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We all know who holds the record for the most home runs in Major League Baseball history. However, most people probably don’t know all of the top 10 leaders by state. On July 4th, as we celebrate America’s birthday, let’s take a look at the home run leaders from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Home run leaders are not evenly spread across the country. Some states produce far more MLB players than others. While some states were once hotspots for baseball talent, they no longer hold that status. This exercise is interesting because it reveals unexpected leaders like Chase Headley or highlights lesser-known facts such as Phil Plantia’s connection to New Hampshire.
For your enjoyment before the fireworks, we’ve provided a map color-coded by home run leaders’ totals from each state. Additional insights gathered from the data behind the map are also included. The full chart with exact home run numbers is available at the end of the article.
Grab a hot dog or burger, settle in, and find out who has hit the most home runs in each state across the nation.
Barry Bonds, the all-time MLB home run king and California representative, smashed 762 home runs, more than the combined total from leaders in Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming. Even adding South Dakota’s leader to that total wouldn’t quite surpass Bonds but does rival Sadaharu Oh’s 868 home runs, the greatest in Japanese baseball history. Though not American, it adds a fun international context.
Bonds tops several states, including Alaska (85), Colorado (615), Hawaii (588), Idaho (749), Maine (256), Montana (211), New Hampshire (330), North Dakota (412), South Dakota (322), Utah (178), Vermont (178), and the District of Columbia (697).
California not only claims the best home run leader ever, but it also produces the most MLB players—2,510—far surpassing Pennsylvania, which is second with over 1,000 fewer players. Other top states by player count include Alabama, Maryland, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and California, which alone has 30 players with at least 400 career home runs.
Among these, eight states have at least one player with 400 or more home runs. States like Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Florida each have multiple players with 400+ homers. California leads with four players boasting 500+ homers, including Bonds, Mark McGwire, Ted Williams, and Eddie Murray.
Josh Phelps isn’t just Alaska’s home run leader, but he also accounts for 75% of the state’s total home run production. Another Alaskan, Randy Kutcher, hit 10 career home runs, but with no current players from Alaska, Phelps’ record may stand for a while. Curt Schilling leads hits for Alaska but didn’t homer often.
North Carolina’s leader is Ryan Zimmerman, with 284 home runs. However, younger stars like Corey Seager and Cal Raleigh are on track to surpass older records, with Seager hitting consistently and Raleigh leading MLB in home runs for 2025.
Eight states have no active home run leaders due to a lack of current players in the majors; these include Vermont, Arkansas, West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Maine, and Alaska.
Several U.S.-born players have exceeded 600 home runs: Barry Bonds (762) from California, Henry Aaron (755) from Alabama, Babe Ruth (714) from Maryland, Alex Rodriguez (696) from New York, and Ken Griffey Jr. (630) from Pennsylvania. Alabama uniquely produced both Henry Aaron and Willie Mays (660). Albert Pujols (703) and Sammy Sosa (609) hold 600+ homers but are from the Dominican Republic.
Connecticut’s top home run hitter is Mo Vaughn with 328, and George Springer is the active leader with 274. Mookie Betts is close to breaking Tennessee’s record at just 32 years old. Arizona may soon see a new leader as Ian Kinsler has 257 home runs, just ahead of Cody Bellinger’s 208.
Florida’s top is Gary Sheffield with 509 homers, while active star Manny Machado trails with 154 but could still climb if he continues playing well. Bryce Harper leads Nevada with 345 home runs, Mike Trout leads New Jersey with 391, and Paul Goldschmidt leads Delaware with 370 and could soon surpass 400.
The largest gap between a state’s all-time leader and its current active player exists in Alabama, where Henry Aaron’s 755 homers dwarf Tim Anderson’s 98.
In Texas, Frank Robinson’s 586 home runs still outpace active players Max Muncy and Randal Grichuk combined, though their careers are ongoing.
New England states may not be renowned for producing baseball talent like California or Texas, but players like Mo Vaughn (Connecticut), Carlton Fisk (Vermont), Paul Connelly (Rhode Island), and Jeff Bagwell (Massachusetts) have made notable contributions.
The article concludes with a detailed table listing each state’s home run leader and their career home run total.
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Fan Take: This state-by-state look at home run leaders offers baseball fans a fresh and intriguing way to connect with the sport’s history and geography. It highlights the rich diversity of talent spread across the country and underscores the enduring legacies of legends who have shaped America’s pastime.
