The last 40-40 man in the Majors was...

[The Jury]

Alex Rodriguez in 1998

I didn't know that

[TheRawDAWG]

In baseball history 40/40 is very rare. Although Vlad and Soriano have come oh so close recently. Was Canseco the first player to ever do it?

[mth1185]

40/40 has always been my favorite accomplishment in the game. So elusive... I think Canseco was the first but I also remember that Bobby Bonds first made people believe it was even possible. Of course I am no baseball historian and may be disputed on both claims.

[LCBOY]

Canseco, 1988
Barry Bonds, 1996
Alex Rodriguez, 1998

In 1973 Bobby Bonds should have been the first. He had 39 HRs and 43 steals. He lost one HR due to rain. His 1973 season was a good one

.283/.370/.530, 131 runs, 182 hits 96 RBI, 34 doubles, 39 HRs, 43 SB, 341 Total bases. And this is from a leadoff guy!! Can you imagine what he could have done today where HRs are so easy and cheap?

[Sox FANatic001]

and the first, and only to go 500/500...

barry bonds

[wkelly91]

Close, but no cigar!

1956 Willie Mays 36-40
1957 Willie Mays 35-38
1970 Tommy Harper 31-38
1975 Mike Schmidt 38-29
1987 Eric Davis 37-50
1987 Juan Samuel 28-35
1995 Sammy Sosa 36-34

Willie Mays would dwarf Barry Bonds if he played in todays game.

[MurderersRow]

Bonds is so slow nowadays.
His range in left field is a fraction of what it once was.

I think it has to do with his conditioning and old age.

[Vladdy the Impaler]

[quote] 1956 Willie Mays 36-40
1957 Willie Mays 35-38
1970 Tommy Harper 31-38
1975 Mike Schmidt 38-29
1987 Eric Davis 37-50
1987 Juan Samuel 28-35
1995 Sammy Sosa 36-34 [quote]



wow... SOLID RESEARCH wkelly!!

yeah... vlad should've been on this list too, but got screwed w/ HR #40 that actually went over the fence and back in the outfield... dont remember where it was, but i remember vlad being snubbed.

[bell]

Close, but no cigar!

1956 Willie Mays 36-40
1957 Willie Mays 35-38
1970 Tommy Harper 31-38
1975 Mike Schmidt 38-29
1987 Eric Davis 37-50
1987 Juan Samuel 28-35
1995 Sammy Sosa 36-34

Willie Mays would dwarf Barry Bonds if he played in todays game.

You could replace Schmidt and Samuel with Soriano twice, who was closer than either of those two.

[LBJackal]

Close, but no cigar!

1956 Willie Mays 36-40
1957 Willie Mays 35-38
1970 Tommy Harper 31-38
1975 Mike Schmidt 38-29
1987 Eric Davis 37-50
1987 Juan Samuel 28-35
1995 Sammy Sosa 36-34

Willie Mays would dwarf Barry Bonds if he played in todays game.

You can't compare Mays and Bonds. Bonds is far and away the best player of his generation. How can you say somebody would be better than him? Even if Mays was the best player in his generation, that still puts him in the same class as Bonds. It's not like Mays was so much better than everybody else in baseball like Ruth was.

And 500/500 will NEVER be done again. Let alone 700/500 which Bonds will probably reach this season.