Any MLB milestone is an incredible moment once a player accomplishes the feat. But, in 2007, it was a year to remember. Fans would witness some players’ pursuits of career records and milestones achieved in unique ways. History would unfold during the campaign, with several players reaching significant milestones. Here are some of the milestones that occurred during the 2007 season.
MLB Milestone Breakdown
The first milestone of the season
June 20th
Sammy Sosa, then of the Texas Rangers, was the first player to record an MLB milestone in the 2007 season. In the fifth, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ former teamer, Sosa did his trademark hop, then thrust his right fist into the air before reaching first base. No. 600 came off of Jason Marquis as it was Sosa’s 12th home run in 62 games in that season. Ironically, his 600th came from the Chicago Cubs, Sosa’s club, for most of his career. Four seasons prior, Barry Bonds would hit his 600th home run against his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Two Milestones In The Same Day
June 28th
In 1988, Houston Astros‘ rookie Craig Biggio had 26 hits in 50 games. 19-years later, the second baseman became the ninth player with 3,000 hits for the same team. Biggio reached the milestone with his third game hit against the Colorado Rockies on June 28, 2007. The seven-time All-Star would end the game with five singles, becoming the first player in MLB history to have five hits and reaching his 3,000th. Following the 2007 season, Biggio retired with 668 doubles, the most by any right-hander.
Three players, including two future Hall of Famers, joined the 500 club in 2007. Frank Thomas hit his 500th home run where he hit his first, the Metrodome in Minnesota. On a 1-2 count, the DH hammered a pitch over the left-center field fence for a three-run homer. Thomas became the 21st player to reach the club and the first in Toronto Blue Jays history. “The Big Hurt” was the all-time homer king among DH, then David Ortiz took sole possession in 2016.
Three Milestones In Four Days
August 4th
Álex Rodríguez became the youngest player to hit 500 home runs. He sent the first pitch he saw on August 4 just past the foul pole in left field. Rodríguez surpassed Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx at 32-years, 338 days, as the youngest player to reach 500 homers. A-Rod is fourth on the all-time home runs list.
August 5th
Tom Glavine joined baseball’s most prestigious club on August 5. With a vintage performance, Glavine earned his 300th career against the Cubs. Glavine left with a five-run lead after pitching 6 1/3 innings, six hits on two earned runs, and one strikeout. However, New York’s bullpen ensured the lefty would victory over the Cubs. Glavine became just the fifth southpaw and 23rd pitcher with 300 victories. It was the first since his former teammate, Greg Maddux, reached the milestone with the Cubs in 2004.
August 7th
Like it or not, Barry Bonds is baseball’s all-time home runs leader. On August 7, Bonds swung then threw his arms in the air, realizing he had become the most iconic home run hitter in baseball. Bond’s 756th career homer pushed him past Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, a record that stood since 1974. To this day, Bonds has been alone atop the career home run list for the last 15-years. The debate of the authenticity of the record stands to this day. It will be there for quite some time.
Mr. 3,000
September 3rd
Pedro Martínez became the fifteenth pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts. The game against the Cincinnati Reds on September 3, 2007, was his first start in almost a year. Before, Martínez had spent the previous 11 months recovering from offseason surgery. Then, the three-time Cy Young winner pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits in a New York Mets victory. He came into the game sitting with 2,998 strikeouts. In the bottom of the first, he allowed a pair of runs with no strikeouts. But in the second, he struck out Scott Hatteberg, Edwin Encarnacion popped out for the 3,000th.
A Walk-Off Like No Other
September 16th
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Jim Thome is the all-time leader of 13 walk-off home runs in his career. It’s more than anyone else in baseball history. But, Thome’s 500th home run was a memorable one. Thome came up to face Los Angeles Angels pitcher Dustin Moseley in the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on base. With the game tied 7-7, Mosley threw a pitch to Thome, who drilled the ball into left-center field. That home run made Thome the first player to reach the milestone on a walk-off home run.
Other MLB Milestones from 2007
Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher Kenny Rogers recorded his 91st career pick-off on September 17. The pick-off would tie Rogers with Mark Langston for most all-time.
Then for the Cleveland Indians, CC Sabathia won his 100th game while striking out 1,000th career batter. The southpaw became the youngest pitcher to accomplish the milestone since Greg Maddux.
Hall of Fame reliever Trevor Hoffman became the first pitcher in major league history to earn 500 saves.
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Players Mentioned:
Pedro Martínez, Craig Biggio, Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, Jim Thome, Sammy Sosa, Álex Rodríguez, Greg Maddux, Hank Aaron, Kenny Rogers, CC Sabathia, David Ortiz, Jimmie Foxx, Dustin Moseley, Mark Langston, Scott Hatteberg, Edwin Encarnación, Trevor Hoffman
