100 Home Runs: In Major League Baseball (MLB), achieving the milestone of 100 career home runs is a significant achievement for any player. It’s a moment that reflects not only power at the plate but also consistency over a career. Many players have reached this mark over the decades, but one player stands out for being the first to hit 100 home runs—a landmark that would shape the future of power hitting in baseball.
The distinction of being the first to hit 100 home runs belongs to none other than Babe Ruth, the legendary slugger who revolutionized the game of baseball. In this article, we will explore Ruth’s path to this remarkable achievement, as well as other players who later reached the 100-home run plateau. Additionally, we’ll take a deeper look at the evolution of the home run as a central aspect of baseball and how Ruth’s accomplishment continues to influence the game today.
The Significance Of The 100-Home Run Milestone
100 Home Runs: Before Babe Ruth’s era, baseball was a much different game. The home run wasn’t a dominant feature in the sport. Teams focused more on contact hitting, and the emphasis was often on speed and defense. Power hitters were relatively rare, and home runs were considered a rare, almost fluky occurrence.
However, Ruth’s arrival in Major League Baseball in 1914—and his subsequent rise to superstardom—changed all that. The 100-home run mark wasn’t just a statistical milestone. It was a symbol of the emerging “power era” in baseball, where sluggers who could hit the ball out of the park became the new stars of the game.
Reaching 100 home runs was, at the time, a major achievement, marking a player as one of the top sluggers of his era. Today, that milestone has become commonplace, with many players reaching the 100 home run mark in the early years of their careers.
Babe Ruth: The First To 100 Home Runs
Babe Ruth, widely regarded as the greatest baseball player of all time, was the first player to hit 100 career home runs. He achieved this feat on July 11, 1921, in a game played at Polo Grounds, while he was playing for the New York Yankees. Ruth’s 100th home run was the first of many major accomplishments that helped solidify his legacy in the sport.
At the time of Ruth’s breakthrough, he had already established himself as one of the most feared hitters in baseball. His power and consistency at the plate were unmatched, and he had quickly become a household name. Ruth’s 100th career home run was not just another round-tripper—it was a symbol of his dominance in an era that had never seen a player quite like him before.
Ruth’s achievements during the 1920s made home runs a central feature of the game. Prior to Ruth’s era, home runs were somewhat rare, but Ruth changed that dynamic with his immense power. Over the course of his career, he would go on to hit 714 career home runs, a record that stood for nearly 40 years until it was surpassed by Hank Aaron in 1974.
The Road To 100 Home Runs
Before reaching the 100-home run milestone, Ruth had already shown signs of his exceptional power. As a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, Ruth hit a handful of home runs, but it wasn’t until he was traded to the Yankees in 1919 that his true potential as a slugger emerged. In 1920, Ruth set a then-record by hitting 54 home runs in a single season, a feat that not only shattered records but also sparked the “live ball era” in baseball.
Ruth’s Career Home Run Timeline
To understand the significance of Ruth’s 100th home run, it’s essential to recognize the rapid pace at which he hit home runs once he embraced his role as a full-time hitter. Here’s a breakdown of his remarkable achievement:
| Year | Home Runs Hit | Cumulative Total | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 0 | 0 | Ruth began his career as a pitcher for Boston Red Sox. |
| 1915-1918 | 12 | 12 | Ruth’s power began to emerge as a pitcher for the Red Sox. |
| 1919 | 29 | 29 | Ruth was traded to the Yankees and began playing full-time as an outfielder. |
| 1920 | 54 | 83 | Ruth shattered the single-season home run record with 54 home runs. |
| 1921 (July 11) | 17 | 100 | Ruth became the first player in MLB history to hit 100 career home runs. |
As illustrated, Ruth’s journey to 100 home runs was swift. From 1919 to 1921, he hit a total of 83 home runs, a clear sign that he was no ordinary power hitter. The pace at which Ruth reached this milestone was unprecedented, and it was only the beginning of his legendary career.
The Home Run Explosion
Ruth’s achievement was symbolic of a larger trend in baseball during the 1920s. His prolific home run hitting helped usher in the “live ball era,” where the baseball itself became more suited to travel farther, and the game became more focused on power. Teams and players started to prioritize hitting for power, and the home run began to play an increasingly vital role in the sport.
The 1920s witnessed other players also hitting a significant number of home runs, but Ruth’s 100 home runs marked the first time that a player’s home run total was truly seen as a powerful symbol of greatness.
Other Players Who Reached 100 Home Runs
While Ruth was the first to hit 100 home runs, other players would eventually join him in this exclusive club. Below is a table showing the players who reached the 100-home run milestone in the history of MLB.
| Rank | Player | Career Home Runs | Year Reached 100 Home Runs | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babe Ruth | 714 | 1921 | Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees |
| 2 | Lou Gehrig | 493 | 1934 | New York Yankees |
| 3 | Jimmie Foxx | 534 | 1937 | Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox |
| 4 | Mel Ott | 511 | 1943 | New York Giants |
| 5 | Ted Williams | 521 | 1948 | Boston Red Sox |
| 6 | Willie Mays | 660 | 1957 | New York/San Francisco Giants |
| 7 | Hank Aaron | 755 | 1966 | Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves |
| 8 | Barry Bonds | 762 | 1997 | Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants |
As shown in the table, Babe Ruth was the first player to reach 100 career home runs, but it wasn’t long before others followed suit. Ruth’s achievement paved the way for future sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Aaron, who continued to raise the bar for power hitting.
The Modern Home Run Era
Today, the 100-home run mark is a common achievement for many players, especially those in the modern era. With technological advancements in training, equipment, and understanding of swing mechanics, players can generate more power than ever before. As a result, it is not uncommon for players to hit 100 home runs early in their careers.
Notably, players like Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, and Aaron Judge have reached this milestone in their prime years, and some even do so within their first few seasons. The number of home runs in modern baseball has exploded, but Ruth’s initial 100th career home run remains a significant achievement in the history of the game.
Conclusion
Babe Ruth’s accomplishment of being the first player to hit 100 career home runs is a defining moment in the history of baseball. His achievement didn’t just mark the beginning of a new era in the sport—it symbolized the shift from a game dominated by small ball to one that embraced the power of the home run.
Ruth’s legacy as the first to hit 100 home runs will always be remembered, and his impact on the game continues to be felt in the achievements of modern players who strive to follow in his footsteps. The 100-home run mark may no longer carry the same weight it did in Ruth’s day, but it will always be remembered as the beginning of baseball’s power revolution.
