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Tampa's Sheffield among elite after hitting milestone homer

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The Associated Press

Published: April 18, 2009

NEW YORK - Gary Sheffield hit his 500th home run Friday night to become the 25th player in major-league history to reach the milestone, belting a drive to left off Milwaukee's Mitch Stetter leading off the seventh inning.

The Tampa native hit a full-count pitch an estimated 385 feet for his first hit and homer of the season for the New York Mets after being cut by the Detroit Tigers the last week of spring training.

Sheffield pumped both arms in the air as he approached first and rounded the bases as cameras flashed all over Citi Field. He touched home plate and pointed to the sky with both arms after the pinch-hit shot then hugged on-deck batter Jose Reyes.

He then received congratulatory hugs and high-fives from his new teammates, who came out of the dugout as fans gave Sheffield an ovation.

The homer tied the score at 4, and the Mets went on to win the game 5-4.

At 40 years, 143 days, Sheffield is the fourth-oldest player to hit 500 behind Willie McCovey (40 years, 171 days), Eddie Murray (40, 194) and (Ted Williams 41, 291).

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