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This Mike Stanton story keeps getting better.

The Grasshoppers' 18-year-old slugger delivered his 33rd home run of the season tonight and is now the youngest professional player in more than 40 years to hit that many, according to a database compiled by a Kansas man.

Stanton drove in five runs in all as the Hoppers came back for a 17-11 victory at Hickory.

Old Time Data Inc., which has produced a CD of Minor League and Major League statistics that dates to 1922, indicates Stanton, born Nov. 8, 1989, has done something not seen in pro ball since at least 1962. In that season, Dick Simpson of the San Jose Bees went deep 42 times. Simpson turned 19 on July 28 that year, and it wasn't immediately clear when he exceeded 33.

To put it another way, Stanton will be the first player in the amateur draft era to finish a pro season at the age of 18 and with 33 or more long balls.

The Florida Marlins selected Stanton out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., in the second round in June 2007. Two weeks ago, his name came up in trade talks involving Manny Ramirez, but when the Boston Red Sox insisted on Stanton, the Marlins withdrew from the discussions. Boston ultimately sent Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the former USC football prospect remained in Greensboro.

Stanton has now homered 23 times since June 1 and is seven short of the South Atlantic League record for a season, set by Russell Branyan of the Columbus Red Stixx in 1996. Branyan has authored 133 homers in 11 Major League seasons.

The Greensboro record is 45 by Henry Parrish of the 1929 Patriots, who played in the Piedmont League.

Simpson has an interesting historical note of his own. Three years after his massive season in San Jose, he was involved in one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history. The Baltimore Orioles sent him, Jack Baldschun and Milt Pappas to the Cincinnati Reds for 30-year-old Frank Robinson in December 1965.

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com