PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins warms up on deck during the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is on the verge of something special.
On Thursday night, Stanton cracked his 58th and 59th homers of the season. He is now just one home run away from the big 6-0, a feat MLB has not seen in quite some time.
https://twitter.com/statcast/status/913589785331212289
In fact, it’s been a while since this sport has even seen a player hit 58 bombs.
.@Giancarlo818 is the first player to hit 58 homers in a season since @ryanhoward in 2006. pic.twitter.com/AxygW1ngfM
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 29, 2017
If fans are wondering why 60 home runs would be so special, check this out:
Back in 2001, Barry Bonds set the single-season record with 73 home runs. The same year, Sammy Sosa hit 64, Luis Gonzalez hit 57, and Alex Rodriguez hit 52 (via ESPN).
Stanton climbs to third in what we’ll call AB — After Barry. He has 12 games to hit five home runs and reach 60, or six to tie Roger Maris at 61, or seven to reach 62, a figure topped only by Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sosa, and you can make your own judgment on whether that bothers you or not.
Giancarlo Stanton is the first player with at least 59 HR in a season since Barry Bonds (73) and Sammy Sosa (64) did so in 2001.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 29, 2017
Stanton is now down to just three games left to get to 60 (or more) home runs on the season. Needless to say, it should be a great finale to the 2017 MLB regular season this weekend.
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