A man in full baseball attire wears a pinstriped jersey and a hat with overlapping white "N" and "Y". Looking to the left of the camera, he is holding a baseball bat upward.
Babe Ruth was the first player to reach 500 home runs and set a career home run mark of 714 that stood until 1974.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 500 home run club is a group of batters who have hit 500 or more regular-season home runs in their careers. There are twenty-eight players who are members of the 500 home run club. Seven 500 home run club members—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera—are also members of the 3,000 hit club.

In the past, membership in the 500 home run club was a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, although some believe the milestone has become less meaningful in recent years and many members have not been enshrined in Cooperstown.[1][2][3][4]

All 15 players who became members of the 500 home run club between 1929 and 1996 are members of the Hall of Fame. Of the 11 players who made the 500 homer club between 1999 and 2015 who are Hall of Fame eligible, only four have been enshrined in Cooperstown. Seven eligible club members—Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa—have not been elected to the Hall. Bonds is one of only four members in the 700 home run club and Rodriguez and Sosa are members of the 600 homer club, all of whose other members are Hall of Famers except for the recently retired Albert Pujols, who hit 703 career home runs and is not eligible until 2027.

Bonds and Sosa made their first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2013; Bonds received only 36.2% and Sosa 12.5% of the total votes, with 75% required for induction.[5] Eligibility requires that a player has "been retired five seasons" or be deceased for at least six months. Some believe the milestone has become less important with the large number of new members; 10 players joined the club from 1999 to 2009.[1] Additionally, several of these recent members - including all seven aforementioned eligible members - have had ties to performance-enhancing drugs.[1][4][6] Some believe that by not electing McGwire to the Hall the voters were establishing a "referendum" on how they would treat players from the "Steroid Era".[7][8] On January 8, 2014, Palmeiro became the first member of the club to be removed from the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot after failing to appear on at least 5.0% of ballots.[9]

On August 11, 1929, Babe Ruth became the first member of the club. Ruth surpassed Roger Connor's record of 138 career homers during the 1921 season, and was the first player to hit 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 career home runs. Ruth ended his career with 714 home runs, a record which stood from 1935 until Hank Aaron surpassed it in 1974.[10] Aaron's ultimate career total, 755, remained the record until Barry Bonds set the current mark of 762 during the 2007 season.[10] The most recent player to reach 500 home runs is Miguel Cabrera, who hit his 500th home run on August 22, 2021;[11][12] As of 2023, there are no active members of the club.

Key

An African American man in a white baseball uniform with "GIANTS" on the chest takes a left-handed baseball swing as a catcher kneels behind him to receive the pitch.
Barry Bonds (pictured here in 2006) joined the 500 home run club in 2001 and set a new career home run record of 762 in 2007.
Player Name of the player
HR Career home runs
Date Date of the player's 500th home run
Team The batter's team at the time of his 500th home run
Seasons The seasons this player played in the major leagues
* Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
‡ Denotes player who is still active

