Baseball's Bash Brothers: Top Home Run Hitting Teammates Since 1987

The Bash Brothers, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, took the baseball world by storm with their home run hitting prowess at the close of the 1980s.

They ushered in an era of increased power through science, the steroid age of baseball. A fun, but ultimately disappointing time to be a baseball fan.

Baseball has had a wonderful history of high-profile power-hitting teammates, from Ruth and Gehrig, to Mantle and Maris, and Mays and McCovey. McGwire and Canseco might be the last high-profile pair, two players on the same team, in their prime, with the ability to lead the league in long balls each season.

Although no one pair stands out, this slideshow looks at the leaders from the last two decades. Enjoy!

1987 - Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco

Oakland Athletics

Combined Home Runs - 80

McGwire - 49

Canseco - 31

The now disgraced duo, led by the AL Rookie of the Year, McGwire, earned the nickname "the Bash Brothers," pacing the majors in home runs for a pair of teammates in 1987, the first of three times they would turn the trick.

Leading the NL were Cubs Andre Dawson (49) with Keith Moreland (27) or Leon 'Bull' Durham (27) combined with 76.

1988 - Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire

Oakland Athletics

Combined Home Runs - 74

Canseco - 42

McGwire - 32

Reversing roles in 1988, Canseco claimed the AL home run title, with teammate Mark McGwire finishing third.

The Mets featured the NL's top duo: Darryl Strawberry (39) and Kevin McReynolds (27), combining for 66 round-trippers.

1989 - Kevin Mitchell and Will Clark

San Francisco Giants

Combined Home Runs - 70

Mitchell - 47

Clark - 23

The top homer-hitting duo title stayed in the Bay Area for 1989. Kevin Mitchell led the majors in home runs en route to the NL MVP award and a World Series pennant for the Giants.

Leading the AL once again was a pair of Athletics, Mark McGwire (33) and Dave Parker (22). Jose Canseco managed only 17 homers in an injury-shortened season.

1990 - Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco

Oakland Athletics

Combined Home Runs - 76

McGwire - 39

Canseco - 37

For the fourth consecutive year, the A's featured the American League's top home run-hitting pair. Making the World Series in three of those seasons, perhaps it's ironic that the one year they did not feature the major's highest total was the only year they actually won the Fall Classic.

Once again, a pair of Giants paced the senior circuit. This year, Kevin Mitchell (35) was paired with Matt Williams (33).

1991 - Cecil Fielder and Mickey Tettleton

Detroit Tigers

Combined Home Runs - 75

Fielder - 44

Tettleton - 31

"Big Daddy" Cecil Fielder found himself a teammate to get him on this list when the Tigers traded for Mickey Tettleton prior to the 1991 season. In 1990, when Cecil hit 51 homers, the Tigers second-leading trotter was Lou Whitaker, with 18.

With 63 combined home runs, Giants Matt Williams (34) and Will Clark (29) once again paced the NL.

1992 - Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer

Texas Rangers

Combined Home Runs - 69

Gonzalez - 43

Palmer - 26

The Bash Brothers were on their way to competing for another entry on this list, until Jose Canseco's August 31 trade, ironically to the Texas Rangers.

The NL-leading duo missed the Rangers by a single home run, with San Diego stars Fred McGriff (35) and Gary Sheffield (33) combining for 68 homers.

1993 - Barry Bonds and Matt Williams

San Francisco Giants

Combined Home Runs - 84

Bonds - 46

Williams - 38

Barry Bonds makes his first of many appearances on the list, while his new team, the Giants, continue to feature powerful duos, a trend that continues into the next decade.

Perhaps as karmic justice, the Rangers lost out to the Giants by a single home run after beating the Padres by one the year before. Juan Gonzalez (46) teamed-up with Rafael Palmeiro (37) this time to lead the AL with 83 home runs.

