When asked who the leading home run hitter in history is, most baseball fans will undoubtedly name Barry Bonds. But, when looking at every Major League Baseball (MLB)’s leading home run scorer, Bonds doesn’t make the list in spite of hitting the ball out of the park 762 times. Neither does Alex Rodriguez, who nearly hit the 700 home run mark in his career, or Frank Robinson, who approached 600. In spite of baseball changing considerably in approximately 150 years of its inception, there are legends who have remained atop of the home run chart for several of the 30 MLB teams.
In the following list, you can take a look at every team’s historic home run leader. You might recognize some of them, you might reminisce on others, but you will definitely appreciate the significant contribution every athlete has made to the game, ranging from Babe Ruth to Ryan Braun, from Hank Aaron to Giancarlo Stanton, and from Willie Mays to Evan Longoria. Join us on a journey looking back at 30 bonafide MLB legends, first looking at the amount of home runs struck for their particular team and then reviewing their overall career numbers.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr, 21 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Orioles: 431
- Career games: 3,001
- At Bats: 11,551
- Runs scored: 1,647
- Hits: 3,184
- Doubles: 603
- Triples: 44
- Batting Average: .276
Boston Red Sox: Ted Williams, 19 years in the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Red Sox: 521
- Career games: 2,292
- At Bats: 7,706
- Runs scored: 1,798
- Hits: 2,654
- Doubles: 525
- Triples: 71
- Batting average: .344
New York Yankees: Babe Ruth, 15 years withthe franchise.
- Home Runs for the Yankees: 714
- Career games: 2,503
- At Bats: 8,399
- Runs scored: 2,174
- Hits: 2,873
- Doubles: 506
- Triples: 136
- Batting average: .342
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria, 10 years with the franchise.
*Total statistics accurate as of 9/20/2021.
- Home Runs for the Rays: 261.
- Career games: 1,812
- At Bats: 6,788
- Runs scored: 957
- Hits: 1,813
- Doubles: 407
- Triples: 26
- Batting average: .267
Toronto Blue Jays: Carlos Delgado, 12 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Blue Jays: 336
- Career games: 2,035
- At Bats: 7,283
- Runs scored: 1,241
- Hits: 2,038
- Doubles: 483
- Triples: 18
- Batting average: .280
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: Frank Thomas, 16 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the White Sox: 448
- Career Games: 2,322
- At Bats: 8,199
- Runs scored: 1,494
- Hits: 2,468
- Doubles: 495
- Triples: 12
- Batting average: .301
Cleveland Indians: Jim Thome, 13 total years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Indians: 337
- Career games: 2,543
- At bats: 8,422
- Runs scored: 1,583
- Hits: 2,328
- Doubles: 451
- Triples: 26
- Batting average: .276
Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline, 22 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Tigers: 399
- Career games: 2,834
- At bats: 10,116
- Runs scored: 1,622
- Hits: 3,007
- Doubles: 498
- Triples: 75
- Batting average: .297
Kansas City Royals: George Brett, 21 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Royals: 317
- Career games: 2,707
- At bats: 10,349
- Runs scored: 1,583
- Hits: 3,154
- Doubles: 665
- Triples: 137
- Batting average: .305
Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins: Harmon Killebrew, 21 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Senators / Twins: 559
- Career games: 2,435
- At bats: 8,147
- Runs scored: 1,283
- Hits: 2,086
- Doubles: 290
- Triples: 24
- Batting average: .256
AL West
Houston Astros: Jeff Bagwell, 15 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Astros: 449
- Career games: 2,150
- At bats: 7,797
- Runs scored: 1,517
- Hits: 2,314
- Doubles: 488
- Triples: 32
- Batting average: .297
Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout, 11 years with the franchise.
*Total statistics accurate as of 9/20/2021.
- Home Runs for the Angels: 310
- Career games: 1,288
- At bats: 4,656
- Runs scored: 967
- Hits: 1,419
- Doubles: 268
- Triples: 49
- Batting average: .305
Oakland Athletics: Mark McGwire, 11 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the A’s: 363
- Career games: 1,874
- At bats: 6,187
- Runs scored: 1,167
- Hits: 1,626
- Doubles: 252
- Triples: 6
- Batting average: .263
Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr., 13 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Mariners: 417
- Career games: 2,671
- At bats: 9,801
- Runs scored: 1,662
- Hits: 2,781
- Doubles: 524
- Triples: 38
- Batting average: .284
Ken Griffey Jr. #24 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the New York Yankees during the game at Safeco Field on August 14, 2009 (Getty Images).
Texas Rangers: Juan González, 12 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Rangers: 372
- Career games: 1,689
- At bats: 6,556
- Runs scored: 1,061
- Hits: 1,936
- Doubles: 388
- Triples: 25
- Batting average: .295
NL East
Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron, 21 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Braves: 733
- Career games: 3,298
- At bats: 12,364
- Runs scored: 2,174
- Hits: 3,771
- Doubles: 624
- Triples: 98
- Batting average: .305
Florida / Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton, 8 years with the franchise.
