The 500-home run club is an important group in baseball despite losing some prestige this century. That could change soon.
Since the beginning of the 21st Century, there has been no shortage of discussion about the diminishing important of the 500-home run club. As recently as 40 years ago, just 14 players had ever surpassed that number. Today, however, it has become clouded by the Steroid Era. The likes of 3B Alex Rodriguez, OF Sammy Sosa, 1B Mark McGwire, OF Manny Ramirez, 1B Rafael Palmeiro, and the all-time leader OF Barry Bonds have seemingly diluted the meaning of the statistic. The sheer numbers posted by power hitters in the 90s and 2000s turned the 50-home run season into a common occurrence. Players today are so fit and capable of hitting homers, that that result is always a distinct possibility. And yet, players still celebrate the long ball as a rare occasion.
I think the milestone of hitting 500 home runs will once again become a big deal. First, it is important to remember that only around 3% of MLB plate appearances end in a home run. But those plate appearances play such a monumental role in a player’s legacy that I cannot understate how much people are enamored with power hitters. Today’s baseball hitters succeed or fail based on how well they connect on one perfect swing. At the same time, pitchers challenge with power of their own, daring hitters to make contact on amazing stuff. When pitchers fail and batters succeed, the chances of a home run literally soar. This dynamic excites fans, scores runs, and most importantly, gets the big names their contracts.
Current Contenders for 500
But today, there are only two active players within MLB with more than 400 home runs. Those two are DH Giancarlo Stanton and OF Mike Trout. Both are former MVPs who have, unfortunately, become injury prone in recent years. In a perfect world, Trout would already have 500 bombs and be well on his way to 600. The true five-tool player, Trout quickly became an analytics favorite as he has brought more to the table than just home runs. Likewise, Stanton has lost time on the field, and his career numbers at the plate are similar to Trout’s. That said, he was never a great fielder or baserunner. As we stand, Stanton is just 47 home runs away from 500, but he will need to stay healthy the next two years to reach that figure.
These two are premier sluggers of the StatCast Generation. Their career counting stats may not compare to those of earlier eras, but injuries are inevitable today with players giving 100%. That only reinforces how much the game has changed and how perceptions of career numbers have changed.
Historical Perspective
There are just 11 other active players with even 300 career home runs. At the end of 2025, only 59 players have ever reached 400 homers, out of more than 21,000 to play in MLB. Quite frankly, it is odd that some devalued reaching 500, as the mathematical odds of crossing it are literally one in 1,000. Today, the odds are only getting longer since relievers are more dominant, and injuries are more common.
The decline in health is possibly the worst aspect of baseball today, along with declining batting averages and rising strikeouts. No one expects stars to have more home runs than strikeouts anymore. In fact, most players are more likely to strike out than get a hit. Only the ones with the best batting eyes can lay off tough pitches and extend at bats. The all-or-nothing approach of today’s superstars is disappointing to see, as the best have trouble reaching an on-base percentage of .350, let alone .400. It is hard to draw a walk, and .300 batting averages are mostly a thing of the past. Hitting 500 home runs might be, as well.
I cannot understate how difficult it is to reach that number. A player has to average 30 home runs per seasons for 17 seasons. Given that the longest consecutive streak of 30-homer seasons is 13, a player has to sprinkle in some years with 40 or 50 long balls. This also requires very few trips to the IL, as even 15 days can lop off four deep flies. Thus, it is quite baffling to hear that “500 doesn’t mean much anymore” and “too many have crossed that plateau”. Really? Too many?
Most people are likely taking the under on Trout reaching 500 homers. Will it mean something to them if he hits that milestone? What about Stanton, who should already be there by now if not for injuries?
The Club Today
It is sad to think the half dozen or so players with strong PED links have “detracted” from the half millennium milestone. Clean players reaching 500 are not any less of a slugger than previous greats. Perhaps not enough time has passed since the end of the Steroid Era and the current one. Perhaps people cannot appreciate what they are watching now if they think the game is less entertaining than the game of the past. But the point still remains that there are only about two players per decade that hit 500 home runs in their careers. The game is better off with players who reach this amazing milestone. Interest in the game wanes when milestones aren’t within reach.
Maybe we will see a resurgence of consistent homer hitting and sky-high slugging percentages that make 2025 look like the Dead Ball Era. virtually all fans like to see home runs and see their team hit as many as possible. We are still waiting for the elusive five-homer game, which DH Kyle Schwarber came oh-so-close to achieving. For now, 500 homers should be celebrated as an accomplishment that only a fraction of players have ever reached.
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