Miguel Cabrera He became the 28th member of the 500 Club in Major League Baseball on Sunday. The Detroit Tigers The slugger hit the historic blast in the sixth inning against Toronto Blue Jays.

The 500 Home Run Club has long been one of baseball’s most popular groups, although it has been watered down a bit in the wake of the so-called “steroid era.” However, Major League Baseball has been played for too long, and only 28 players have at least 500 home games.

Previously thought of as an inevitable outcome, in the past few years it has been reasonable to wonder if the Cabrera will ever hit the 500. It had 446 hits over the course of 2016, but only managed 16, 3 and 10 in the next three seasons, respectively , due to age-related deterioration and numerous injuries. Then there was the pandemic shortened season, although he’s hit 10 players in 57 games, and picking a pace like that has really boosted him heading into this season.

Here’s a look at his notable outburst — the 13th homeowner of the season — outside of Toronto Stephen Matz:

According to Statcast, the Cabrera’s track covered its ground 400 feet and had an exit speed of 104.1 mph. Although he bumped into her on the road, the Toronto crowd gave Cabrera a standing ovation. The Tigers later won the match 5-3 in 11 rounds.

Cabrera, 38, is the first Venezuelan-born player to score 500 points on his court. With just 45 extra hits, he looks likely to become the seventh player ever to be a member of both the 500-man club and the 3,000-hit club. Cabrera is also one of a handful of players who could finish their careers with over 500 homeowners and a hit average north of 0.300 – an impressive combination as expected:

The Tigers originally acquired the Cabrera in December 2007 as part of an eight-player deal that also netted Detroit left-back Dontrelle Willis. In turn, the Tigers split from future big-league players Burke Badenhope, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Frankie de la Cruz and Mike Rabello. (The Marlins also received the Dallas Train, though he never made it to the show.)

The Tigers later signed with Cabrera for an eight-year deal worth $152 million before appearing in his first regular season competition with the club. That contract was due to expire in 2015, but the Tigers extended Cabrera again, to another eight-year, $248 million agreement in March 2014. Cabrera has another two guaranteed years left, which will collectively pay him $64 million. It seems unlikely that the Tigers will exercise the club’s subsequent options given the decline in production in recent years.

Some of his most notable Cabrera teammates and managers have recorded congratulatory videos of him released by the Tigers on Sunday:

With Cabrera’s 500th house out of the way, here are five active players who are now closest to the mark:

Babe Ruth was the first MLB player with 500, getting there in 1929. He was joined by Jimmy Foxx in 1940. Only one member joined – Mel Out – before 1960. In the 1960s, the group expanded with all-time joining Ted Williams and Willie Mays, Mickey Mantell, Eddie Matthews and Hank Aaron into battle. Three more were added before the end of the 1971 season in Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, and Frank Robinson. Only Willie McCuvey would get there between 1971 and 1984. Reggie Jackson and Mike Schmidt would have gotten there in the 1980s. Eddie Murray and Mark McGuire joined the club in the 1990s.

Then the explosion occurred. From 2001-2009, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiro, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thom, Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield reached the 500.

It just feels less boring and more incredibly accomplished these days. The latest additions were Albert Pujols in 2014 and David Ortiz in 2015. And we can add the Cabrera in 2021 to the list.

Cabrera had already headed straight into the Hall of Fame five years after his retirement. This is just another accolade to be placed on the ever-growing résumé. Another one is coming relatively soon as well. He now has 2,955 injuries. If Cabrera reaches 3000, he will join Aaron, A-Rod, Pujols, Mays, Palmeiro and Murray as the only players in history to have achieved 3000 hits and 500 teammates.

That would be in addition to his top two players, 11 All-Stars, seven Silvers, four hitting titles, the Triple Crown, and a host of other amazing stats. He played in two world championships as well, winning one in 2003.

For now, let’s celebrate the Cabrera’s place in the history of home management. Five hundred is an enormous number of long balls. He joined 27 others just to know how you feel.