Giancarlo Stanton making Hall of Fame case with 450th homer - ESPN
BALTIMORE — Giancarlo Stanton hopes his 450th home run won't be the last milestone he celebrates before calling it a career.
«It's a nice round number,» the New York Yankees slugger said Saturday night after hitting a three-run drive in a 6-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. «It's cool to see the names I'm catching and tying and going above.»
Stanton hit No. 450 in his 1,719th career game. Only Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and Harmon Killebrew were quicker to 450.
If the 35-year-old Stanton continues his slugging ways, then perhaps he will reach 500 and be recognized with a plaque in Cooperstown.
Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered in the same game as teammates for the 57th time, including playoffs. That's the second-most all-time by a Yankees duo.
«He's still going in what's a Hall of Fame career,» Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. «It's a big number, 450, and it came with a three-run shot in the first. I feel like he's got a lot left, a lot more to go.»
That long ball off Tomoyuki Sugano sent the Yankees on their way to an important victory. The leaders in the AL wild-card race now stand just two games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays with seven games left in the regular season.
«Most important, it helped us win,» Stanton said of his opposite-field drive to right.
Stanton didn't start the season until July 2 because of elbow injuries. Since his return, he's hit 21 homers.
Asked to describe Stanton as a hitter, Boone replied, «The man is dangerous. A unicorn. It's so unique how he does it, so unique how routinely hard he hits the baseball. Just a really cool day for him and us as his teammates.»
Rest assured, there will be a lot more celebrating if Stanton reaches the next milestone.
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