List of Major League Baseball progressive career home runs leaders


The following is a chronology of the top ten leaders in lifetime home runs in Major League Baseball. This includes any home runs hit by a player during official regular season games in the National Association, National League, the American Association, the Union Association, the Players' League, the American League, and the Federal League.
The list helps contextualize the evolution of one of the most prized achievements in United States sports. In the early 1930s, Babe Ruth had almost 400 more home runs than the next player, his longtime teammate Lou Gehrig; when Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, he was fifth on the all-time list.

Career home run leaders by year

Player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
‡|alt=ACTPlayer is still active

Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
1871Meyerle
4
Pike
4
Treacey
4
Bass
3
Cuthbert
3
Sutton
3
1872Pike
10
Treacey
6
Meyerle
5
Cuthbert
4
Bass
3
Gedney
3
Hall
3
Sutton
3
Wood
3
T York
3
1873Pike
14
Meyerle
8
Treacey
7
Cuthbert
6
T York
5
Wright
5
Gedney
4
1874Pike
15
Meyerle
9
Cuthbert
8
Treacey
7
Wright
7
O'Rourke
6
Clapp
5
Gedney
5
McVey
5
T York
5
1875Pike
15
O'Rourke
12
Meyerle
10
Wright
9
Cuthbert
8
Hall
8
McVey
8
Start
8
Treacey
7
White
5
Gedney,
T York,
Clapp 5
1876Pike
16
O'Rourke
14
Hall
13
Meyerle
10
Wright
10
McVey
9
Cuthbert
8
Start
8
Treacey
7
T York
6
White
6
1877Pike
20
O'Rourke
14
Hall
13
Meyerle
10
Wright
10
McVey
9
Start
9
Cuthbert
8
White
8
Treacey
7
T York
7
1878Pike
20
O'Rourke
15
Hall
13
McVey
11
Meyerle
10
Start
10
Wright
10
Jones
9
Cuthbert
8
White
8
T York
8
1879Pike
20
Jones
18
O'Rourke
16
Hall
13
Start
12
McVey
11
Wright
11
Meyerle
10
Hines
9
White
9
T York
9
1880Jones
23
O'Rourke
22
Pike
20
Hall
13
Hines
12
Start
12
McVey
11
Wright
11
Meyerle
10
White
9
Jo O'Rourke,
T York 9
1881Jones
23
O'Rourke
22
Pike
20
Hines
14
Hall
13
Brouthers
12
Start
12
Wright
11
T York
11
McVey
11
1882O'Rourke
24
Jones
23
Pike
20
Brouthers
18
Hines
18
Bennett
13
Hall
13
Stovey
13
Start
12
T York
12
1883Jones
33
Stovey
27
O'Rourke
25
Hines
22
Brouthers
21
Pike
20
Bennett
18
Farrell
14
Wood
14
T York
14
1884Jones
40
Stovey
37
Brouthers
35
Williamson
35
O'Rourke
30
Pfeffer
27
Anson
26
Dalrymple
26
Hines
25
Dunlap
24
1885Stovey
50
Jones
45
Brouthers
42
Williamson
38
Dalrymple
37
O'Rourke
35
Anson
33
Pfeffer
32
K Kelly
31
Wood
27
1886Stovey
57
Brouthers
53
Jones
51
Williamson
44
Anson
43
Dalrymple
40
Pfeffer
39
O'Rourke
36
Hines
35
K Kelly
35
1887Brouthers
65
Stovey
61
Jones
56
Pfeffer
55
Williamson
53
Anson
50
Hines
45
Wood
45
K Kelly
43
Dalrymple
42
1888Brouthers
74
Stovey
70
Pfeffer
63
Anson
62
Williamson
61
Jones
56
Reilly
54
Connor
53
Denny
52
K Kelly
52
1889Stovey
89
Brouthers
81
Denny
70
Pfeffer
70
Anson
69
Connor
66
Williamson
62
K Kelly
61
Reilly
59
Jones
56
Wood
56
1890Stovey
101
Brouthers
82
Connor
80
Anson
76
Pfeffer
75
Denny
73
K Kelly
65
Reilly
65
Wood
65
Williamson
64
1891Stovey
117
Brouthers
87
Connor
87
Anson
84
Pfeffer
82
Denny
73
Reilly
69
Richardson
68
Wood
68
K Kelly
67
1892Stovey
121
Connor
99
Brouthers
92
Anson
85
Pfeffer
84
Denny
73
Ryan
73
Thompson
72
Richardson
70
K Kelly
69
Reilly
69
1893Stovey
122
Connor
110
Brouthers
94
Pfeffer
87
Anson
85
Thompson
83
Tiernan
77
Ryan
76
Denny
74
Richardson
70
1894Stovey
122
Connor
118
Brouthers
103
Thompson
96
Pfeffer
92
Anson
90
Tiernan
82
Ryan
79
Denny
74
Richardson
70
1895Connor
126
Stovey
122
Thompson
114
Brouthers
105
Anson
92
Pfeffer
92
Tiernan
89
Ryan
85
Denny
74
Duffy
73
1896Connor
137
Thompson
126
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
96
Anson
94
Pfeffer
94
Ryan
88
Duffy
78
Denny
74
1897Connor
138
Thompson
126
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
101
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
Ryan
93
Duffy
89
Denny
74
1898Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
106
Anson
97
Duffy
97
Ryan
97
Pfeffer
94
Clements
76
1899Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
106
Duffy
102
Ryan
100
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
Delahanty
80
1900Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
106
Ryan
105
Duffy
104
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
Long
86
1901Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Ryan
105
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
Delahanty
90
1902Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
111
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
100
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
1903
–1913
Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
1914Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Anson
97
Pfeffer
94
Wagner
94
1915Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
100
Anson
97
1916Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
Anson
97
1917Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
Cravath
98
1918Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Cravath
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
1919Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Ryan
118
Cravath
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
1920Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Ruth
103
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
1921Ruth
162
Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
Delahanty
101
Wagner
101
1922Ruth
197
Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
116
C Williams
