700 Home Run Club - Alive and Dead in 2024

    Only four men in the history of major league baseball--going back to 1900 and before-- have hit seven hundred plus home runs during the course of their career. Babe Ruth was the original pioneer of the long ball, as the Sultan of Swat, who retired from the game in 1935 at age 40. He hit only six long ones in 28 games, 92 plate appearances that season, in the middle of the Depression. He died in 1948, at age 53. My age now. Whew! Perhaps I am grateful I have my life, and hopefully many years to come. Good wishes to the Bambino and his heirs. He lived great and died young, as many luminaries do.

    Hank Aaron came next; he finished his career in 1976 at age 42. That last year, the bicentennial of our country, two years after he broke the Bambino's career record, he hit 10 home runs in 85 games and 308 plate appearances. He lived a good, long life till age 86, a few weeks from 87, and died in January 2021. 

    Barry Bonds surpassed both to be the current all-time leader. He ended his career (or it was ended, perhaps more accurately, because of the way he was not contracted in 2008) in 2007 at age 42. He played in 126 games, had 477 plate appearances, and hit 28 home runs. He had more in his tank, at that age like Hank, but consensus was that the fuel in the tank was tainted with cheater's juice (Performance Enhancing Drugs), and therefore the game and its establishment allowed him to surpass Hammering Hank in the books, but he was done as a player and contributor to the sport. Barry is now 59 as of this year, and seems to be doing well, with a long life to live.

    Last of this elite foursome is Albert Pujols, who retired a short while ago; he was never accused of nor suspected of juicing with steroids or Creatin or whatever performance enhancer you can name. Unlike Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro. More of them in the 600 and 500 Home Run Clubs.

    Albert terminated his stellar career at age 42 also, like Aaron and Bonds, in 2022. That season he impressed many, participating in 109 contests with 351 plate appearances and 24 homers.  Like Barry, he seemed to have some power left in his batteries but he took the high road and called it a day, a season, an all-time great and classy career. Pujols is 44 years young now, born in 1980.

    These four are the standards for home runs and playing the game with power, but there are others that deserve as much attention and aplomb. Willie Mays? Mickey Mantle? Ted Williams? Who else? Some of them had injuries, at least one did time in the military, DURING WARS. And served with honor and bravery.

    What of the 600-run club? Or the 500 guys? Injuries? Too much alcohol? More military service? Called up to the Bigs too late? I want to investigate a bit more...