Career Home Run leaders for each MLB team – American League
Some are easier to remember than others
Following up on the National League Home Run leaders for each franchise, we turn to the American League. The AL used to be referred to as the ‘Junior Circuit’ since it was founded in 1901. The National League was founded in 1876, and it was formerly called the ‘Senior Circuit’. I don’t think anyone has called either by those terms much at all anymore.
In thinking about AL teams home run hitters, I also got sidetracked thinking about players who’ve hit more than 200 home runs for multiple teams, or 100 home runs or more for three different teams. Immediately I think of Manny Ramirez for the Cleveland (236) and Boston (274). That was easy I know, but besides Manny, who might’ve hit more home runs for Cleveland? I know HOFer Ted Williams hit all his home runs for the Red Sox and there are 521, which is another baseball number I always can remember. Then I think of HOFer Jim Thome. Duh. Thome is a rare one by clubbing more than 100 home runs for three different teams (he hit 101 for the Phillies!). There are others which I will reveal along the way.
Franchise Leaders in home runs for each AL team
AL East
Red Sox – An original AL franchise, I already have mentioned Ted Williams which was kind of a spoiler. David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz hit 58 home runs for the Twins, and 483 for the Red Sox which is only 38 fewer than Teddy Ballgame. HOFer Carl Yastrzemski (452) slots in third, and HOFer Jim Rice (382) edges should-be HOFer Dwight Evans (379) to round out the top five. Manny Ramirez was sixth with 274 homers for the Red Sox.
Orioles – Born as the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901, the now-Orioles had 53-year stint as the St. Louis Browns, before moving to Baltimore in 1954. There were not a ton of pre-Oriole’s players that were big home run hitters. Of the top 10 franchise leaders in home runs, only Ken Williams (9th with 185) did not play for the Orioles, and he retired after the 1929 season. The list is headed by two HOFers – Cal Ripken Jr. (431), and Eddie Murray (343). Boog Powell (303) is third with HOFer Brooks Robinson (268), fourth. The underrated Adam Jones (263) is fifth in O’s history 10 ahead of Chris Davis.
Yankees – I don’t mean to shock Yankee fans, but the Bronx Bombers are not an original American League franchise having been founded as the Highlanders in 1903. They didn’t become the Yankees until 1913. HOFers Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536) and Lou Gehrig (493) would be easy for even casual baseball fans to remember as the top three. But it might surprise a few that HOFer Joe DiMaggio (361) is only slightly ahead of HOFer Yogi Berra (358) for fourth and fifth place on the Yankee list. Wishes-he-was-a-HOFer Alex Rodriguez (351) is sixth on the list, and is another player like HOFer Jim Thome, who has more than 100 home runs with three different teams (Seattle and Texas). Aaron Judge (315) is quickly climbing up on the list. Barring injury, Judge likely will pass A-Rod and Berra in 2025, and Mantle and maybe even the Bambino himself, are within reach.
Blue Jays – Off the top of my head it’s not easy. I first thought of Carlos Delgado and Joey ‘Bats’ Bautista both of whom hit a lot of homers. Delgado (336) who has a much stronger case for the HOF than many realize, also hit 104 homers as a Met, and he’s first on the list. Did you know Delgado had 473 career home runs 1,512 RBIs’ and career 138 OPS+? Anyway, Delgado is followed by Bautista (288) and Edwin Encarnacion (239). I figured Joe Carter (203) who’s fifth, might be on the list, but did not think he’d be behind Vernon Wells (223). Note that Vlad Jr. (160) is eighth on the list behind a player I admired, cannon-armed Jesse Barfield (179), and Vlad Jr. will turn 26 before the 2025 season. George Bell (202) is sixth, won the AL MVP in 1987 and is the best Blue Jay player most fans have forgotten.
Rays – HOFer Fred McGriff has 493 career home runs and played for the Rays, Jays, Padres, and Braves, so I guessed it must be Tampa for whom he hit the most home runs. Nope. It’s Evan Longoria (263). McGriff had 100+ homers for two teams, (Atlanta 132 and Toronto 125), and he also hit 99 homers for the Rays and 84 for the Padres. 493 homers with not more than 132 for any team. That’s just weird! Behind Longoria, who has an arguable case for Cooperstown once he officially retires, are somewhat forgettable names like Carlos Pena (163), Aubrey Huff (128), Brandon Lowe (123) and B.J. Upton (118). Hopefully a new ballpark will spur on some big-time home run hitters in Tampa.
The AL Central
White Sox – It’s nice to see the White Sox at the top of a list that’s not a negative. Even if it’s only for being the longest tenured team in the division. Another original AL team, I had trouble thinking of longtime home run hitters for the franchise beyond HOFer Frank Thomas (448) and Paul Konerko (432). Wait, is Jose Abreu (243) really third on the White Sox home run list? Yep. He’s followed by HOFer Harold Baines (221) and HOFer Carlton Fisk (214). Fisk also hit 164 homers for the Red Sox. Fisk and HOFer Mike Piazza are the only two catchers in MLB history to have 100 homers or more for two teams. Gary Carter only hit 89 homers as a Met if you’re wondering.
