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Pujols reaches 400 home runs in fifth fewest at-bats

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols became the 47th member of MLB’s 400 home run club, doing it in fewer at-bats than all but four of them.

Albert Pujols' 400th home run, 08/26/10 (Getty Images/Greg Fiume)Yesterday, I featured the 47 members of Major League Baseball’s 400 home run club, a group that St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols joined on Thursday night. That list was ranked by the players’ ages when they achieved the milestone. Pujols was third youngest.

This time, we re-order the list by the number of at-bats each had at the point in their career when they hit their 400th.

Pujols’ current hitting coach Mark McGwire, with a career shortened by injury, reached 400 with the fewest number of at-bats. Pujols is fifth.

MLB 400 home run club, ordered by at-bats when reached

Career rank HR First Last 400th Born 400 age 400 AB
9 Mark McGwire 583 1986 2001 5/8/1998 10/1/1963 34-219 4726
3 Babe Ruth 714 1914 1935 9/2/1927 2/6/1895 32-208 4853
11 Harmon Killebrew 573 1954 1975 4/27/1969 6/29/1936 32-63 5300
10 Jim Thome 581 1991 2010* 6/14/2004 8/27/1970 33-74 5416
47 Albert Pujols 401 2001 2010* 8/26/2010 1/16/1980 30-222 5615
14 Manny Ramirez 554 1993 2010* 5/15/2005 5/30/1972 32-350 5695
17 Jimmie Foxx 534 1925 1945 6/7/1938 10/22/1907 30-229 5711
19 Willie McCovey 521 1959 1980 7/15/1973 1/10/1938 35-186 5751
4 Willie Mays 660 1951 1973 8/27/1963 5/6/1931 32-113 5761
15 Mike Schmidt 548 1972 1989 5/15/1984 9/27/1949 34-230 5790
7 Alex Rodriguez 604 1994 2010* 6/8/2005 7/27/1975 29-316 5806
16 Mickey Mantle 536 1951 1968 9/10/1962 10/20/1931 30-325 5844
5 Ken Griffey 630 1989 2010 4/10/2000 11/21/1969 30-150 5860
38 Juan Gonzalez 434 1989 2005 6/5/2002 10/20/1969 30-228 5913
35 Dave Kingman 442 1971 1986 8/10/1985 12/21/1948 36-232 5934
20 Ted Williams 521 1939 1960 7/17/1956 8/30/1918 37-321 5936
30 Carlos Delgado 473 1993 2009 8/22/2006 6/25/1972 34-58 5946
22 Eddie Mathews 512 1952 1968 4/16/1963 10/13/1931 32-185 6025
32 Jose Canseco 462 1985 2001 4/14/1999 7/2/1964 34-286 6072
6 Sammy Sosa 609 1989 2007 5/16/2001 11/12/1968 32-185 6206
41 Mike Piazza 427 1992 2007 4/26/2006 9/4/1968 37-234 6260
18 Frank Thomas 521 1990 2008 7/25/2003 5/27/1968 35-59 6403
44 Jason Giambi 412 1995 2010* 5/23/2009 1/8/1971 38-135 6462
1 Barry Bonds 762 1986 2007 8/23/1998 7/24/1964 34-30 6499
8 Frank Robinson 586 1956 1976 9/9/1967 8/31/1935 32-9 6521
27 Lou Gehrig 493 1923 1939 7/10/1936 6/19/1903 33-21 6541
28 Willie Stargell 475 1962 1982 6/29/1977 3/6/1940 37-115 6599
13 Reggie Jackson 563 1967 1987 8/11/1980 5/18/1946 34-85 6694
45 Duke Snider 407 1947 1964 6/14/1963 9/19/1926 36-268 6783
40 Vladimir Guerrero 429 1996 2010* 8/10/2009 2/9/1975 34-182 6821
21 Ernie Banks 512 1953 1971 9/2/1965 1/31/1931 34-214 6830
34 Jeff Bagwell 449 1991 2005 7/20/2003 5/27/1968 35-54 6887
26 Fred McGriff 493 1986 2004 6/2/2000 10/31/1963 36-244 6979
46 Andruw Jones 405 1996 2010* 7/11/2010 4/23/1977 32-79 7081
24 Gary Sheffield 509 1988 2009 7/27/2004 11/18/1968 35-251 7086
2 Hank Aaron 755 1954 1976 4/20/1966 2/5/1934 32-54 7108
37 Chipper Jones 436 1993 2010* 6/5/2008 4/24/1972 36-42 7110
23 Mel Ott 511 1926 1947 6/1/1941 3/2/1909 32-81 7215
12 Rafael Palmeiro 569 1986 2005 9/23/2000 9/24/1964 35-364 7824
43 Darrell Evans 414 1969 1989 9/20/1988 5/26/1947 41-117 8609
42 Billy Williams 426 1959 1976 6/12/1975 6/15/1938 36-362 8641
25 Eddie Murray 504 1977 1997 5/3/1992 2/24/1956 36-68 8663
36 Andre Dawson 438 1976 1996 4/15/1993 7/10/1954 38-279 8922
29 Stan Musial 475 1941 1963 5/7/1959 11/21/1920 38-167 9233
31 Dave Winfield 465 1973 1995 8/14/1991 10/3/1951 39-50 9298
33 Carl Yastrzemski 452 1961 1983 7/24/1979 8/22/1939 39-336 10252
39 Cal Ripken 431 1981 2001 9/2/1999 8/24/1960 39-9 10707
* active

Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for the above table.

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118 Responses to “Pujols reaches 400 home runs in fifth fewest at-bats”

  1. JumboShrimp says:

    Elite company.

  2. JumboShrimp says:

    The only guy having a superior hitting year to Albert is Miguel Cabrera.
    Votto and Hamilton play in more offensive parks than do Miguel and Albert, inflating their statistics.
    Last year Albert slowed during September. If he can stay on top of his game, the final numbers he attains will be impressive.

  3. CardFanSince57 says:

    35 home runs is already impressive for an entire season and he has more than 5 weeks to go. If Albert stays healthy, he will reach 500 at the age of 33 (2113), exceed 600 at the age of 36 (2116) and surmount 700 at the age of 40 (2020)! Henceforth, as he ascends thither, he will be excelling one Hall of Fame dignitary after another!

  4. blingboy says:

    “After 40 years as the one and only organist for the St. Louis Cardinals, maestro Ernie Hays says he’s ready to tap his last key. Hays, 75, said Thursday that this season will be his last as a regular organist for the Redbirds.”

    Thiis was in stltoday.

  5. crdswmn says:

    What are the predictions on the number of HRs Albert will hit this year? 40 at least, I think, probably more.

  6. blingboy says:

    The Tigers are not paying anybody $17M per to hit behind Cabrera. He doesn’t get walked any more than Albert. About the same for both BB and IBB. Go figure. They have hit a few guys after him this year, all with numbers not any better than Ludwick numbers. The rookie Boesch (or something like that) has numbers sort of like Colby numbers. Instead, the Tigers strategy was to spend money hiring a bat to get on base ahead of him.

  7. crdswmn says:

    8/28- Schumaker RF, Lopez 2B, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Jay CF, Feliz 3B, Anderson C, Ryan SS, Lohse P

  8. JumboShrimp says:

    TLR chooses Lopez at 2B over Miles and over Winn in RF, against Hernandez. Sunday and Monday when the opponents throw southpaws, Craig will be back in the lineup, with Skip out.

  9. blingboy says:

    JD is still nursing his booboo I see.

  10. JumboShrimp says:

    There have not been many posts about the possibility of the Cards adding another player via a waiver deal. Falling 4 games back has taken the wind out of the sails of some fans. The Cards could use another hitter.

  11. CardFanSince57 says:

    Hernandez is no joke this year: I hope Lohse is at his sharpest…

  12. crdswmn says:

    I haven’t heard of any big bats out there except Manny and it looks like he is going to the White Sox.

  13. JumboShrimp says:

    Stephen Drew and Kelly Johnson are rumored to have passed through waivers. Edwin Encarnacion too. There are probably more guys. If the Dodgers can part with Manny, they can part with other players too.

    A couple of years back, Brian Fuentes was the big off-season target. Now Fuentes has been traded to the Twins.

    Mo better look into the market. Pujols like the team to compete, not fold.

