Category Uncategorized

Top 1% for assists: Newcastle join race for £25m "future Ballon D'or winner"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign a “future Ballon D’or winner”, who has 18 assists to his name already this season, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, according to a report.

Newcastle keen to strengthen in attack

A new striker may be required at St. James’ Park this summer, should Alexander Isak make it clear he wants to leave, with recent reports suggesting the forward wants to sign for Arsenal.

Fiorentina’s Moise Kean and Lille’s Jonathan David are among the targets at centre-forward, but in truth Newcastle will be hoping a new top striker is not required, given that it would be very difficult to replace Isak.

That said, Eddie Howe may feel some more options are required in wide areas, with the Magpies recently joining the race for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, although the winger will not come cheap, as the Saints are set to demand as much as £100m.

Newcastle now eyeing £25m Leeds target who Howe called "magnificent"

The Magpies are in the race for a Premier League player, who is set to leave his club in the summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 1, 2025

Contact has also been made over a deal for AFC Bournemouth winger Dango Outattara, with a number of options from within the Premier League being considered.

However, there are also some targets from further afield, with a report from The Boot Room revealing Newcastle are now interested in signing Lyon winger Rayan Cherki, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer.

Rayan Cherki for Lyon.

Lyon are set to sanction Cherki’s departure for less than £25m, and there is no shortage of interest in his signature, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Aston Villa also keen.

The 21-year-old is viewed as one of the most talented youngsters in Europe, and his performances this season mean he could be in line for a big move to the Premier League this summer.

Cherki wowing for Lyon this season

The Frenchman has been in simply incredible form for Lyon this term, collecting eight goals and 18 assists in all competitions, having shown serious signs of development.

Given his ability to set up his teammates, the starlet ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for assists per 90 over the past year, while also placing very highly on some other key metrics.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.68 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

7.26 (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

9.75 (99th percentile)

Successful take-ons

3.17 (96th percentile)

Such is the Lyon star’s ability, The Athletic’s Alex Barker has made the bold claim he could win the Ballon D’or at some point in the future.

If Cherki is able to replicate his current numbers in the Premier League, Barker’s bold prediction is not completely out of the question, so it is very exciting news that Newcastle are in the race for his signature.

Wolvaardt's South Africa keep solving problems, one match at a time

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Apart from the opening game against England, whenever SA have been posed difficult questions, their players have made themselves count

Madushka Balasuriya17-Oct-20253:09

Review: SA one step closer to semis, SL further away

South Africa have one foot in the semi-finals, but of all the cricketing nations, they will be the least likely to get ahead of themselves. Though if anything were to prepare them for some unlikely hiccups it would be this World Cup campaign.Against England, their batting fell apart. Against New Zealand, this was rectified as the top order took charge of middling chase. But against India, the top-order once more struggled, before the lower-order and a magnificent Nadine de Klerk innings took them to a famous win. It was a similar story against Bangladesh as the lower order came to the rescue. But the common theme has been that at each time of asking, South Africa have been ready with the answers.Related

  • 'Want to take it one step further' – Bosch on SA's push for maiden ODI World Cup final

  • Wolvaardt, Brits fifties put SA closer to semi-final berth

“It’s been great. It’s sort of felt like the whole team has contributed in different parts of this tournament, which has been awesome,” South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said after their 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka on Friday.”We definitely haven’t relied on one or two people. Whether it’s Nadine and Chloe [Tryon] getting us out of the hole, or, you know, me and Taz [Tazmin Brits] battling all today. The whole bowling unit has been amazing too, and I think our feeling has been pretty decent as well throughout the tournament. So, it’s just nice to see all those pieces of the puzzle sort of coming together.”Against Sri Lanka, Wolvaardt and her side had their hands full in finding the right puzzle pieces to navigate a heavily rain-curtailed game. There were five hours and 14 minutes between the the last ball of the first innings’ 11th over and the first ball of the 12th. In fact, the game was on the verge of being called off before the rains unexpectedly eased and a restart time was announced. In that moment, all previous strategies and plans went out the window.For Sri Lanka, it meant they had to switch gears instantly, from having 38 overs left in a 50-over game, to having eight left in a reduced 20-over affair. But with eight wickets in hand, it was a fairly straightforward equation in terms of what was required from them.

