Jim Thome becomes the eighth player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs.
Jim Thome became the eighth player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs, with a home run off of Detroit Tigers reliever Daniel Schlereth Monday night. Here are some other facts about Thome's entry into this exclusive club:
• Thome joins Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr and Sammy Sosa in this exclusive club.
• Only three players reached 600 home runs from 1876 to 1971 but five have now done so since 2002.
• Thome is the first member of the club to hit 599 and 600 in the same game, including consecutive and non-consecutive at-bats.
• For what it's worth, nobody (including Thome) hit 499 and 500 in the same game. Frank Robinson hit them on the same day, but in a doubleheader.
• Thome joins Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr and Sammy Sosa in this exclusive club.
• Only three players reached 600 home runs from 1876 to 1971 but five have now done so since 2002.
• Thome is the first member of the club to hit 599 and 600 in the same game, including consecutive and non-consecutive at-bats.
• For what it's worth, nobody (including Thome) hit 499 and 500 in the same game. Frank Robinson hit them on the same day, but in a doubleheader.
• Thome is the oldest player to reach the 600-HR milestone, but he did so in the second-fewest number of at-bats.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is now the first to hit his 600th home run with more than one runner on base.
• Thome has four multi-homer games in his career as a Twin. The first one was July 3, 2010 against the Rays. Those two homers tied and passed Harmon Killebrew for tenth place on the all-time career homer list.
• When Babe Ruth became the first member of the 600 club, it took 13,911 days for the second member, Willie Mays, to join him. Just 15,174 days later, Thome makes it eight. It was one year and 11 days ago that Alex Rodriguez became the seventh member of the 600-homer club, as he hit his 600th on August 4th last year.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is now the first to hit his 600th home run with more than one runner on base.
• Thome has four multi-homer games in his career as a Twin. The first one was July 3, 2010 against the Rays. Those two homers tied and passed Harmon Killebrew for tenth place on the all-time career homer list.
• When Babe Ruth became the first member of the 600 club, it took 13,911 days for the second member, Willie Mays, to join him. Just 15,174 days later, Thome makes it eight. It was one year and 11 days ago that Alex Rodriguez became the seventh member of the 600-homer club, as he hit his 600th on August 4th last year.
• Thome becomes the fourth member of the club to hit his 600th in the month of August.
• Thome averages one home run in every 13.6 at-bats, fourth on the all-time list (Mark McGwire, 10.6).
• Thome has the most career home runs among players who have played for five or more franchises (Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies).
• Thome averages one home run in every 13.6 at-bats, fourth on the all-time list (Mark McGwire, 10.6).
• Thome has the most career home runs among players who have played for five or more franchises (Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies).
600 HR Club:
| Age | AB to reach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babe Ruth | 36 | 6,919 | ||
| Jim Thome | 40 | 8,167 | ||
| Barry Bonds | 38 | 8,212 | ||
| Sammy Sosa | 38 | 8,636 | ||
| Alex Rodriguez | 35 | 8,688 | ||
| Ken Griffey Jr | 38 | 9,042 | ||
| Willie Mays | 38 | 9,514 | ||
| Hank Aaron | 37 | 10,009 |
