Alex Gordon’s homer ties him for big-league lead among Nebraska natives

With his dramatic home run Tuesday, Royals left fielder Alex Gordon jumped to the top of a career list: most home runs by a Nebraska-born major-leaguer.

He matched Wade Boggs’ 118 home runs. Boggs was born in Omaha and moved with his family to Tampa, Fla., when he was 11. Gordon is something of a Mr. Nebraska, born and raised in Lincoln and an All-American third baseman for the Cornhuskers.

So using the Royals’ radio reach as a guide, who are the leaders from other states?

Missouri has the player with the best-known nickname. Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra of St. Louis clubbed 358 career home runs. Another St. Louis-born player, Ryan Howard, is closing in with 330.

The Kansas leader is Tony Clark with 251. He hit 156 of those with the Detroit Tigers from 1995-2001 and played for five other teams. Clark was born in Newton but grew up in California.

The Mick is Oklahoma’s leader. Mickey Mantle, born in Spavinaw, finished his 18-year career with the New York Yankees in 1968 with 536 homers. Oklahoma’s list also includes sluggers Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench and Joe Carter.

Hal Trosky, from Norway, Iowa, hit 216 of his 228 career home runs as a Cleveland Indians first baseman, mostly in the 1930s.

Pat Burrell, who spent most of his career in Philadelphia before retiring in 2011, hit 292 home runs and tops the Arkansas list. He was born in Eureka Springs.

Leaders from the Dakotas are contemporaries: Travis Hafner from Jamestown, N.D., hit all but 12 of his 213 career home runs with the Indians.

Jason Kubel, born in Belle Fourche, S.D., has 140 career homers. Kubel is a free agent after the Minnesota Twins released him this season.

The West Virginia leader? The Royals’ George Brett, who was born there before growing up in Southern California. He hit 317 in his career.

This story was originally published August 26, 2014 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Alex Gordon’s homer ties him for big-league lead among Nebraska natives."