*Total statistics accurate as of 9/21/2021.
- Home Runs for the Marlins: 267
- Career games: 1,313
- At bats: 4,798
- Runs scored: 755
- Hits: 1,286
- Doubles: 262
- Triples: 11
- Batting average: .268
Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins warms up on deck during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2017 (Getty Images).
New York Mets: Darryl Strawberry, 8 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Mets: 252
- Career games: 1,583
- At bats: 5,418
- Runs scored: 898
- Hits: 1,401
- Doubles: 256
- Triples: 38
- Batting average: .259
Right fielder Darryl Strawberry #18 of the New York Mets swings during a 1988 game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois in 1988 (Getty Images).
Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt, 18 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Phillies: 548
- Career games: 2,404
- At bats: 8,352
- Runs scored: 1,506
- Hits: 2,234
- Doubles: 408
- Triples: 59
- Batting average: .267
Mike Schmidt played his entire career in Philadelphia, where he won the World Series in 1980 and was elected as an All Star 12 times (Twitter: @Phillies).
Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman, 17 years with the franchise.
*Total statistics accurate as of 9/21/2021, Zimmerman declined to play the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Home Runs for the Nationals: 270
- Career games: 1,792
- At bats: 6,641
- Runs scored: 962
- Hits: 1,843
- Doubles: 415
- Triples: 22
- Batting average: .278
Ryan Zimmerman #11 of the Washington Nationals drives in two runs with a single in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on August 02, 2021 (Getty Images).
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa, 13 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Cubs: 545
- Career games: 2,354
- At bats: 8,813
- Runs scored: 1,475
- Hits: 2,408
- Doubles: 379
- Triples: 45
- Batting average: .273
Outfielder Sammy Sosa #21 of the Chicago Cubs swings at the ball during the Spring Training game against the Chicago White Sox in 1999 (Getty Images).
Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Bench, 17 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Reds: 389.
- Career games: 2,158
- At bats: 7,658
- Runs scored: 1,091
- Hits: 2,048
- Doubles: 381
- Triples: 24
- Batting average: .267
Former Cincinnati Reds player Johnny Bench looks on prior to the 86th MLB All-Star Game at the Great American Ball Park on July 14, 2015 (Getty Images).
Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun, 14 seasons with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Brewers: 346
- Career games: 1,766
- At bats: 6,622
- Runs scored: 1,080
- Hits: 1,963
- Doubles: 408
- Triples: 49
- Batting average: .296
Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell, 21 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Pirates:475
- Career games: 2,360
- At bats: 7,927
- Runs scored: 1,195
- Hits: 2,232
- Doubles: 423
- Triples: 55
- Batting average: .282
‘Pops’ Stargell won two World Series in Pittsburgh, a gesture not forgotten by the team, who retired the historic number 8 the left fielder used to wear (Twitter: @Pirates).
St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial, 22 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Cardinals: 475
- Career games: 3,026
- At bats: 10,972
- Runs scored: 1,949
- Hits: 3,630
- Doubles: 725
- Triples: 177
- Batting percentage: .331
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez, 8 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the ‘D-Backs’: 224
- Career games: 2,591
- At bats: 9,157
- Runs scored: 1,412
- Hits: 2,591
- Doubles: 596
- Triples: 68
- Batting percentage: .283
Luis Gonzalez #20 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum on July 2, 2006 (Getty Images).
Colorado Rockies: Todd Helton, 17 seasons with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Rockies: 369
- Career games: 2,247
- At bats: 7,962
- Runs scored: 1,401
- Hits: 2,519
- Doubles: 592
- Triples: 37
- Batting percentage: .316
Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies acknowledges the standing ovation from the fans after he played his last home game at Coors Field on September 25, 2013 (Getty Images).
Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers: Duke Snider, 16 seasons with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Dodgers: 389
- Career games: 2,143
- At bats: 7,161
- Runs scored: 1,259
- Hits: 2,116
- Doubles: 358
- Triples: 85
- Batting percentage: .295
San Diego Padres: Nate Colbert, 6 years with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Padres: 163
- Career games: 1,004
- At bats: 3,422
- Runs scored: 481
- Hits: 833
- Doubles: 141
- Triples: 25
- Batting percentage: .243
Nate Colbert last played in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, but established himself as a Padres legend in spite of only playing five seasons in San Diego (Twitter: @Padres).
New York / San Francisco Giants: Willie Mays, 21 seasons with the franchise.
- Home Runs for the Giants: 646
- Career games: 2,992
- At bats: 10,881
- Runs scored: 2,062
- Hits: 3,283
- Doubles: 523
- Triples: 140
- Batting percentage: .302
