My Favorite Stat of the 2019 MLB Season

By Jeff Lombardi Jr.

The Yankees set the single-season records for most home runs against in opponent (61) and at an opponents ballpark (43) the 2019 Orioles. My favorite way of putting the Yankees dominance of the Orioles into perspective is by comparing their season stats against Baltimore to Ken Griffey Jr.’s stats during his unanimous AL MVP season in 1997. In just 65 more plate appearances, the 2019 Yankees totaled the same amount of doubles and RBI against the Orioles as Jr. did in ’97, while their batting average was separated by just one point!

As you can see, the Bombers and Jr. were very comparable in other categories as well, differing in four points in on-base percentage, 14 points in slugging percentage and five home runs. New York and ’97 Jr. had identical figures in OBP (.382), SLG (.646) and HR (56) through their first 16 games against Baltimore this season

 1997 Ken Griffey Jr. — 2019 NYY vs. BAL

704         PA          769

.304        AVG       .303

.382        OBP       .386

.646        SLG        .632

56           HR          61

34           2B           34

147         RBI         147

*Griffey was unanimously named 1997 AL MVP