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Modern marvels: Hessman reigns as home run king

Slugger belted an American-record 433 long balls over 19 seasons
January 18, 2021

MiLB.com staff combed through decades of stats to uncover Minor League hitting and pitching leaders among players active for at least one season in the 21st century. In "Modern marvels," we present their stories. Read about the hits leaders and the strikeouts leaders in previous editions. It should come as

Hessman points the way for future Tigers

Minor League home run king enjoying second phase of career
June 4, 2018

On Aug. 3, 2015, as Mike Hessman circled the bases for a record 433rd and final time, he did so without regret. After playing 20 years and nearly 2,300 professional games, he officially announced his retirement a few months later and looked back on a career that began as an

Hessman slams Minors home run record

Tigers 3B stands alone in history after 433rd roundtripper
August 4, 2015

When Mike Hessman stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the seventh inning Monday, he wasn't thinking about changing history books. He just wanted to change the scoreboard. "The home run was the last thing on my mind, to be honest," the Tigers farmhand said. "We were

Hessman ties all-time homer record

With 432nd career long ball, Mud Hens veteran catches Arlett
July 29, 2015

Buzz Arlett has had a good run. Mike Hessman caught Arlett for the U.S.-based Minor League home run record, slugging the 432nd of his 19-year career in the third inning of Triple-A Toledo's 9-3 win over Rochester on Wednesday. The right-handed slugger, who doubled in his first at-bat, connected on

Relieved Hessman sets IL homer record

Veteran bops homer No. 259 to become league's all-time leader
July 1, 2014

Along with the smell of champagne and some Gatorade stains on his jersey, what Mike Hessman seemed to take away most from Monday night was a sense of relief.Exactly one month after tying the International League career home run record, Hessman homered in the third inning of Triple-A Toledo's 9-1

Hessman hits 400th career Minors home run

36-year-old slugger becomes sixth Minor Leaguer to enter 400 club
May 20, 2014

Mike Hessman is a Johnny Cash lyric. He's homered everywhere, man. The first of his Minor League career came in 1996 in the Gulf Coast League. He later homered for Macon, Danville, Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Richmond, Toledo, Buffalo, Oklahoma City and Louisville. At each stop, he's clubbed more than his