Members

A dark-skinned man in a black baseball jersey and gray pants takes a right-handed baseball swing with a crowd in the background, several people wearing red.
David Ortiz is one of 12 to reach the milestone from 1999 to 2015.
  • Stats updated as of the end of the 2023 season.
Player HR Date Team Seasons played Opposing pitcher Ref(s)
Barry Bonds 762April 17, 2001San Francisco Giants1986–2007Terry Adams[13]
Hank Aaron* 755July 14, 1968Atlanta Braves1954–1976Mike McCormick[14]
Babe Ruth* 714August 11, 1929New York Yankees1914–1935Willis Hudlin[15]
Albert Pujols 703April 22, 2014Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim2001–2022Taylor Jordan[16]
Alex Rodriguez 696August 4, 2007New York Yankees1994–2013, 2015–2016Kyle Davies[17][18]
Willie Mays* 660September 13, 1965San Francisco Giants1951–1952, 1954–1973Don Nottebart[19]
Ken Griffey Jr.* 630June 20, 2004Cincinnati Reds1989–2010Matt Morris[20]
Jim Thome* 612September 16, 2007Chicago White Sox1991–2012Dustin Moseley[2][21]
Sammy Sosa 609April 4, 2003Chicago Cubs1989–2005, 2007Scott Sullivan[22]
Frank Robinson* 586September 13, 1971Baltimore Orioles1956–1976Fred Scherman[23]
Mark McGwire 583August 5, 1999St. Louis Cardinals1986–2001Andy Ashby[24]
Harmon Killebrew* 573August 10, 1971Minnesota Twins1954–1975Mike Cuellar[25]
Rafael Palmeiro 569May 11, 2003Texas Rangers1986–2005Dave Elder[26]
Reggie Jackson* 563September 17, 1984California Angels1967–1987Bud Black[27]
Manny Ramirez 555May 31, 2008Boston Red Sox1993–2011Chad Bradford[28][29]
Mike Schmidt* 548April 18, 1987Philadelphia Phillies1972–1989Don Robinson[30]
David Ortiz* 541September 12, 2015Boston Red Sox1997–2016Matt Moore[31]
Mickey Mantle* 536May 14, 1967New York Yankees1951–1968Stu Miller[32]
Jimmie Foxx* 534September 24, 1940Boston Red Sox1925–1942, 1944–1945George Caster[33]
Willie McCovey* 521June 30, 1978San Francisco Giants1959–1980Jamie Easterly[34]
Frank Thomas* 521June 28, 2007Toronto Blue Jays1990–2008Carlos Silva[35][36]
Ted Williams* 521June 17, 1960Boston Red Sox1939–1942, 1946–1960Wynn Hawkins[37]
Ernie Banks* 512May 12, 1970Chicago Cubs1953–1971Pat Jarvis[38]
Eddie Mathews* 512July 14, 1967Houston Astros1952–1968Juan Marichal[39]
Mel Ott* 511August 1, 1945New York Giants1926–1947Johnny Hutchings[40]
Miguel Cabrera 511August 22, 2021Detroit Tigers2003–2023Steven Matz[41]
Gary Sheffield 509April 17, 2009New York Mets1988–2009Mitch Stetter[42][43]
Eddie Murray* 504September 6, 1996Baltimore Orioles1977–1997Felipe Lira[44]

See also

References

General
  • "Career Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  • "500 Home Run Club – Milestones". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 Passan, Jeff (April 18, 2009). "500 home run club losing its cachet". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Curry, Jack (April 27, 2008). "500 Home Runs, Zero Certainty for Thome". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  3. ↑ Romano, John (April 22, 2009). "Gary Sheffield's 500 home runs is merely a number, and not a very special one". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Swartz, Cody (April 19, 2009). "Why 500 Home Runs No Longer Guarantees Admission to the Hall of Fame". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ "2013 Hall of Fame Vote a Shutout" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  6. ↑ Kurkjian, Tim (January 9, 2012). "Whopper of a list of names await in 2013". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Bonds says Rose, McGwire belong in Hall of Fame". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 18, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  8. ↑ "McGwire denied Hall; Gwynn, Ripken get in". NBC Sports. Associated Press. January 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Rafael Palmeiro Becomes First Fatality of PED Era". Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Progressive Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  11. ↑ "500 Home Run Club". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  12. ↑ Kelly, Matt (September 7, 2021). "The 500 Home Run Club". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Barry Bonds Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Hank Aaron Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Babe Ruth Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  16. ↑ White, Paul (April 22, 2014). "Albert Pujols: 500 home runs, and looking like old self". USA Today. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ Hoch, Bryan (August 4, 2007). "A-Rod belts historic 500th homer". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Ken Griffey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Jim Thome Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Sammy Sosa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Mark McGwire Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Harmon Killebrew Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Rafael Palmeiro Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Reggie Jackson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Manny Ramirez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  29. ↑ Browne, Ian (June 1, 2008). "Manny cements his place in history". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Mike Schmidt Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  31. ↑ "David Ortiz Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Mickey Mantle Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Jimmie Foxx Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Willie McCovey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Frank Thomas Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  36. ↑ Kieser, Joe (June 28, 2007). "Thomas launches No. 500 at Metrodome". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Ted Williams Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Ernie Banks Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Eddie Mathews Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Mel Ott Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Miguel Cabrera Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  42. ↑ Ghiroli, Brittany (April 18, 2009). "Sheffield joins elite club with No. 500". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Gary Sheffield Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Eddie Murray Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.

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