The 700 Home Run Club: An Elite Club With A Legendary History
The 700 Home Run Club is an exclusive group of Major League Baseball (MLB) players who have achieved the rare feat of hitting at least 700 home runs in their careers. While there have been many great hitters throughout baseball's storied history, only nine players have ever been inducted into the 700 Home Run Club. These players, whose names have become synonymous with baseball greatness, are Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, Jim Thome, and Sammy Sosa.
Hank Aaron is the first and only member of the 700 Home Run Club to play the majority of his career in the Negro Leagues. Aaron made his MLB debut in 1954 and went on to accumulate 755 home runs over the course of his career, the most of any member of the club. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters of all-time.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds is the second member of the 700 Home Run Club. Before Bonds, no player had ever hit more than 500 home runs in their career. Bonds was known for his incredible power, setting the MLB single-season home run record with 73 in 2001. Bonds retired in 2007 with a total of 762 home runs, the most of any member of the club.
Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez is the third member of the 700 Home Run Club. Rodriguez began his MLB career in 1994 and was the first player to reach 500 home runs before the age of 30. Rodriguez is the youngest member of the club and the only active player, having hit his 700th home run in 2016 at the age of 40. Rodriguez has since retired, finishing his career with 754 home runs.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays is the fourth member of the 700 Home Run Club. Mays is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-around players in baseball history, winning two MVP awards and leading the league in home runs four times. Mays retired in 1973 with a total of 660 home runs and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Ken Griffey Jr. is the fifth member of the 700 Home Run Club. Griffey was one of the most popular players in baseball during his peak, known for his unique swing and his infectious enthusiasm for the game. Griffey retired in 2010 with a total of 630 home runs, the sixth-most of any player in MLB history.
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth is the sixth member of the 700 Home Run Club. Ruth is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in baseball history and is credited with popularizing the game in the early 20th century. Ruth retired in 1935 with a total of 714 home runs, the second-most of any player in MLB history.
Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols is the seventh member of the 700 Home Run Club. Pujols is one of the most decorated players in baseball history, winning three MVP awards and leading the league in home runs four times. Pujols retired in 2021 with a total of 703 home runs, the third-most of any player in MLB history.
Jim Thome
Jim Thome is the eighth member of the 700 Home Run Club. Thome was known for his powerful swing and his ability to hit for both power and average. Thome retired in 2012 with a total of 612 home runs, the seventh-most of any player in MLB history.
Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa is the ninth and final member of the 700 Home Run Club. Sosa is best known for his home run duel with Mark McGwire in 1998, when the two sluggers combined to break the single-season home run record. Sosa retired in 2007 with a total of 609 home runs, the eighth-most of any player in MLB history.
The 700 Home Run Club is an elite group of players who have achieved the rare feat of hitting at least 700 home runs in their careers. This club includes some of the most famous names in baseball history and serves as a reminder of the incredible power and skill it takes to reach this milestone. As baseball continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see who else will join this exclusive club in the years to come.