“I think we’re still searching for that perfect game as a team”Laura Wolvaardt

For South Africa however, it was trickier. For one, each bowler could now bowl only four overs each under the revised playing conditions. This meant that both Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas, who had bowled five overs each prior to the rain interruption could not be used further.”That was a little bit tricky, especially because Kappy and Klaas are usually quite big for us in the death. So we had to sort of go to the left-arm spinners, which we don’t do too often, too late in the game. But I thought they bowled brilliantly.”Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with three wickets•Getty ImagesAdding to Wolvaardt and South Africa’s problems was that the amount of rain that fell meant that, even despite the entire ground being covered and the super sopper being used, the “ball was like a bar of soap.””Especially after that five hour break, I think we looked a bit nervy when we came back on the field, a couple of missed fields,” Wolvaardt said. “So I think we did a great job of sort of removing [that from our minds] and getting those wickets in the end.”Leading the way on this front was none other than Wolvaardt. On the seventh ball after the restart, a skier off a leading edge was dropped – a first hint at how difficult this wet ball would be to grip. But she ensured there would be no further stumbles with two otherwise straightforward catches held to dismiss both set batters at that point.While the catches in and of itself weren’t difficult, the message it sent across was clear – this is yet one more problem to be solved. Which meant that when Wolvaardt threw the ball to Nonkululeko Mlaba, and asked her to bowl four of the eight overs remaining, it was less a question and more of a challenge, to once more defy the odds.”Lefty [Mlaba] loves a challenge,” Wolvaardt said. “She was asked the other day what would be her favourite place to bowl and she said, ‘probably the death.'”She said she really likes it when the batter is coming at her, so it challenges her, and gets her into a very competitive zone. Yeah, I thought she bowled very well.”Mlaba’s figures at the end read 3 for 30 in four overs, but her final over brought three runs and three wickets. Along with de Klerk’s four-run penultimate over, it proved to the difference as the DLS-adjusted target was 121 and not closer to 150.Not that a higher target would have likely made a difference with how Wolvaardt and Brits approached their chase, ensuring minimal risks were taken as they knocked off the target with 31 deliveries left to spare.”It hasn’t been the best tournament for me overall, so very nice to hit a few,” Wolvaardt said. “Obviously a reduced game, so I just sort of thought of normal T20 plans. So Taz and I just went out as if it was a normal T20, and both got off to decent starts, and just kept going for the side.”Whisper it, but this was a display of potential champions. Sure, the juggernaut that is Australia awaits at some point, but South Africa, like their captain, just keep ticking along, and finding answers. For Wolvaardt though, the key is in ensuring that it all comes together at the right time.”I think we’re still searching for that perfect game as a team, where the top order fires and the middle order fires – which is exciting, because we’re still winning games even though certain things aren’t perfect,” she said. “Hopefully, if we do make those semifinals, it’ll all come together.”

Sri Lanka bowling fire doused by flat Indian pitches

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

They had wanted to practice on such pitches back home in the lead-up to the World Cup, but their complaints went unheard

Andrew Fidel Fernando15-Oct-20232:42

Maharoof: ‘Hope Mendis the captain remains the same batter’

Between June 4 and September 12 this year (both days inclusive) Sri Lanka played 14 ODIs, and bowled the opposition out in each one. The previous world record for bowling oppositions out in consecutive matches was 10, by the Australia side of the late aughts.If you are unaware of the caveats that attach themselves to this extraordinary wicket-taking run, here they are:

  • Eight of these matches came in the World Cup Qualifier, and hence against a significantly worse quality of opposition than in the World Cup proper.
  • Of the remaining six matches, five came at home.
  • The one that didn’t come at home was against Afghanistan in Lahore, when they needed to chase 292 in a little over 37 overs, and almost succeeded.

But for all those caveats, 14 matches is a monster stretch for any attack. Right through that sequence – at the end of which even India were dismissed – Sri Lanka’s bowling had a dynamism to it. There were left and right-arm quicks getting new-ball swing (Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, and Kasun Rajitha), a legbreak bowler with a killer googly in Wanindu Hasaranga (who didn’t play in the Asia Cup, but topped the wicket charts in the Qualifier), a round-arm speed merchant (Matheesha Pathirana), and Maheesh Theekshana’s finger-flicked mystery. If we were being generous, there was even a pale shadow here of the variety that comprised Sri Lanka’s greatest white ball attack, circa 2007 to 2014 (Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, a young Angelo Mathews – Muttiah Muralitharan is incomparable, of course).Related