1994 - Matt Williams and Barry Bonds

San Francisco Giants

Combined Home Runs - 80

Williams - 43

Bonds - 37

In a strike-shortened season, Matt Williams managed to hit 43 home runs in 115 team games. Had the season been allowed to play out, the Giants duo could have made a run at Roger Maris' record of 61 homers in a season. More importantly, for the purposes of this list, they could have gone after Maris' and teammate Mickey Mantle's record of 115 combined homers.

With 61 home runs between them, Ken Griffey Jr. (40) and Jay Buhner (21) paced the AL.

1995 - Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez

Cleveland Indians

Combined Home Runs - 81

Belle - 50

Ramirez - 31

Albert Belle was the first player to hit 50 homers in a season since Cecil Fielder five years earlier, but his impressive season is often forgotten due to the unusually high number of such seasons in the coming years.

Taking full-advantage of Coors Field, Dante Bichette (40) and Larry Walker (37) were the top duo in the NL.

1996 - Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner

Seattle Mariners

Combined Home Runs - 93

Griffey - 49

Buhner - 44

Leading the AL for the second time, the duo became the first pair of teammates to each hit 40 home runs in a season since Carl Yastrzemski and Rico Petrocelli each hit 40 in 1969 for the Red Sox.

Not to be outdone, the Rockies featured three players with 40 home run seasons: Andres Galarraga (47), Ellis Burks (40), and Vinny Castilla (40).

The trio became only the second trio of teammates in history to each eclipse 40 homers, the first being the 1973 Braves trio of Davey Johnson (43), Darrell Evans (41) and Hank Aaron (40). Only one other team has managed the amazing feat since 1996; of course, it was the 1997 Colorado Rockies.

1997 - Ken Griffey Jr. and Jay Buhner

Seattle Mariners

Combined Home Runs - 96

Griffey - 56

Buhner - 40

A repeat of the previous season, one can't help but agree with Frank Costanza on the Yankees' handling of Jay Buhner. "What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for? He's got a rocket for an arm, you don't know what the hell you're doin'!"

As mentioned on the previous slide, the Rockies once again used the elevation of the Mile High City to boost their power numbers. Larry Walker (49) and Andres Galarraga (41) combined for a National League-leading 90 combined home runs. "My Cousin" Vinny Castilla added 40 more for good measure.

1998 - Mark McGwire and Ray Lankford

St. Louis Cardinals

Combined Home Runs - 101

McGwire - 70

Lankford - 31

Mark McGwire returns to the list after an eight year absence caused by injury and lack of a power-hitting teammate. In 1998, McGwire decided to take care of the matter himself, hitting more home runs (70), than the 1992 leading duo (Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer, 69) and as many as the 1989 leaders (Kevin Mitchell and Will Clark, 70).

In the American League, Ken Griffey Jr. (56) once again was half of the leading duo, this time teaming with young superstar, Alex Rodriguez (42) to hit 98 round-trippers.

1999 - Mark McGwire and Fernando Tatis

St. Louis Cardinals

Combined Home Runs - 99

McGwire - 65

Tatis - 34

McGwire and Tatis partied like it was 1999, combining for 99 home runs, the majority belonging to Big Mac. Tatis' claim to fame occurred this season, as he became the first and to date, the only player to hit two grand slams in the same inning.

In the AL, Ken Griffey Jr.(48) once again teamed-up with Alex Rodriguez (42), to hit 90 home runs between them.

2000 - Jeff Bagwell and Richard Hidalgo

Houston Astros

Combined Home Runs - 91

Bagwell - 47

Hidalgo - 44

Both Bagwell and Hidalgo reached career highs in homers for the 2000 Astros, the team's first season at Enron Field.

In the American League, Carlos Delgado and Tony Batista each hit 41 homers for the Blue Jays.

2001 - Barry Bonds and Rich Aurilia

San Francisco Giants

Combined Home Runs - 110

Bonds - 73

Aurilia - 37

In a year where Barry broke the single-season home run record, it is not surprising to see him on this list. What is surprising, is his partner, Rich Aurilia. Besides 2001, Aurilia never surpassed 23 home runs in a single season.

