The Top 15 MLB Center-Fielders Of ALL TIME!! GRIFFEY, PUCKETT, MANTLE ETC. ETC.

Welcome back to another Humm Baby Baseball ranking and today, we’re talking about the greatest center-fielders to ever play the game, and this position is usually reserved for one of the team’s better players. A center-fielder is essentially the captain of the outfield, and the position typically requires leadership skills and an advanced baseball IQ. Additionally, exceptional speed and range are needed to cover the largest area of the outfield, and a strong arm is also helpful. These qualities oftentimes result in an incredibly strong and athletic player who can also handle a bat, and on today’s list, we’ll be talking about some of the greatest hitters to ever live. So, get ready for a ton of Hall of Famers, all-time legends and absolute generational talents. But there are also some massive Hall of Fame snubs on this list, as for some reason the writers who vote for potential Hall of Famers hate center-fielders. If some one obvious is missing on the list, there is a possibility the player played even more games at another position, for example, Andre Dawson played over 1,000 games in center-field but played even more in right-field, so he ended up in that video. It’s also possible the player is still active, like Mike Trout, who will obviously retire as a top 15 center-fielder, but I’m only focusing on retired players. The other possibility is I messed up and left some one off. (YOU BLEW IT!!) But I’ll do my best not to do that, so let’s jump into today’s list, but first – a few quick honorable mentions --

Jimmy Wynn

The Toy Cannon is one of the most underrated ballplayers in MLB history and barely missed out on the top 15. He just 5’9”, but boasted enormous power and had an extremely strong arm. He crushed at least 20 homers 8 separate times. Wynn made just 3 All Star teams but deserved to make a lot more. For example, in 1969 he wasn’t an All Star, but led the league with 148 walks, smashed 33 homers, stole 23 bases and had a 7.1 WAR, just 1 below Willie McCovey, who took home the MVP.

Earl Averill

One of the great forgotten centerfielders, Averill hit the ground running in his rookie season of 1929, hitting .332 with 18 bombs. He only got better from there and averaged 23 homers a year for his 9 seasons, 3 times hitting over 30, while consistently hitting well over .300. He played in 6 straight All Star games, the first 6 to exist, and finished in the top 5 for MVP 3 times. Injuries derailed his career in the late 30’s and early 40’s, but Averill was still good enough to make the Hall of Fame, although it took 34 years after his retirement for the Veteran’s Committee to finally elect him.

Johnny Damon

Damon was never the biggest superstar in the game, but he helped his team win games year after year by combining speed, contact hitting and pop while staying on the field. For 16 straight seasons, he never played in less than 141 games in a single season, an extremely impressive feat. Damon stole 408 bases, including a league leading 48 in 2000, hit over .300 5 times, walked over 1,000 times and collected 2,769 hits, surprisingly close to 3,000. He was also a clutch hitter in the postseason, and helped both the Red Sox and Yankees win World Series titles.

Willie Davis

Dodgers fans who were around in the 60’s and 70’s will never forget the impact of Willie Davis, who could pretty much do it all. He had exceptional speed, strong defensive abilities and a solid bat with some power. He played 18 seasons, accumulated 2,561 hits, 398 steals, and over 1,000 runs scored. Davis even crushed 182 homers including 21 in 1962. He won 3 Gold Gloves, and played centerfield for two World Series championship Dodger teams. Despite his amazing career, Davis was snubbed not only for the Hall of Fame, but for the voting process itself – he was shockingly never even put on a ballot.

Max Carey

During the 1910’s, Long-time Pittburgh Pirate Max Carey was the premiere base-stealing threat in National League. He led the league in steals 10 times, consistently nabbing from 40 to 60 plus bases per season. He was a very good hitter as well, but after an alteration to his batting stance in the mid-20’s, he suddenly became elite, hitting .343 in 1925. He was the best hitter for the Pirates in the World Series that year, and in the deciding game, had four hits including 3 doubles against Walter Johnson. He is still in the Top 10 All Time with 738 career stolen bases.

Oscar Charleston

An absolute legend of the negro leagues, Oscar Charleston certainly would’ve made the top 15, maybe even top 5, had he been allowed to play in the Major Leagues, but since it’s impossible to know exactly where he would’ve ended up, I have him as an extremely honorable mention. According to the great Buck O’Neil, Oscar Charleston was like “Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Tris Speaker rolled into one.” During the 1920’s, Charleston regularly hit over .400, including insane batting averages of .433 in 1921 and .427 in 1925. He also hit for massive power during a time when home runs were not the norm. He led the league in home runs 5 times, including 20 bombs in 1925, which was unheard of at the time due to the much shorter Negro League schedule. Charleston could also fly and regularly stole at least 20 bases per season during his prime. Charleston was elite in everything he did on a baseball field and even went on to become a great manager. He passed away in 1954 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.

Now let’s get into the top 15…

15. Larry Doby

Three months after Jackie Robinson’s debut, center-fielder Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the American League, and instantly proved he belonged. He hit .301 with 14 home runs his rookie season of 1948, then followed it up with 24 homers in 1949 and his first All Star nod. Doby hit at least 20 homers in 8 straight seasons including a league leading 32 in 1952 and 1954. He made 7 consecutive All Star teams, and finished 2nd for the MVP in 1954, a year in which he led the league with 126 RBIs. He was a key member of the most recent Cleveland team to win a World Series in 1948, and he hit .318 with a homer in the World Series. Doby had a fantastic eye as well, working plenty of walks, retiring with a .389 on-base-percentage. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1998.

