Griffey Slams No. 609, Now 5th on HR List

Home run hero taking his career back to city where it started

(NEWSER) - Slugger Ken Griffey Jr. will return to Seattle almost nine years to the day after he left the Mariners, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The prolific home-run hitter has signed an incentive-laden one-year contract for 2009. Griffey became a free agent after his short stint with the White Sox ended, and made it clear he wanted to finish his career in the city where it began. More»

Aging slugger now just nine away from 600

(NEWSER) - It was just like 1998. Sammy Sosa’s 3-run homer, number 591 of his career, propelled his team to an 8-1 win over the White Sox last night in Chicago. Only this time, it was on the North Side, Sosa was wearing a Rangers uniform, and the fans were booing him. More»

At 34, he's the youngest to ever do it

(NEWSER) - You can stop holding your breath, world. Alex Rodriguez at long last hit his 600th home run today. It's been 12 games since Rodriguez hit his 599th round-tripper, a stretch that seemed even longer because of the hype surrounding the impending milestone. But it's probably unfair to complain too much, since he is the youngest player to ever hit 600. It's also happens to be exactly three years to the day since A-Rod's 500th homer. More»

(AP) - Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle has set a major league record by retiring 45 straight batters. Coming off a perfect game in his last start against Tampa Bay, Buehrle retired the first 17 Minnesota Twins batters he faced tonight to break the record of 41 set by San Francisco's Jim Barr in 1972 and tied by Chicago reliever Bobby Jenks in 2007. Buehrle's streak ended with a walk to Alexi Casilla on a close call with two outs in the sixth. Denard Span followed with a single to break up the no-hitter. More»

(NEWSER) - White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle retired 27 consecutive Tampa Bay Rays today for a perfect game and a 5-0 win, the Chicago Tribune reports. There were a couple of dicey moments, particularly in the ninth inning, when center fielder DeWayne Wise barely caught a drive by Gabe Kapler destined for the stands, the AP adds. It’s the first perfect game since Randy Johnson’s in 2004, and the 16th since 1900. More»