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
Infielder Cal Ripken Jr. #8 of the Baltimore Orioles in action during a game against the Seattle Mariners at the Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998 (Getty Images).
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
Baseball legend Ted Williams (1918 – 2002) of the Boston Red Sox swings a bat at a ball during a pre-game practice circa 1945 (Getty Images).
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
Babe Ruth, nicknamed ‘The Great Bambino’, was controversially sold to the Yankees after six successful seasons with the Boston Red Sox (Twitter: @Yankees).
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
Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays takes a pitch during his at-bat in the first inning of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on September 17, 2017 (Getty Images).
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
Infielder Carlos Delgado #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings at a New York Yankees pitch during the game at the Skydome on October 1, 2004 (Getty Images).
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
Frank Thomas #35 of the Chicago White Sox stands near the dugout during the game with the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum on July 2, 2005 (Getty Images).
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
Jim Thome #25 of the Cleveland Indians at bat against the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on September 14, 2011 (Getty Images).
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
Al Kaline played his entire 22-year MLB franchise with Detroit, where he won the 1968 World Series (Twitter @Tigers).
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
After retiring, George Brett became a Royals hitting coach. Pictured, he watches from the dugout during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on June 5, 2013 (Getty Images).
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
Killebrew’s last MLB game was in 1975, with the Kansas City Royals. However, the Twins retired the historic number 3 to honor their all-time home run leader (Twitter: @Twins).
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
Jeff Bagwell, #5 of the Houston Astros,swings at the pitch during a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Baseball Stadium on March 2,1998 (Getty Images).
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
Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels in action against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on April 22, 2021 (Getty Images).
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
Mark McGwire #25 of the Oakland Athletic”s hits the ball during their interleague game against the Colorado Rockies at Oakland Coliseum in 1997 (Getty Images).
Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr., 13 years with the franchise.
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
Juan Gonzalez #19 of the Texas Rangers starts to run after hitting the ball during the game against the Cleveland Indians at The Ball Park in Arlington, Texas in 1999 (Getty Images).
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
‘Hammerin’’ Hank Aaron played over 20 years in Major League Baseball and is considered one of the game’s all-time greats, being the second player with the most home runs in league history with , only behind Barry Bonds (Twitter: @Braves).
Florida / Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton, 8 years with the franchise.
*Total statistics accurate as of 9/21/2021.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Ryan Braun #8 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a grand slam home run in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 (Getty Images).
Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell, 21 years with the franchise.
‘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
Stan Musial won three World Series with the Cardinals, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 (Twitter: @Cardinals).
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks: Luis Gonzalez, 8 years with the franchise.
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.
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
The ‘Silver Fox’ led the Dodgers to six World Series, winning two titles. Snider was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 (Twitter: @Dodgers).
San Diego Padres: Nate Colbert, 6 years with the franchise.
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
Willie Mays was named the 1960s Player of the Decade by The Sporting News, and cemented his legacy at the Padres with a World Series title in 1954 (Getty Images).
