The 600 Club

by Caleb on Jun 7, 2008 10:32 AM EDT

[UPDATE: Bumped, cause it's gonna happen soon.]

As Ken Griffey Jr. continues his assault on baseball history I started looking at the other members of the 600 Club.

Currently there are five members of this club; Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Sammy Sosa. Here are the dates and their ages when they joined the club:

Ruth August 21, 1931 36 years, 196 days
Mays Sept 22, 1969 38 years, 139 days
Aaron April 27, 1971 37 years, 81 days
Bonds August 9, 2002 37 years, 16 days
Sosa June 20, 2007 38 years, 220 days

Babe Ruth hit his 600th on 8/21/1931 against George Blaeholder, of the St. Louis Browns, in a 11-7 victory . There wasn't much time for reflection since some guy named Gehrig went back to back with him.

Willie Mays hit his 600th against Mike Corkins, of the San Diego Padres, in the 7th inning of a 4-2 victory . It was a two run shot that scored Ron Hunt ahead of him. Willie was 1 for 2 that day with 2 RBI. The homer put the Giants ahead to stay that day.

Henry Aaron hit his 600th against Gaylord Perry, of the San Francisco Giants, in the 3rd inning of a 6-5 loss . It was a two run shot that scored Ralph Garr ahead of him. Hank was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI. This game featured 5 future Hall of Famers; Mays, Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry for the Giants and Aaron and Orlando Cepeda for the Braves.

Barry Bonds hit his 600th against Kip Wells, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the 6th inning of a 4-3 loss . Barry was 2 for 4 with 1 RBI that day. It came against the team that Bonds began his career with in 1986.

Sammy Sosa hit his 600th against Jason Marquis, of the Chicago Cubs, in the 5th inning of a 7-3 victory. Sammy was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI that day. It was the front end of back-to-back home runs for the Rangers with Frank Catalanotto hitting the back end.

Good luck Griffey as you continue along the path to Cooperstown.

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I'd love to see him get to this level sometime next week

He’d have to really go on a tear. He hasn’t been too bad to start the year, but two of his taters have come in windy Wrigley. Let’s just hope the cozy confines of Great American are just as hospitable. If I recall, he was hitting some drives to the wall early in the year, and now that it’s warmer, some of those could go out.

Let’s go Griffey! I’m looking forward to adding a Red to that club.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 18, 2008 11:43 AM EDT 0 recs

exactly

hopefully he’ll get it on this homestand

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Apr 18, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wow wow wow

Since Bonds and Sosa are basically retards who doped to get to 600, here’s your club:

Griffey
Mays
Ruth
Aaron

Unreal. People in Cincinnati literally have no idea the stature of player they’re watching (despite his decline). He makes Pete Rose look like Tanner from Bad News Bears.

What’s even more incredible, Mays, Ruth and Aaron didn’t lose 10-20% of their careers to injury.

by bobestes on Apr 18, 2008 12:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Seriously

You’re talking one of the top ten players of ALL TIME.

And we get to watch him, on our team. I can’t believe he gets a bad rap in this town.

by bobestes on Apr 18, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don't know that Griffey gets a bad rap

so much as people were frustrated that he was always hurt. Outside of the idiots who booed him when he dislocated his shoulder, I don’t remember a significant moment when people came down on him. That’s not to say people haven’t been critical of him at times, but that’s to be expected with pretty much all players. I’m not sure he’s beloved, but he still gets a pretty big applause every time he comes to the plate.

And I don’t know if he’s a top 10 player, but he’s definitely a top 5 HR hitter of all time. And now you’re getting me giddy to watch #600.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Griffey is and was awesome...

I think the perceived bitterness towards him comes from the hall of fame portion of his career happening in Seattle. After watching him be one of the best players in baseball there, how can Reds fans help but to feel a little cheated with what has happened during his time in Cincinnati?

In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me the choice is easy.

by chandrathan on Apr 18, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's the frustration I was talking about

but don’t call us bitter. It’s not like we live in Pennsylvania, you elitist!

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

get off my lawn

by ken on Apr 18, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Go cling to your guns and your religion

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

True.