  • Angelo Mathews replaces injured Matheesha Pathirana in Sri Lanka's World Cup squad

  • Almost a must win: World Cup hopes already on the line for Australia and Sri Lanka

  • Tired and tested: Australia's challenges at this World Cup

  • Chamika Karunaratne replaces injured Dasun Shanaka in Sri Lanka squad

In the first two matches of this World Cup, however, Sri Lanka have conceded 773. Pathirana and Rajitha have both gone at more than nine an over, Dunith Wellalage and Madushanka at more than seven, and even Theekshana – in his one match – almost at a run-a-ball. How to explain this?Sri Lanka’s bowling is depleted severely by injury, of course – Hasaranga, in particular, has not made this squad. But he had not played in the Asia Cup either, and Sri Lanka had reached the final, largely bowling themselves there. Left-arm spinning allrounder Wellalage made his first mark on the international game with the ball, and Pathirana had a decent tournament.But that the attack impressed only on slower, turning decks than are often found in India has not been missed within the Sri Lanka camp. Long before this tournament, there had been complaints that the pitches seen in Colombo in particular were not flat enough – a complaint voiced most prominently by Hasaranga himself at the Lanka Premier League, as captain of the franchise side that would eventually win the tournament, and as a player preparing himself tenaciously for the World Cup.Dilshan Madushanka has been the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka thus far this World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesWhile Sri Lankan decks are not low-scoring exactly, they are rarely the kind on which teams tend to chase down totals of over 300. There is often something to envenom the bowlers. If it is not swing with the new ball, there is zip off the surface under lights, or rapid turn as the match wears on, and failing all that the ball stops a fraction of a second in the surface.Perhaps, the difference between bowling teams out 14 times in a row, and conceding 428 for 5, then 345 for 4, is down to the pitches Sri Lanka’s attack plays on. This is at least the current line of thinking. Kusal Mendis said this before his first match as captain, following the injury to Dasun Shanaka.”If we talk about the first two matches, when you come to India you know you’re going to get good batting wickets,” he said. “We should know how to adjust to that. I have a lot of trust that the bowlers are looking to give their best, and even better attacks have been hot for 300 or 350.”As a captain what I’m hoping is that in practice they know what their roles are, and that I can adjust to that as well. We can’t make big changes suddenly. But I have to try and work with the way they’ve been bowling and try to improve on that.”There is a sense that Sri Lanka’s attack hunts collectively on a pitch that offers the bowlers something, but on the kinds of decks that require damage control and containment, they have not developed the skills or experience.Lucknow is something of an unknown. It used to be one of India’s lowest-scoring venues, which would have suited Sri Lanka beautifully. But following this year’s IPL, when it was again low-scoring, the square has been relaid.In the one ODI that has been played on the new square, South Africa made 311 for 7, taking the legspin of Adam Zampa apart in particular, before South Africa’s seamers dismantled the Australia top order, though the likes of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi also had success.The theory is, that the longer this World Cup goes on, the older some squares will get, and the better for spinners in particular. It is not quite as simple as suggesting Sri Lanka are better off on turning tracks, because some of their quicks enjoy the humidity that allows them to move the ball laterally, too. But in the first two matches, neither has been on offer. And the attack has been taken apart.

Stats – Alyssa Healy and Australia smash World Cup records

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The highest score in a World Cup final. The first 300-plus total in a World Cup final. The highest partnership in a World Cup final. And more

Sampath Bandarupalli03-Apr-2022170 Alyssa Healy’s score against England. It is now the highest individual score for any batter in a World Cup final (men or women), surpassing Adam Gilchrist’s 149 against Sri Lanka in 2007.ESPNcricinfo Ltd356 for 5 Australia’s total is the first-ever instance of a 300-plus total in a Women’s ODI World Cup final. The previous highest was only 259 for 7 by Australia in 2013 against West Indies. Australia’s 356 is also the second-highest total in a World Cup final (men or women), behind the 359 for 2 by the Australian men’s team against India in 2003.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3 This 356 is Australia’s third-highest total in Women’s ODIs. They posted 412 for 3 in the 1997 World Cup against Denmark and 397 for 4 against Pakistan earlier in the same year. This is also the highest Women’s ODI total against England. Australia broke their own record, which they set at the start of the tournament with 310 for 3 in Hamilton.2 Healy’s 170 is the second-highest score in Women’s ODIs for Australia, behind Belinda Clark’s 229* in the 1997 World Cup against Denmark. It is the highest score by any batter against England in this format, going past Clark’s 146* in 2000.