  14. CardFanSince57 says:

    I am personally cheered when a genuine American hero is recognized and I personally don’t care what group, left or right, recognizes Albert Pujols for the excellent human being that he is. I am personally grateful for the members of this blog for not mucking-up this forum of Cardinal baseball with the kind of politicial and religious strife which is being expressed now in the Post-Dispatch. Thank you for not allowing the divisive garbage to spill-over onto this page.

  15. blingboy says:

    Maybe he will hit homers to left and right, so as to satisfy everyone.

  16. CardFanSince57 says:

    Hear! Hear!

  17. crdswmn says:

    Don’t forget the center. :)

  18. CardFanSince57 says:

    THAT is how a leadoff man starts a ballgame! Well done, Skip!

  19. CardFanSince57 says:

    Hernandez is actually challenging Albert!

  20. CardFanSince57 says:

    THAT is how a Triple Crown winner starts off a ballgame!

  21. CardFanSince57 says:

    Matt is savin’ his bullets for late game heroics…

  22. CardFanSince57 says:

    Jon Jay actually homered! Wow! What a way to start the ballgame against one of their best pitchers!

  23. CardFanSince57 says:

    I’m liking Lohse’s low pitch count and the induced grounders…

  24. CardFanSince57 says:

    An 11 pitch inning, 3 groundouts! Lohse is looking sharp!

  25. CardFanSince57 says:

    Hernandez has allowed both Anderson and Brendan to knock them deep into the outfield…

  26. CardFanSince57 says:

    Three straight fly bombs: I knew one of them wouldn’t be caught… damn!

  27. CardFanSince57 says:

    That fourth fly bomb resulted in a run: Lohse was Dr Jekyl one inning and Mr Hyde in the next…

  28. CardFanSince57 says:

    That 16 pitch inning caused some grimacing, wincing and flinching…

  29. crdswmn says:

    It would be nice if they don’t sit on their lead like they are so wont to do.

  30. CardFanSince57 says:

    What a way to lead-off AGAIN!

  31. CardFanSince57 says:

    That was the burn-out’s 2nd consecutive near-GIDP…

  32. CardFanSince57 says:

    That called-strike was an “either-way” which was called against Albert…

  33. JumboShrimp says:

    Who began today’s game with a higher OPS? Skip or Felipe.

  34. CardFanSince57 says:

    Yeah, ol’ Matt is savin’ his bullets for late inning heroics…

  35. crdswmn says:

    The Flubs are ahead 1-0 on Reds. Won’t last.

  36. CardFanSince57 says:

    Lohse pitched low-and-in; OPPOSITE of Kennedys weakness… The result was a single…

  37. CardFanSince57 says:

    That was a hellish 7-pitch, control-issue, strikeout… The pitch count is beginning to soar…

  38. CardFanSince57 says:

    Lohse is really getting sloppy…

  39. CardFanSince57 says:

    There goes Lohse’s quality start…

  40. crdswmn says:

    That is what happens when you hang balls over the plate.

  41. CardFanSince57 says:

    ‘Twas a very damaging inning… Lohse simply ain’t cuttin’ it this game…

  42. CardFanSince57 says:

    Just as long as Hernandez keeps allowing for those fly bombs, we’re going to be in this thing…

  43. JumboShrimp says:

    I am looking forward to the return of Jeff Suppan.

  44. CardFanSince57 says:

    Lohse had a very fortunate inning: He’s still lettin’ loose with those fly bombs (just like Hernandez)…

  45. crdswmn says:

    Is Suppan still on the DL?

  46. CardFanSince57 says:

    Now, there’s Lohse in his own cause! Attaboy!

  47. CardFanSince57 says:

    Hey! The burn-out tied it up!

  48. CardFanSince57 says:

    With the intentional on Albert, this is Matt’s really big moment!

  49. CardFanSince57 says:

    What a shame!

  50. JumboShrimp says:

    Dahmboys, after thanking others for not commenting on Beck’s Dream, how about you taking the high road yourself and not bashing Felipe or Matt?

  51. CardFanSince57 says:

    Flip giveth and Flip taketh away…

  52. CardFanSince57 says:

    The ones that make it to the outfield will eventually burn you…

  53. CardFanSince57 says:

    Ya can’t fault a pitcher for an infield single…

  54. CardFanSince57 says:

    But you can certainly fault a pitcher for allowin’ those damned fly bombs!

