What's often overlooked is that before Babe Ruth, home runs were such a relative rarity that they weren't even considered an effective offensive weapon. When Babe hit 29 in 1919, he broke the record of 27 hit by Ned Williamson in 1884!!!
29 didn't exactly set the sport on fire but the following season (1920) he hit 54, and that definitely set tongues to wagging.