How Many Baseball Players Have 700 Home Runs – 4 Greatest Among Greats!

Last Updated on May 16, 2023

Though baseball started over 140 years ago, it took 54 years to witness the first baseball player to score 700 home runs, which were the illustrious Babe Ruth. Later 4 more baseball players joined the club.

Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, and most recently, Albert Pujols consecutively celebrated this milestone. 

So, if you’re thinking of a long list of how many baseball players have 700 home runs, this might already disappoint you. 

And you shouldn’t expect to see new names in this club any time soon, at least not within the next 5 to 7 seasons, as all 600 club members have already said adieu to baseball. 

To find the truth behind my prediction, read till the end of this article. First, I’m gonna recall:

• 4 baseball players who made 700 home runs
• 5 closest baseball players who couldn’t achieve 700 home runs

4 Baseball Players Who Made 700 Home Runs

I’m more of a sports guy than a writer, but I’ll try to share these beautiful 700th home run moments in this section. Also, I’ll cover all of the players’ baseball journeys and achievements in a nutshell. 

Barry Bonds

Total: 762 Home Runs

Back on September 17, 2004 – was a historic day of baseball. There was a match between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.

When the legendary Barry Bond stepped onto the plate to face off pitcher Jake Peavy on the other side, the crowd got electrified with excitement. 

Jake pitched his ball, and Barry did what he was a master of, hitting the ball with all his strength. A sharp thwack! 

The crowd shouted with favorite baseball chants as bonds started to run through the bases. However, that was needless, as the ball was already on its way to fly over the right-field wall.

It was his 700th home run, marked as one of 4 in baseball history! And the journey wasn’t finished yet. Barry Bond was on the way to becoming the all-time home run leader. 

Moreover, what makes Barry’s this milestone undefeatable is the pace he achieved, going from 600 to 700 home runs. He took only 308 games.

Career Overview

Barry started to play for the Giants in 1993 and continued his position till 2007. During his remarkable career, he made a total of 762 home runs, enough to make him one of the greatest home-run hitters in MLB history.

Without that, his career is full of moments. Such one was his record-breaking single-season home run in 2001. He hit 73 HR in just a single season. 

This baseball legend wasn’t limited by his home run scores only. He also received many awards, including 

• 7 National League MVP awards
• 8 Gold Gloves
• 14 All-Star game appearances

Unfortunately, all of his accomplishments got shadowed under the steroid allegations, which didn’t leave a good message for his fans and next-gen baseball players.

Hank Aaron

Total: 755 Home Runs

A long before Barry, another hard hitter, Hank Aaron, stepped into the list of the 700th home-run club. The shiny history took place on July 21, 1973, at the Atlanta stadium. 

Hank was playing for the Atlanta Braves opposite the Philadelphia Phillies. He scored his 700th during the 4th inning of this Major League Baseball match. 

Another Hall of Famer, Ken Brett, was on the pitching plate, whose name was enough to make any batter shy of hitting a fly ball. 

But that wasn’t enough to stop Hank from his historic shot. After hitting the score, Hank got a standing ovation from his devoted fans and teammates. 

Till 1973, he hit a total of 755 home runs, which took Barry 31 years to break the record! BTW, Hank also broke the record of Babe Ruth with this number. 

Career Overview

Hank began his MLB career with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. From the beginning, he was famous for his aggressive hitting style, pocketing a batting average of .305, 3,771 hits, and 2,297 runs batted in.

After playing 21 seasons, he switched to the Brewers and Atlanta Braves, where he played his last 2 seasons. This heroic player took retirement in 1976 after 23 glorious seasons.

In 1982, Hank was voted for the Baseball Hall of Fame with 97.8% votes. He was also honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including, 

• 25 All-Star selections
• 3 Gold Gloves 
• 2 National League MVP awards

Babe Ruth 

Total: 714 Home Runs

For every aspiring baseball player, this was the unforgettable moment when the Great Bambino, Babe Ruth, made his 700th home run. And it’s needless to mention that it was the first ever.

The match took place between the Boston Braves and the Detroit Tigers on July 13, 1934. It was his last MLB match. He made the shot to Tommy Bridges’s pitch in the 5th inning of the match. 

“Babe Ruth hit a total of 714 home runs throughout his career. This record was later broken by Hank.” 

Being in the 3rd position, still, he’s equally a prime player in the 700 HR club because he was the first player to hold this record. Besides, he was an all-rounder, making him the American baseball icon. 

Career Overview 

Though started as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (1914), later Babe Ruth showed extraordinary performance in batting and fielding. 

He got into the actual limelight when he joined the New York Yankees in 1920, which lasted till 1934. When leaving the team, he left behind 4 World Series titles for the team.

“He won a total of 7 World Series during his 21 years of long baseball career.” 

During his career, he set numerous records, including the all-time home run record, which stood for over 30 years. Also, he was entitled to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 (just a year after he retired.) He’s also acknowledged for:

• 2-time All-Star
• American League MVP (1923)
• American League batting champion (1924)
• 12-time American League home run leader 

Albert Pujols

Total: 703 Home Runs

Albert Pujols made his 700th home run for St. Louis Cardinals on September 23, 2022. On the other side, Phil Bickford was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The history of baseball will always keep this moment in the book as he’s one of the 4 700 home-runners in the world. 

At first, Pujols got one strike. However, the tension and excitement were all around the whole Busch ballpark. 

And then he got another strike, which made the audience and his teammates hold their breath. 

But then the magic shot happened! He hit 699th and 700th in the same game in back-to-back innings. 

Check out the swing that produced the

last man to join the 700th home-run club in the big league. 

Career Overview 

Pujols’ baseball journey started a long time ago before he became a professional league player. He used to scout several MLB teams. 

