No play in baseball turns a head like a home run, and no record carries more weight or more debate than the all-time home run crown. The sluggers at the top of this list are among the most famous names the sport has ever produced, but the leaderboard also sits at the center of baseball’s most heated argument about the steroid era and who the true home run king really is. So who has the most career home runs in MLB history, and how does the all-time list break down?
The record holder reached a number once thought untouchable, passing a legend who had himself dethroned Babe Ruth. Just four men in history have ever cleared 700, and the names behind them tell the story of more than a century of power hitting.
The chart below ranks the top 25 home run hitters of all time, with their career totals and the eras they defined. Take a look, then we’ll dig into the records and the debate.
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The All-Time Home Run King
The most career home runs in MLB history belongs to Barry Bonds, who hit 762 over a 22-year career spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. A seven-time MVP, Bonds combined elite power with an unmatched eye at the plate, and he also holds the single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001. He passed Hank Aaron for the all-time record on August 7, 2007, hitting number 756 in front of his home crowd in San Francisco. By the numbers, no one in the history of the sport has hit more.
The Shadow of the Steroid Era
Bonds’ record is the most debated in baseball. His massive late-career power surge coincided with the height of the steroid era, and his connection to performance-enhancing drugs has kept him out of the Hall of Fame despite owning the sport’s most prestigious record. Because of this, many fans and purists still regard Hank Aaron, who hit his 755 home runs without such allegations, as the true home run king. Bonds is not alone in this conversation: several other names near the top of the list, including Alex Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, and Manny Ramirez, carry similar steroid-era connections.
The 700 Club
Reaching 700 home runs is one of the rarest feats in baseball, accomplished by just four players ever. Bonds (762) and Aaron (755) sit at the top, followed by Babe Ruth (714), whose total is even more remarkable considering he spent the early part of his career as a pitcher. The most recent member is Albert Pujols, who reached 700 in 2022 during his final season and finished with 703. Alex Rodriguez came agonizingly close, retiring with 696, just four short of joining the club.
A Record That Rarely Changes Hands
What makes the home run crown so special is how rarely it moves. For more than a century, only three men have held it. Babe Ruth claimed it in 1921 and held it until 1974, when Hank Aaron passed him under enormous pressure and finished with 755. Aaron then held the record for 33 years until Bonds surpassed him in 2007. Each transfer of the title has been one of the most-watched moments in the history of the sport, a measure of just how much the record means.
The Legends Behind the Leaders
Below the top of the list sits a lineup of all-time greats from every era. Willie Mays (660) and Ken Griffey Jr. (630) are widely beloved for combining power with grace in center field. Old-time sluggers like Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams hold their place despite playing in eras with shorter schedules or losing prime years to military service. The list is a tour through baseball history, from the dead-ball era’s end to the modern game. If you enjoy these record lists, see our breakdown of the most career hits all time.
The Bottom Line
The most career home runs in MLB history is Barry Bonds’ 762, a record that stands officially but remains the subject of baseball’s most passionate debate. Behind him, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Albert Pujols round out the exclusive 700 club, and a who’s who of sluggers fills out a top 25 that spans the entire history of the game. Whether you crown Bonds or Aaron, the home run leaderboard remains one of the most compelling records in all of sports.