List of Major League Baseball progressive career home runs leaders
The following is a chronology of the top ten leaders in lifetime home runs in Major League Baseball. This includes any home runs hit by a player during official regular season games (i.e., excluding playoffs or exhibition games) in the National Association (1871–1875), National League (since 1876), the American Association (1882–1891), the Union Association (1884), the Players' League (1890), the American League (since 1901), and the Federal League (1914–1915).
The list helps contextualize the evolution of one of the most prized achievements in United States sports. In the early 1930s, Babe Ruth had almost 400 more home runs than the next player, his longtime teammate Lou Gehrig; when Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, he was fifth on the all-time list.
Career home run leaders by year
Player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame | |
‡ |
Player is still active |
- Statistics updated through end of 2020 season.
Leadership dates
Starting with Harry Stovey passing Charley Jones in August 1885, there have been seven changes of the career home run leader. Stovey held the title twice, having lost it to Dan Brouthers in June 1887 and then regaining it from Brouthers in August 1889. In the modern era—since the formation of the American League in 1901—there have only been four players who have held the title.
Player | Became leader | Career | Date surpassed |
Duration of reign |
Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HR no. | Date hit | Total HR | Last year | ||||
Charley Jones | 56 | 1888 | August 11, 1885 | [2] | |||
Harry Stovey | 46 | August 11, 1885 | 122 | 1893 | June 29, 1887 | 1y 10m 18d | [2] |
Dan Brouthers | 59 | June 29, 1887 | 106 | 1904 | August 13, 1889 | 2y 1m 15d | [2] |
Harry Stovey | August 13, 1889 | 122 | 1893 | June 23, 1895 | 5y 10m 10d | [2] | |
Roger Connor | 123 | June 23, 1895 | 138 | 1897 | July 18, 1921 | 26y 25d | [2][3] |
Babe Ruth | 139 | July 18, 1921 | 714 | 1935 | April 8, 1974 | 52y 8m 21d | [4][5] |
Hank Aaron | 715 | April 8, 1974 | 755 | 1976 | August 7, 2007 | 33y 3m 30d | [6] |
Barry Bonds | 756 | August 7, 2007 | 762 | 2007 | — | 13y 5m 24d | [7] |
- indicates the player hit additional home runs after being passed.
- source material is unclear of Stovey's home run count when passing Brouthers
See also
- Baseball statistics
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball progressive single-season home run leaders
- 500 home run club
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs
Further reading
- "Major League Career Leaders". Retrosheet. August 29, 2018.
References
- "Progressive Leaders & Records for Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com.
- Vincent, David (2008). Home Run: The Definitive History of Baseball's Ultimate Weapon. Potomac Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-1597970365 – via Google Books.
- "Browns Hit the Ball". Pittsburgh Daily Post. June 24, 1895. p. 6. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- Britton, Evan. "Babe Ruth smacks 139th home run of career, passing Roger Connor as all-time home run leader". famousdaily.com. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- "New York Yankees 10, Detroit Tigers 1". Retrosheet. July 18, 1921. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- "Atlanta Braves 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 4". Retrosheet. April 8, 1974. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- "Washington Nationals 8, San Francisco Giants 6". Retrosheet. August 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2018.