Lordy, lordy

Adam Dunn hit 40. Dunn hit one of four home runs by the Reds against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday as they won 9-1. Dunn's home run was in support of Kyle Lohse. The last time Dunn homered with someone else pitching for the Reds was August 20th.

The home run ties Dunn with Barry Larkin for seventh all-time among Cincinnati Reds players. He may still catch Eric Davis this season who sits a mere five away. Dunn joins Ted Kluszewski as the only Reds players to hit 40 home runs in three seasons. Kluszewski also hit his in three straight seasons, from 1953-1955.

Dunn is just the 21st player in major league history to hit 40 home runs in three consecutive seasons. Of the previous 20, seven are in the Hall of Fame. Of the remaining thirteen, ten were still active at least two seasons ago.

Of the 21, Dunn is the fourth youngest. Hall-of-Famer Eddie Mathews was 24 when he had his third straight season of 40 homers. Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez were 25. Dunn is 26 as were Ralph Kiner and Jimmie Foxx. When Dunn hit his 40th of the season, he was eight days younger than Kiner was on his third straight 40th and thirteen days younger than Foxx.

Which reminds me. I was irked several days ago when ESPN.com ran a poll asking what player had the best chance of besting Hank Aaron's career home run mark. The options were Dunn, Pujols, Rodriguez, Ryan Howard and Miguel Cabrera. Dunn received less than one percent of the vote. I can understand votes for Pujols and Rodriguez but Dunn is only ten days older than Howard who is in just his second year in the majors. Cabrera has not shown he is capable of the necessary 40+ home run seasons one needs to have in order to catch Aaron. Root for Dunn, you know you want to.

With his 198th career home run, Dunn has passed Dick McAuliffe and Dave Henderson (197).