1 Healy became the first player to score two hundreds in the knockouts of an ODI World Cup. She scored 129 against West Indies in the semi-final in Wellington. Only two players before her had multiple tons in World Cup knockouts – Ricky Ponting (2003 final and 2011 quarter-final) and Mahela Jayawardene (2007 semi-final and 2011 final).509 Runs by Healy in this tournament, the first player with 500-plus runs in an edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup. The 497 runs made by Rachael Haynes in this tournament is the second-highest tally in a Women’s World Cup. The opening duo from Australia broke the record held by Debbie Hockley with 456 runs in 1997.ESPNcricinfo Ltd170 Healy’s innings is also the highest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs. The previous highest was Rachel Priest’s 157 against Sri Lanka in 2015.2 Australia’s innings is only the second in Women’s ODI history to feature two 150-plus partnerships. The first such instance was also featured Australia when they hit 397 for 4 against Pakistan in 1997. The two partnerships involving Healy – 160 with Haynes and 156 with Beth Mooney are the highest stands in the Women’s ODI World Cup finals.ESPNcricinfo Ltd148* Nat Sciver’s score against Australia, the second-highest individual score in a Women’s ODI chase. The highest is 152* by Meg Lanning against Sri Lanka during the 2017 World Cup in Bristol.641 Runs between Australia and England in the final, the second-highest match aggregate in Women’s ODI cricket. The highest is 678 runs during the 2017 World Cup game between England and South Africa in Bristol.ESPNcricinfo Ltd2 Instances of two 140-plus scores in a Women’s ODI, before Healy and Sciver in Christchurch. Both the previous instances came in Bristol during the 2017 World Cup – Chamari Athapaththu (178*) and Meg Lanning (152*) during the game between Australia and Sri Lanka, while England’s Tammy Beaumont (148) and Sarah Taylor (147) against South Africa.

مدرب فلسطين: على شعبنا أن يفخر بهذا الجيل.. وأي منتخب نلعب ضده يشجعنا

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

أبدى إيهاب أبو جزر، المدير الفني لـ منتخب فلسطين، سعادته بالتأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب، المقامة حاليًا بدولة قطر 2025.

واستطاع منتخب فلسطين أن يتأهل في صدارة المجموعة الأولى، بعدما حقق فوزًا وتعادلين خلال الـ3 جولات في دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب.

وفاز منتخب فلسطين على قطر 1-0 وتعادل مع تونس 2-2 وتعادل سلبيًا مع سوريا بالجولة الأخيرة.

طالع.. ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من كأس العرب 2025 بعد تعادل فلسطين وسوريا

وقال أبو جزر خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “الكأس”: “مباراة صعبة ومجموعة صعبة، في البداية نهدي هذا الفوز للشعب الفلسطيني ولأهلنا في غزة والخيام، نهديه لكل فلسطين حر وكان يشجع المنتخب بكل حرارة وانتماء، يحق لكم أن تسعدوا بهذا الجيل”.

وأضاف: “فوز مهم وتأهل تاريخي بالنسبة لنا، الهدف من هذه البطولة أن يتجمع العرب، أي منتخب نلعب ضده يشجعنا”.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب فلسطين مع ثاني المجموعة الثانية التي تضم السعودية والمغرب وعمان وجزر القمر، في دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب.

Howe is brewing a “superstar” at Newcastle who could be the new Ameobi

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Newcastle United arguably go into the Tyne-Wear Derby later today as the side expected to come up short.

Eddie Howe’s men have only won one Premier League away contest all season long, with their recent record in the Tyne-Wear Derby not raising the optimism levels, either, with the Magpies losing their last three visits to the Stadium of Light on the trot in league action.

Still, anything can happen in a one-off contest of this magnitude, with the form book going out the window the minute the 2pm kick-off gets underway.

Howe will hope his current batch of Newcastle stars can be seen as heroes come the full-time whistle, with Shola Ameobi still remembered fondly to this day at St James’ Park for all his memorable contributions in the Tyne-Wear Derby as a beloved fan’s favourite.

