Which MLB legends are within the 500 dwelling run membership?

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

Thirty-seven years earlier than Bonds turned baseball’s dwelling 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 dwelling runs in April 1974. A 24-time All-Star, Aaron would end his Corridor of Fame profession with 755 dwelling runs.

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

Having hit the vast majority of his dingers for the St. Louis Cardinals, maybe essentially the most spectacular factor about Pujols is that in an period the place nearly each single one in every of his contemporaries has been implicated in some kind of PED scandal, Pujols has steered away from such controversy. Assuming this stays the identical, the two-time World Sequence 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 dwelling 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 obstacles had been nonetheless standing. The “Say Hey Child” hit 660 dwelling 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 general 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 dwelling runs, 13 All-Star choices, and 10 Gold Gloves. Actually, Griffey would undoubtedly be greater up on this record had he not missed 260 video games as a result of damage from 2001 to 2004.

Though he’s removed from a family title, first baseman Jim Thome is likely one of the most prolific energy hitters baseball has ever seen. Enjoying his greatest years for the Cleveland Indians, Thome hit 612 dwelling runs over his 21-year profession.

The one participant in baseball historical past to hit greater than 60 dwelling 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 cause, at any time when 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.

All the pieces about Corridor of Fame outfielder and supervisor Frank Robinson speaks to why we love baseball. Much like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, Robinson needed to overcome racial hatred to turn into one of many best ever to step out onto the sphere and into the batter’s field. A 14-time All-Star, Triple Crown winner, and World Sequence MVP, Robinson hit 586 dwelling 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 dwelling 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 dwelling runs and is at present the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Hammerin” Harmon Killebrew was basically 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 dwelling run champion, and was inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame in 1984. Killebrew completed his profession with 573 dwelling runs hit.

One other participant on this record whose profession has been marred as a result of PED use, Rafael Palmeiro, is one in every of solely 4 gamers to be members of each the five hundred dwelling 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 bear in mind him for. Palmeiro hit 569 dwelling runs over his 19-year profession.

Remembered greatest for his legendary three dwelling run recreation for the Yankees within the 1977 World Sequence, Reggie Jackson is taken into account to be essentially the most clutch energy hitter in baseball historical past. “Mr. October” was part of 5 World Sequence-winning groups within the Nineteen 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 dwelling runs in his profession enjoying for the Indians, Pink Sox, Dodgers, White Sox, and Rays. The MVP of the 2004 World Sequence, 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 complete 19-year profession for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting 548 dwelling 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 the most effective designated hitters of all time, Large Papi hit 483 of his 541 blasts in a Pink Sox uniform whereas main the workforce to a few World Sequence titles and turning into probably the most 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 at this time as he was throughout his enjoying profession. “The Mick” was a 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Sequence champion, three-time AL MVP, and a Triple Crown winner. He additionally hit 536 dwelling runs over his Corridor of Fame profession.

When Jimmie Foxx hit his five hundredth profession dwelling 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 Pink Sox, Foxx completed his profession in 1945 having hit 534 dwelling runs and incomes two World Sequence rings.

Much like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams’ life and profession appear to have taken on some kind legendary that means to baseball followers. The final man to hit above .400 in a season, Williams hit 521 dwelling runs throughout his Corridor of Fame profession for the Boston Pink Sox. It ought to be remembered nonetheless, that Williams missed out on 4 prime years of his profession serving in america 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 dwelling runs he would ended up hitting.

Much 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 dwelling runs over his 18-year profession.

Corridor of Fame Giants first baseman Willie McCovey was all concerning the lengthy ball. The three-time NL dwelling 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.

Probably the most 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 dwelling runs over his stellar profession and proved to the baseball world that hitting the lengthy ball isn’t a talent 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 dwelling runs, gained two World Sequence, 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 dwelling runs. A 12-time All-Star for the New York Giants, Ott retired in 1947 with an NL-record 512 dwelling 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 dwelling runs hit. Sadly for Sheffield, accusations of PED use have saved the outfielder from getting into Cooperstown.

Cabrera is the one energetic member of this record and that can solely be the case by the top 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 Sequence in an upset over the mighty New York Yankees. 

All the time one of many quietest gamers within the clubhouse, Eddie Murray let his bat speak for him. The primary baseman hit 504 dwelling 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.