500 Club: Ahead of Time Quiz | MLB Records

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first slugger to reach 500 career home runs was way ahead of his time. He smacked number 500 in 1929. He also went on to hit 714 before he retired. Who is this Hall of Fame great?

Answer: Babe Ruth

Ruth's number 500 came on August 11, in a season that the Yankees finished 18 games behind the AL Champion Philadelphia Athletics. The Babe hit 46 in the season, 11 more than runner-up and teammate Lou Gehrig.

2. Baseball's second hitter to reach 500 home runs didn't achieve the milestone until 1940, 11 years after the first player did. Who was this three-time AL MVP and Triple Crown winner that played most of his seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics?

Answer: Jimmie Foxx

Foxx started off his career in 1925 with the Athletics. In his first two seasons while playing in only 36 games, he did not hit a home run. He hit only three in 1927. It would not be until 1929 that Jimmie exploded, and would hit 30+ home runs in 12 consecutive seasons. Number 500 came on September 24, 1940. He retired with 534 in 1945, then waited for his hall induction in 1951.

3. The third powerful slugger to hit 500 career home runs was a giant of a small man. His 500th blast came in 1945. Who is this Hall of Fame Giant?

Answer: Mel Ott

Mel was a 22-season career New York Giant. Although he stood short with a Kirby Puckett type frame, he was a giant with a bat. Ott hit it on August 1, 1945, and was 36 years old when he watched number 500 clear the fence. He would hit only 11 more in his career.

He retired after only four games into the 1947 season, then was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951. He died seven years later.

4. The fourth slugger ahead of his time to hit 500 home runs was a career Boston Red Sox player. He would bat for two Triple Crowns and win two AL MVP awards. Who is this Hall of Fame great?

Answer: Ted Williams

Williams missed out on a third Triple Crown by .0001 of a batting point in 1949. Although Ted missed numerous seasons due to the war effort, he would go on to hit 521 career home runs, tied with the great Willie McCovey and Frank Thomas. Number 500 came for Williams on June 17, 1960.

5. The fifth Hall of Famer to hit 500 home runs, accomplished his milestone 36 years after the first player hit 500. This slugger was a NL Rookie of the Year winner, and won two NL MVPs during his 22 seasons. Who was this that retired in a Mets uniform in 1973?

Answer: Willie Mays

Mays won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951, then he spent another 19 seasons with the Giants before being traded to the Mets in 1972. Number 500 came for Willie on September 13, 1965, and he would go on to belt many more before hanging up his cleats. Number 600 came off San Diego pitcher Mike Corkins in September 1969. Willie retired with 660.

6. In 1967, when hitting 500 home runs still meant something, this Hall of Fame Yankee did it on May 14. Who was this sixth player to hit the 500-milestone, then retire the following season?

Answer: Mickey Mantle

Mantle, the 18-season career Yankee retired with 536 home runs, and two very bad knees to go with it. He led the league four times in home runs, and hit 52 in his Triple Crown season of 1956. Mickey was the first switch-hitter to bat for the Triple Crown. The hall took him in 1974. Mantle was laid to rest in 1995.

7. This member of the 500 Home Run Club was the only player to be rostered on the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta before he retired in 1968. His 500th shot came on July 14, 1967. Who is this 1978 Hall of Fame inductee?

Answer: Eddie Mathews

Mathews began it all in 1952 with the Boston Braves. He made the move the following season to Milwaukee, and played there until the team moved again to Atlanta in 1966. In 1967, the Braves traded Eddie to the Astros, who then traded him to the Tigers. The third baseman retired in 1968 with 512 big ones, tied with the great Ernie Banks of the Cubs.

8. The eighth wonder of the world to hit 500 home runs was a National Leaguer. His 500th came in July 1968. Who was this that wore the number 44 on his back?

Answer: Hank Aaron

Aaron hit number 500 exactly one year to the day later than teammate Eddie Mathews. Hank amazingly never hit 50 home runs in a season, which showed his true consistency. He led the league in home runs only four times, rather strange for someone who hit 755 in his career. Number 600 came on April 27, 1971. Number 700 came on July 21, 1973. Aaron retired as a Milwaukee Brewer in 1976, then was inducted into the hall in 1982.

9. The ninth player to become a member of the 500 Home Run Club was a one-team player. He hit his 500th shot on May 12, 1970. He was a runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and won two MVP awards while he was a shortstop. It is unfortunate because he had no World Series home runs to his credit. Who is this Hall of Fame slugger?

Answer: Ernie Banks

Banks was a career Chicago Cub from 1953-1971. He lost the Rookie of the Year Award to Wally Moon of the Cardinals. His MVPs came in 1958 and 1959. Ernie hit 512 career home runs. His Cubs did not make a World Series appearance during his tenure with the team. Banks, known as "Mr. Cub", was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

10. The 10th slugger to hit 500 career home runs when it meant something, was mostly a first and third baseman in his career. Wearing the number 3 on his back, he led the league six times in home runs. Number 500 came on August 10, 1971, and he went on to hit 573. Who is this Hall of Fame great?

Answer: Harmon Killebrew

Killebrew began his career as a Washington Senator, then moved with the team that became the Minnesota Twins in 1961. After 21 loyal seasons with the same franchise, the Twins let him go, and Harmon signed as a free agent with the Royals in 1975. That was his final season. Killebrew hit 573 home runs in his career, but never would reach 50 in a season.

Source: Author Nightmare

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500 Club: Ahead of Time Trivia Quiz

All multiple choice about the first 10 sluggers to reach the 500 home run plateau, when it meant something in baseball. I hope that you enjoy it. :)

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