Ameobi's stunning record against Sunderland

Ameobi was never the most frightening goal machine presence for the Toon, with a respectable 79 goals put away from 398 total appearances, but he always seemed to be a man for the big occasion, especially when Sunderland came to town.

Indeed, from 16 career clashes against the Black Cats, the homegrown Newcastle attacker would manage to power home a clinical seven goals, with two of those coming way back in 2010 when the Chris Hughton-led outfit got the better of their main enemy 5-1.

Only ever on the losing side four times, as well, in the Tyne-Wear Derby, it was clear, whenever he played in the monumental game, that Ameobi knew of the critical importance of the match and what gaining a positive result could do for the Tyneside masses, having been on the books of Newcastle since 1997.

The academy talent turned senior star would even be branded a club “legend” by former boss Alan Pardew after he fired home another strike in the blockbuster showdown in 2012,

Perhaps, another homegrown diamond at Howe’s disposal could be ready to take the same game by storm later today, if he is thrown into the starting XI.

Newcastle's new Ameobi

The Nigerian attacker would first make his senior debut for the Magpies at the turn of the millennium, with Ameobi only 18 years of age when he was chucked into the first team fray versus Chelsea in 2000.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With how long-standing his career on Tyneside turned out to be, it’s self-evident that he never looked back.

Lewis Miley has also been in and around the first team picture at St James’ Park under Howe from an extremely young age, with the energetic midfielder only 17 years of age himself when he was first handed first team opportunities in 2022.

He has also shown off a goalscoring edge on occasion that makes him even more comparable to Ameobi, as the teenage sensation headed home this effort last time out in the Champions League versus Bayer Leverkusen, from just 30 minutes of action, to gift his team a slender lead.

With a further ten goal contributions coming his way in senior action for Newcastle from 63 appearances, it’s clear that Miley is a talent that could become a well-established part of the Toon jigsaw in time, to reach the same crazy 398 game benchmark set by Ameobi before him.

Newcastle (senior team)

63

5 + 6

Newcastle U18s

32

4 + 3

Newcastle U21s

16

3 + 5

Miley’s energy and drive being added to the starting XI against Sunderland could be key as Newcastle attempt to pick up a rare win in the Derby, with “the next young English superstar”- as pundit Pat Nevin once glowingly labelled him – winning all 100% of his duels back in November in the Premier League against Everton, away from clinching another goal and an assist for his troubles.

Ameobi was, of course, known for always having something up his sleeve to get his team out of trouble on the big occasion with his feared goalscoring record, with Miley hopeful he can be Howe’s secret weapon, too, as a leggy Joelinton likely drops out of the freshness of the Englishman.

An entire team effort will be required for Newcastle to get over the line, but in big games, often a moment of magic can decide a contest, with Miley desperate to be Howe’s own Ameobi later on, if he’s picked.

Howe's "diamond" looks like another Guimaraes in the making at Newcastle

Eddie Howe has now found his next Bruno Guimaraes in the making in this Newcastle United youngster.

ByKelan Sarson 3 days ago

Every 50-Home Run Season in MLB History

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

In the 150-year history of MLB, certain individual achievements stand out above the rest. They are held in such high regard because they are the rarest of feats.

Only 24 pitchers have thrown a perfect game. Just 36 players have hit .400 in a season. In between the two is the accomplishment that's been attained by a mere 32 players—smashing 50 or more home runs in a single campaign.

The History of 50-Home Run Seasons

Fittingly, MLB has had 50 instances of a player hitting at least 50 home runs in one season.

New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth was the first major leaguer to reach the 50-HR plateau in 1920 when he hit 54. The all-time great went on to exceed 50 homers three more times, including the iconic number of 60 in 1927—the single-season record that lasted for 34 years until Yankees outfielder Roger Maris mashed 61 HRs in 1961.

After Maris, just three players enjoyed 50-homer seasons over the next 29 years. San Francisco Giants great Willie Mays hit 52 HRs in 1965, and Cincinnati Reds outfielder George Foster clubbed 52 homers in 1977. Detroit Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder went deep 51 times in 1990.

Ruth's record of four 50-homer seasons was matched by Mark McGwire, the power-hitting first baseman of the then Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa. The home run duels between McGwire and Sosa reenergized baseball in the late 1990s.

Complete List of 50-Home Run Seasons in MLB History

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton entered the 2025 season with 429 career home runs. In 2017, he hit a career-high 59 homers, 22 more than his next-best total.

