MLB's 500 home run club

More than 19,000 players have worn a big league uniform through Major League Baseball's more than 100 years of existence, and to date, only 27 of them have hit 500 or more home runs.

That 500-home run club remains among baseball's most exclusive milestones, dating back to the day Babe Ruth reached the mark on Aug. 11, 1929. Since then, 26 players have joined him, including two players -- David Ortiz and Albert Pujols -- this decade. The list comprises 16 Hall of Famers, and the 11 others are either not yet eligible or tied to performance-enhancing substances.

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera and Texas' Adrian Beltre could be next. Each is approaching 500 career homers and could reach the mark as soon as 2018, but more likely within the next few seasons.

Here's a closer look at each of the 27 members of the 500-home run club, in reverse-chronological order:

David Ortiz (1997-2016)
500th home run: Sept. 12, 2015
Team: Red Sox
Career home runs: 541
At age 39 and in his 19th season, Ortiz became the 27th player in MLB history to reach 500 home runs during a mid-September game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. He led off the fifth inning by launching a 2-2 fastball from Tampa Bay's Matt Moore into the right-center-field seats. He and Pujols are the only players to hit home run No. 499 and 500 in the same game. "All the names that you mention that are in the 500 club are legends, so to be part of it is an honor and I'm going to enjoy it," Ortiz said after. More >

Albert Pujols (2001-present)
500th home run: April 22, 2014
Team: Angels
Career home runs: 614
Story has it that Ruth called his 500th shot, as was trademark fashion for the Sultan of Swat. Yet he's not the only one here who did so, thanks to Pujols. Well, that's true depending on the context. Following an 0-for-5 day early in the 2014 season, Pujols entered an April 23 game saying he would hit two, which he needed to reach the milestone. And, etching his place in history, Pujols became the first in this bunch to also hit No. 499 on the same day. At 34 years and 96 days, Pujols is also the third-youngest player to join the club. More >

Gary Sheffield (1988-2009)
500th home run: April 17, 2009
Team: Mets
Career home runs: 509
Sheffield was well traveled in his career, bringing his prolific bat to eight teams -- the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Tigers and Mets -- over 22 seasons. It wasn't until his final campaign, with New York at age 40 in 2009, that Sheffield reached 500 home runs. Pinch-hitting for the Mets in the seventh inning of a 3-4 game against the Brewers, Sheffield tied it up with a leadoff homer against Milwaukee's Mitch Stetter. New York would go on to win, and Sheffield would have his name in the records books alongside some of baseball's greatest hitters. 
Manny Ramirez (1993-2011)
500th home run: May 31, 2008
Team: Red Sox
Career home runs: 555
There was quite a bit of build up to Ramirez join the club. It took him 34 games to go from Nos. 496 to 500, and when he connected for the milestone, he did so in style, and in front of a Boston-heavy crowd at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Ramirez lifted the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning into the right-center field bleachers. Of the players on this list not named Ruth, Foxx or Williams -- who, not to fault them, each played in an era with far inferior pitching -- Ramirez's career batting average of .312 and slugging percentage of .585 are the highest of the 500-homer club.

Jim Thome (1991-2012)
500th home run: Sept. 16, 2007
Team: White Sox
Career home runs: 612
Thome's 500th might be the most dramatic -- it is the only one on this list done in walk-off fashion. With a full-count in the bottom of the ninth, Thome ripped an opposite-field shot off Angels reliever Dustin Moseley to cap a seven-run comeback for the White Sox. He was mobbed by his teammates at the plate, hoisted on the shoulders of Bobby Jenks and Jermaine Dye and welcomed by his father and wife. The newly-elected Hall of Famer reached No. 500 in just 6,809 at-bats, fourth-fewest. Thome spent just parts of four seasons with the White Sox, but belted a healthy 134 homers with Chicago.

