List of Major League Baseball progressive career home runs leaders

The following is a chronology of the top ten leaders in lifetime home runs in Major League Baseball.

The list helps contextualize the evolution of one of the most prized achievements in United States sports.

In the early 1930s, Babe Ruth had almost 400 more home runs than the next player, his longtime teammate Lou Gehrig; when Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, he was fifth on the all-time list.

Starting with Harry Stovey passing Charley Jones in August 1885, there have been seven changes of the career home run leader.

In the modern era—since the formation of the American League in 1901—there have only been four players who have held the title.