Brewers Have Fewest HR In MLB, How Many World Series Winners Have Done This?

How many World Series winners have had the fewest home runs hit in the MLB regular season?

Aug 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Jake Bauers (9) watches after hitting a two run home run in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While writing my last article here on the Milwaukee Brewers On SI, I stumbled upon an interesting thought experiment. I was talking about all the stats that Milwaukee leads Major League Baseball in and discovered that, despite having the best record, they have the fewest home runs this season. 

This led me to ponder how many World Series winners have finished the regular season with the fewest home runs. I promised the answer would be in the next article I wrote – promises made, promises delivered. 

Technically, five World Series winners have finished the regular season with the fewest home runs in the league. However, I put little stake in records set before Jackie Robinson, so I will be discussing just three. 

1965 Los Angeles Dodgers

Jun 19, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; A statue of former Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax in the Centerfield Plaza at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers were the first to accomplish the feat in the “modern” era. 

The Dodgers won a seven-game slugfest against the Brewers in which Sandy Koufax threw a nine-inning shutout in his third start of the series. 

Los Angeles hit five home runs in the series, but trailed the rest of the league in the regular season, putting just 78 over the wall. They were led by 1965 Cy Young winner Sandy Koufax and legendary Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale, who was responsible for seven of the 78 homers. 

1982 St. Louis Cardinals

Aug 1982; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; St. Louis Cardinals infielder Keith Hernandez (37) in action against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals were the next team to do it. They beat the – and I promise I’m not doing this on purpose –  Milwaukee Brewers in a seven-game series. 

The Cardinals had a measly 67 home runs on the year, and only four in the World Series. They nearly eclipsed their HR total for the season with triples, batting 52 three-baggers. 

2012 San Francisco Giants

Oct 28, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo (54) celebrates with catcher Buster Posey after game four of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Giants won 4-3 to sweep the series. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Most of us are old enough to remember the explosive staffs of the early 2010s San Francisco Giants. But I was shocked to see just how few home runs they hit in their 20212 World Series run. 

The Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Their team swatted 103 home runs, which is the highest on the list thus far, but it is a different game now. This is emphasized by the fact that the New York Yankees led the league that season with a staggering 245 long balls.

The Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox each doubled the Giants' total from that season as well. 

So, in conclusion, when you have a Hall of Fame rotation, it is far from impossible to win the big one off of situational hitting alone. In fact, some would say the league is due for its next outlier any year now. 

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