On Tuesday, Giancarlo Stanton achieved a significant milestone in his career by hitting his 400th career home run at the Yankee Stadium. This accomplishment not only solidified his position as the only current Yankees player to achieve this feat but also made him the third active player in Major League Baseball (MLB) to reach this impressive milestone.
Additionally, Stanton’s entry into the 400-home run club places him among the top 60 hitters in the league.
Members of the 400-home run club are players who came close to achieving elite status as power hitters but often fell just short. Some faced the challenge of playing their games in large ballparks that were not conducive to home runs. However, the club also features Yankees superstars such as Carl Yastrzemski, Carlos Beltrán, and Cal Ripken Jr., who fulfilled the high expectations placed upon them during their careers while contributing to the Yankees‘ rich history.
Let’s take a look at the 400-homer club, which includes 58 players, each with their own distinctive journey, ranging from the most recent to join all the way back to the very first members.
Giancarlo Stanton, OF/DH (2010-present)
Reached 400 on September 5, 2023
Giancarlo Stanton, known for his incredible power hitting, has been consistently launching home runs since his major league debut with the Marlins in 2010. For the first nine years of his career, he consistently hit at least 22 home runs each season. Unfortunately, in 2019 and 2020, injuries limited his playing time, resulting in only seven home runs during that period.
Stanton’s standout season was in 2017 when he crushed an astounding 59 home runs, earning him the National League MVP award. On September 5, 2023, he added another impressive achievement to his resume by smashing a home run that traveled a remarkable 451 feet, becoming the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 400 career home runs.
Edwin Encarnación, INF/DH (2005-2020)
Reached 400 on June 9, 2019
Encarnación embarked on his baseball journey with the Reds and later played for teams like the Blue Jays, where he launched 239 of his home runs. He also had stints with the Indians, Yankees, and White Sox. Nevertheless, it was during his tenure with the Seattle Mariners that he celebrated his 400th home run with his iconic “walking the parrot” gesture as he rounded the bases.
Mark Teixeira, 1B (2003-16)
Reached 400 on July 3, 2016
Teixeira became a member of the exclusive 400-homer club during his 14th and final season in Major League Baseball (MLB). An interesting note is that he didn’t stop at 400; he continued to make an impact by hitting his 401st home run in the same game. Achieving this milestone in the midst of his last season, Teixeira went on to add nine more home runs to his tally before retiring from professional baseball.
Carlos Beltrán, CF (1998-2017)
Reached 400 on May 15, 2016
In the year the Yankees traded Beltrán to the Rangers before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, he left a significant mark on the team before his departure. Beltrán achieved the remarkable milestone of joining the 400-homer club during his 39th year, solidifying a lasting legacy in the process.
Alfonso Soriano, LF/2B (1999-2014)
Reached 400 on August 27, 2013
Soriano ended a brief five-game home run drought by going deep twice in consecutive at-bats against Toronto’s left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ. A seven-time All-Star, Soriano played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ 7-1 victory, led by pitcher Andy Pettitte.
Andruw Jones, CF (1996-2012)
Reached 400 on July 11, 2010
Jones made history by becoming the second player to hit 400 home runs while wearing a White Sox uniform, following in the footsteps of Frank Thomas. His three-run home run in the third inning, off Royals right-hander Anthony Lerew, marked his entry into this elite club and also moved him up to 46th place on the all-time home run list, surpassing both Andres Galarraga and Al Kaline.
Jason Giambi, 1B (1995-2014)
Reached 400 on May 23, 2009
Giambi provided a memorable moment for A’s fans when he launched his 400th career home run off Dan Haren. Despite the significance of the milestone, Giambi remained composed and celebrated with his enthusiastic teammates at home plate, acting as if hitting that solo home run was just another part of his routine. This former American League MVP Award winner and five-time All-Star left a lasting impression.
Alex Rodriguez, SS/3B (1994-2016)
Reached 400 on June 8, 2005
A-Rod made history by becoming the youngest player to reach 400 home runs at just 29 years and 316 days old. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the only player in history to achieve this milestone before turning 30 years old.
Gary Sheffield, RF (1988-2009)
Reached 400 on July 27, 2004
Sheffield, originally known as a “speed guy” when he was a prospect, never imagined he would reach the 400-homer milestone. However, once he achieved it with a towering home run into the left-field bleachers at Toronto’s SkyDome, Sheffield’s dreams expanded, and he immediately set his sights on hitting 100 more home runs. Interestingly, his 400th home run occurred on the same night as A-Rod’s 370th home run.
Jose Canseco, DH/OF (1985-2001)
Reached 400 on April 14, 1999
Born in Cuba, Canseco achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first Major League player who wasn’t born in the United States to hit 400 home runs. This achievement came during his third home run of the season while playing for the Devil Rays, although the team experienced a close 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays in extra innings.
Dave Winfield, RF (1973-95)
Reached 400 on August 14, 1991
Winfield, who had been struggling with a 1-for-27 slump, broke out of it by hitting his 400th career home run. He achieved this milestone against Twins left-hander David West in his hometown of Minneapolis.
Dave Kingman, 1B/LF (1971-86)
Reached 400 on August 10, 1985
Kingman had been sitting at 399 home runs for 13 games when he finally hit his 400th. He sent the ball into the left-field seats in the first inning, facing left-hander Matt Young.
Reggie Jackson, RF (1967-87)
Reached 400 on August 11, 1980
Jackson became the fourth player to hit his 400th home run while wearing a Yankees uniform, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle in this exclusive club. He accomplished this feat three years after earning the nickname “Mr. October” for hitting three consecutive homers in the decisive game of the 1977 World Series.
Mickey Mantle, CF/1B (1951-68)
Reached 400 on September 10, 1962
Mickey Mantle was the first player in baseball history capable of hitting from both sides of the plate to achieve 400 home runs. After him, only five other switch-hitters have managed to do the same. Mantle, a Hall of Famer, became just the third Yankees player to reach this milestone while wearing their iconic pinstripes, following in the footsteps of Ruth and Gehrig.
Lou Gehrig, 1B (1923-1939)
Reached 400 on July 10, 1936
Lou Gehrig was an outstanding home run hitter during the 1930s. Between 1931 and the end of his career in 1939, he slugged an impressive 306 home runs, which was the second-highest total for that decade, trailing only behind the legendary Jimmie Foxx
Babe Ruth, P/RF (1914-35)
Reached 400 on Sept. 2, 1927
The 1927 season was truly exceptional for the legendary Babe Ruth. In that year, Ruth became the very first player in Major League history to reach the 400-home run mark. This outstanding achievement was part of his record-breaking season, where he set a career-high by hitting an astonishing 60 home runs in the iconic ’27 season.
What do you think? Leave a comment below.