In the American League, Alex Rodriguez (52), in his first season in Texas, found a new power partner in Rafael Palmeiro (47) to lead the AL with 99 four-baggers.

2002 - Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro

Texas Rangers

Combined Home Runs - 100

Rodriguez - 57

Palmeiro - 43

The American League's top tandem the previous season returned to lead the majors in 2002, besting their combined home run total from 2001 by a lone long ball.

In the NL, had pitchers actually given Barry Bonds (46) anything to hit, he and Jeff Kent (37) could have finished much higher than the combined 83 homers that they did. Bonds hit his 46 home runs in only 403 at-bats.

2003 - Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro

Texas Rangers

Combined Home Runs - 85

Rodriguez - 47

Palmeiro - 38

A-Rod and Raffy became the first pair to repeat as the top tandem since Junior Griffey and Jay Buhner in '96 and '97.

In the NL, two groups of players laid claim to home run lead for a tandem. St. Louis stars Albert Pujols (43) and Jim Edmonds (39) combined for 82 homers, as did Atlanta's Javy Lopez (43) and Gary Sheffield (39).

2004 - Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds

St. Louis Cardinals

Combined Home Runs - 88

Pujols - 46

Edmonds - 42

Prince Albert and Jim Edmonds led the NL for the second straight year as the premier power-hitting duo, this time leading the Cardinals to the NL pennant.

The Cardinals' World Series opponent, the Boston Red Sox, featured the AL's best duo. Manny Ramirez (43) and David Ortiz (41) finished one-two in the AL in home runs, combining for 84.

2005 - David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez

Boston Red Sox

Combined Home Runs - 92

Ortiz - 47

Ramirez - 45

Manny and Big Papi formed one of the most publicized and feared one-two power punches in recent history. 2005 was the only season that the pair led the majors in homers, however.

Derrek Lee (46) and Aramis Ramirez (31) gave the Wrigley faithful something to cheer about, combining for 77 home runs even though the Cubs finished below .500.

2006 - Ryan Howard and Chase Utley

Philadelphia Phillies

Combined Home Runs - 90

Howard - 58

Utley - 32

In his first full season in the bigs, Ryan Howard hit a Phillies single-season record 58 homers.

In the AL, David Ortiz (54) and Manny Ramirez (35) led the league again, with Big Papi picking up the majority of their combined 89 homers.

2007 - Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun

Milwaukee Brewers

Combined Home Runs - 84

Fielder - 50

Braun - 34

Sixteen years after his father teamed with Mickey Tettleton to make this list, Prince Fielder joined his father with the help of rookie sensation Ryan Braun, powering the Brewers to their first season above .500 since 1992. Braun managed his 34 home runs despite not debuting until May 25th.

The New York Yankees, despite not winning their division for the first time in a decade, featured the top American League duo on '07 in Alex Rodriguez (54) and Hideki Matsui (25), combining for 79 home runs.

2008 - Ryan Howard and Chase Utley/Pat Burrell

Philadelphia Phillies

Combined Home Runs - 81

Howard - 48

Utley/Burrell - 33 each

Ryan Howard had two teammates supplying power to complement his in Philadelphia's championship season of 2008. It would be Burrell's last season in Philadelphia, and the last season showing good power (to date).

The South Side of Chicago was home to the top American League trio of 2008. Carlos Quentin (36), finally showed the power that had been missing prior to his offseason trade from Arizona, and Jermaine Dye (33) and Jim Thome (33) turned in their typical seasons.

2009 - Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth

Philadelphia Phillies

Combined Home Runs - 81

Howard - 45

Werth - 36

Ryan Howard makes his third appearance among the top duos, all in the previous four seasons. Jayson Werth established himself as a legitimate power source during the season as well as the postseason, where he added seven long balls in Philadelphia's failed repeat-championship attempt.

