Question 2: Was the person known as a great home run hitter…did he hit more than 500 home runs during the course of his career?
Answer: No. There are 27 current members of the 500 home run club, 18 of whom have a plaque in Cooperstown. (The exceptions are Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Gary Sheffield.)
The remaining 18 include many of the game’s consensus immortals. That group is topped by Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. Jim Thome, Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Reggie Jackson, and Mike Schmidt are included, as are Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Willie McCovey, Frank Thomas, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, and Eddie Murray.
Some had impressive debuts. In Robinson’s April 17, 1956 debut against the Cardinals at Crosley Field, he sent a second inning Vinegar Bend Mizell pitch one-hopping into the seats for a ground rule double.
In his July 30, 1959 debut against the Philadelphia Phillies at Seals Stadium, McCovey singled. He later tripled twice and added a single for a four-hit, two-RBI introduction.
But none of them debuted with a home run. Not even the Bambino, whose first at bat came in a July 11, 1914 game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. The Babe, Boston’s starting pitcher, was hitless in two at bats. On the other hand, he survived seven innings, long enough to pick up a 4-3 victory.
Eliminating those great home run hitters still leaves us with nearly 250 possibilities. Next question.