Home Run Derby

2007 was a banner year for Milestone Home Runs in Baseball.

• The 300 Home Run Club got a new member .
• Three players joined the 500 Home Run Club, the most ever in a single season.
• The 600 Home Run Club got a new member for only the fifth time in MLB History.
• And the all-time MLB Home Run record was surpassed. It had stood at 755 Home Runs for more than 31 years.

Let’s take a quick look back at those milestone dingers from the 2007 season … with video, of course …

Todd Helton hits HR #300
September 17, 2007
Florida Marlins at Colorado Rockies

Colorado Rockies’ 1B Todd Helton belted his 300th Home Run in a blowout of the Marlins at Coors Field.

It was Helton’s first ever curtain call for the fans at Coors Field. 

Frank Thomas hits HR #500
June 28, 2007
Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins

Blue Jays’ DH Frank Thomas belted a Carlos Silva offering in the Metrodome for his Quincentennial Homer. 

It was also his 50th Home Run against the Minnesota Twins.

The Big Hurt was ejected later in the game for arguing balls and strikes with the umpire.  The Jays lost.

Alex Rodriguez hits HR #500
August 4, 2007 
Kansas City Royals at New York Yankees. 

Yankees’ 3B Alex Rodriguez continued his torrid season and became the youngest player to ever hit 500 Home Runs when he launched a Kyle Davies pitch to left field at Yankee Stadium. 

Jim Thome hits HR #500
September 16, 2007
LA Angels at Chicago White Sox

White Sox’ DH Jim Thome hit a dramatic three-run Walk-Off Home Run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the White Sox the win and his 500th trot around the bases. 

It was the first time in history that a 500th career Home Run was a walk off shot.  It was also “Jim Thome bobblehead day” at US Cellular Field.

Sammy Sosa hits HR #600
June 20, 2007
Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers

Rangers’ DH Sammy Sosa became only the sixth Major Leaguer in history to hit 600 Home Runs with a shot against his former team. 

It was the first Home Run he had ever hit against the Chicago Cubs.

That Home Run made Sosa the first player in MLB history to have hit a Home Run against EVERY team he has faced in his career.

Barry Bonds hits Home Run #756
August 7, 2007
Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants

Anyone and everyone watching any form of ESPN saw this one.  You couldn’t avoid it.

Giants’ LF Barry Bonds makes Nationals’ pitcher Mike Bacsik pay for some showboating with a shot to right center that set the all-time MLB Career Home Run mark, surpassing Hank Aaron’s 31-year record of 755. 

Somebody count how many time Bonds hits #756 in that clip and I’ll buy you a beer for your troubles (you must be 21 years of age).

Who’s lined up for some Milestone Home Runs in 2008?  Come back tomorrow to find out.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 4:55 pm and is filed under 2007 MLB, Blue Jays, Giants, Milestone Home Runs, Reds, Rockies, White Sox, Yankees. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.