MAYDAY!

The best hitters during the month of May in MLB history in chronological order.

Cy Williams 1923: The Phillies centerfielder batted .355 and holds a record with 44 RBIs during the fifth month of the year. Williams slammed fifteen home runs (tied for third all-time in May) and had 44 hits and eight doubles. Williams finished the year with a National League best 41 homers as he was one of the most prominent power hitters when baseball abandoned the dead-ball era and emerged into the live-ball era.

Ty Cobb 1925: The Tigers centerfielder drove in 43 runs May ’25 with 49 hits, eight doubles, eight triples, and The Georgia Peach scored 33 runs.

Babe Ruth 1928: The Sultan of Swat mashed fifteen home runs (tied for third most), drove in 36 runs, had 41 hits in only 99 at bats, batted .414, had an on base percentage of .547, a 1.000 slugging percentage and walked 28 times.

Jimmie Foxx 1932: During the Philadelphia Athletic first baseman’s first MVP season Foxx launched thirteen homers in May ’32, drove in 37 runs, notched 42 hits in 98 at bats, .429 BA, .517 OBP, .888 slugging, walked eighteen times and scored 32 runs in 27 games.

Hank Greenberg 1937: Hank Greenberg had 45 hits, walked twenty times with 42 RBIs, eight doubles, five triples, and scored 32 runs.

Ted Williams 1942: During the Splendid Splinter’s first Triple Crown season the lefty whacked twelve home runs with 41 RBIs, walked 24 times, had 38 hits in 101 at bats (.376/.496/.792) and crossed home plate 32 times.

Mickey Mantle 1956: The Mick hit sixteen home runs (tied for second all-time) and drove in 35 runs in May ’56 during his Triple Crown season. He knocked 48 hits, scored 35 runs, and slashed .414/.507/.879. The Commerce Comet became the first hitter ever to hit twenty home runs prior to the end of May. #7 pulverized a baseball on May 30^th at Yankee Stadium and hit the façade as the ball came inches from leaving the yard and if it didn’t thump the façade the ball was estimated to have traveled over 600 feet. May 18, 1956 the greatest switch hitter of all time became the all-time MLB home run leader for switch hitters.

Frank Thomas 1994: The Big Hurt slapped a dozen home runs and drove in 28. Thomas slashed a .452/.593/.988 and his 1.581 OPS is third all-time during the fifth month on the calendar.

Todd Helton 2000: The Rockies first baseman thrashed eleven home runs and 26 RBIs. His .564 batting average is the best in May ever and Helton’s 1.588 OPS is the highest ever in baseball history as well.

Barry Bonds 2001: The season he broke the single season home run record Bonds obliterated seventeen home runs May ’01 which is the all-time record for homers in May. Bonds drove in 30 runs, and slashed a .369/.547/1.036 and a 1.583 OPS.

Edwin Encarnacion 2014: The Blue Jays slugger tallied sixteen homers (tied with Mantle for second all-time) 33 RBIs, and had a .763 slugging percentage and a 1.132 OPS.