Hitting 700 home runs requires extraordinary talent, remarkable longevity, and often a career spanning two decades or more. The achievement places these players among the all-time greats, with their names forever etched in baseball's record books.
The Complete List of 700 Home Run Club Members
Let me walk you through each of these remarkable athletes who have reached baseball's Mount Everest.
Babe Ruth (714 home runs)
The Sultan of Swat was the first to reach 700, finishing his career in 1935 with 714 home runs. When Ruth retired, his total was more than double that of the next closest player. His career home run record stood for nearly 40 years until Hank Aaron broke it in 1974. Ruth's power transformed baseball from a dead-ball era game to the home run spectacle we know today. He hit 60 home runs in a single season in 1927, a record that stood for 34 years.
Hank Aaron (755 home runs)
Hammerin' Hank broke Ruth's record in 1974 and finished his career with 755 home runs. Aaron's pursuit of Ruth was controversial, as he faced significant racism during his chase of the most sacred record in American sports. What makes Aaron's achievement remarkable is his consistency. He hit at least 20 home runs in 20 consecutive seasons, a feat unmatched in baseball history. His career total stood as the all-time record for 33 years until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007.
Barry Bonds (762 home runs)
Bonds holds the all-time home run record with 762, though his achievements are controversial due to allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. He hit 73 home runs in 2001, breaking Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70. Bonds reached 700 on September 17, 2004, at the age of 40, becoming the third member of the club. His combination of power, plate discipline, and longevity made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball history, regardless of the controversy surrounding his later career.
Alex Rodriguez (696 home runs)
A-Rod reached 696 home runs before retiring in 2016. He hit his 700th home run on August 4, 2015, at age 39, becoming the fourth member of the club. Rodriguez's career was also marred by performance-enhancing drug allegations. What's fascinating about Rodriguez is his versatility. He was a shortstop early in his career before moving to third base, and he even played some games at first base and designated hitter. His combination of power and speed (he had 300+ career stolen bases) made him one of the most complete players of his generation.
Albert Pujols (703 home runs)
The Machine reached 703 home runs before retiring in 2022. Pujols is unique among 700 club members for his late-career resurgence. After leaving the Angels following the 2021 season, many thought his career was over. Instead, he signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and hit 24 home runs in 2022 at age 42. Pujols reached 700 on September 23, 2022, against the Dodgers, becoming the fifth member of the club. His career demonstrates remarkable consistency, as he hit 30+ home runs in 11 different seasons.
Willie Mays (660 home runs)
The Say Hey Kid is the only player with over 600 home runs not to reach 700. Mays finished with 660, which places him sixth on the all-time list. While he didn't reach 700, his all-around game was perhaps the most complete in baseball history. Mays was a 24-time All-Star, won 12 Gold Gloves, and had a career batting average of .302. His famous over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series remains one of baseball's most iconic moments.
Active Players With A Shot At 700
Currently, only two active players have a realistic chance of reaching 700 home runs, though both face significant challenges.
Miguel Cabrera (507 home runs)
At 40 years old, Cabrera would need to hit 193 more home runs to reach 700. Given his age and recent injury history, this seems unlikely, but he's shown remarkable durability throughout his career. Cabrera reached 500 home runs in 2022, becoming the 28th player to do so.
Mike Trout (350 home runs)
Trout, at 32 years old, would need to hit 350 more home runs to reach 700. This would require him to maintain his current production for another 12-15 seasons, which is challenging given baseball's physical demands and his own injury history. However, if anyone could do it, Trout's combination of talent and work ethic makes him the most likely candidate among active players.
The Evolution of Power Hitting
Reaching 700 home runs has become increasingly difficult as the game has evolved. Several factors contribute to this:
Changes in Pitching
Modern pitchers throw harder than ever before. The average fastball velocity has increased from about 89 mph in 2002 to over 94 mph today. This makes squaring up pitches for home runs more challenging, especially as players age.
Defensive Shifts
Teams now employ sophisticated defensive shifts based on detailed spray charts. This means power hitters can no longer simply pull the ball with authority and expect success. They must adjust their approach, which can impact home run production.
Increased Specialization
Relief pitchers now throw harder in shorter appearances, making late-game at-bats more difficult. In Ruth's era, starters often pitched complete games, meaning hitters saw the same pitcher multiple times in a game. Today's specialized bullpens mean hitters face fresh arms throughout games.
Statistical Context
Let me put 700 home runs in perspective:
The all-time home run list shows just how exclusive this club is. With only six members, the 700 club has a lower membership than the 500 home run club (28 members) or even the 3,000 hit club (33 members). Consider that Barry Bonds, the all-time leader, hit 762 home runs over a 22-year career. That's an average of 34.6 home runs per season. For context, only 19 players hit 35 or more home runs in the 2023 season alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the fastest to reach 700 home runs?
Barry Bonds reached 700 home runs in his 8,030th at-bat, making him the fastest to the milestone. Hank Aaron took the most at-bats (10,971) to reach 700, while Babe Ruth accomplished it in 8,493 at-bats.
Has any player hit 700 home runs in a single season?
No player has ever come close to hitting 700 home runs in a single season. The single-season record is 73, set by Barry Bonds in 2001. To put this in perspective, a player would need to hit 700 home runs in about 9.6 seasons at Bonds's 2001 pace.
Who has the most career home runs without reaching 700?
Willie Mays holds this distinction with 660 home runs. He's the only player with over 600 home runs not to reach 700. Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609) are the only other players with over 600 home runs.
Are there any pitchers in the 700 club?
No pitchers have hit 700 home runs. In fact, no pitcher has even hit 100 home runs in a career. The all-time home run leader among pitchers is Wes Ferrell with 38 career home runs.
Will anyone ever break Barry Bonds's record of 762 home runs?
It's possible but increasingly unlikely. The combination of factors making power hitting more difficult, along with growing concerns about player health and longevity, suggests that 762 might stand for a very long time. However, baseball has a way of surprising us, and a generational talent could emerge in the coming decades.
The Bottom Line
Reaching 700 home runs represents one of baseball's most impressive achievements. It requires not just power, but consistency, durability, and often a career spanning two decades or more. The six members of this exclusive club - Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Willie Mays (who fell just short) - represent different eras of baseball and different approaches to power hitting.
As the game continues to evolve with changes in pitching, defensive strategies, and player development, it's unclear whether we'll see another member of the 700 club in the coming decades. What's certain is that those who have reached this milestone have left an indelible mark on baseball history, their names forever associated with one of the sport's most impressive achievements.