In the game of baseball, we have witnessed many walks of life step up to the plate. Some players are contact catalysts such as Ichiro, Jeter and Pete Rose – while others are immune to the long ball such as Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire and David Ortiz. All these power hitters have all etched their names in the history books from their elite power repertoire. But how do they all stack up pound-for-pound against each other?
Here are the Top 10 Greatest Power Hitters In Major League Baseball History:
10. Jim Thome
Thome, arguably the least well known player on this list comes in at number ten. Thome’s time in Cleveland, Philadelphia and the South Side of Chicago totaled him for a career 612 home runs, placing him 8th on the All-Time Home Run list. The power from the Hall Of Fame bat led him to a league leading in slugging (.677) and OPS (1.122) in the 2007 season.
9. Sammy Sosa
When you think of Cubs history, the name ‘Sammy Sosa’ always comes to mind. Sosa’s name is also often associated the infamous ‘Steroid Era’ in the late 1990’s / early 2000’s. Sammy Sosa’s bat led him to an average of 58 (!) home runs in a five-year stretch from 1998-2002. The iconic home run chase in 1998 between Sosa and Mark McGwire led the Cubs Designated Hitter with 66 home runs that year.
8. Albert Pujols
The only active player on this list, Albert Pujols, is currently 6th on the All-Time Home Run List with 656 home runs. Pujols will be able to surpass the great Willie Mays and become the 4th member of the 700 home run club by keeping a 14.6 Home Run / Year average in his remaining three-year contract with Los Angeles. The future is still bright for the 3-time MVP.
7. Alex Rodriguez
One of the most controversial players in the sport, Alex Rodriguez, has made an impact 0n baseball like no other. A-Rod’s incredible 696 home places him in the history books of baseball. A-Rod’s historic mid-career run featured an average of 46 home runs through 1999-2007. Rodriguez could’ve hit the 700 or even more if it weren’t for injuries and a PED suspension.
6. Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire’s career was more than just a well-known home run chase with Sammy Sosa which totaled him 70 (!) home runs which broke Roger Maris’ single-season mark. Although McGwire was in the tigers den with his involvement with steroids, his numbers speak loud and clear. McGwire totaled for more than 58 home runs three times featuring a 65 home run total in 1999. No other player has touched his kind of statistics.
5. Ken Griffey Jr.
The Kid, Ken Griffey Jr. places 5th on the Greatest Power Hitters in MLB history. From 1996-2000, Griffey Jr. averaged 50 home runs and 137 RBI’s. In that span, Griffey hit .290 and slugged .604. Junior and his sweet lefty swing could’ve been higher on the Home Run total list, but failed to achieve 30 home runs in his final six season in the majors.
4. Willie Mays
Willie Mays’ statistics speak for this fantastic career in the big leagues. His outerworldly 660 home runs places him 5th on the All Time Home Run List. Besides that, Mays was an all around threat – stealing 338 bases, collecting over 3,000 hits and scoring over 2,000 runs. The all time great has certainly carved his name in the history books.
3. Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron rounds out the top three with his 755 home runs. This places him 2nd on the All-Time Home Run list behind Giants great Barry Bonds. Hammerin’ Hank only led the MLB four times in home runs, but proves as a result to his pure consistency at the plate – clobbering at least 40 home runs eight times in his career. Aaron’s highest home run total peaked at 47 in 1971.
2. Babe Ruth
The Sultan of Swat, The Babe, The G.O.A.T all fit under the category of Babe Ruth. The two-way player was the generations best hitter, leading the majors 12 times in a 14-year span from 1918-1931. Ruth’s sheer dominance at the plate totaled 54 home runs. At the time, this was a single-season record and was more than the total of each of the other 15 teams in the major leagues.
1. Barry Bonds
Coming in at Number 1 and classified as the greatest power hitter in the history of baseball is San Francisco Giants great, Barry Bonds. Bonds’ name is surrounded with controversy due to PED usage – and as a result is not in Cooperstown. On the flip side, the Giants legend sits atop the rest on the All Time Home Run List with 762. Not only that, Bonds holds record for the most home runs in a single season 73, and is the all-time leader in walks with 2,558. Bonds’ name will forever live in infamy in the sport of baseball.
Honorable Mentions: Frank Thomas, David Ortiz, Frank Robinson, Adam Dunn, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Manny Ramirez, Josh Hamilton
Photo: Jugs Sports