  55. CardFanSince57 says:

    Lohse’s ERA has now ballooned past 7.00…

  56. CardFanSince57 says:

    Chicken Little was right!

  57. CardFanSince57 says:

    Mercifully, those fly bombs will eventually get caught…

  58. crdswmn says:

    A Kyle Lohse start is an automatic loss in my opinion. I hope the Flubs can hold on. 3-1 t6

  59. CardFanSince57 says:

    We put two fly bombs out there that should NOT have been caught (Jon’s and Anderson’s)… damn it!

  60. JumboShrimp says:

    Lohse is not sufficiently risk averse. He has too much confidence in his pitches. Its important to be confident, but its also important to avoid HRs. In contrast, Suppan is a nibbler and less inclined to challenge a hitter like Dunn.

  61. JumboShrimp says:

    Neither Jay nor Anderson is going to hit one out to CF, like Dunn.

  62. CardFanSince57 says:

    Attaboy, Blake!

  63. JumboShrimp says:

    One of the features of this bullpen is having two pitchers custom made for garbage time: MacDougal and Hawksworth.

  64. crdswmn says:

    I don’t think we can count on the Flubs. Now 3-2.

  65. CardFanSince57 says:

    When Blake was a starter, he normally managed to get us through 5 innings, allowing 4 runs or less. But ever since he’s been in the bullpen, except for a couple of outings, he’s been generally stinkin’ up the place. Tonight, three up-three down, he was definitely “on” when we needed not any further bloodshed!

  66. CardFanSince57 says:

    How ’bout Randy drivin’ up the count and getting that single?

  67. CardFanSince57 says:

    Craig is at least battled a first-rate lefty (Burnett), drove-up the count and got a walk!

  68. CardFanSince57 says:

    If we can avoid a GIDP, the table will be set for the Triple Crown MVP!

  69. CardFanSince57 says:

    With one powerful swing, the game can be tied-up… Hell, I would be thrilled with an RBI single!

  70. CardFanSince57 says:

    We’ve got two more opportunities…

  71. CardFanSince57 says:

    Winners get fiercely competitive when the chips are down: Losers throw-in the towel…

  72. CardFanSince57 says:

    I’ve never seen small-ballers and B-Teamers who are more fiercely competitive than the ones we have!

  73. blingboy says:

    As I understand it, Suppan’s return from the DL is not imminent. Hard to figure who could take Kyle’s next turn. 5 IP, 11 H. 8 ER, I’ve seen enough. The Nats do not send murderers row up there.

    I understand JD might be able to drag himself out there tomorrow. Who will keep Penny company?

  74. CardFanSince57 says:

    A 13 pitch inning, three-up and three-down; that’s all we ask MacDougal! Right on!

  75. crdswmn says:

    Tony will not pitch Garcia against the Stros, he will save him for the Reds. Stros series Westbrook, Carp, and ?

  76. CardFanSince57 says:

    Matt has been saving the bullet for this moment: He ain’t about to go “Oh, for…!” and plunge his average to below .300 again!

  77. CardFanSince57 says:

    Right on, Matt!

  78. CardFanSince57 says:

    Pedro needs to collect his perfunctory “hit per game”!

  79. CardFanSince57 says:

    Not a nice way to go “Oh, for…!”

  80. JumboShrimp says:

    Suppan will start Wednesday at Houston. Its been announced.

  81. blingboy says:

    I’m interested to hear what Kyle has to say if he’s interviewed post game.

  82. CardFanSince57 says:

    Gotta pitch around the big guy who has driven-in all but, 3 of their runs…

  83. CardFanSince57 says:

    He’ll say something like, “I felt pretty good, but just lost some of my control as the game went on…”

  84. CardFanSince57 says:

    Gotta pitch around the guy who has gone 3 for 3 and driven-in 1 of the 3 that Dunn didn’t…

  85. CardFanSince57 says:

    …if ya don’t, the rascal will surely go 4 for 4…

  86. CardFanSince57 says:

    Whaddaya do with a premier clutch-hitter, with runners on the corner?

  87. CardFanSince57 says:

    Why, you allow him to single and drive-in his second run of the game. That’s what you do (if you’re MacDougal)

  88. CardFanSince57 says:

    MacDougal is definitely his own worst enemy!