To reach 50 HRs, Stanton realizes now that he had to have a "synched-up year where a lot of things go right."

"You have to keep your balance and timing the whole year, not too many lulls," Stanton told . "And even when you’re not feeling good, you've got to be able to have your few hits be homers. Instead of having two singles in your 2-for-20-something stage, you’ve got to squeak out those as homers.

"The whole rhythm of your season has to go right."

The players listed below never missed a beat while hitting 50 or more homers in a season. Here is the full list of 50-HR campaigns.

Year

Player

Team

Home Runs

1920

Babe Ruth

New York Yankees

54

1921

Babe Ruth

New York Yankees

59

1927

Babe Ruth

New York Yankees

60

1928

Babe Ruth

New York Yankees

54

1930

Hack Wilson

Chicago Cubs

56

1932

Jimmie Foxx

Philadelphia Athletics

58

1938

Hank Greenberg

Detroit Tigers

58

1938

Jimmie Foxx

Boston Red Sox

50

1947

Ralph Kiner

Pittsburgh Pirates

51

1947

Johnny Mize

New York Giants

51

1949

Ralph Kiner

Pittsburgh Pirates

54

1955

Willie Mays

New York Giants

51

1956

Mickey Mantle

New York Yankees

52

1961

Roger Maris

New York Yankees

61

1961

Mickey Mantle

New York Yankees

54

1965

Willie Mays

San Francisco Giants

52

1977

George Foster

Cincinnati Reds

52

1990

Cecil Fielder

Detroit Tigers

51

1995

Albert Belle

Cleveland Guardians

50

1996

Brady Anderson

Baltimore Orioles

52

1996

Mark McGwire

Oakland Athletics

52

1997

Mark McGwire

Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals

58

1997

Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle Mariners

56

1998

Mark McGwire

St. Louis Cardinals

70

1998

Sammy Sosa

Chicago Cubs

66

1998

Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle Mariners

56

1998

Greg Vaughn

San Diego Padres

50

1999

Mark McGwire

St. Louis Cardinals

65

1999

Sammy Sosa

Chicago Cubs

63

2000

Sammy Sosa

Chicago Cubs

50

2001

Barry Bonds

San Francisco Giants

73

2001

Sammy Sosa

Chicago Cubs

64

2001

Luis Gonzalez

Arizona Diamondbacks

57

2001

Alex Rodriguez

Texas Rangers

52

2002

Alex Rodriguez

Texas Rangers

57

2002

Jim Thome

Cleveland Indians

52

2005

Andruw Jones

Atlanta Braves

51

2006

Ryan Howard

Philadelphia Phillies

58

2006

David Ortiz

Boston Red Sox

54

2007

Alex Rodriguez

New York Yankees

54

2007

Prince Fielder

Milwaukee Brewers

50

2010

Jose Bautista

Toronto Blue Jays

54

2013

Chris Davis

Baltimore Orioles

53

2017

Giancarlo Stanton

Miami Marlins

59

2017

Aaron Judge

New York Yankees

52

2019

Pete Alonso

New York Mets

53

2022

Aaron Judge

New York Yankees

62

2023

Matt Olson

Atlanta Braves

54

2024

Aaron Judge

New York Yankees

58

2024

Shohei Ohtani

Los Angeles Dodgers

54

Record-Breaking and Memorable 50-Home Run Seasons

Anytime a big leaguer began a season by hitting home runs in bunches, talk of chasing the HR record inevitably followed. Maris' pursuit of Ruth had the nation riveted, and the 1961 season is regarded as one of the most magical in baseball history.

Five days after tying Ruth, Maris set a new MLB single-season mark with his 61st homer in the Yankees' regular-season finale against the rival Boston Red Sox.

After a 1994 players strike led to the cancellation of the remainder of the season, including the playoffs and World Series, severe damage had been done to baseball's reputation. The goodwill of the fans was won back by the home run record chases of McGwire and Sosa in 1998.

That year, McGwire and Sosa captured the attention of sports fans as they went head-to-head to not only win the HR title but also to eclipse Maris' 61 homers. McGwire reached 62 home runs first. Sosa joined him five days later.

McGwire homered in his final at-bat of the season to finish with an incredible 70 home runs, four more than Sosa. The record would last only three years. San Francisco Giants outfielder Bonds, at age 36, set a new standard in 2001 with an outrageous 73 homers.

Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani didn't catch Bonds in 2024, but the Japanese superstar made history for becoming the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season.

Interest in Ohtani's 50-50 bid intensified as he entered September on pace to achieve both marks. He notched his 50th steal and 50th homer in the same game in one of the greatest individual performances in MLB history—6-for-6, three HRs, two steals and 10 RBIs.

Trends and Era-Based Differences in 50-Home Run Seasons

When Ruth established a new MLB standard with 60 home runs in 1927, the Yankees icon hit more homers than all but three clubs in the 16-team major leagues. Starting with the first-ever 50-HR campaign in 1920, Ruth ushered in the Live Ball Era with his monumental individual displays of power.

Over the next six decades, MLB saw just 13 seasons of 50 homers or more by a player. Despite an attempt to help hitters by lowering the mound after the 1968 campaign—known as the "Year of the Pitcher" when St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson set a modern-day ERA record of 1.12—only one big leaguer surpassed 50 home runs (Foster's 52-HR aberration in '77).

The prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball had home run totals skyrocketing in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. During that period of the Steroid Era, a total of 18 50-homer campaigns took place. Also, from 1996 to 2002, MLB had multiple 50-HR sluggers in one season.

Today's baseball is dictated by analytics, with MLB team front offices looking to leverage the launch angle of hitters' full-force swings against the unprecedented high velocity of pitchers that registers well past 100 mph. The combination has produced a perfect recipe for strikeouts—but also home runs.

The feast-or-famine style of ball caused MLB's season HR total to exceed 6,000 for the first time. In 2017, 6,105 homers were hit league-wide, and in 2019, a new all-time high was set with a combined 6,776 home runs, according to Baseball Almanac.

Generational sluggers like Aaron Judge have emerged to add to MLB's 50-homer season total. The Yankees outfielder crushed 52 HRs in 2017, an American League-record 62 in 2022 and 58 in 2024.

Sonny Baker set for England ODI debut against South Africa

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Sonny Baker, the Hampshire fast bowler, will make his international debut in the first match of England’s ODI series with South Africa at Headingley on Tuesday.Baker, 22, has only played 11 List A games but caught the eye during the Hundred, where he took nine wickets in seven appearances for Manchester Originals. Capable of pushing the speed gun up to 90mph/145kph, he impressed with the Lions over the winter and was handed an England development contract earlier this year.He will be joined in England’s pace attack by Jofra Archer, playing his first ODI since the Champions Trophy, and Brydon Carse. Harry Brook captains the XI in his second series since taking charge, while Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett will continue to bed in their opening partnership.Related

  • Overton's shock decision sounds alarm bells for England schedule

  • Barely a pause as Hundred gives way to England-South Africa ODIs

  • Sonny Baker awarded England Men's development contract

  • Sonny Baker wins first England call-up, Jacob Bethell to captain in Ireland

  • Baker, Tongue and Buttler seal victory for Originals

Brook said that England were “excited to see where he goes” after Baker’s performances in the Hundred, noting in particular his duels with Kane Williamson, David Warner, Steven Smith and Jonny Bairstow while playing for Originals.”He’s been awesome in the Hundred,” Brook said. “We’ve seen him bowl at some of the best batters in the world and he had them on toast, so it’s been really good to see. He bowls at high pace and he can swing it both ways with exceptional death skills as well. To have him in the team and for him to be opening up tomorrow is awesome. I think there’s quite a lot of people excited to see where he goes.”There have been a few moments. The spells he bowled to Williamson and Warner and then Smith and Bairstow, all four are world-class batters in the shorter format and he was all over them. He bowled with high pace and high skill. He was awesome to watch this year and everyone was talking about him.”On the day that Jamie Overton shelved first-class cricket, Brook agreed that Baker could potentially force himself into the equation for the Ashes: “I don’t select the red-ball side, but yeah, he’s obviously done really well this summer and we’ll see how he goes tomorrow. He’s bowling at high pace with a lot of skill, and it looks like he has quite a lot about him as well.”England XI for 1st ODI: 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Sonny Baker

Paratici's a big fan: Tottenham now hold talks to sign "elite" £87m striker

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur have now entered talks to sign an “elite” new striker, with sporting director Fabio Paratici a big fan, it has been revealed.