Alex Rodriguez: 696 (1994-2016)
500th home run: Aug. 8, 2007
Team: Yankees
Career home runs: 696
Rodriguez is the youngest player to reach the 500 home run milestone, having accomplished the feat at 32 years, eight days old, though perhaps that's not much surprise. When he broke into the Majors in 1994, Rodriguez -- highly touted as a generational talent -- was the first 18-year-old big leaguer since 1978. He hit No. 500 on Aug. 8, 2007, months before winning his third American League MVP Award.

Frank Thomas (1990-2008)
500th home run: June 28, 2007
Team: Blue Jays
Career home runs: 521
The Big Hurt returned to the scene of the crime, so to speak, as he clubbed No. 500 in the same venue he hit his first: the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. However, Thomas didn't stick around for the entire game. After belting the milestone homer in the first inning, with his family on hand, Thomas was ejected in the ninth after being called out on strikes. He is one of a record three players to join the 500-homer club in the same season.

Ken Griffey Jr. (1989-2010)
500th home run: June 20, 2004
Team: Reds
Career home runs: 630
Perhaps no No. 500 moment was more emotional for any single player than Griffey, who eclipsed the mark on Fathers Day 2004, donning his elder's identical uniform and with Griffey Sr. in attendance. Griffey Jr. amassed 417 homers while playing for the Mariners -- most in Seattle franchise history by 108 -- but his 500th came with the Reds, who he was traded to in 2000 in part to play for his hometown (and father's former) team.

Rafael Palmeiro (1986-2005)
500th home run: May 11, 2003
Team: Rangers
Career home runs: 569
One of the most consistent hitters of all-time, Palmeiro is one of just five on this list who also collected 3,000 career hits. Palmeiro hit his 500th with two outs in the seventh inning in front of a packed house at the Ballpark in Arlington while playing with the Rangers. It was his final at-bat at the end of a six-game homestand, and it came against Indians righty Dave Elder. The ball landed deep in the right-field bleachers, and according to the AP, was caught by a priest.

Sammy Sosa (1989-2007)
500th home run: April 4, 2003
Team: Cubs
Career home runs: 609
Sosa's 500th was one of many highlights during the Cubs' exciting run in 2003, in which they won the National League Central and came within a win of reaching their first World Series since '45. With one out in the top of the seventh, Sosa slammed an opposite-field shot off Reds reliever Scott Sullivan and hopped out of the batter's box in trademark fashion, an act he specialized in on no-doubt homers throughout his 18-year career.

Barry Bonds (1986-2007)
500th home run: April 17, 2001
Team: Giants
Career home runs: 762
Revered as arguably the greatest hitter ever, Bonds set the all-time home run record during his final season in 2007. Bonds became such a revered threat at the plate that he also amassed an MLB-record 2,558 walks -- 368 more than second most on the all-time list -- and led the Majors in that category eight times. Bonds joined the 500 home run club on April 17, 2001 in what was an early spark to his record-setting season in which he clubbed 73.

Mark McGwire (1986-2001)
500th home run: Aug. 5, 1999
Team: Cardinals
Career home runs: 583
McGwire became the quickest to hit No. 500, needing just 5,487 at-bats -- a ridiculous pace of a homer per roughly 11 at-bats. Of course, McGwire made significant headway by setting an at-the-time MLB record with 70 homers the season prior. He hit No. 500 during the dog days the following summer in San Diego, and appeared to be in such a rush to get on to 600 that he also hit No. 501 that day. On a fun aside, fans in attendance nearly saw another major milestone, as Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn was just one hit shy of 3,000, but he didn't reach his own milestone until the next day in Montreal.

Eddie Murray (1977-1997)
500th home run: Sept. 6, 1996
Team: Orioles
Career home runs: 504
Murray provided Baltimore fans plenty of excitement over the first 12 years of his career, so it was almost fitting that he reached No. 500 when he returned via trade in July of 1996 and only stayed through the end of the season. Murray, who was elected to the Hall of Fame seven years later and is the only switch hitter with 3,000 hits and 500 homers, pulled No. 500 into the right-field bleachers off Detroit righty Felipe Lira, one of 362 homers he hit left-handed. As is custom in Baltimore -- just as it was when Cal Ripken played in his record 2,131st straight game exactly one year prior -- the celebration was lengthy and electric. Murray made two curtain calls and shook hands with fans over the course of roughly 10 minutes.