The Tampa Bay Rays, coming off a surprising pennant run, had the league's top duo in '09, with Carlos Pena (39) and Evan Longoria (33) knocking 72 out between them.

2010 - Jose Bautista and Vernon Wells

Toronto Blue Jays

Combined Total (Through 6/15) - 33

Bautista - 18

Wells - 15

Who would have thought that at the end of June these two would be atop the list? Now, who thinks they will be there to end the season? The answer to both is few to none. Perhaps giving the pair a run for their money are:

National League:

Corey Hart (17) and Prince Fielder (13) for the Brewers (30)
Albert Pujols (15) and Colby Rasmus (13) for the Cardinals (28)
Mark Reynolds (15) and Kelly Johnson (13) for the D'backs (28)
Adam Dunn (14) and Ryan Zimmerman (13) for the Nationals (27)
Scott Rolen (14) and Joey Votto (13) for the Reds (27)

American League:

Paul Konerko (17) and Alexis Rios (13) for the White Sox (30)
Josh Hamilton (15) and Vlad Guerrero (14) for the Rangers (29)
Miguel Cabrera (19) and Ordonez (8) or Boesch (8) for the Tigers (27)
Carlos Pena (15) and Evan Longoria (12) for the Rays (27)
David Ortiz (13) and Kevin Youkilis (12) for the Red Sox (25)

Teams With Top HR Hitting Duo (Since 1987)

San Francisco Giants (4X) (1989, 93-94, 2001)
Oakland Athletics (3X) (1987-88, 90)
Texas Rangers (3X) (1992, 2002-03)
St. Louis Cardinals (3X) (1998-99, 2004)
Philadelphia Phillies (3X) (2006, 2008-09)
Seattle Mariners (2X) (1996-97)
Detroit Tigers (1991)
Cleveland Indians (1995)
Houston Astros (2000)
Boston Red Sox (2005)
Milwaukee Brewers (2007)

Players With Multiple Top HR Tandem Titles

Mark McGwire (5X) (1987-88, 90, 98-99)
Jose Canseco (3X) (1987-88, 90)
Barry Bonds (3X) (1993-94, 2001)
Ryan Howard (3X) 2006, 2008-09)
Matt Williams (2X) (1993-94)
Manny Ramirez (2X) (1995, 2005)
Ken Griffey Jr. (2X) (1996-97)
Jay Buhner (2X) (1996-97)
Alex Rodriguez (2X) (2002-03)
Rafael Palmeiro (2X) (2003-03)
Chase Utley (2X) (2006, 2008)

Closing

In looking back from the time of Jose Canseco to today's Jose Bautista, a few things become clear.

First, the number of home runs that it took to place on this list, if placed on a graph over time, a nice bell curve would appear. Home runs peaked in the late '90s and early part of the 21st century. It would seem that we are now in an era where a 40-home-run season is a potential league-leader once again.

Fifty-home-run seasons, unlike a certain oil leak in the Gulf, have dried up.

Will any teammate duo be able to challenge Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle's nearly half-century-old record for combined home runs by teammates, 115, in 1961? Maybe someday, but not this year.

It is important to note that, while having a powerful duo in the middle of a lineup can help win many ballgames, it is not a precursor to success, nor does it guarantee team success. Of the 24 duos listed, seven played for pennant winners. Only Ryan Howard with Chase Utley and Pat Burrell in 2008 won the World Series. The six other pennant winners lost in the Fall Classic.

For all the good teams represented, many middle-of-the-road squads are on the list as well. The 2002-03 Rangers finished last in the AL West, while being represented by A-Rod and Rafael Palmeiro on this list.

Although home runs alone do not make a winning team, and in the past decades many home run heroes were juiced-up on illegal performance enhancers, the long ball remains the sexiest part of baseball today. While the numbers may be down, that only makes the home runs that are hit that much more special.

Big power hitters will always be celebrated by the fans. Besides, what's the only thing better than having a big power hitter in the middle of your team's lineup?

Having two.