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
106
Tiernan
106
1923Ruth
238
C Williams
149
Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
118
Hornsby
116
K Williams
108
1924Ruth
284
C Williams
173
Hornsby
141
Connor
138
Thompson
127
K Williams
126
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
118
1925Ruth
309
C Williams
186
Hornsby
180
K Williams
151
Connor
138
Thompson
127
Wheat
126
Stovey
122
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
118
1926Ruth
356
C Williams
204
Hornsby
191
K Williams
168
Connor
138
Wheat
131
Thompson
127
Fournier
126
G Kelly
123
Stovey
122
1927Ruth
416
C Williams
234
Hornsby
217
K Williams
185
Connor
138
Fournier
136
Heilmann
135
Wheat
132
G Kelly
128
Thompson
127
1928Ruth
470
C Williams
246
Hornsby
238
K Williams
193
Heilmann
149
Connor
138
Fournier
136
Meusel
136
Wheat
132
G Kelly
131
1929Ruth
516
Hornsby
277
C Williams
251
K Williams
196
Heilmann
164
Bottomley
146
Gehrig
146
Meusel
146
Connor
138
Wilson
137
1930Ruth
565
Hornsby
279
C Williams
251
K Williams
196
Wilson
193
Gehrig
187
Heilmann
183
Bottomley
161
Meusel
156
Simmons
151
1931Ruth
611
Hornsby
295
C Williams
251
Gehrig
233
Wilson
206
K Williams
196
Heilmann
183
Simmons
173
Bottomley
170
Goslin
169
1932Ruth
652
Hornsby
296
Gehrig
267
C Williams
251
Wilson
229
Simmons
208
K Williams
196
Goslin
186
Heilmann
183
Bottomley
181
1933Ruth
686
Gehrig
299
Hornsby
299
C Williams
251
Wilson
238
Foxx
222
Simmons
222
Goslin
196
K Williams
196
Bottomley
194
1934Ruth
708
Gehrig
348
Hornsby
300
Foxx
266
C Williams
251
Wilson
244
Simmons
240
Klein
211
Ott
211
Goslin
209
1935Ruth
714
Gehrig
378
Foxx
302
Hornsby
300
Simmons
256
C Williams
251
Wilson
244
Ott
242
Klein
232
Goslin
218
1936Ruth
714
Gehrig
427
Foxx
343
Hornsby
300
Ott
275
Simmons
269
Klein
257
C Williams
251
Wilson
244
Goslin
242
1937Ruth
714
Gehrig
464
Foxx
379
Ott
306
Hornsby
301
Simmons
277
Klein
272
C Williams
251
Goslin
246
Wilson
244
1938Ruth
714
Gehrig
493
Foxx
429
Ott
342
Hornsby
301
Simmons
298
Klein
280
C Williams
251
Goslin
248
Wilson
244
1939Ruth
714
Gehrig
493
Foxx
464
Ott
369
Simmons
305
Hornsby
301
Klein
292
C Williams
251
Goslin
248
Wilson
244
1940Ruth
714
Foxx
500
Gehrig
493
Ott
388
Simmons
306
Hornsby
301
Klein
299
C Williams
251
Goslin
248
Greenberg
247
1941Ruth
714
Foxx
519
Gehrig
493
Ott
415
Simmons
306
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
C Williams
251
Greenberg
249
Goslin
248
1942Ruth
714
Foxx
527
Gehrig
493
Ott
445
Simmons
306
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
252
C Williams
251
Greenberg
249
1943Ruth
714
Foxx
527
Gehrig
493
Ott
463
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
259
C Williams
251
Greenberg
249
1944Ruth
714
Foxx
527
Gehrig
493
Ott
489
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
276
C Williams
251
Greenberg
249
1945Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
510
Gehrig
493
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
288
Greenberg
262
C Williams
251
1946Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Simmons
307
Greenberg
306
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
288
R York
256
1947Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Greenberg
331
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
288
R York
277
1948Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Greenberg
331
Simmons
307
DiMaggio
303
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Mize
297
1949Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Greenberg
331
DiMaggio
317
Mize
316
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
1950Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
DiMaggio
349
Mize
341
Greenberg
331
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
1951Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
DiMaggio
361
Mize
351
Greenberg
331
T Williams
323
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
1952Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
DiMaggio
361
Mize
355
Greenberg
331
T Williams
324
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
1953Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
T Williams
337
Greenberg
331
Kiner
329
Simmons
307
1954Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
366
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Kiner
351
Greenberg
331
Simmons
307
1955Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
394
Kiner
369
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Greenberg
331
Musial
325
1956Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
418
Kiner
369
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Musial
352
Greenberg
331
1957Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
456
Musial
381
Kiner
369
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Greenberg
331
1958Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
482
Musial
398
Kiner
369
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Greenberg
331
Snider
331
1959Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
T Williams
492
Musial
412
Kiner
369
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
Snider
354
1960Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Musial
429
Kiner
369
Snider
368
DiMaggio
361
Mize
359
1961Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Musial
444
Snider
384
Mantle
374
Mathews
370
Kiner
369
1962Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Musial
463
Mantle
404
Mathews
399
Snider
389
Hodges
370
1963Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Musial
475
Mathews
422
Mantle
419
Mays
406
Snider
