Chasing Records

With 11 days to go in the season this is a run down of the records that will, or may, be broken in 1979.

The single season home run record, one of the most popular in baseball history, is currently held by Alex Salcido who set it with 49 dingers with the Braves in 1970. Salcido announced his retirement just this last week. This season, Jamie Borruso with the Colorado Rockies, sits at 47 home runs - putting him two away from a tie and three away from holding the record outright. Borruso has been more successful knocking the ball out of the park at home and the Rockies enjoy three more home games this season with nine games left in total. This record has a good chance to fall Next is the single season stolen base record, the current record holder is Frank Garcia, who set the record at 110 playing for Philadelphia in 1901 (!). This has been a near unassailable record for decades, but Chase Notch is on the hunt for it this season. "Cool Papa" Notch has 105 stolen bags so far, and the Phillies play 8 more games this season. The Phillies, who are out of the playoff race, are likely to give Notch the steal sign at every opportunity for the remainder of the season.

As recently as early September, Jared McCombs of the Chicago Cubs was on pace to set the new single season slugging record but has since cooled (though still having an elite season). The current record is .6649 held by George David from his 1958 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. McCombs currently has a .657 slugging percentage, so if he heats up in the Cubs' last 10 games look for him to set this record. Luckily for McCombs, the Cubs will go to Atlanta for two games next week, which has an infamous hitter's park - a great opportunity for McCombs to get some homers and extra base hits.

Bobby Sipes is the current holder of the record for total bases in a single season, (having accumulated 383 with the SF Giants in 1962) however three players are in a race to break that record this year. Trent Young and Justin Klebes, both with the Colorado Rockies, currently have 377 and 367 total bases respectively; and Matt Singer with the Atlanta Braves has 366. Total bases can add up quickly, so look for this record to fall within a few games.

Nate Morris, with the Twins in 1977, set the single season record for singles with 188. Matt Singer, who has already broken the single season hits record this year, looks to be on pace to break Morris's record as well. Singer has 184 singles with 11 games left to play.

The next 11 days look to be exciting as we watch for these records to fall and the players who break them to write their names in the history books.