The following is a chronology of the top ten leaders in lifetime home runs in Major League Baseball . This includes any home runs hit by a player during official regular season games (i.e., excluding playoffs or exhibition games) in the National Association (1871–1875), National League (since 1876), the American Association (1882–1891), the Union Association (1884), the Players' League (1890), the American League (since 1901), and the Federal League (1914–1915).
The list helps contextualize the evolution of one of the most prized achievements in United States sports. In the early 1930s, Babe Ruth had almost 400 more home runs than the next player, his longtime teammate Lou Gehrig ; when Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, he was fifth on the all-time list.
Career home run leaders by year
Statistics updated through 2022 season.
Leadership dates
Starting with Harry Stovey passing Charley Jones in August 1885, there have been seven changes of the career home run leader. Stovey held the title twice, having lost it to Dan Brouthers in June 1887 and then regaining it from Brouthers in August 1889. In the modern era—since the formation of the American League in 1901—there have only been four players who have held the title.
Harry Stovey held the career home run record twice during the late 1800s.
Player
Became leader
Career
Date surpassed
Duration of reign
Ref.
HR no.
Date hit
Total HR
Last year
Charley Jones
56
1888
August 11, 1885†
[ 2]
Harry Stovey
46
August 11, 1885
122
1893
June 29, 1887†
1y 10m 18d
[ 2]
Dan Brouthers
59
June 29, 1887
106
1904
August 13, 1889†
2y 1m 15d
[ 2]
Harry Stovey
‡
August 13, 1889
122
1893
June 23, 1895
5y 10m 10d
[ 2]
Roger Connor
123
June 23, 1895
138
1897
July 18, 1921
26y 25d
[ 2] [ 3]
Babe Ruth
139
July 18, 1921
714
1935
April 8, 1974
52y 8m 21d
[ 4] [ 5]
Hank Aaron
715
April 8, 1974
755
1976
August 7, 2007
33y 3m 30d
[ 6]
Barry Bonds
756
August 7, 2007
762
2007
—
17y 3m 2d
[ 7]
† indicates the player hit additional home runs after being passed.
‡ source material is unclear of Stovey's home run count when passing Brouthers
See also
Further reading
References
^ a b "Progressive Leaders & Records for Home Runs" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^ a b c d e Vincent, David (2008). Home Run: The Definitive History of Baseball's Ultimate Weapon . Potomac Books. p. 14. ISBN 978-1597970365 – via Google Books .
^ "Browns Hit the Ball" . The Pittsburg Post . June 24, 1895. p. 6. Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
^ Britton, Evan. "Babe Ruth smacks 139th home run of career, passing Roger Connor as all-time home run leader" . famousdaily.com . Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
^ "New York Yankees 10, Detroit Tigers 1" . Retrosheet . July 18, 1921. Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
^ "Atlanta Braves 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 4" . Retrosheet . April 8, 1974. Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
^ "Washington Nationals 8, San Francisco Giants 6" . Retrosheet . August 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
General Batting leaders
Career Annual Season Game Misc
Baserunning leaders
Pitching leaders
Career Annual Season Game Misc
Fielding leaders
Managing records Multiple stat records Other