The 500 Home Run Club : Baseball's 16 Greatest Home Run Hitters from Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire [Paperback]

Bob Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

The 500 Home Run Club: Baseballs Greatest Home Run Hitters from Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire is one of the most unusual and revealing baseball books ever written. It tells the stories of the 16 men who have hit more than 500 home runs. They are all here, from Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire, the latest player to hit 500 homers. In first-person accounts with friend and agent Bob Allen, baseballs most legendary sluggers describe and assess their own careers and lives, and each others, including the obstacles along the way. Hank Aaron tells of his impoverished boyhood in Mobile, Alabama; of his fears for his own safety as he chased Babe Ruths record while getting many death threats; and of his pride in what he accomplished. April 8, 1999, marked the 25th anniversary of Aarons memorable 715th home run. Allen interviewed 180 former major leaguers to get their first-person accounts of playing with and against baseballs most dominant sluggers. Stories from and about Aaron, Ruth, Mays, Robinson, Killebrew, Jackson, Schmidt, Mantle, Foxx, McCovey, Williams, Banks, Mathews, Ott, and Murray are all here, in what is destined to become one of the best baseball books of all time.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Allen was an All-American distance runner at Marquette University and served as publicity man for the Milwaukee Braves during their 13 years in the city (1953-65). He is a syndicated sports columnist and author of "The Fabulous Milwaukee Braves". He has given over 1,400 inspirational and motivational speeches throughout the country. Currently he is president of Bob Allen Sports and serves as an agent for several Hall of Famers, including Hank Aaron and Brooks Robinson. Allen is married and has three children.

Bill Gilbert is the best-selling author of 17 books, including six on baseball and others on business, government, politics, World War II, and show business. His book with Duke Snider, "The Duke of Flatbush", became a bestseller, and his books with Bob Feller and Dom DiMaggio were also bestsellers. A former magazine editor and reporter for the "Washington Post", Gilbert has served as communications counsel to the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and marketing director of baseballs first expansion team, the Washington Senators. He lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, with his wife Lillian.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582612897
• ISBN-13: 978-1582612898
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( R ) > Ruth, Babe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated with McGwire, January 24, 2001

By 

Paul Gosnell (Tavares, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 500 Home Run Club : Baseball's 16 Greatest Home Run Hitters from Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire (Paperback)

Right now there are sixteen players who have hit over 500 home runs. Each one has a nice write-up and stories that are very enjoyable to read. Fifteen are retired or deceased and one is still playing.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New and Improved., January 14, 2001

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 500 Home Run Club : Baseball's 16 Greatest Home Run Hitters from Babe Ruth to Mark McGwire (Paperback)

I have always dreamed of meeting the 16 baseball players that have hit over 500 home runs. Now I realize that meeting Ruth, Ott, Mantle and Matthews would be impossible that's why I'm glad to have a copy of this book.

Along with those listed earlier you read about Aaron, Schmidt, Jackson, Foxx, Killebrew, Mays, Robinson, Williams, McCovey, Banks, Murray and the newest member McGwire.

The book is new and updated and the 16 players are listed alphabetically and no ranking system is used. I like this concept as it gives the reader the choice as to which they consider the best of this very special and elite group.

Each chapter is written to not only discuss the career of the player but also let others who knew them talk about the person as well. The book also includes photos of each of the players. This is for every baseball fan young and old - excellent work and well done!!