Alex Rodriguez has hit his 500th home run on Saturday, August 4, 2007 to become the 222nd member of the 500 Home Run Club. Here are the members of that club, the number of homers they have hit, and some very cool and essential facts about the 500 Home Run Club.
The 500 Home Run Club used to be very exclusive. Just 10 years ago, there were only 24 members. Which means that in the entire 130-year history of Major League Baseball up to that point, there were only 24 players able to top 400. In the past ten years, however, the Club has expanded to 41 members. That makes 17 new home run quadracenterians added to the list in just one decade. That's a steep increase, to say the least. It may be due to better scouting of pitchers, more tightly wound baseballs, or even the new smaller ballparks. It could also be due to something else entirely. Whatever the cause, no player can even approach 500 Home Runs unless he has great talent and world class work ethic.
Here is the illustrious 500 Home Run Club Membership List, which includes the 21 Best Home Run Hitters Ever.
1. Henry Aaron (755)
2. Barry Bonds (754*)
3. Babe Ruth (714)
4. Willie Mays (660)
5. Sammy Sosa (602*)
6. Ken Griffey, Jr. (588*)
7. Frank Robinson (586)
8. Mark McGwire (583)
9. Harmon Killebrew (573)
10. Rafael Palmeiro (569)
11. Reggie Jackson (563)
12. Mike Schmidt (548)
13. Mickey Mantle (536)
14. Jimmie Fox (534)
15. Ted Williams (521)
16. Eddie Matthews (512)
17. Ernie Banks (512)
18. Eddi Matthews (512)
19. Mel Ott (511)
20. Eddie Murray (504)
21. Frank Thomas (501*)
22. A-Rod (500*)
* active player **author's disregard for proper counting.
500 Home Run Club Trivia
-- The youngest player to reach 500 home runs was Jimmie Foxx, who was 32 years and 311 days. A-Rod will break this record.
-- Ted Williams has the highest career Batting Average for Club Members at .344.
-- Every member of the 500 Club that is eligible for Hall of Fame induction has been inducted except for Mark McGwire (denied entry in 2007, but won 27% of a required 75% of the votes)
-- The only switch hitters in the 500 Home Run Club are Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray.
-- Club Member Mark McGwire hit a home run every 10.6 At-Bats over the course of his career. By comparison, Babe Ruth hit one homer every 11.8 At-Bats and Barry Bonds has one per 12.9 At-Bats.
-- Two 500 Home Run Club members have also stolen at least 300 bases: Barry Bonds (509) and WiIlie Mays (338).
-- The first player to hit 500 Home Runs was Babe Ruth, who passed the mark in 1929.
-- Three members of the 500 Home Run Club also have 3,000 hits. Does anyone know that list?
There is everything you need to know about the 500 Home Run Club. Well, it's a lot, anyway. Have fun with it.
