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The MLB’s Top Ten Active Home Run Leaders

Posted on 05. Feb, 2010 by gerakis100 in Baseball

With spring training just around the corner and the 2010 MLB season two months away, we give you the top 10 active home run leaders, with (unfortunately) the steroid use, which turns out to be bigger and bigger as time goes by. Luckily, there are a few untarnished names on this list.

Number 10 – Andruw Jones, 388

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The 1996-2007 Andruw Jones would have been higher on this list, but something went wrong with the guy after he left the Braves to the Dodgers. His numbers in 2008 – .158 batting average, .256 On Base Percentage and a .249 Slugging Percentage and only 3 home runs for a guy who was hitting over 20 per season for 10 consecutive seasons. 2009 With the Texas Rangers was a slight improvement, hitting 17 home runs in 82 games, playing as a pinch hitter or replacing the injured Josh Hamilton for a while. He’s still young and has a chance of picking up from his recent bad seasons. He’ll be playing DH probably for the Chicago White Sox in 2010. Jones, besides hitting 388 homers (52nd all-time) led the league in 2005 with 51 in 2005, his personal best and the highest ever for a Braves player. He is also a 10 time gold glove winner (1998-2007) and a five time all-star (2000, 2002-2003, 2005-2006).

Number 9 – Vladimir Guerrero, 407

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Another player who’ll probably be playing mostly at DH on a new team (Texas Rangers), Vlad Guerrero is coming to Texas after a very successful career (so far) at both the Montreal Expos and the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim. Guerrero is 44th on the all-time home run list, tied with Duke Snider with 407. In 2009 his age started showing and injuries slowed him down, hitting only 15 homers, his lowest production since 1997, when he was a rookie for the Expos. Vlad is a seven time Silver Slugger and an 8 time All-Star (1999-2002, 2004-2007), with two 40+ home runs seasons in his career – 42 in 1999 and 44 in 2000.

Number 8 – Jason Giambi, 409

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The first lefty on our list has admitted to using steroids after being named by the FBI in the BALCO investigation and later on named in the Mitchell Report along with his brother, Jeremy. Legal and asterisks stuff aside, Giambi, 38, was re-signed with the Colorado Rockies about two weeks ago.. Giambi has been in the majors since 1995, playing for the A’s (1995-2001), the Yankees (2002-2008), return season at Oakland last year before moving to the Rockies and helping their playoff push. Giambi is 43rd on the all-time home run list, hitting 40+ three times (2000, 2002-2003) and his last impressive power season was with the Yankees in ‘08, hitting 32 home runs. Back in 2000 Giambi was the AL’s MVP, a five time all-star (2000-2004) and a two time Silver Slugger (2001-2002).

Number 7 – Chipper Jones, 426

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The only switch hitter in the active top 10 and one of only two in the top 20 (Lance Berkman the other), Chipper, 37, is 40th on the all-time home run list, tied with Billy Williams. He has spent his entire career with the Atlanta Braves (since 1993), winning the World Series in 1995. He is the Braves’ all-time home run leader, passing Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy on his way. He needs 110 more homers to become the all-time leading switch home run hitter (Micky Mantle).

Jones played at third base although he started his career as a short stop and even played in the outfield when needed. His power numbers have gone down lately (age&injury) and 2009 was a huge fall after a career best 2008, when he won the NL’s batting champion award with a .364 batting average and .470 On Base Percentage. His best home run production came in1999 (45). He is a six time all-star (1996-1998, 2000-2001, 2008), a two time Silver Slugger (1999,2000) and won the NL’s MVP in 1999.

Number 6 – Carlos Delgado, 473

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Right now the 37 year old Puerto Rican is without a club, last playing baseball in the Puerto Rican Baseball League. Recent reports indicate that the interest for the aging first baseman isn’t very high, with the Blue Jays announcing today they have no interest in him. Delgado has 17 MLB seasons behind him – 12 with Toronto (1993-2004), one with the Marlins (2005) and four with the Mets (2006-2009). He hardly played in 2009 (26 games, 4 home runs) and from the looks of things, his quest to reach 500 homers is going to have a sad ending, but you never know. Delgado was a terrific hitter between 1997-2008, hitting over 30+ eleven times, including three 40+ seasons, with 44 homers in 1999 being his personal best. He is ranked 30th on the all-time list. He is the 15th and last player to hit four home runs in one game (September 25, 2003, against Tampa). Delgado is a two time all-star (2000,2003) and a three time silver slugger (1999,2000,2003).

