, so easy that a child can do it.

The 1990s bought in an era where home runs began to happen as often as the sun came out. However, baseball saw the same thing happen during the 1920s. The home run production increased by about 50% over 1920, but that was largely due to the emergence of Babe Ruth. The increased home run totals in the 1990s can be blamed on steroid use, but the expansion of baseball teams also helped create the home run boost. When the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Rays joined in the 1990s, those teams were filled with mediocre players, making it easier for home run hitters to knock the ball out the park.

The common theory about the rise of home runs during the 1990s is the heavy use of steroids used mostly by hitters. However, pitchers were using steroids too, which can make it easier for hitters. If a pitcher is using steroids, that means he’ll throw harder, making their fastball’s go even faster, which is a power hitters dream. From 1989 to 2000, the number of home runs increased by 50%, but was it because of steroid use or lack of talent on the pitchers end of the deal? Both reason are valid.

It is really interesting when you think about the how many players were bulking up during the 1990s. Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa are three prime examples of players who by the end of their careers, looked like the Incredible Hulk. McGwire had always been a power hitter during his early days with the Oakland A’s and the same goes for Barry Bonds and his early days with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sosa, however wasn’t recognized until he started hitting all those home runs. All three of these players were cited for using performance enhancing drugs. All three have denied taking steroids.

It’s easy to make a connection between steroids and the increased numbers of home runs hit over the past 20 years. However, since MLB Commissioner Bud Selig started punishing players for using performance enhancing drugs in 2005, the number of home runs dropped.

Home Runs have always been the most exciting part of baseball, even though most pitchers will disagree, but the average fan wants to see someone hit the ball out of the park. If more players are hitting home runs, the more people will flock to the park causing an increase in company sponsorships, making more money for the owners. The end result is players signing larger contracts. It works for everybody.

- John A. Roberts

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Tags | Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Baseball, Bud Selig, Hall of Fame, homeruns, Mark McGwire, MLB, Oakland A's, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh pirates, Sammy Sosa, steroids