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List of lifetime home run leaders through history

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 in the National League (1876-present), the American Association (1882-1891), the Union Association (1884), the Players League (1890), the American League (1901-present), and the Federal League (1914-1915).

The list helps contextualize the evolution of one of the most prized achievements in U.S sports. It is interesting to note, for example, that in the early 1930s, Babe Ruth had 300 more home runs than the next guy; or that when Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, he was fifth on the all-time list.

Note: I am still working on getting the 19th century numbers right. Feel free to check my numbers. I know there are mistakes and I am sure inaccuracies exist. -Kingturtle

Players closing in (through the end of the 2003 season): Rafael Palmeiro 528, Fred McGriff 491.

Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th(joint)
1876Cjones
4
          
1877Cjones
6
          
1878Cjones
9
Hines
6
         
1879Cjones
18
Hines
8
         
1880Cjones
23
Hines
11
Jorourke
10
Stovey
6
       
1881Cjones
23
Hines
13
DBrouthers
12
Jorourke
10
Stovey
8
      
1882Cjones
23
dBrouthers
18
Hines
17
Stovey
13
Jorourke
12
Connor
9
kkelly
6
Williamson
6
Browning
5
Anson
4
Richardson
4
1883Cjones
34
Stovey
27
Hines
21
Brouthers
21
Jorourke
13
Ewing
12
Denny
11
Connor
10
Kkelly
9
Reilly
9
 
1884Cjones
41
Stovey
38
Williamson
35
Brouthers
35
Pfeffer
27
Dalrymple
26
Anson
25
Hines
24
Kkelly
22
Reilly
20
 
1885Stovey
51
Cjones
45
Brouthers
42
Williamson
38
Dalrymple
37
Pfeffer
33
Anson
32
Kkelly
31
Reilly
25
Hines
25
 
1886Stovey
58
Brouthers
53
Cjones
50
Williamson
44
Anson
42
Pfeffer
40
Dalrymple
37
Hines
34
Denny
29
Reilly
29
 
1887Brouthers
65
Stovey
62
Pfeffer
56
Cjones
55
Williamson
53
Anson
49
Hines
44
Kkelly
43
Denny
40
Dalrymple
40
 
1888Brouthers
74
Stovey
71
Pfeffer
64
Anson
61
Williamson
61
Cjones
55
Connor
53
Denny
52
Kkelly
52
Reilly
52
 
1889Brouthers
81
Stovey
90
Pfeffer
71
Denny
70
Anson
68
Connor
66
Williamson
62
Kkelly
61
Reilly
57
Cjones
55
 
1890Stovey
101
Brouthers
82
Connor
79
Pfeffer
76
Anson
75
Denny
73
Kkelly
65
Richardson
64
Williamson
63
Reilly
63
 
1891Stovey
117
Brouthers
87
Connor
85
Anson
83
Pfeffer
83
Denny
73
Richardson
71
Kkelly
67
Reilly
67
Thompson
64
 
1892Stovey
119
Connor
97
Brouthers
92
Pfeffer
85
Anson
84
Denny
73
Richardson
73
JRyan
73
Thompson
73
Kkelly
69
 
1893Stovey
120
Connor
108
Brouthers
94
Pfeffer
88
Thompson
84
Anson
84
Tiernan
80
JRyan
76
Denny
74
Richardson
73
 
1894Stovey
120
Connor
116
Brouthers
103
Thompson
97
Pfeffer
93
Anson
89
Tiernan
85
JRyan
79
Denny
74
Richardson
73
 
1895Connor
124
Stovey
120
Thompson
115
Brouthers
105
Pfeffer
93
Tiernan
92
Anson
91
JRyan
85
Denny
74
Richardson
73
 
1896Connor
135
Thompson
127
Stovey
120
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
99
Pfeffer
95
Anson
93
JRyan
88
Duffy
77
Denny
74
 
1897Connor
138
Thompson
127
Stovey
120
Brouthers
106
Tiernan
104
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
JRyan
93
Duffy
88
Denny
74
 
1898Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
JRyan
97
Anson
96
Duffy
96
Pfeffer
95
Denny
74
 