Guardians – Another original AL franchise. I already mentioned Thome (337) who is the franchise leader and had his number 25 retired. It surprised me that current star and possible future HOFer Jose Ramirez (251) is second just ahead of Albert Belle (242). Still-on-the-HOF-ballot Manny Ramirez (236) checks in fourth 10 ahead of HOFer Earl Averill (226) who is the best Cleveland player we never talk about.
Tigers – The third charter AL team in the division, I know HOFer Al Kaline hit 399 home runs all for Detroit. I guessed he would be first and I know HOFer Hank Greenberg played all but one season with the Tigers, so he must be up there too. I am also aware that will-be HOFer Miguel Cabrera hit many homers for Detroit. Kaline is first, Cabrera (373) tied for second with Norm Cash whose 1961 season was one for the ages and he’s another one overlooked for Cooperstown. Greenberg (306) is fourth followed by Willie Horton (262), who I was delighted to see in the top five! Cecil Fielder is sixth and hit 245 of his 319 (the exact same career total as his son Prince) homers with the Tigers.
Twins – Minnesota is an original AL franchise, not as the Twins but as the Washington Senators, or Nationals, as they were often called. HOFer Harmon Killebrew looms large in my memory as he should crushing 559 of his 573 career homers as a Twin. Kent Hrbek (293) is second which I would have whiffed on, and Bob Allison (256) third. I was fan of Bob Allison as a kid, although I am not sure how or why since watching him play was a rarity, but he had an excellent MLB career. Justin Morneau (221) is fourth followed by HOFer Tony Oliva (220). HOFer Kirby Puckett’s 207 is good enough for seventh place behind still-on-the-HOF-ballot-but-won’t-make-it Torii Hunter (214).
Royals – When it comes to the newest team (1969) in the division, besides Salvador Perez who hit home runs for the Royals? George Brett hit everything including home runs, but who else? Who am I forgetting? Brett (317) leads the list followed by Perez (273) who is closing in. Mike Sweeney (197), who was a very good hitter, is third followed by Amos Otis (193) who Met fans like me still lament trading more than 50 years ago. Alex Gordon (190) is somehow fifth, far ahead of Hal McRae (169).
AL West
Quick, which team in the AL West has been around the longest?
Athletics (or whatever they will be called) – It’s easy to forget about the A’s but they too are an original AL team. HOFer Jimmie Foxx played for both the A’s and Red Sox. He has more than 500 career homers. On-the-outside-looking-in for the HOF Mark McGwire hit 363 of his 583 homers for Oakland, the others with the Cardinals. McGwire, Foxx and HOFer Albert Pujols are the only three players in MLB history to 300 home runs with one team and more than 200 with another. HOFer Reggie Jackson (269) is third, bash brother Jose Canseco (254) fourth, followed by Bob Johnson (252). Who is Bob Johnson? Check him out. Johnson was an eight-time all-star with a 139 career OPS+ but never played a postseason game. Cooperstown never came calling.
Angels – MLB Expansion in 1961 brought the L.A. Angels into being. I couldn’t think of an Angel home run hitter close to Mike Trout (378). I know Tim Salmon since he went to my Alma Mater USC, and he’s second on the list with 299. Garrett Anderson (272) pops up at number three followed by Brian Downing and will-be-HOFer-Albert Pujols each with 222. Downing was a very underrated player.
Rangers – Also in 1961, when the original Washington Senators/Nationals decamped for Minnesota, the new Washington Senators were born and lasted there through 1971 when they moved to Texas. Big Frank Howard was a power hitter but is only third on the list with 246. Juan Gonzalez (372) and Rafael Palmiero (321) are first and second on the list for Texas. HOFer Ivan Rodriguez (217) is fourth topping recent HOFer Adrian Beltre (199) who also has the distinction of hitting 100+ homers for three teams (Mariners and Dodgers).
Astros – The very next season in 1962, the Astros and Mets joined MLB. While the Astros played as the Colt 45’s for the first three seasons, a pretty good home run hitters park, the Astrodome which opened in 1965 was a terrible park for home run hitters. I remember in the 1960’s the ‘Toy Cannon’ Jimmy Wynn managed to hit homers and he’s fifth on the list with 223. Wynn was 5”10” but only 160 pounds. A larger man in HOFer Jeff Bagwell (449) tops the Astros list by a large margin. Might-have-been HOFer Lance Berkman is second with 326 followed by HOFer Craig Biggio with 291. Jose Altuve (229) has moved up into fourth place and might be able to get to 300 homers as an Astro.
Mariners – I figured that HOFer Ken Griffey Jr. must be miles ahead of anyone else which is right since the second-place holder is HOFer Edgar Martinez (309). Jay Buhner hit 307 homers for the M’s, and he’s followed by Kyle Seager (242), and Alex Rodriguez (189) is fifth. Nelson Cruz (163) is probably just short of a HOFer and is sixth on the Mariner’s list.
If you missed the National League list, it can found here:
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and Substack.com.