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Albert Pujols smacks 612th career home run, tying Jim Thome

By Asher Fair

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 30: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a two-run homerun during the third inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 30, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 30: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a two-run homerun during the third inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 30, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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With his fifth inning home run against the Oakland Athletics, Albert Pujols tied Jim Thome for seventh on the all-time list.

After launching career home run number 611 in the third inning against the Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols launched career home run number 612 in the fifth inning. That home run tied him for seventh on the all-time home run list with the great Jim Thome.

Pujols, 37, is the highest active player on the all-time home run list. The next closest players on the list are Adrian Beltre and Miguel Cabrera with 461 and 460 career home runs, respectively. Pujols now trails just six other players on the all-time list: Barry Bonds (762 home runs), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Alex Rodriguez (696), Willie Mays (660) and Ken Griffey Jr. (630).

Pujols started the season with 591 home runs, having passed Reggie Jackson, Rafael Palmeiro, Harmon Killebrew, Mark McGwire and Frank Robinson on the all-time list with his 31 home runs last season. He started this season ninth on the all-time list.

On Friday, Aug. 18, he tied Sammy Sosa for eighth on the all-time list with his 609th career blast and 18th of the season. Then on Tuesday, Aug. 22, he passed Sosa for sole possession of eighth on the list with his 610th career blast and 19th of the season. Now he is one home run away from having seventh place on the list all to himself.

Perhaps FiveThirtyEight’s article today about why the active leader in career home runs is somehow the worst player in baseball ignited a spark under the 17-year veteran who spent 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before coming to Los Angeles to play for the Angels in 2012. Regardless, with his 612th home run Pujols, as if he really needed to, further cemented himself in the baseball history books as one of the all-time greats.

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How far up the career home run list do you think Albert Pujols will climb before he retires? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow along with FanSided for news, opinions, and analysis stemming from numerous different sports.

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