<P> In baseball, a home run (HR) is typically a fair hit that passes over an outfield fence or into the stands at a distance from home base of 250 feet or more, which entitles the batter to legally touch all bases and score without liability . Atypically, a batter who hits a fair ball and touches each base in succession from 1st to home, without an error being charged to a defensive player, is credited with an inside - the - park home run . If, during a play, defensive or fan interference is called, and the awarded bases allow the batter to cross home plate, the batter is credited with a home run . </P> <P> Wes Ferrell holds the all - time Major League Baseball record for home runs hit while playing the position of pitcher . He hit 37 as a pitcher . Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Lemon and Warren Spahn are tied for second with 35 career home runs apiece . Red Ruffing, Earl Wilson, and Don Drysdale are the only other pitchers to hit at least 25 home runs . Jack Stivetts hit a total of 35 home runs in his playing career, 21 as a pitcher . </P> <P> As of the 2018 season, Madison Bumgarner, with 17 home runs, holds the lead among all active pitchers . Bumgarner also has hit the second most home runs by a pitcher since the American League adopted the designated hitter rule in 1973 (behind Carlos Zambrano). Bumgarner has played his whole career thus far for the San Francisco Giants of the National League . </P>

Mlb record for most home runs by a pitcher