Stanton Ties Marlins Home Run Record

Giancarlo Stanton tied the Miami Marlins record for home runs in a season with his 42nd on Sunday.

The blast came off of Colorado Rockies starter German Márquez in the third inning. As has been the case lately, Stanton's home run was a clutch one as well. Miami was trailing by a run at the time and Stanton's blast tied the game up. Stanton has 90 runs batted in to go with his 42 homers and should set a personal-best in that department as well. In 2014, Stanton had 105 RBI, which is currently his career-high.

Gary Sheffield had set the record of 42 way back in 1996 as a member of the Florida Marlins. Despite having a number of sluggers over the years, the Marlins were never able to set a new mark. Playing in pitcher-friendly ballparks was a likely factor in that situation.

Stanton has been on a torrid pace and now has 21 homers in the last 33 games. The historic run has featured Stanton's 100th home run at Marlins Park and the 250th of his career. The slugger is on pace to eclipse 50 home runs and could even approach the 60-mark.

Stanton is joining exclusive company with each big swing. The outfielder is the sixth-fastest player in MLB history to reach the 250 home run mark, when considering games played. It took Stanton only 941 games to reach the total and the list of players he joined includes a number of Hall of Famers.

Stanton's home run barrage has landed him in the same sentence as legends such as Babe Ruth and Roger Maris. In 1961, Maris had 43 home runs after 114 games. Stanton is now only one shy of that total and Maris ended up with 61 homers that season. Maris' record would stand until Mark McGwire set the new historic mark with 70 in 1998. Barry Bonds would go on to top McGwire with 73 of his own in 2001.

With 48 games to go in the season, Stanton has plenty of time to add to his totals. Current projections have Stanton ending the year with 59 homers, but his second-half pace has lifted that projection almost daily. Stanton leads all of baseball in the second half with 16 home runs and could be part of the Most Valuable Player discussion at this rate. Miami's lack of a playoff position may be the only thing standing in the way of that award.