On this day in baseball history: Aaron joins 600-HR club, Ryan passes Johnson
On April 27, 1971, Hank Aaron faces fellow Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry, sending the infamous San Francisco spitballer’s pitch sailing 350 feet into Atlanta’s left field stands – Aaron’s 600th home run.
The 18-year veteran becomes just the third player to reach the elite milestone, joining Babe Ruth and Willy Mays.
600 Home Run Club
| Player | HR |
|---|---|
| Barry Bonds | 762 |
| Hank Aaron | 755 |
| Babe Ruth | 714 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 696 |
| Willie Mays | 660 |
| Ken Griffey, Jr. | 630 |
| Albert Pujols (active) | 619* |
| Jim Thome | 612 |
| Sammy Sosa | 609 |
* – as of April 27, 2018
While Aaron takes the longest to reach 600, the player who accomplished the feat in the shortest amount of time is Barry Bonds. On this day in 1996, Bonds hits his 300th home run, becoming one of only four athletes (to that point) to hit 300 home runs and also steal 300 bases.
Bonds joins his father Bobby and godfather Willie Mays, who watched Aaron hit his 600th HR from the Giant dugout 25 years ago, along with Andre Dawson in the 300-300 club.
Also, on this date in 1983, Montreal Expos pinch hitter Brad Mills strikes out looking at a backdoor curveball from Houston Astros’ hurler Nolan Ryan (featured image) as Ryan eclipses Walter Johnson’s 56-year record of 3,508 strikeouts. The “Ryan Express” accomplishes the feat a full five seasons quicker than Johnson and will finish his career with 5,714 strike outs – the most by any pitcher in history.
Fun facts:
- Gaylord Perry (see above) comes in at eighth on the all-time K list, one above Johnson.
- Ryan struck out both Bobby and Barry Bonds. In his four decades on the mound, Ryan struck out six other major league father-son duos: Sandy Sr, Sandy Jr., and Robbie Alomar… Tito and Terry Francona… Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr…. Hal and Brian McRae… Ducky and Dick Schofield… Maury and Bump Wills.
- Ryan and Mays each lost a season while serving in the U.S. Army.
- Also on this date in 1930, Chicago White Sox first baseman Bud Clancy goes an entire game without touching the ball against the St. Louis Browns; no assists, no putouts, no errors.