The 500 Home Run Club is probably the most exclusive in any professional sport. There are only 26 members and given that there have been about 20,000 players in the history of Major League Baseball, just adds to its exclusivity, giving its members a mythical status. Babe Ruth is the founding member, hitting his 500th home run in 1929. It would be 11 years until the club got its second member when Jimmie Foxx knocked his 500th homer out of the park in 1940. Albert Pujols is the most recent member of the club hitting his 500th homer in April of this year. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, and Rafael Palmeiro are also members of the 3,000 Career Hits Club. 16 of the players are Hall of Famers, not surprising considering that 500 career home runs was once all but a guarantee for induction. However, some players, mainly Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro have yet to be inducted likely due to their connection with steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. This will also likely keep Alex Rodriguez out of the Hall of Fame. Ken Griffey Jr., considered by many to be the greatest modern day player is likely to be a first ballot inductee. The current players who will likely join the 500 Home Run club are Adam Dunn and Miguel Cabrera. A long shot but a possibility is Prince Fielder if he can string together a few very strong seasons. Here is the full list of the members of the 500 Home Run Club.
1. Barry Bonds: 762 Home Runs
2. Hank Aaron: 755 Home Runs
3. Babe Ruth: 714 Home Runs
4. Willie Mays: 660 Home Runs
5: Alex Rodriguez: 654 Home Runs
6. Ken Griffey Jr.: 630 Home Runs
7: Jim Thome: 612 Home Runs
8: Sammy Sosa: 609 Home Runs
9: Frank Robinson: 586 Home Runs
10: Mark McGwire: 583 Home Runs
11: Harmon Killebrew: 573 Home Runs
12: Rafael Palmeiro: 569 Home Runs
13: Reggie Jackson: 563 Home Runs
14: Manny Ramirez: 555 Home Runs
15: Mike Schmidt: 548 Home Runs
16: Mickey Mantle: 536 Home Runs
17: Jimmie Foxx: 534 Home Runs
18: Ted Williams: 521 Home Runs
19: Willie McCovey: 521 Home Runs
20: Frank Thomas: 521 Home Runs
21: Albert Pujols: 519 Home Runs
22: Ernie Banks: 512 Home Runs
23: Eddie Matthews: 512 Home Runs
24: Mel Ott: 511 Home Runs
25: Gary Sheffield: 509 Home Runs
26: Eddie Murray: 504 Home Runs
Article By: Jon DaBove