403
1964Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Musial
475
Mantle
454
Mays
453
Mathews
445
Snider
407
1965Ruth
714
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Mays
505
Gehrig
493
Mathews
477
Musial
475
Mantle
473
Snider
407
1966Ruth
714
Mays
542
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Ott
511
Mantle
496
Gehrig
493
Mathews
493
Musial
475
Aaron
442
1967Ruth
714
Mays
564
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mantle
518
Ott
511
Mathews
509
Gehrig
493
Aaron
481
Musial
475
1968Ruth
714
Mays
587
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Ott
511
Aaron
510
Gehrig
493
Musial
475
1969Ruth
714
Mays
600
Aaron
554
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Ott
511
Banks
497
Gehrig
493
1970Ruth
714
Mays
628
Aaron
592
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Ott
511
Banks
509
Gehrig
493
1971Ruth
714
Mays
646
Aaron
639
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Killebrew
515
Mathews
512
Banks
512
Ott
511
1972Ruth
714
Aaron
673
Mays
654
Killebrew
541
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
Robinson
522
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1973Ruth
714
Aaron
713
Mays
660
Robinson
552
Killebrew
546
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1974Aaron
733
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
574
Killebrew
559
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1975Aaron
745
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
583
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1976
–1978
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1979Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
520
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1980
–1984
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1985Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
Jackson
530
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1986Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1987Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
Schmidt
530
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1988Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
542
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1989
–1998
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1999Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
McGwire
522
2000Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
McGwire
554
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
2001Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Bonds
567
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
2002Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Bonds
613
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
2003Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Bonds
658
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Sosa
539
2004Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Bonds
703
Mays
660
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Sosa
574
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Palmeiro
551
2005Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Bonds
708
Mays
660
Sosa
588
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Palmeiro
569
Jackson
563
2006Aaron
755
Bonds
734
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Sosa
588
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Palmeiro
569
Griffey
563
Jackson
563
2007Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Sosa
609
Griffey
593
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Palmeiro
569
2008Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Griffey
611
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Killebrew
573
Palmeiro
569
2009Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
Rodriguez
583
Killebrew
573
2010Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Rodriguez
613
Sosa
609
Thome
589
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
2011Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Rodriguez
629
Sosa
609
Thome
604
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
2012Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Rodriguez
647
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
2013
–2014
Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Rodriguez
654
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
2015Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Rodriguez
687
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
McGwire
583
2016Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Rodriguez
696
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Pujols
591
Robinson
586
2017Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Rodriguez
696
Mays
660
Griffey
630
Pujols
614
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
2018Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Rodriguez
696
Mays
660
Pujols
633
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
2019Bonds
762
Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Rodríguez
696
Mays
660
Pujols
656
Griffey
630
Thome
612
Sosa
609
Robinson
586
2020

Leadership dates

Starting with Harry Stovey passing Charley Jones in August 1885, there have been seven changes of the career home run leader. Stovey held the title twice, having lost it to Dan Brouthers in June 1887 and then regaining it from Brouthers in August 1889. In the modern era—since the formation of the American League in 1901—there have only been four players who have held the title.
held the career home run record twice during the late 1800s.