Number 5 – Gary Sheffield, 509

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Another free agent, but there seems to be a bit more value for Sheffield in the market. His home run numbers are rivaled by his ability to create controversy with his mouth and actions, and was mentioned in the Mitchell Report but he has not admitted to steroid use.

Career-wise, Sheffield has been on eight different ball clubs – Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Tigers and in 2009 – the Mets. He’s not a 30+ home run guy anymore but can still do some damage from DH if your starting one gets injured. Sheffield is currently 24th on the all-time home run list with two 40+ seasons under his belt, a five time Silver Slugger (1992,1996,2003-2005), nine time all-star (1992-1993, 1996, 1998-2000, 2003-2005) and won the world series with the Marlins in 1997.

Number 4 – Manny Ramirez, 546

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Steroid mention first – Ramirez was found positive for hCG and was suspended for 50 games. Now to the numbers, which are impressive – Ramirez, 37, starting his third season with the Dodgers, has been playing in the MLB since 1993, starting in Cleveland. In 2000 he switched to Boston, winning two World Series’ with the Red Sox and moved to LA in 2008. He is 15th on the all-time home run list, hitting 40+ five times, leading the American League in homers in 2004 with 43. He has 21 career grand-slams, 2nd all time and tops the active players. He has 28 playoff home runs, number one all-time. He is a 12 time all-star (1995, 1998-2008) and a nine time Silver Slugger (1995, 1999-2006). According to recent reports, this maybe his last season, or at least final season not as a DH. Joe Torre has also mentioned he will try giving Manny more off days this season.

Number 3 – Jim Thome, 564

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Another player starting with a new team (sensing a pattern here), signing with the Twins just yesterday. Thome has been in the MLB since 1991, playing for the Indians until 2002 before starting to move around a bit – Phillies (2003-2005), White Sox (2006-2009), Dodgers for a short pinch-hitting stint and now the AL Central again with the Twins. Thome is still effective at DH, hitting 23 homers in 124 games last season. He has one 50+ season (52 in 2002) and six 40+ season, leading the NL with 47 in 2003. He has one Silver Slugger award (2006) and is a five time all-star (1997-1999, 2004, 2006). He is 12th on the all-time home run list, five short of Rafael Palmeiro (569).

Number 2 – Alex Rodriguez, 583

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It was in February last year that A-Rod joined the Steroid circle. A year later, I dunno if anyone cares about this too much anymore, as it seems that almost anyone with great numbers in the late 90’s and early 00’s did used some kind of performance enhancing substance.

At 34, Rodriguez is 180 homers short of  becoming the best ever. If he doesn’t get injured, which is doubtful, he’ll probably make it. Anyhow, number-wise, he is one of the greatest all-time – 30+ home runs in 13 of the past 14 seasons, including three 50+ seasons and eight 40+ years. He has led the AL in home runs five times – 2001 (52), 2002 (57), 2003 (47), 2005 (48) and 2007 (54). He finally won the world series he was missing with the Yankees last year. He is a 12 time all-star (1996-1998, 2000-2008), 10 time silver Slugger (1996, 1998-2003, 2005, 2007-2008) and a three time AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007).

Number 1 – Ken Griffey, Jr. , 630

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Returning to Seattle last season in order to finish his career where it started, Griffey Jr. wil be 41 when this season ends, and his Mariners have a good chance of winning the AL West for the first time since 2001. Griffey, who is entering his fourth decade of playing major league baseball (debut in 1989) spent his best years with the Mariners during the 90’s, hitting over 40 homers four times, including 56 in 1997 and 1998. He won the MVP in 1997 and led the AL in home runs in 1994, 1997-1999. He won seven Silver Slugger awards (1991, 1993-1994, 1996-1999) and was, for those who remember, one of the most popular athletes in America during the 90’s. His production in the past decade, playing mostly for his hometown Reds, has significantly decreased, he is still among the most popular guys out there, with his name not coming up in any steroid report helping that cause. He is currently fifth all-time, 30 homers behind Willie Mays and it’s hard to believe he’ll pass him this season.

Tags: 2010 mlb season, active home run leaders, alex rodriguez, all time home run leaders, Andruw Jones, baseball statistics, Carlos Delgado, Chipper Jones, Gary Sheffield, images, Jason Giambi, Jim Thome, Ken Griffey Jr., Manny Ramirez, MLB stats, most home runs, Photos, pics, pictures, top 10 lists, Vladimir Guerrero

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