Top 6 Baseball Batters With The Most Home Runs

Major League Baseball has had its fair share of super sluggers over the years, but some have gone on to stand above the rest in the record books. Read on to learn about the top six baseball batters with the most home runs all time.

What Baseball Players Have the Most Home Runs?

1. Barry Bonds
2. Hank Aaron
3. Babe Ruth
4. Alex Rodriguez
5. Albert Pujols
6. Willie Mays

1. Barry Bonds

• 762 career home runs (Most All Time)
• Set the single-season home run record (73 in 2001)
• Record for most base on balls in MLB history

Barry Bonds has the most home runs of any MLB batter, with 762. Bonds was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985. In 1992 he signed with the San Francisco Giants and played there until retiring in 2007. Bonds led the National League in home runs twice, first in 1993, and then again in 2001 during his record-breaking season of 73 home runs.  Bonds hit at least 20 home runs in 19 of his major league seasons. As one of the most feared hitters of all time, Bonds also holds the record for base on balls (2,558) and base on balls in a single season (232). Today, Bonds is still the statistical home run king of baseball.

2. Hank Aaron

• Second on the all-time home run list (755)
• 25-Time All Star
• Compiled 3,771 base hit and a .305 career batting average

Hank Aaron was just behind Bonds in home runs, batting 755 over his career. Aaron began his career in Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. In 1957, the Braves won the World Series and Aaron was named MVP of the National League. On April 8,1974 Aaron hit his 715th home run, which broke the all-time record previously held by Babe Ruth. In 4 seasons, Hank Aaron led the National League in home runs. Aaron holds the MLB record for RBIs with 2,297 for his career. He also has the most extra-base hits with 1,477. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

3. Babe Ruth

• Ranks thirds in MLB history with 714 career home runs
• Began his career as a pitcher
• Set the single-season home run record in 1927 (60)

Babe Ruth hit a remarkable 714 home runs during his decades in the MLB. Often regarded as one of the greatest players in baseball history, George Herman “Babe” Ruth had several nicknames such as “The Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat.” Ruth first won three World Series titles as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, before being sold to the New York Yankees and becoming a full-time outfielder. Ruth was a part of “Murderer’s Row”, which was a nickname given to the 1927 Yankees, a team many believe to be the best baseball team to ever play. That season Ruth hit 60 home runs, a record that stood until 1961. Ruth passed away in 1948.

4. Albert Pujols

• Fourth on the all-time home run list (703)
• Ten-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion
• Pujols has compiled 3,301 hits and 2,150 RBIs

Albert Pujols was just behind Ruth in home runs, hitting 703 during the early 2000s. Pujols was selected in the 13th round of the MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2001 he had his breakthrough season in which he batted .329 with 37 home runs and 130 runs batted in en route to a National League Rookie of the Year award. Pujols has earned three National League MVP Awards. Pujols is the only member on this list who is still an active player. Pujols has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Anaheim Angels, and spent a half a season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

5. Alex Rodriguez

• Fifth on the all-time home run list (696)
• Won three American League MVP awards (2003, 2005, 2007)
• All-time leader in grand slams (25)

Alex Rodriguez hit 696 home runs during his time in the MLB. Rodriguez (A-Rod) was the first overall pick in the 1993 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners. A-Rod began his career as a shortstop for the Mariners, and eventually the Texas Rangers, before moving to third-base upon joining the New York Yankees. A-Rod was a World Series champion with the Yankees in 2009, and led the American League in home runs five times. Additionally, he led the league in RBIs twice in 2002 and 2007. A-Rod holds the record for home runs by a player of Hispanic descent and was the youngest player ever to reach 500 career home runs.

6. Willie Mays

• Sixth on the all-time home run list (660)
• 24-time All-Star
• Four-time World Series Champion
• Nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid”

Willie Mays was not only a legend on the field, but he hit 660 home runs during the 1950s and 60s. After beginning his career in the Negro Leagues, Mays signed with the New York Giants as a free gent in 1950. Mays made one of the most famous plays in MLB history in the 1954 World Series when he made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch. He also won MVP that year and led the National League in home runs on four separate occasions in 1955, 1962, 1964, and 1965. Willie Mays also won the All-Star game MVP in 1968 and was traded to the New York Mets in 1972. Mays was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

Honorable Mentions

Ken Griffey Jr.

• Seventh on the all-time home runs list (630)
• 13-time All-Star
• Four-time American League home run leader

Ken Griffey Jr. hit 630 home runs in his 22-year MLB career. He is one of the most complete all-around players in MLB history, winning seven Silver Slugger Awards for his offensive prowess and ten Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He led the American League in home runs four years during his career. Griffey Jr. played most of his career for the Seattle Mariners, but also played for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jim Thome

• Eighth on the all-time home runs list (612)
• Five-time All-Star
• Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2018)

From 1991 to 2012, Jim Thome played 22 seasons in the MLB and hit 612 home runs. Playing for six different teams during that long period, he was a powerhouse hitter and not only hit a whopping number of home runs but managed 2,328 hits, 1,699 RBIs, and a .276 batting average. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Thome was also awarded the Silver Slugger award (1996) and was selected as an MLB All-Star five times (1997-1999, 2004, 2006). After a tumultuous final season in 2012, Thome retired and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.

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