  89. CardFanSince57 says:

    Nobody out and bases are juiced. A competitive manager would yank the pitcher…

  90. blingboy says:

    No harm letting MacDougal drown in his own crap.

  91. CardFanSince57 says:

    Boy, does he ever have a crapload!

  92. blingboy says:

    Stoppage in play, 57. Morgan crossed plate and put shoulder into Anderson, who was not blocking the plate. Home plate umpire not happy. No scuffle or anything.

  93. CardFanSince57 says:

    As competitive as our small-ballers and B-Teamers certainly are, a 6 run deficit going into the 9th represents a mighty steep mountain for them to climb….

  94. blingboy says:

    Riggleman doesn’t look happy about it. Not sure if teams were warned against hit batsmen.

  95. CardFanSince57 says:

    With 5 runs scored, we can’t blame this one on an “inconsistent offense”, but on the starting pitcher (aggravated by a particularly leaky “reliever”)….

  96. CardFanSince57 says:

    …make that a 7 run deficit…

  97. JumboShrimp says:

    We need to save better pitchers for more competitive games. No point wasting Boggs, McClellan, or Miller on this one.

  98. blingboy says:

    yah, like for when we play a bad team.

  99. CardFanSince57 says:

    We can thank the Flubs for keeping us at 4 behind (and the ragged hope hangin’ by that thread)

  100. JumboShrimp says:

    For a manager, TLR is a smart guy. MacDougal’s ERA is now over 7. Maybe now TLR has grounds for insisting MacDougal be released.

  101. crdswmn says:

    Morgan was called out and the run was taken away. Doesn’t matter of course except that Riggleman will probably not play Morgan tomorrow if he wants Morgan to keep his ribs intact.

  102. CardFanSince57 says:

    MacDougal’s ERA ballooned to .03 past Lohse’s…

  103. crdswmn says:

    Morgan was suspended once already this year. Kid has a problem.

  104. blingboy says:

    Time for Mo to pull up the sleeve and reach back into the chum bucket for another fish head.

  105. JumboShrimp says:

    We soon get back Suppan and Motte.
    Rasmus may resume playing tomorrow. Molina should be back tomorrow against a southpaw.

  106. CardFanSince57 says:

    Peralta is a premier “lights out” guy…

  107. CardFanSince57 says:

    We’ve been getting the crap beat out of us lately…

  108. crdswmn says:

    Already announced Molina wil start.
    Rosters expand on Wednesday. Who will we call up?

  109. blingboy says:

    Morgan is the Nat’s new Duke. Maybe he’ll end up playing in Newark too.

    “Riggleman will probably not play Morgan tomorrow if he wants Morgan to keep his ribs intact.” Wainy wouldn’t do a thing like that. Get booted, hurt his Cy chances. All because a rookie got shown some disrespect. Nah.

  110. crdswmn says:

    I didn’t say he would do it. Now if it were Carp…………

  111. crdswmn says:

    And it wasn’t just disrespect BB. Morgan deliberately shoved Brian.

  112. JumboShrimp says:

    As regards callups, Memphis has the second best record in the PCL. The Cards may want to minimize callups, until the PCL playoffs are over.
    Suppan and Motte will be re-activated. After the Memphis season ends, it would make sense to bring back Greene and Stavinoha, and Hill for postion players. Walters, Kinney, and McLane for pitchers. TLR does not like having a lot of extra rookies, so will favor guys who were up earlier in the season.

  113. crdswmn says:

    Jack Clark just said somebody will get it tomorrow. I can’t see Waino doing that.

  114. blingboy says:

    Jack is thinking old days.

  115. crdswmn says:

    Old days. I miss them. :)

  116. CardFanSince57 says:

    The headline this morning said, GARCIA STOPS SKID. Tomorrow’s ought to read, LOHSE GREASES THE POLE…

  117. CardFanSince57 says:

    Good Night, guys…
    May it be that Adam will pick up our hopes tomorrow and that we will go limping into Houston, having taken 2 out of this miserable 4 game series…

  118. Nutlaw says:

    Yeah, MacDougal needs to go away. Let Miles pitch the junk innings if need be. :)

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