Mike Schmidt (1972-1989)
500th home run: April 18, 1987
Team: Phillies
Career home runs: 548
Fresh off winning his third NL MVP Award, Schmidt entered the 1987 season needing just five homers to reach 500. The greatest Phillie of all-time admittedly had jitters relating to how long it'd take him, but he needed just 11 games to get there. Schmidt, who at the time was 37, unloaded on a 3-0 pitch from Don Robinson with two on and two outs in the top of the ninth inning to propel the Phillies to a comeback win. One won't find many better radio calls on this list than the one delivered by legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, a close friend of Schmidt's. More >

Reggie Jackson (1967-1987)
500th home run: Sept. 17, 1984
Team: Angels
Career home runs: 563
Jackson's 500th home run came 17 years to the day after his first, and in the batter's box at Angel Stadium. Mr. October lifted a first-pitch fastball off former Royals pitcher and current Rockies manager Bud Black, who still jokes about being on the wrong end of history in that regard. As the ball soared deep into the empty bleachers, fans stormed from the tunnels clawing for the chance to make their own plays on the ball.

Willie McCovey (1959-1980)
500th home run: June 30, 1978
Team: Giants
Career home runs: 521
It wouldn't be out of the realm to say McCovey was perhaps the most revered left-handed power hitter of his era, from 1959-80. If not, he's certainly on a short list. McCovey became the 12th player to reach 500 when he took Atlanta's Jamie Easterly deep in the second game of a doubleheader at Fulton County Stadium. It was another memorable milestone for the Atlanta venue as well, which had four years prior seen Aaron pass Ruth on the all-time home run list with career No. 715. When McCovey was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1986, he was just the 16th player ever to be elected on his first ballot.

Frank Robinson (1956-1976)
500th home run: Sept. 13, 1971
Team: Orioles
Career home runs: 586
By no fault of his own, Robinson's 500th was perhaps the most anticlimactic, simply because he didn't beat the day's newspapers deadline. The eventual Hall of Famer entered that day's doubleheader against the Tigers with 498 homers, and after the matinee, he had collected 499. But in the nightcap, minutes before midnight -- and at least the Boston Globe having already sent out final copy -- readers awoke to headlines saying that Robinson was now just one shy. However, diehard Orioles fans who stayed in the wee hours to watch the game's finish saw Robinson connect for a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the ninth, one batter shy of the game's last.

Harmon Killebrew (1954-1975)
500th home run: Aug. 10, 1971
Team: Twins
Career home runs: 573
The anticipation leading up to Killebrew's 500th was palpable -- even considering he was in line to make that historic deep fly in the fewest number of at-bats, a record that still stands. So lengthy was his drought between 499 and 500 (16 games), and so excited were the Twins about the milestone, the club had constructed and distributed commemorative drinking cups to fans recognizing Killebrew's 500th before he had actually hit it. President Nixon even notified his Chief of Staff to inform him when Killebrew reached 500, according to Hall of Fame archives.

Ernie Banks (1953-1971)
500th home run: May 12, 1970
Team: Cubs
Career home runs: 512
It's only fitting that Mr. Cub became the first player in Chicago's franchise history to join the 500 club. Entering the 1970 season in a transitional role towards the end of his career, and with more limited at-bats, Banks was at 497, so there had been much excitement all winter over him reaching the milestone. The anticipation mounted further when it took him three weeks to hit his first of the year, and he finally reached 500 more than a month into the season, taking Atlanta's Pat Jarvis deep on a low linter to left, a trademark Banks homer.

