New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira hit his 361st career home run Sunday, tying Joe DiMaggio for 80th place on the all-time home runs list, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Teixeira slugged No. 361 off Tampa Bay Rays reliever Joel Peralta in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game. The shot, which sailed over the right-field fence for his 20th home run of 2014, gave Teixeira a 20-homer season for the 11th time in his 12-year career. The only season in which Teixeira has failed to reach the 20-homer plateau was last year when a wrist injury limited him to just 15 games.
The 11 seasons of 20 or more home runs tie Teixeira for fourth most among switch-hitters, alongside teammate Carlos Beltran and the recently retired Lance Berkman, per Complete Baseball Encyclopedia (via GammonsDaily.com).
Beltran has 14 home runs this year and thus needs just six more to move into sole possession of fourth place on said list. Tied for second with 14 20-homer seasons are Yankee legend Mickey Mantle and former Atlanta Brave Chipper Jones.
Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Murray leads the way at 16 seasons with at least 20 long balls, and his 504 career home runs have him 26th on the all-time list. Teixeira, who turned 34 in April, would likely have to play at least four more seasons to have any shot at joining Murray in the 500-homer club.
Mantle’s 536 home runs mark the all-time record for a switch-hitter, with Teixeira the only viable threat (and even that’s a stretch) among active players to make a run at the record.
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