Fastest to 200 HR's

Last night, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard launched a sixth inning solo shot for his 23rd of the season; it was also the 200th of his career, making him the quickest in Major League history to eclipse that mark. That’s right—quicker than both modern marvels Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols. He replaces Ralph Kiner as the quickest, who did it in 706 games, and pushes Juan Gonzalez to third, doing it in 766 games. Howard did it in an astonishing 658 games! So he’s going to be the new all time home run king, right?

Not exactly. Ryan Howard, ladies and gentlemen, is 29 years old.

His first full season in the Bigs was 2006, when he launched a career high 58 jacks. He played half of the 2005 season and had a cup of coffee in 2004.

But, despite his age and delayed arrival to the big leagues, Howard is a flat out star. He is already a two time All Star, a Silver Slugger winner, a Rookie of the Year, and a MVP. He also finished second in MVP voting in 2008, when he played in all 162 games, blasting 48 home runs and 146 RBI.

The guy is a stud. Period. It’s really a shame that he must live in perennial triple crown threat Pujols’s shadow. And the emergence of Prince Fielder doesn’t help his notoriety much either.

Pujols burst onto the scene at age 21. Fielder: his rookie year had him at just 22. These guys have a huge head start on Howard, who was 25 during his rookie campaign.

My point? Howard may hit 500 home runs in his career (in all probability, he will), but this guy is not going to be setting career records. He’s just too old. It’s truly a shame that he was relegated to the minors when Jim Thome was clogging the Philadelphia first base.

But I love Ryan Howard, folks. Pencil him in for 40 jacks, 120 RBI at least, and, although in the past years his average has dipped, let’s call him a .275-.280 hitter.

He slimmed down this off-season, shredding 20 pounds, making him more agile at first base. Howard is a stud.

And I would love his bat in my lineup, any day.- Blake Kearny

Blake Kearny is a retired baseball scout from Los Angeles, California. He currently runs a baseball school for children in Los Angeles.