Joining the club

Angels slugger Albert Pujols becomes the ninth major leaguer to hit at least 600 home runs in his career.

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Thirty-seven-year-old Albert Pujols has joined Major League Baseball's most exclusive club, with a fourth-inning grand slam off of Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana. Only Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron reached 600 homers at a younger age than Pujols.

Barry Bonds Hank Aaron Babe Ruth Alex Rodriguez Willie Mays Ken Griffey Jr. Jim Thome Albert Pujols Sammy Sosa 762 755 714 696 660 630 612 610 609 Barry Bonds Hank Aaron Babe Ruth Alex Rodriguez Willie Mays Ken Griffey Jr. Jim Thome Sammy Sosa Albert Pujols 762 755 714 696 660 630 612 609 599 Major League Baseball career home run leaders Data: abcdefg hijkl mnop qrstu vwxyz 1234 56789 Chris Keller @latimesgraphics Source: baseball-reference.com

Until 2002, only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays could say they hit more than 600 home runs over the course of their career. Then Barry Bonds broke through in 2002 , followed by Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome and now Pujols.

The last five entrants all faced scrutiny and questions about the use of peformance-enhancing drugs, and Rodriguez ultimately was suspended for 162 games for his admitted use of steroids.

Nearly 17 seasons of steady

From 2001 to 2010, Pujols averaged 41 home runs per season while maintaining a .331 average. Unlike many of those on the list, Pujols doesn't own a season of more than 50 home runs. He came up one short in 2006.

He has hit 40 or more home runs seven times, and hit 30 or more home runs in a season 14 times in his 17-year career.

Home run production declined when Pujols moved to the American League in 2012 and joined the Angels, with the exception of a 40 home run season in 2015. This season, Pujols is on pace to hit 21 home runs, which would approach the career-low 17 he hit in his injury-shortened 2013 season.

Milestone home runs

Pujols sits at an even 600 home runs over the course of his 17-year career. Here's a look at when he reached milestone home runs.

Milestone Date Opponent Opposing Pitcher
MilestoneNo. 1 DateApril 6, 2001 Opponentat Arizona Opposing PitcherArmando Reynoso
MilestoneNo. 100 DateJuly 20, 2003 Opponentat Dodgers Opposing PitcherOdalis Perez
MilestoneNo. 200 DateSept. 30, 2005 Opponentvs. Cincinnati Opposing PitcherMatt Belisle
MilestoneNo. 300 DateJuly 4, 2008 Opponentvs. Chicago Cubs Opposing PitcherBob Howry
MilestoneNo. 400 DateAug. 26, 2010 Opponentat Washington Opposing PitcherJordan Zimmermann
MilestoneNo. 500 DateApril 22, 2014 Opponentat Washington Opposing PitcherTaylor Jordan
MilestoneNo. 600 DateJune 3, 2017 Opponentvs. Minnesota Opposing PitcherErvin Santana

Source: baseball-reference.com

Pujols' home runs by the numbers

With St. Louis

445

With Angels

165

Versus left-handed pitchers

155

Versus right-handed pitchers

455

On the road

324

At home

286

Number of outs
in inning

One out:

220

Two outs:

199

No outs:

191

Multiple home run
games

One-homer game:

494

Two-homer game:

52

Three-homer game:

4

FirstSecondThirdFourthFifthSixthSeventhEighthNinthExtra innings140255868796761623415FirstSecondThirdFourthFifthSixthSeventhEighthNinthExtra innings140255868796761623415Home runs by inningData: abcdefg hijkl mnop qrstu vwxyz 1234 56789Chris Keller @latimesgraphicsSource: baseball-reference.com

Sources: baseball-reference.com

Credits: Reporting by Pedro Moura & Houston Mitchell


UPDATES:

Aug. 23, 2017 10:04 p.m.: This article was updated to include the 610th home run hit by Albert Pujols.

Aug. 8, 2017 4:50 p.m.: This article was updated to include the latest home runs by Albert Pujols.

June 4, 2017 8:25 a.m.: This article was updated to include details of Albert Pujols hitting his 600th home run.

This article was originally published on June 1, 2017.