Alex Rodriguez became youngest player to hit home run No. 600

Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to hit 600 home runs Wednesday, reaching the milestone after a 12-game drought - and exactly three years to the day after his 500th homer - with a drive off Toronto's Shaun Marcum in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Rodriguez connected with a 2-0 pitch over the middle of the plate for his 17th home run of the season, giving the Yankees a 2-0 lead.



By hitting the homer into Monument Park, a stadium worker could retrieve the ball for him. A-Rod raised a hand slightly in triumph as he rounded first base, then completed his trot to the roar of the crowd. He was greeted at home plate by Yankees captain Derek Jeter, both of them slapping outstretched hands above their heads.

Rodriguez joined an elite club that includes Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609).

The rest of the team also came out to greet Rodriguez. After returning to the dugout, then coming out for a curtain call, he kept on receiving congratulations in the Yankees' dugout.

The ball he hit was the 104th specially marked one that had been used for each of his plate appearances since reaching No. 599. The Yankees immediately put commemorative T-shirts on sale at concession stands for $25 each, and one stand behind home plate sold out within two innings.

The Yankees' slugger turned 35 last Tuesday, putting his home run pace far ahead of the rest. Ruth had been the youngest to hit 600, reaching the mark in 1931 at 36 years, 196 days. The Sultan of Swat did it in fewer games, though - 2,044 to 2,227 for Rodriguez.

Source: The Associated Press

 

Does this include his Ranger's steroid period?

Elite club indeed. That list begins with Hank and ends with Ken jr. All the rest, including A-Rod's, needs to disappear.

 

This "record" seems to be missing something...


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