Three thousand five hundred
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by user Falcon02520
Craig Biggio's 3000th career hit and the immense number of players approaching 500 home runs has the entire baseball world buzzing. Everyone has their own opinion on which accomplishment is more amazing, 3000 career hits or 500 career home runs.
To this date, 21 players have hit 500 home runs, but 27 players have reached the 3000 hits mark. According to this, 500 dingers would prove to be the more exclusive club. All this proves to me, is that 500 used to be the number of homeruns only legends could reach. But thanks to steroids, smaller ballparks, and the "live ball" which seems to become more "lively" every generation, the number 500 means very little. 500 used to be the club of Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Fox, among other "legends". Now it includes Steroids Sosa (Oops, I meant Sammy), Rafael Palmeiro, and Mark McGwire? What shame they bring to this once amazing collection of talent.
With six active players already over 400HR, this club is soon to be as exclusive as the 3000 hit club. The only difference is that every player with 3000 hits will be a hall of famer. The expansion of the 500 club, leads to the tragic decrease in the number's significance. When guys like Richie Sexson and Adam Dunn reach the 500 plateau, they will be questionable decision for the HOF. I don't really believe in asterisks in Cooperstown, but maybe there should be a separate book for those players who played after the year 1980 something.
As many people that are knocking on the door to the 500 club in the next year or two, only three will approach the 3000 club in the next 10 years (who are young enough or close enough to make a run at it); Bonds (2896), Jeter (2255), and the golden boy A-rod (2160). Sure there are others such as Griffey Jr and Omar Vizquel who may get there if they really step up their play, but these three are the only players with legitimate shots at 3000.
3000 hits or 500 homeruns will never mean the same as they once did. But, as fans, it is our duty to pass down the knowledge of those who were there first; the legends Eddie Murray, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, The Babe, Carl Yastrzemski, Honus Wagner, and Ted Williams among others.
Even if there is never proof, we must pass the knowledge that McGwire, Palmeiro, Sosa, and others who will undoubtedly follow, were never be true hall of fame players before short fences, cork bats, and HGH. And thank God for the Craig Biggios and Tony Gwynns of the world, who played the game the right way. Records are meant to be broken, but cheating (although its part of baseball) was never supposed to break records.
Sexson is 34 and has 288. Dunn is 28 and has 221. Dunn is more likely to get there, but still needs 7 40 home run seasons.
I think what you'll see is that 3000 hits or 500 jacks will no longer be an immediate qualifier, but part of an overall picture.