| Four New Members of the 500 HR Club in 2007 | | | | Thome batted in the same lineup. Manny is an |
| The upcoming 2007 season should be a unique | | | | OPS machine, currently 9th on the all-time list with |
| one, with four players on pace to join the 500 | | | | a career 1.011. Historically, Ramirez hits close |
| Home Run club. Let's take a look at who's on | | | | around 40 HR a season, and one would believe |
| pace, how many HR they need to reach 500 & | | | | that this will continue over the next few |
| their estimated career totals. | | | | campaigns. Manny could be a serious threat to |
| Frank Thomas - Current Total: 487 | | | | Hank Aaron and the all-time RBI record of 2297, |
| The Big Hurt has slowed in recent years, | | | | as he consistently knocks in 100+ RBI every year |
| averaging only 23 HR a season over the past | | | | and is-for the moment-playing in fenway. Manny is |
| three years. But he's a shoe-in to join the 500 | | | | currently 34 |
| club if he can stay healthy for even half a season. | | | | Estimated Career Total: 623 HR |
| That may be a big if, as he played only 74 games | | | | Alex Rodriquez - Current Total: 464 |
| in 2004, and 34 games in 2005. Frank is currently | | | | The other three hitters on the list are more |
| 38 years old. | | | | traditional, nineties type power hitters, meaning |
| Estimated Career Total: 532 HR | | | | larger, slower, and with higher walk totals. A-Rod |
| Jim Thome - Current Total: 472 | | | | (30) is a smaller, more compact player that is also |
| Thome is a player that has been designated as | | | | a threat on the base paths (241 career steals). |
| injury prone by the media, yet he's played more | | | | For comparisons sake, Hank Aaron had hit only |
| than 140 games in each of the past eight | | | | 366 HR by the time he was 30, Mantle 404 & |
| seasons, minus 2005 (59). Outside of his | | | | even Jimmie Foxx hit 429 at the same age. While |
| shortened 2005, Thome has hit more than 40 HR | | | | the media has been down on A-Rod during his |
| in each of his past five full seasons. His .565 | | | | New York stint, he has still averaged 40 HR, 116 |
| Career Slugging percentage is 18th all-time, ahead | | | | runs & 119 RBI a season during his time in pin |
| of HOF players Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and | | | | stripes. Barring injury, Rodriquez poses a serious |
| Mickey Mantle. "Country strong", it looks like Jim | | | | threat to Aaron and Bonds for becoming the |
| can play another three to four seasons at a high | | | | all-time HR champ. |
| level. Jim is currently 36. | | | | Estimated Career Total: 737 HR |
| Estimated Career Total: 586 HR | | | | For more stories such as this one, head over to |
| Manny Rameriz - Current Total: 470 | | | | mopupduty. |
| For years, Manny and fellow 500 HR bound Jim | | | | |