Sure, he’s a living legend on our team and a lock for the Hall of Fame, but will he be wearing a Reds hat into Cooperstown? No way in hell.

"My wife ain't never ran and got me no pheasant." - Fistbands

by BK on Apr 18, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

bitterness

I think you summed it up when you say Reds fans feel “cheated.” Because that sounds like Reds fans blame Griffey for cheating them. I really think a lot of Reds fans feel that way, and it makes me sick to my stomach that Ken has to endure that in his own hometown.

by Brian B on Apr 19, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Sure he does

dude gets killed for stupid shit like not running out fly balls.

by bobestes on Apr 18, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

FWIW

I think Bonds makes 600 even without doping. He was at 411 when he supposedly started using in 1999. Assuming he still played 9 more seasons, he only needed to average 21 a year to get to 600.

But that doesn’t take away from your main point, that 600 is an amazing accomplishment. I think ARod will get there easily, but I’m not betting money on any other current player at this point.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd be surprised if Manny didn't get there.

But after him, I’d say the only three active players who have put in a full season who have much of a shot are Pujols, Dunn, and Fielder, and all of them aren’t even halfway there yet.

I’m also somewhat shocked that Manny has never even finished 2nd in MVP voting. He’s had some monstrous years.

by Geki on Apr 18, 2008 12:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

forgot about manny

i’d say he’ll get there too

In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me the choice is easy.

by chandrathan on Apr 18, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'll place a friendly wager that we'll both forget about in 2 years

that Manny won’t make it. I don’t think he’s someone that will play into his 40s, and I think that’s what he’d need to do to get there. I say he tops out at 580ish.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 1:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

He says he will

Ramirez hit his 494th home run in the first, passing Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for sole possession of 24th place on the career list, then added No. 495 an inning later with a mammoth, two-run shot to left.
“I’m going to 600,” Ramirez said.

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 18, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

I would take that wager.

I think Manny’s more or less a lock to be past 550 by the time his current contract with the Sox is up. He’s been amazingly consistent in his career every year except for last year (and that seems like an outlier, especially with his early performance this year), he stays in great shape, and although he is one goofy dude, he does seem to enjoy baseball. I think he’ll play into his 40s and easily eclipse 600. He needs to go 4 more years including this year, 3 if they’re pretty good years. He’ll get there.

by Geki on Apr 18, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

If i had to guess a person that will reach 600..

I’d go with Thome because even though he’s old…he’s still close

also, i think pujols has a reasonable chance.

In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me the choice is easy.

by chandrathan on Apr 18, 2008 12:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pujols

If he can stay healthy, sure. But right now, that’s looking like a big “if”.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Apr 22, 2008 1:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah, and what happens when we find out he's already 35?

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 22, 2008 7:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

ARod

Will get there next year. If he decides he wants it, the HR record is all but his.

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 18, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think he's already decided that he wants it

and I think the Yankees fans have already decided to boo him when he gets it.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

He has some shiny carrots

to look forward to:

A-Rod could receive an additional $6 million each for five milestones that the team designates as historic achievements. They are contemplated to be tying the home run marks of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds, and breaking Bonds’ major league record.

by ken on Apr 18, 2008 2:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Holy shit

He’s going to make $32 million dollars a year in 2009 and 2010. Jesus H. Christ riding a Harley that’s insane.

Please Note: I may be totally full of shit.

by jch24 on Apr 18, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Manny and Thome

I think both of them will make it, barring catastrophic injury. ARod’s a lock, barring injury.

Other than that, no one jumps out as being close.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Apr 22, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm sticking to my guns

and saying ARod is the only one after Junior. If I had to pick a young player, I’d say Pujols, but he’s so far away that the likelihood that he makes it is still very slim. Bill James’s Favorite Toy puts him at 42% chance of making 600. Dunn is at a 33% chance of getting there. Manny has a 42.8% chance and Thome has a 55.4% chance. Oh, and ARod has a 50% chance of hitting 775 HR with a 97% chance of reaching 600.

You're drowing in the past, Mike, and I've got your life jacket right here. It's called the 80s and it's gonna be around forever.

by Slyde on Apr 22, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just a question

How accurate is The Toy?

