Welcome to the 400 Club

Carlos Beltran moved into an exclusive neighborhood on Sunday. His home run against the White Sox made him just the fourth switch hitter in baseball history to reach 400 home runs. The others are Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, who leads this category with 536 and Eddie Murray (504). There's future Cooperstown honoree Chipper Jones... and then Beltran. 
1999's American League Rookie of the Year, the seven-time all star is also one of the most feared post-season hitters of all time. His October numbers, especially with the Astros and Cardinals have been headline-grabbers.
Winding down his career in the Bronx, Beltran expects to play again in 2017, to give him parts of 20 seasons in the majors. 
You know that old line, "I know a Hall of Famer" when I see one... Is Beltran one? Don't ask a Mets fan -- his taking a called third strike to end the 2006 NLCS sears in the memory.
On the other hand, he's often be called a five-tool player, excelling in all aspects of the game. Has he made clubs better? Has he made his teammates better? Or, in my definition "the George Bailey Rule": would there be a void in baseball had he never played the game?

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