1899Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
JRyan
100
Duffy
99
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
Delahanty
79
 
1900Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
JRyan
105
Duffy
101
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
Long
87
 
1901Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
111
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
Long
90
 
1902Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
99
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1903Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1904Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1905Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1906Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1907Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1908Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1909Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1910Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1911Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1912Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1913Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1914Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
Pfeffer
95
 
1915Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Delahanty
100
Wagner
100
Anson
96
 
1916Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Wagner
101
Delahanty
100
Anson
96
 
1917Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Wagner
101
Delahanty
100
Cravath
98
 
1918Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Cravath
106
Duffy
103
Wagner
101
Delahanty
100
 
1919Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Cravath
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Wagner
101
Delahanty
100
 
1920Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
JRyan
118
Cravath
118
Tiernan
108
Brouthers
106
Duffy
103
Ruth
103
Wagner
101
 
1921Ruth
162
Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Tiernan
108
DBrouthers
106
Duffy
106
Wagner
101
 
1922Ruth
197
Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
116
C Williams
108
Tiernan
108
DBrouthers
106
 
1923Ruth
238
C Williams
149
Connor
138
Thompson
128
Stovey
120
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
118
Hornsby
116
K Williams
108
 
1924Ruth
284
C Williams
173
Hornsby
141
Connor
138
Thompson
128
K Williams
126
Stovey
120
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
Walker
118
 
1925Ruth
309
C Williams
186
Hornsby
180
K Williams
151
Connor
138
Thompson
128
Wheat
126
Stovey
120
Cravath
119
Ryan
118
 
1926Ruth
356
C Williams
204
Hornsby
191
K Williams
168
Connor
138
Wheat
131
Thompson
128
Fournier
126
Heilmann
121
Stovey
120
 
1927Ruth
416
C Williams
234
Hornsby
217
K Williams
185
Connor
138
Fournier
136
Heilmann
135
Wheat
132
Meusel
125
Thompson
128
 
1928Ruth
470
C Williams
246
Hornsby
238
K Williams
193
Heilmann
149
Connor
138
Fournier
136
Meusel
136
Wheat
132
Thompson
128
 
1929Ruth
516
Hornsby
277
C Williams
251
K Williams
196
Heilmann
164
Gehrig
146
Bottomly
146
Meusel
146
Connor
138
Fournier
136
 
1930Ruth
565
Hornsby
279
C Williams
251
K Williams
196
Gehrig
187
Heilmann
183
Bottomly
161
Meusel
156
Simmons
151
Goslin
145
 
1931Ruth
611
Hornsby
295
C Williams
251
Gehrig
233
K Williams
196
Heilmann
183
Simmons
173
Bottomly
170
Goslin
169
Connor
138
 
1932Ruth
652
Hornsby
296
Gehrig
267
C Williams
251
Simmons
208
K Williams
196
Goslin
186
Heilmann
183
Bottomly
181
Foxx
174
 
1933Ruth
686
Hornsby
299
Gehrig
299
C Williams
251
Simmons
222
Foxx
222
Goslin
196
K Williams
196
Bottomly
194
Klein
191
 
1934Ruth
708
Gehrig
348
Hornsby
300
Foxx
266
C Williams
251
Wilson
244
Simmons
240
Ott
211
Klein
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
Greenberg
249
C Williams
251
 
1943Ruth
714
Foxx
527
Gehrig
493
Ott
463
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
259
Greenberg
249
C Williams
251
 
1944Ruth
714
Foxx
527
Gehrig
493
Ott
489
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
276
Greenberg
249
C Williams
251
 
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
C Williams
251
 
1947Ruth
714
Foxx
534
Ott
511
Gehrig
493
Greenberg
331
Simmons
307
Hornsby
301
Klein
300
Johnson
288
DiMaggio
264
 
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
337
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
358
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
 
1976Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
 
1977Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
 
1978Aaron
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
1980Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1981Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1982Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1983Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
Mathews
512
Banks
512
1984Aaron
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
1989Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1990Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1991Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1992Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1993Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1994Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1995Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1996Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1997Aaron
755
Ruth
714
Mays
660
Robinson
586
Killebrew
573
Jackson
563
Schmidt
548
Mantle
536
Foxx
534
T Williams
521
McCovey
521
1998Aaron
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