Of the top 10 in HR through age 32, Foxx was closest to ARod’s total ; The Toy says he should have ended up with 690. Jr. is next; he was only expected to reach 558 (of course, those were 3 injury-riddled years used in the calculation). Mantle “should” have hit 592. Sosa 746. Mathews 565. Aaron 625. FRob 546. Ruth 665. Ott 536.

Almost none came within 50 of the projection (Sosa, Aaron and Foxx were 150 away). For Foxx, Jr, and Mantle, the easy answer is “injury”; Aaron played for 10 more years; Ruth was Ruth; Sosa, well you know…. But if there’s always an “easy answer” why someone didn’t come within 10% (or even 20%) of the projection, doesn’t that make the projection pretty useless?

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Apr 22, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's a toy

And I’m not basing my opinion that no one else will make it off of the toy. I’m basing it off of the fact that it’s incredibly rare for a player to hit 600 home runs.

You're drowing in the past, Mike, and I've got your life jacket right here. It's called the 80s and it's gonna be around forever.

by Slyde on Apr 22, 2008 3:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don't misunderstand

I wasn’t critiqing your opinion; I’d wager James doesn’t even consider it much more than a “toy”. And as the list shows, is it tough to get to 600 even with a big head start.

But for anyone to give it any credence (and many people seem to – I used a link on E$PN’s site), you’d think it would be more accurate than it is.

I’m basing it off of the fact that it’s incredibly rare for a player to hit 600 home runs.

No doubt. However, of the 23 current members of the 500 HR club, more than half debuted in two distinct 5-year periods – 7 each from 51-56 and 86-91.; in fact, only Ruth among the top 10 debuted outside of those 2 eras. While it’s tough to get to 600, we may be in an era when many reach that number (ARod, Jr, Sosa, Thome, and Manny all debuted from ‘89-94).

Again, the road is littered with hitters who were on pace for (or near) 600 who got hurt or aged quickly, but ya never know.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on Apr 22, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mays did miss a full season and most of another..

..while serving stateside during the Korean War.

IIRC, he enlisted.

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 18, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ted Williams

would have most likely made it but gave up 42, 43, 44 and parts of 52 and 53 to serving during WWII and Korea

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Apr 18, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah well the Babe was wired on Beer and lots of it.

And he was fatter than Dunn.

4-17-2008 The Father of the chaos Theory Dies

by Madville on Apr 18, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

BTW

It’d be cool to rec this so that it stays featured for the next couple of weeks. It can be our de facto “Griff’s almost there” thread.

WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IT? HE'S THE ONE WHO SUCKS!

by Slyde on Apr 18, 2008 1:59 PM EDT 0 recs

Righto

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 20, 2008 12:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

from 596 to 597

It seems like Griffey is taking for ever to get the next home run on the way to 600. Of the other guys Willie Mays took the longest to get 597. He hit 596 on 6-21-69 and didn’t get another until 8-15-69. Sosa took from May 11 to May 16 last year. Bonds, in 2002, took from July 31 to August 3. The Babe took 1 game from August 14 to August 15 1931. But the quickest was Hank Aaron who 596 in the first inning and 597 in the fourth against the Reds and Tony Cloninger on April 14 1971.

Go Grif and take the next couple of steps soon!!

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Apr 23, 2008 2:18 PM EDT 0 recs

dunn could get there.

he has 241 career homers at age 28. he’ll be halfway there by age 29. at age 28, aaron had 253, bonds had 176, junior had 294, and poopholes has 286. arod had 345, but we all know he’s in a league of his own. with dunner’s durability and consistency, he’ll reach 600 in 7 or 8 years. too bad he’ll be doing it for the bankees or the green sox.

my question is this – in a few games, junior will become only the sixth player in mlb history to hit 600 – but if the reds are home, will cincinnati fill the park to see it? this could be a potential PR embarrassment for the reds if there are 20K showing up at the park when he’s sitting on 599.

2008 NL Central Champs!

by Daedalus on Apr 25, 2008 2:28 PM EDT 0 recs