Spurs looking to sign new striker amid Tel and Solanke concerns

Dominic Solanke has struggled on the injury front ever since his arrival at N17, with the striker suffering knee, thigh and ankle issues during the 2024-25 campaign, and he has been unable to put the problems behind him at the beginning of this season.

Solanke is set to be out of action for a prolonged period, with it emerging that Thomas Frank may not be particularly fond of the English striker, who was Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice option at centre-forward last season.

With the 28-year-old on the treatment table, Mathys Tel has led the line for Frank’s side in recent weeks, but Jamie O’Hara has not been impressed, and the former midfielder singled the Frenchman out for criticism after the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa.

As such, Tottenham are now ramping up their pursuit of a new striker, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they have now opened talks over a deal for FC Porto star Samu Omorodion.

Paratici is a big fan of Omorodion’s versatility, and Spurs have held discussions over the possibility of an initial short-term deal with an option to buy, but the Portuguese club’s huge asking price has proven to be a major issue.

Indeed, the Liga Portugal side are set to hold out for a huge fee for the 21-year-old, with it being revealed they are unwilling to let him leave for below the €100m (£87m) release clause in the youngster’s contract.

Tottenham join hectic race to sign £75k-p/w star who Redknapp called "tremendous"

The Lilywhites could beat Chelsea to the deal…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 26, 2025 "Elite" Omorodion could take Tottenham's attack to next level

Scout Ben Mattinson has made it clear he believes the Porto striker is able to play at a much higher level, having already established himself as a Liga Portugal star.

The three-time Spain international has made a flying start to the campaign, scoring eight goals in ten matches in all competitions, off the back of scoring 19 league goals, in what was a very impressive 2024-25 campaign.

With Tel struggling, and Richarlison finding the back of the net 23 times in 103 games for Tottenham, it would make sense for Frank’s side to bring in a new striker, and Omorodion has proven he could be a fantastic option.

6 goals in his last 5 matches and loved by Messi: Meet Newcastle's next transfer target

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Newcastle United are always on the lookout for exciting talent to bolster their ranks and could now be set to press ahead in their pursuit of a star loved by Lionel Messi.

Newcastle appoint Ross Wilson as Director of Football

After the international break is over, the Magpies face a trip to face Brighton & Hove Albion on the South Coast as the Premier League gets back underway following a two-week hiatus.

On the news front, Ross Wilson’s appointment as Newcastle’s new Director of Football has signalled another interesting move from PIF as they look to assemble a side capable of competing with the elite of the English game.

Rangers' former sporting director Ross Wilson.

Opening up on conversations he has held with Eddie Howe, he told Sky Sports: “This is such a special club, and I fully understand the passion, ambition and expectations of our incredible supporters, as well as the ambition and desire of our ownership to keep developing and building an even stronger Newcastle United.

“My conversations with ownership have been extremely positive, and I’ve also been in regular contact with Eddie Howe and David Hopkinson. The trust, cohesion and alignment we’re building already feels strong, and we believe that being united as a team will be so important as we continue to move the club forward together.”

Looking to make an early mark, Wilson could look to bring Brentford striker Igor Thiago to Newcastle after his impressive early showings at the Bees this season. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if Keith Andrews will cooperate after losing Yoane Wissa to the Magpies.

With his feet now under the table, Wilson is now eyeing an exciting winger who could soon be on his way to Tyneside if recent developments are to evolve.

Newcastle keen on Spain international Ansu Fati

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are keen to sign Spain international Ansu Fati, who is on loan at AS Monaco from parent club Barcelona.

Scoring six times in his first five matches at the Ligue 1 outfit, he could be captured permanently by Les Monégasques for around £9.5 million in the summer. Meanwhile, Barcelona have the chance to buy him back for a fee in the region of £24.5 million.

Worse than Barnes: Newcastle flop is on borrowed time after Wilson arrival

This Newcastle United flop is surely on borrowed time under Ross Wilson.

ByDan Emery Oct 12, 2025

Crystal Palace and Everton are also keen on his services and it is easy to see why, given he has already created five chances this term in the French top-flight, per Fotmob.

Praised by Lionel Messi for his rise to prominence, Fati may have had to take the long way around after falling out of favour at Barcelona, but he now seems to have rediscovered his mojo and appears well on his way to stardom.

Newcastle are on a similar upward trajectory, creating a merging of paths that could be positive for everyone at St James’ Park.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus