Which MLB legends are in the 500 home run club?

Whether or not the baseball world needs an asterisk by his title or not, former Giants and Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds is the all-time residence run king with 762 dingers. The seven-time NL MVP broke Hank Aaron’s report mark of 755 residence runs in August 2007. Regardless of being MLB’s all-time residence run chief, suspicion of PED use could forestall Bonds from ever being enshrined in Cooperstown.

Thirty-seven years earlier than Bonds grew to become baseball’s residence run king, Atlanta Braves legend Hank Aaron had that honor. Regardless of racial tensions and dying threats, Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s report of 714 residence runs in April 1974. A 24-time All-Star, Aaron would end his Corridor of Fame profession with 755 residence runs.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth was baseball’s unique slugger. Having performed earlier than the revolution of tv, Ruth is commonly seen as a legendary determine in baseball circles. “The Bambino” could very properly be the best participant in baseball historical past, as not solely did he hit 714 residence runs, he’s additionally the all-time MLB chief in On-Base Plus Slugging (1.164), and Wins Above Alternative (163.1).

Having hit nearly all of his dingers for the St. Louis Cardinals, maybe probably the most spectacular factor about Pujols is that in an period the place nearly each single one in all his contemporaries has been implicated in some type of PED scandal, Pujols has steered away from such controversy. Assuming this stays the identical, the two-time World Collection champion is destined for Cooperstown.

One of many extra controversial figures on the record, A-Rod was one of many ost prolific (and polarizing) energy hitters of his period. Though he handed Willie Mays on the all-time residence run record, Rodriguez’s profession is marred within the eyes of many baseball followers for his admission of PED use.

After Jackie Robinson opened the door for African-American gamers to play within the majors, Willie Mays plowed by no matter boundaries had been nonetheless standing. The “Say Hey Child” hit 660 residence runs, was a 24-time All-Star, and 12-time Gold Glove winner in his Corridor of Fame profession for the Giants and Mets.

When the Seattle Mariners drafted Ken Griffey Jr. with the primary total decide of the 1987 MLB draft, they had been getting a phenom and everybody knew it. “Junior” performed within the majors over 4 totally different a long time, racking up 630 residence runs, 13 All-Star picks, and 10 Gold Gloves. In actual fact, Griffey would undoubtedly be increased up on this record had he not missed 260 video games attributable to harm from 2001 to 2004.

Though he’s removed from a family title, first baseman Jim Thome is without doubt one of the most prolific energy hitters baseball has ever seen. Enjoying his greatest years for the Cleveland Indians, Thome hit 612 residence runs over his 21-year profession.

The one participant in baseball historical past to hit greater than 60 residence runs in three totally different seasons, Sammy Sosa was beloved by baseball followers in the course of the prime years of his profession enjoying for the Chicago Cubs. For some purpose, every time Sosa hit a house run it was merely electrifying. Though some love for Sosa has been misplaced over time as a result of steroid controversy, Sosa completed his profession with 609 lengthy balls hit.

Every little thing about Corridor of Fame outfielder and supervisor Frank Robinson speaks to why we love baseball. Just like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, Robinson needed to overcome racial hatred to grow to be one of many biggest ever to step out onto the sector and into the batter’s field. A 14-time All-Star, Triple Crown winner, and World Collection MVP, Robinson hit 586 residence runs over his illustrious profession.

Mark McGwire captured the creativeness of baseball followers in 1998 when he broke Roger Maris’s single-season report for residence runs. The time since then has been one other story. In 2010, McGwire admitted to utilizing steroids on and off for a decade, diminishing his achievements as a baseball participant within the eyes of most baseball followers. McGwire completed his profession with 583 residence runs and is at the moment the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Hammerin” Harmon Killebrew was primarily the Babe Ruth of the Midwest. Enjoying the overwhelming majority of profession for the Minnesota Twins, Killebrew was a 13-time All-Star, six-time AL residence run champion, and was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1984. Killebrew completed his profession with 573 residence runs hit.

One other participant on this record whose profession has been marred attributable to PED use, Rafael Palmeiro, is one in all solely 4 gamers to be members of each the five hundred residence run membership and the three,000 hit membership. Though Palmeiro insists he by no means knowingly took any PEDs, his 2005 congressional testimony and subsequent failed drug check the identical 12 months is what most baseball followers keep in mind him for. Palmeiro hit 569 residence runs over his 19-year profession.

Remembered greatest for his legendary three residence run sport for the Yankees within the 1977 World Collection, Reggie Jackson is taken into account to be probably the most clutch energy hitter in baseball historical past. “Mr. October” was part of 5 World Collection-winning groups within the Seventies, was a 14-time All-Star, and was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1993. Jackson completed his profession, having hit 563 lengthy balls.

Few gamers in latest reminiscence have had as profitable and weird of a profession as Manny Ramirez. By no means afraid of controversy, Ramirez hit 555 residence runs in his profession enjoying for the Indians, Purple Sox, Dodgers, White Sox, and Rays. The MVP of the 2004 World Collection, Ramirez’s profession led to 2011 when he was going through a 100-game suspension by MLB for PED use. As a substitute of serving the suspension, Ramirez selected to retire.

Michael Jack Schmidt is taken into account by many baseball followers to be the best all-around third baseman in MLB historical past. Schmidt performed his total 19-year profession for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting 548 residence runs, successful 10 Gold Gloves, and three NL MVPs within the course of. Schmidt was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1995.

On the shortlist for one of the best designated hitters of all time, Huge Papi hit 483 of his 541 blasts in a Purple Sox uniform whereas main the workforce to a few World Collection titles and turning into one of the beloved figures within the historical past of Beantown. He was inducted into Cooperstown in 2022. 

Maybe the best heart fielder in baseball historical past, Mickey Mantle is simply as beloved by Yankees followers right now as he was throughout his enjoying profession. “The Mick” was a 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Collection champion, three-time AL MVP, and a Triple Crown winner. He additionally hit 536 residence runs over his Corridor of Fame profession.

When Jimmie Foxx hit his five hundredth profession residence run, he was solely the second participant in MLB historical past to take action (the opposite being Babe Ruth). Enjoying his greatest years with the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Purple Sox, Foxx completed his profession in 1945 having hit 534 residence runs and incomes two World Collection rings.

Just like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams’ life and profession appear to have taken on some kind legendary which means to baseball followers. The final man to hit above .400 in a season, Williams hit 521 residence runs throughout his Corridor of Fame profession for the Boston Purple Sox. It needs to be remembered nevertheless, that Williams missed out on 4 prime years of his profession serving in the USA Marine Corps throughout World Warfare II. Had Williams not largely missed out on enjoying baseball from 1942 to 1945, there’s actually no telling what number of residence runs he would ended up hitting.

Just like Albert Pujols, White Sox nice Frank Thomas was additionally by no means accused of PED use, regardless of enjoying his greatest years when steroid use was supposedly at its peak in baseball. Inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2014, Thomas, a two-time AL MVP, slugged 521 residence runs over his 18-year profession.

Corridor of Fame Giants first baseman Willie McCovey was all concerning the lengthy ball. The three-time NL residence run champion hit 521 over his 20-plus years within the majors. The Giants nice now has the cove simply behind proper subject in AT&T Park in San Francisco named after him for his efforts.

One of the beloved and revered gamers ever to play the sport, Chicago Cubs Corridor of Famer Ernie Banks was the primary power-hitting shortstop in main league historical past. A 14-time All-Star, “Mr. Cub” hit 512 residence runs over his stellar profession and proved to the baseball world that hitting the lengthy ball isn’t a ability reserved for nook infielders and outfielders.

A traditional power-hitting third baseman, Eddie Mathews loved an especially profitable 16-year profession within the majors. Mathews hit 512 residence runs, received two World Collection, and performed in 12 All-Star video games. The child from Texarkana was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1978.

Regardless of being solely 5’9’’ and barely weighing 170 kilos, Mel Ott was the primary participant in Nationwide League historical past to hit over 500 residence runs. A 12-time All-Star for the New York Giants, Ott retired in 1947 with an NL-record 512 residence runs hit. That report would stand till 1966, when fellow Large Willie Mays handed him. Ott was inducted to the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1951.

An immense expertise with an uncommon batting stance, Gary Sheffield loved a profitable 21-year profession within the majors. The nine-time All-Star performed for eight totally different groups and completed his profession with a complete of 509 residence runs hit. Sadly for Sheffield, accusations of PED use have stored the outfielder from coming into Cooperstown.

Cabrera is the one energetic member of this record and that can solely be the case by the tip of the 2023 MLB season. Nearly all of his 507 dingers got here with the Detroit Tigers, however he did hit 138 throughout his five-year run as a Florida Marlin, whereas additionally serving to the Fish win the 2003 World Collection in an upset over the mighty New York Yankees. 

At all times one of many quietest gamers within the clubhouse, Eddie Murray let his bat speak for him. The primary baseman hit 506 residence runs in his 20-year profession. Additionally a member of the three,000 hit membership, Murray was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 2003.