400 Home Runs[edit]

Hitting 400 home runs was once considered the measuring stick for a Hall of Fame career among sluggers. It may no longer be a guaranteed ticket to the Hall of Fame but it remains a standard for great home run hitters. Several current members of the 400 home run club have jeopardized their inclusion into the Hall of Fame due to their involvement in the steroid scandal of the 1990s. The 400 homer club may be the most tainted group in all of baseball from the distribution and use of PEDs. Throughout MLB history, there have only been 58 members of the 400 home run club (as of 2023). On September 2nd, 1927, Babe Ruth became the charter member of the 400 home run club. The Babe was the first American League player to hit 400 homers. Mel Ott became the charter member of the 400 home run club for the National League on June 1st, 1941.

Records and Trivia[edit]

Alex Rodriguez is the youngest player to reach 400 home runs; he did so at 29 years, 316 days old. He is the only player in history to reach the mark before his 30th birthday. A-Rod is also the youngest player in American League history to hit 400 home runs. Albert Pujols is the youngest 400 home run hitter in the National League; he did so at the age of 30 years, 222 days old. Darrell Evans was the oldest player to join the club; he was 41 years, 117 days old when he hit his 400th homer. The quickest player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs is Mark McGwire, he hit his 400th homer in his 1,412th game and his 4,726th at-bat. Sammy Sosa was the quickest National League player in history to reach 400 home runs, he did so in his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd at-bat in the NL. Babe Ruth holds the record in the American League, he reached the mark in his game 1,474th game and his 4,853rd at-bat. Carl Yastrzemski required the most games to join the 400 club, finally reaching the mark in his 2,804th game. Cal Ripken Jr. however reached the 400 mark in his 10,707th at-bat, more than any other member of the 400 home run club.