Changes in MLB Career Home Run Rankings by Season (Since 1970)

A home run is a hit that allows the batter to round all the bases and score without being put out, typically by hitting the ball out of the field of play in fair territory. Career home runs refer to the total number of home runs a player has hit throughout their professional MLB career, serving as a key measure of long-term power hitting success.

The progression of MLB's career home run rankings by season reflects not just individual player excellence but also broader shifts in baseball’s offensive eras. In 1970, the leaderboard was led by Johnny Bench and Frank Howard, with home run totals in the 40s range, indicating a more balanced power distribution among top hitters of that era.

By 1980, Reggie Jackson had taken the top spot with 333 career home runs. He was closely followed by Johnny Bench and Willie Stargell, showing how consistent long-term production was key to climbing the ranks. As more seasons passed, players like Mike Schmidt began to emerge as dominant power hitters. In 1990, Schmidt reached the top of the rankings with 548 home runs, overtaking Jackson and others.

The 1990s and 2000s marked a significant shift in home run production. The rankings began to fill with high-powered sluggers like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa. This was a period where home run totals soared, with multiple players crossing the 400 and 500-home run milestones. McGwire led in 2000 with 554, but Bonds was close behind, and by 2010, Bonds had claimed the top spot with 762 home runs—a number that still stands as the MLB record as of 2024.

Alongside Bonds, players like Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols climbed rapidly. Rodriguez reached 696 home runs by 2024, and Pujols tallied 703, both placing firmly in the top three. This era also saw the emergence of more international power hitters, such as Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero, and Adrián Beltré, reflecting MLB’s growing global diversity.

The rankings reveal how sustained performance over long careers contributes to historical legacy. Many of the top-ranked players accumulated over 9,000 or even 10,000 at-bats. Names like Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, and Dave Winfield consistently appear due to their durability and ability to contribute year after year.

As the home run continued to be a defining metric for offensive greatness, the leaderboard served not only as a list of power hitters but as a timeline of changing styles in baseball—from the balanced slugging of the 1970s to the explosive offenses of the 2000s and beyond. The data captures the ongoing evolution of MLB’s offensive power structure and highlights how generational talent leaves lasting marks on the game.