Homerun sluggers stay with the same team?

Baltimore Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro, left, and Sammy Sosa, right, pose with Cincinnati Reds’ Ken Griffey Jr. prior to the game Saturday, June 11, 2005, in Cincinnati. All three players have more than 500 home runs. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) This photo reminds me of those old time photos with classic players like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays:

However the photo of Palmeiro, Griffey, and Sosa all picture them in uniforms that they are not well known for.

ï Palmeiro is primarily a Ranger, but here an Oriole

ï Griffey is primarily a Mariner, but here a Red

ï Sosa is primarily a Cub, but here an Oriole

So that got me thinking about how many of the 500 homerun hitters have stayed with their team for a long time period.

Of the 20 baseball players with 500+ homeruns over half of them stayed with a team 15 or more years. (that’s 11 of the 20). Quite impressive. To see the stats, click here.
15+ years with one club:

755 Hank Aaron 23-Milwaukee

714 Babe Ruth 6-Red Sox, 15-Yankees, 1-Braves

660 Willie Mays 21-Giants, 2-Mets

573 Harmon Killebrew 21-Senators/Twins, 1-Royals

548 Mike Schmidt 18-Phillies

536 Mickey Mantle 18-Yankees

521 Willie McCovey 15-Giants, 3-Padres, 1-Athletics, 4-Giants

521 Ted Williams 19-Red Sox

512 Ernie Banks 19-Cubs

512 Eddie Mathews 15-Braves, 1-Astros, 1-Tigers

511 Mel Ott 22-Giants

less than 15 years with one club:

703 *Barry Bonds 7-Pirates, 12-San Fransciso Giants

586 Frank Robinson 10-Reds, 6-Orioles, 1-Dodgers, 2-Angels, 3-Indians

583 Mark McGwire 12-Athletics, 5-Cardinals

574 *Sammy Sosa 1-Rangers, 3-White Sox, 13-Cubs, (2005: 1-Orioles)

563 Reggie Jackson 10-Athletics, 1-Orioles, 5-Yankees, 5-Angels

551 *Rafael Palmeiro 3-Cubs, 5-Rangers, 5-Orioles, 5-Rangers, 1-Orioles (2005: 1-Orioles)

534 Jimmie Foxx 11-Athletics, 7-Red Sox, 2-Cubs, 1-Phillies

504 Eddie Murray 12-Orioles, 3-Dodgers, 2-Mets, 3-Indians, 1-Orioles, 1-Angels, 1-Dodgers

501 *Ken Griffey, Jr. 11-Mariners, 5-Reds (2005: 1-Reds)

It’s hard to believe that Sosa and Bonds have not been with the Cubs and Giants for 15 years.

But all 20 players have been with one team for 10 years or more.