updated 2:46 a.m. ET June 1, 2008

BALTIMORE - Dreadlocks are in fashion in the exclusive 500-home run club, now that Manny Ramirez has added his name to the list of baseball’s most prolific sluggers.

Ramirez became the 24th player to reach the milestone, connecting in the seventh inning off Chad Bradford to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Saturday night.

Boston’s left fielder hit the first pitch into the bleacher seats in right-center. He stood and watched the flight of the ball, then took off around the bases in a slow trot, a broad smile on his face.

“I’m happy, you know, about everything I accomplished in life,” Ramirez said afterward. “Not everybody has the chance to go and get to 500. I’m just proud to do it.”

It took him long enough. After hitting No. 496 on April 19, he had only three homers in 34 games before Saturday.

“Every time you get to the hotel, (people say), ’Hey, when you gonna hit it?’ I’m just happy everything’s done for now,” Ramirez said. “I can go be myself and have fun.”

Ramirez certainly had a delightful time rounding the bases. He slapped a high-five with first base coach Luis Alicea, tapped hands with third base coach DeMarlo Hale, then hugged on-deck hitter Mike Lowell as he crossed the plate. Many of his teammates greeted him as he reached the dugout, where Ramirez received more hugs and bounced up and down in an embrace with David Ortiz and Julio Lugo.

“They’re so proud to have me, a guy so loose, to play the game,” Ramirez said of his teammates. “I guess they really appreciate it.”

Boston manager Terry Francona said, “His teammates have been waiting for it and it was special to watch. ... Seeing the home run was fun, but watching his teammates show their affection was great.”

Even his former teammates were proud. Kevin Millar, who played for Boston from 2003-05, said, “I’m happy for him. He’s got a uniqueness about him that makes him easy to like. He looks like a Brazilian Rainforest guy. You take away the hair and the baggy uniform, he’s just a guy that can hit.”

The solo shot gave Boston a 5-3 lead. It traveled an estimated 410 feet.

In the bottom of the seventh, as he ran his position in the outfield, Ramirez waved to thousands of Boston fans among the 48,281 at Camden Yards. Although it was a road game for the Red Sox, many seats were filled with Boston backers, and virtually everyone in the ballpark took delight in seeing history made.

“That’s why they call it the Red Sox Nation. They follow us everywhere. Everywhere we go, we get a big support,” Ramirez said. “I’m just happy it’s over with and I’m proud to do it here.”

The 500-home run club has only two dozen members, but Ramirez also joined an even smaller fraternity. He is only the seventh player in baseball history with 500 homers, 1,500 RBIs, 1,000 walks, 475 doubles and a .300 batting average. The others are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mel Ott, Babe Ruth, Frank Thomas and Ted Williams.

“It’s nice to be part of history,” Ramirez said.

Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia also homered for the Red Sox, and Jacoby Ellsbury stole three bases in a second straight game. Ellsbury also tripled in the seventh off Lance Cormier (0-2) and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Ortiz before Bradford entered to face Ramirez.

Bradford had allowed only two home runs since May 14, 2006.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Angels survive with win in 12-innings Opinion: Angels not just alive, they're a threat Beckett suffers rare postseason struggles White Sox top Rays, stay alive in ALDS Offense roars to life as Phillies reach NLCS Brewers’ wild ride ends with whimper C-ya, CC? Sabathia says more to consider than cash Cubs, fans stunned by postseason collapse Special feature: Cubs' history of lovable losing Vote: Blame the curse? Why did Cubs flop? Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: