MLB All-Time Home Run Leaders

Barry Bonds: The Home Run King

Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants former outfielder and seven-time National League MVP, is widely considered the best home run hitter of all time. He holds the record for most career home runs in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds achieved the feat in 2007 when he surpassed Hank Aaron's previous record of 755. Bonds' final career total stands at 762 home runs.

Hank Aaron: The Record Before Bonds

Hank Aaron, a former outfielder and first baseman for the Atlanta Braves, held the MLB home run record since 1974. Aaron also holds the record for most career RBIs, with 2,297. A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Aaron was inducted in 1982.

Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat

Babe Ruth, known for his power hitting, held the MLB home run record from 1921 to 1974. During his career, he hit 714 home runs and held the record for nearly 54 years. Nicknamed “The Sultan of Swat,” Ruth also holds the record for most career slugging percentage (.690) and highest single-season slugging percentage (.847).

Alex Rodriguez: Third Place

Former Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees shortstop Alex Rodriguez is the third-highest home run hitter in MLB history. Rodriguez, who retired in 2016, hit a total of 696 home runs in his career. He was a 14-time All-Star and three-time American League MVP.

Albert Pujols: Fifth Place

Albert Pujols, the current Los Angeles Angels first baseman, is fifth on the all-time home run list with 644 career home runs. Pujols, a three-time National League MVP, is a 10-time All-Star and has won two World Series titles. He is also the all-time leader in RBIs (2,112) and runs scored (1,879).

Other All-Time Leaders

Rounding out the top 10 home run hitters of all time are Ken Griffey Jr. (630), Jim Thome (612), Sammy Sosa (609), and Frank Robinson (586). Other notable players on the list include Willie Mays (660), Mark McGwire (583), and Mike Schmidt (548).

MLB Home Run Leaders of the 21st Century

Since the start of the 21st century, several players have emerged as top home run hitters. David Ortiz, who retired in 2016, is the leader with 541 home runs. He is followed by Albert Pujols (531), Miguel Cabrera (480), Adrian Beltre (456), and Edwin Encarnacion (445). Other notable players include Robinson Cano (430), Nelson Cruz (421), and Jose Bautista (408).

The Future of Home Run Leaders

Looking ahead, it's likely that the all-time home run record will continue to be broken in the coming years. Current players such as Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger could potentially make a run at it. In any case, Barry Bonds will remain the all-time home run king for years to come.