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June has always been a pivotal month for major league teams, and it was the month that many members of the 500 Home Run Club hit their pivotal long balls.
 Chicago Cub Superstar “Slammin” Sammy Sosa hit the most home runs
ever in a single month, when he homered, hopped, thumped his chest and
blew kisses to family and fans a total of 20 times during June of
1998. On June 1, “Big Mac” Mark McGwire had 27 home runs, while Sosa
had a mere 13 dingers. But soon, “Slammin” Sammy made his move. From
June 1-June 30, Sosa belted 20 home runs to set a Major League record,
which is also the most homers ever hit in any month.
Editor’s
Note: After that jaw-dropping June, it became clear that both McGwire
and Sosa were on pace to shatter Roger Maris's single-season home run
record. The question was: Who would get there first? McGwire answered
emphatically by besting Maris's record on September 8 against the Cubs
and cruising to a new MLB high of 70 home runs - while Sosa finished
with 66 that year. Barry Bonds eventually passed both of them with 73
blasts in 2001, but 1998 will always be remembered as the year of the
“Great Home Run Chase.”
 Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 500th home run
vs. Matt Morris of the Cincinnati Reds on June 20, 2004. After hitting
number 499, Junior had to wait exactly one week for the fabled No. 500,
but the landmark blast couldn't have come on a better day. Launching
his 500th home run on Father's Day was the perfect way for Junior to
end his quest, considering that he and his dad, Ken Griffey Sr., are
probably the most famous father/son duo in Major League history.
Junior
wasted no time making his way to his dad, who was sitting right next to
the Reds dugout. "It's been a great Father's Day for me," Griffey Sr.
said. "I had my grandkids sitting there watching the game and I enjoyed
every minute of it."
Editor’s Note: Junior loves June so much
that he also blasted out homer #600 during the sixth month of the year
- June 10, 2008 to be precise. That was the day Griffey became the
sixth player in history to reach 600 homers with a drive off Mark
Hendrickson in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds’ 9-4 victory
over the Florida Marlins. Griffey joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe
Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa as the only players to reach the mark.
 Willie
McCovey hit his 500th homer for the San Francisco Giants on June 30,
1978 against Braves’ pitcher Jamie Easterley in Atlanta’s Fulton County
Stadium
A relieved Willie Mac said: “There was a lot of pressure
on me. A lot of media was following me around and I wanted to get it
over with, so I could start playing normally again. McCovey later
remarked, “At the time I hit it I was very exciting because I was a
member of the 500 class, but my 512th meant more to me because I passed
Mel Ott to become the National League’s greatest left-handed home run
hitter. That was the biggest milestone for me.”
Boston Red Sox
great Ted Williams hit his 500th home run in Cleveland Stadium against
Indians pitcher Wynn Hawkins on June 17, 1960. When asked about his
hitting approach, The “Splendid Splinter” explained: "There's only one
way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at
yourself and mad at the pitcher. The key to hitting,” Williams
continued, “is to get a good pitch and then hit it as hard as you can.” |
