Hitting a home run is meant to be tough, as the ball literally has to be hit out of the park as high as 420 feet. Today many MLB players are groomed to be able to hit the ball long distances, in the 1980’s it was extremely uncommon to hit 20 home runs in a single season, that has changed as statistically speaking MLB players are hitting more home runs. In 2000, the total home runs hit in the MLB were 5,693, in 2019 it was 6,776, so players on average are hitting the ball out of the park more and more. Still, there are players in different eras who simply were masters at hitting home runs.
Mike Schmidt was a consistent home run hitter and ranks 16th in the all-time list with 548 home runs. Miguel Cabrera, who is still active, has hit 487 home runs during Baseball’s modern era. Then you have Carl Yastrzemski who played in the 1970’s and hit 452 homers in his career. Ranked 107 is Darryl Strawberry, who had one of the most elegant swings in MLB history , he was able to hit 335 home runs, despite his off the field issues.
So, who are the all-time home run leaders in MLB history? Well, the list includes legends like Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and current standout Albert Pujols. Let’s take a look at the magnificent seven, the top 7 home runs kings in the MLB.
7. Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr. (Getty)
Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 630 career home runs, Griffey was synonymous with the Seattle Mariners, and was the AL home run leader on four occasions. Griffey was the total package, he could hit, run, and field.
6. Willie Mays
Willie Mays (US Today)
The fantastic Willie Mays hit 660 homers in his career with the Giants and Mets. Mays also was the NL home run king on four occasions, and he was the National League’s stolen base leader 4-times as well. One of baseball’s most legendary figures.
5. Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols (Getty)
The only active player on this list, Albert Pujols has hit 662 homers in his career, and at 41 he could still reach that 670 home run milestone with a full season of baseball. Pujols was a two-time NL home run leader and three-time NL MVP.
4. Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez (Getty)
Alex Rodriguez doesn’t get the credit he deserves at times, for whatever reason Rodriguez gets a lot of heat for his time with the Yankees, where he won a World Series in 2009. Rodriguez’s body of work shows that he hit 696 home runs, just four shy of hitting 700. A power hitter Rodriguez is among the best in baseball history with the bat in his hands.
3. Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth (Getty)
The Babe played in a different era, Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs in his career, say what you want about the times, whatever era, Ruth had a lifestyle that no athlete that wants to be on top of his game should have. He partied, drank, and would spend his nights in brothels. Nonetheless the Babe was the home run king for over 30 years.
2. Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron (MLB)
To many the legitimate home run king, Hank Aaron broke many barriers, not just hitting home runs, which were a total of 755. Aaron was a 25! time all-star, a slugger like no other, Aaron had a batting average of .305!
1. Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds (Getty)
Statistically speaking Barry Bonds is the MLB’s home run king with 762 total HRs. Unfortunately, many purists have requested an asterisk be put on that number due to Bonds using steroids to perform better on the field. Still as far as the MLB is concerned Bonds is the Home Run King.