Can you believe this, the 6.3 ft. mighty hitter Pujols wasn’t selected in the first round of the 1999 draft?

However, it didn’t demotivate him. And finally, after the struggle, he debuted in 2001 for St. Louis Cardinals.

Over the next decade, Pujols dominated the sport, winning numerous awards and accolades. He won 2 World Series championships with the Cardinals.

“And then the golden year came in 2012 when he signed a 10-year contract with the LA Angels for $254 million, making him one of the richest baseball players in MLB.”  

Just before making his 700th, Pujols joined the LA Dodgers in 2021. And then he switched to St. Louis again. He retired after 22 seasons of a remarkable career, which let him achieve the following:

• 11-time All-Star 
• 2-time World Series champion (2006, 2011)
• 3-time NL MVP (2005, 2008-09)
• 2-time Gold Glove (2006, 2010)
• 6-time Silver Slugger 

Closest Baseball Players Who Couldn’t Achieve 700 Home Runs

There were 5 more players who were expected to cross 700 home runs. However, sadly because of their early retirement, none of them couldn’t hit the score. Let’s take a quick look at their career insights as well. 

Alex Rodriguez 

Total Home Run: 696

A-Rod debuted his MLB baseball career in mid-1994 for the Seattle Mariners. He’s the closest player who couldn’t reach 700 home runs because of only 4 more. 

Later in 2009, Alex became the showstopper when he won the 27th World Series championship for the New York Yankees. He hit 6 home runs during the season. 

However, his career was full of controversy and misguiding activities for aspiring players. 

One such scandal involved the use of PED (performance-enhancing drugs). Because of the proven allegation in 2014, he was suspended for the season.  

However, later he managed to join the league again. He retired in 2016. 

Willie Mays 

Total Home Run: 660

The former American baseball player is the second closest guy who retired before the 700th HR. Despite making 660 HR, Mays retired from baseball in 1973.

Mays began his career in 1951 with the New York Giants. In his 22 years of baseball journey, he got an extensive list of recognition, including 24-time All-Star and 2 National League MVPs. He also won the NL Rookie of the Year in 1951. 

As recognition for his outstanding defending skill as a center fielder, he also won 12 Gold Glove Awards.

Mays continued to play for the Giants until 1972 when he was traded to the New York Mets. He played one final season with the Mets in 1973. Afterward, the Baseball Hall of Fame was announced at the age of 42.

Ken Griffey Jr. 

Total Home Run: 630

Next, we’ve got the former baseball superstar Ken Griffey Jr., who hit a staggering 630 home runs before he made the retirement decision. 

Griffey made his debut in Major League Baseball on April 3, 1989, for the Seattle Mariners. He established himself faster than expected. And over the course of his career, he earned a reputation as a home run hitter, a skill that brought him 4 AL home run leader awards.

The list goes on with 13-time All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, and 7 Silver Sluggers. He was also named NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Griffey ultimately decided to retire from baseball on May 31, 2010, while still at the top of his game. At a press briefing, he shared that his retirement was to spend more time with his family.

Jim Thome

Total Home Run: 612

If you ask me to name the best sluggers in MLB, Jim Thome will always be there. And why won’t he be when he has a staggering 612 home runs under his belt?

Even though he failed to touch the 700-home run milestone, his legacy will always be indelible. 

Thome’s career spanned over two decades. He started with the Cleveland Indians in 1991 and retired on October 3, 2012, as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. 

His exciting baseball career has some remarkable achievements, including a 5-time All-Star, Silver Slugger title, Roberto Clemente award, and NL home run leader award. 

It’s no surprise that he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2018.

Sammy Sosa 

Total Home Run: 609

Sammy Sosa couldn’t step into the 700 home run club, but his 609 HR shouts loudly about his incredible baseball player talent. 

From his MLB debut in 1989 with the Texas Rangers to his last appearance in 2007, Sosa’s impact on the game is undeniable.

With 7 All-Star appearances, an NL MVP, 6 Silver Sluggers, and a Roberto Clemente Award, Sosa’s achievements are nothing short of remarkable. He also became the NL in home run leader and RBI twice.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How many MLB players have 600 home runs?

In total, there are 9 players who have 600 home runs. But if specifically considering the 600 to 699 home run category, you can consider 4 players. They are Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr, Jim Thome, and Sammy Sosa. 

Who has the most home runs in MLB?

Barry Bonds has the most home runs in MLB history. He made 762 HR during 21 years of his career. 

Who was the first player to hit 700 home runs?

Babe Ruth was the first player to hit 700 home runs in 1934. He was also the youngest player to join the 700 home run club at 39 years. 

Who are the top 5 All-time home run leaders?

The top 5 all-time home run leaders are:

1. Barry Bonds – 762 HR
2. Hank Aaron – 755 HR
3. Babe Ruth – 714 HR
4. Albert Pujols – 703 HR
5. Alex Rodriguez – 696 HR

Which is the single-season home run record team?

The Minneapolis-based American baseball team Minnesota Twins hold the record for the most home runs in a single season as a team. 

How many players have 3,000 hits and 700 home runs?

There are only 4 players as of 2023 who have 3000 hits and 700 home runs. They are Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Albert Pujols.

Is there any 800-home-run club?

There are no 800-home-run clubs in Major League Baseball. And considering the 140+ years of baseball history, it’s gonna be really tough for any player to kick this score. 

Wrapping Up

Though only 4 players have hit the 700-home run club, people are expecting to see some new talents enter this club. 

However, all of the 500 and 600 home runners already said buy to the game. The rare hope left for Miguel Cabrera. But when I was researching the most valuable baseball cards of 2000, I found he’s gonna retire, too, in the 2023 season.  

So, who left the next? Let’s cross our fingers for the next 5 seasons and check out how the scoreboard shuffle 😅. 

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