In Major League Baseball (MLB), achieving 600 career regular-season home runs is a monumental feat, placing a player in an exclusive group known as the 600 home run club. This club represents not just power hitting, but also remarkable longevity and consistent performance at the highest level of the sport. Over nearly a century, only nine players have managed to reach this prestigious milestone, each leaving an indelible mark on baseball history.
Their journeys to 600 homers span different eras, showcasing the evolution of the game while highlighting the timeless challenge of hitting a baseball out of the park.
The Pioneers: Ruth, Mays, and Aaron
The 600 home run club began with Babe Ruth, who cemented his place in history on August 21, 1931. This achievement came just two years and ten days after he became the first member of the 500 home run club. Ruth's 600th homer occurred in a game where his New York Yankees defeated the St. Louis Browns 11–7. For an astonishing 38 years, Ruth remained the sole member of this elite group, underscoring the rarity of such an accomplishment in his era.
It wasn't until September 22, 1969, that another legend joined the club. Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hit his 600th home run against the San Diego Padres, an expansion team in its inaugural year. Mays' entry marked a significant moment, as he was one of the most dynamic players of his generation. Less than two years later, on April 21, 1971, Hank Aaron became the third member. Aaron's 600th homer came off future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in a game where his Atlanta Braves lost to Mays' San Francisco Giants. For the next 31 years, these three—Ruth, Mays, and Aaron—all first-ballot Hall of Famers and considered among the greatest legends of the game, were the only members of the 600 home run club.
A New Generation of Power Hitters
The turn of the millennium saw a new wave of sluggers join the ranks. Willie Mays' godson, Barry Bonds, became the fourth member on August 9, 2002, while playing for the Giants. Bonds hit his 600th home run off Pittsburgh Pirates' pitcher Kip Wells, a season after setting the single-season home run record with 73 homers in 2001. His entry signaled a shift, as the club began to expand more rapidly than in its first seven decades.
Sammy Sosa followed less than five years later, joining on June 20, 2007. A long-time Chicago Cubs star, Sosa hit his milestone against his former team as a member of the Texas Rangers in an interleague game. Almost exactly a year later, on June 9, 2008, Ken Griffey Jr. added his name to the list as a Cincinnati Reds player against the Florida Marlins. These additions highlighted a period of increased home run production in MLB.
Recent Inductees and the Youngest Member
Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees made history on August 4, 2010, by becoming the youngest player to join the 600 home run club. This achievement came exactly three years to the day after he became the youngest member of the 500 home run club. His 600th homer was hit against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, further solidifying his status as one of the era's premier power hitters.
A year later, on August 15, 2011, Jim Thome of the Minnesota Twins hit both his 599th and 600th career home runs against the Detroit Tigers, becoming the eighth member. The most recent player to join this exclusive group is Albert Pujols. On June 3, 2017, as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Pujols hit his 600th homer, a grand slam off Ervin Santana of the Twins. Pujols became the ninth, and so far, last member of the 600 home run club, a testament to his enduring power and consistency throughout his career. His eventual entry into the 700 home run club further underscores his legendary status.
