On Sept. 15, Nationals star outfielder Bryce Harper added another milestone to his All-Star season when he clubbed his 40th homer of the year off Justin De Fratus of the Phillies. His 40th knock came at the age of 22 years, 335 days, making him the sixth youngest player in major league history to reach 40 homers in a single season. Hall of Famer Mel Ott is the youngest player to reach the 40-homer level when he was 20 years, 203 days at the time he belted his 40th homer of the season in 1929 for the New York Giants.
Only six players have hit their 40th homer in a single year before the age of 23, a feat matched seven times—Eddie Mathews did it twice before his 23rd birthday. Alex Rodriguez has been reported to have matched this mark, but he celebrated his first 40-homer campaign in 1998—and during that year, he clubbed his 40th homer of the season on Sept. 19 when he was 23 years and 54 days old.
The most homers for a player before the age of 23 is 47 by Mathews in 1953 with the Braves.
Only six players have hit their 40th homer in a single year before the age of 23, a feat matched seven times—Eddie Mathews did it twice before his 23rd birthday. Alex Rodriguez has been reported to have matched this mark, but he celebrated his first 40-homer campaign in 1998—and during that year, he clubbed his 40th homer of the season on Sept. 19 when he was 23 years and 54 days old.
The most homers for a player before the age of 23 is 47 by Mathews in 1953 with the Braves.