Hank Aaron (1954-1976)
500th home run: July 4, 1968
Team: Braves
Career home runs: 755
This list contained just six players when Aaron joined the club on July 14, 1968 with a shot off two-time All-Star Mike McCormick. He did so at age 34, when most players begin to regress, yet the Braves' legend obviously went on to club an additional 255 over the next eight-plus seasons. For this, Aaron -- a career .305 hitter over 23 seasons -- is widely considered the most consistent hitter ever.

Willie Mays (1951-1973)
500th home run: Sept. 13, 1965
Team: Giants
Career home runs: 660
At 34 years, 130 days old, Mays became the youngest member of this club from the NL, hitting his milestone mark on Sept. 13, 1965 on the 47th of what would be a 52-homer season, which, at the time, only 11 players prior had accomplished.

Eddie Mathews (1952-1968)
500th home run: July 14, 1967
Team: Astros
Career home runs: 512
With one of his era's prettiest swings -- this according to Ty Cobb -- Mathews is one of just 21 players to tally 10 or more seasons with 30 or more homers, including nine straight from 1953-61. Mathews, who spent most of his career with the Braves, and was the only player a part of the franchise's history in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta, reached 500 in his four-plus-month stint with the Astros, and did so off Hall of Famer Juan Marichal at Candlestick Park. Mathews was traded to the Tigers almost exactly a month later, with whom he finished his career with after the following season.

Mickey Mantle (1951-1968)
500th home run: May 14, 1967
Team: Yankees
Career home runs: 536
Mantle went down as one of the game's all-time greats, and he was an icon for a Yankees franchise that won seven World Series titles with him manning center field. One of Mantle's defining moments in pinstripes was when he belted his 500th homer deep to right in front of a raucous crowd at Yankee Stadium on Mother's Day in 1967. Mantle roped an outside pitch from the Orioles' Stu Miller with a full count in the seventh inning, and after the game said it felt like winning the World Series. Mantle went on to hit 36 more homers, and retired the following season, his legacy in Cooperstown cemented.

Ted Williams (1939-1960)
500th home run: June 17, 1960
Team: Red Sox
Career home runs: 521
Teddy Ballgame entered his 19th and final season just four homers shy of 500, and, as he dealt with lingering injuries, had considered retiring without reaching the milestone -- even after the season had started. The Red Sox were in last place when they entered a four-game series in Cleveland, but Williams gave a mid-June game that had just 9,765 fans in attendance extra excitement when he clubbed his history-making homer to the opposite field. Tito Francona, father to current Indians manager Terry Francona, was manning left field as Williams' homer sailed into the seats. At 41 years, 291 days old, Williams was the oldest player to join this elite list.

Mel Ott (1926-1947)
500th home run: Aug. 1, 1945
Team: Giants
Career home runs: 511
Ott is the first player from the NL to join this group, and he's perhaps the most glaring outlier in terms of stature. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound slugger exploited the short porch at the Polo Grounds during his 22-year career with the New York Giants, hitting 323 of his career 511 homers at the historic ballpark formerly in Upper Manhattan. He reached 500 in a 9-2 home win over the Braves, and hit just 11 more over the next two-plus seasons before retiring.

Jimmie Foxx (1925-1945)
500th home run: Sept. 24, 1940
Team: Red Sox
Career home runs: 534
Foxx's 500th came in a homer-happy frame in which the Red Sox clubbed four, which, at the time, was an AL record, according to Chicago Tribune archives. Foxx was just 32 years, 101 days old, a remarkable testament to his rapid ascension as one of the game's all-time greats, particularly given that he didn't hit his first homer until more than two full years into his big league career, at age 19.

Babe Ruth (1914-1935)
500th home run: Aug. 11, 1929
Team: Yankees
Career home runs: 714
Ruth revolutionized the long ball in an era where home runs were often legged out as inside-the-parkers. It's no surprise he became the charter member of this unit on Aug. 11, 1929 in his first at-bat that afternoon at League Park in Cleveland. Ruth was the lone member of this club for 11 years, until Foxx joined him.