14. Dale Murphy

Dale Murphy led all of Major League Baseball in home runs and RBIs during the entire decade of the 80’s. Somehow, he is still on the outside of Cooperstown looking in. Murphy was drafted 5th overall by the Braves in 1974 out of High School and it took a few years to get established in the big leagues, but when he did, there was nobody better. He made his first All Star team in 1980 and by 1982, he was a superstar. Murphy hit 36 home runs in back to back seasons, won the MVP and Silver Slugger both years, while leading the league in RBIs. From 1982 to 1987, he almost never missed a game, won 5 straight Gold Gloves, 4 straight Silver Sluggers and was absolutely an elite talent in the game. Knee issues plagued his career by 90’s and Murphy’s production declined quickly, explaining his absence from Cooperstown, but he was great for almost a decade, making 7 total All Star teams, and at his peak he was one of the greatest all around center-fielders to ever play the game.

13. Jim Edmonds

Next up is Jim Edmonds, one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs of all time and a center-fielder who was elite both with the glove and the bat. He somehow got bumped off the ballot after one year.  A human highlight reel in centerfield, Edmonds won eight Gold Gloves, but he was also a serious hitter, finishing his career just 7 home runs shy of 400.  For his first six seasons in St. Louis, he averaged 35 home runs a year.  He helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2006 and hit 13 career postseason home runs.  He was also a patient hitter, working plenty of walks, retiring with an on-base percentage of .376 and an OPS over .900. Edmonds career WAR of 60.4 is tied with the great Harmon Killebrew and is higher than the previous 3 centerfielders on today’s list and is higher than many other Hall of Famers including Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, and Willie Stargell.

12. Kirby Puckett

All-time Twins legend Kirby Puckett was an elite hitter and defender for over a decade, starting in 1984 when he finished 3rd for the Rookie of the Year Award after hitting .296. He looked like a fantastic contact hitter with great speed and elite defense. Then, he became more than singles hitter in 1986 when he crushed 31 home runs, while bumping his batting average up to .328. He also stole at least 20 bags in back to back seasons. From 1986 to 1995, he was one of the premiere talents in the game, and during that span, he never missed an All Star Game, won 6 Gold Gloves, 6 Silver Sluggers, and finished in the Top 10 for MVP 7 times. He led the league in hits 4 times, RBIs once in 1994, and he even won a batting title with a .339 average in 1989. He was on his way to another elite season in 1996 when he was hitting .344 in Spring Training. Then, he woke up one morning without vision in his right eye due to sudden, severe glaucoma . Puckett was placed on the Disabled List for this first time ever and was eventually forced to retire as his vision could not be restored. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, his first year on the ballot.

11. Richie Ashburn

Patrolling center-field for the Philadelphia Phillies during the decade of the 1950’s was the great Richie Ashburn, who was known for his exceptional range and speed. He could track down fly balls no one else could reach while maintaining an elite fielding percentage throughout his career. His 5,803 career putouts ranks third among center fielders in Major League Baseball history. He also used that speed to steal 234 bases during his career, including a league leading 32 his rookie year. Ashburn could also handle the bat, and consistently turned singles into doubles and doubles into triples. He also hit 8 career inside the park home runs. He won two batting titles, one with an incredible .350 average in 1958. For his career, he hit .308 with 2,574 career hits. The 6-time All Star was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1995, 2 years before he passed away.

10. Kenny Lofton

Entering into the Top 10, we have a few of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs ever, starting with the great Kenny Lofton, who shockingly didn’t even get the 5% required to stay on the ballot. On the JAWS ranking for center-fielders which measures Hall-of-Fame worthiness, Lofton is 10th All-Time and ranked above several Hall of Famers. He simply helped his teams win ballgames by getting on base and wreaking havoc on the basepaths while playing elite defense for 17 years. Lofton led the league in stolen bases for 5 straight seasons, maxing out at 75 steals in 1996. He could also rake and hit .349 in 1994 and hit over .300 8 times. Even in his final MLB season in 2007, he hit .296 with 23 steals and a .367 on-base-percentage. His career on-base-percentage of .372 is better than George Brett and Paul Molitor. He stole 34 bases in the postseason as well. Lofton made 6 All Star teams, won 4 Gold Gloves, had over 2,400 hits and retired with an average of .299.

9. Carlos Beltran

Carlos Beltran has already made 3 Hall of Fame ballots and is 0 for 3 so far. He was a Rookie of the Year winner and an excellent defender and hitter who played for 20 years, accumulating 435 home runs and 2,725 hits. He was a 9-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glover, 2-time Silver Slugger and drove in over 100 runs 8 times. Beltran was never the best at any one thing, but did everything well, including baserunning earlier in his career, stealing over 40 bases twice. He hit at least 20 home runs 12 times and with a career high 41 bombs in 2006. Beltran lost many votes due to his involvement in the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal. He was a 40-year old player at the time in the last year of his career, so whatever cheating took place certainly didn’t change the fact that he had a Hall of Fame career. He has a good chance to get elected in 2026, however, and I’m hoping it happens.

8. Andruw Jones

And coming in at #8 is 10-time Gold Glover Andruw Jones, an even bigger snub than Beltran and Lofton in my opinion. He was a master in centerfield, consistently making amazing plays that seeemed to defy physics. Some advanced metrics suggest he is the best defensive center fielder ever. But Jones was also elite with the bat and he smashed over 430 home runs in his career, more than Cal Ripken Jr. and Mike Piazza. He finished 5th for the Rookie of the Year in 1997 and by 2007, had won his 10th Gold Glove and averaged 33 bombs a year throughout his first decade in the big leagues. Unfortunately, Jones struggled with injuries later in his career, stringing together 5 mediocre years to finish it off. This hurt his Hall of Fame chances as the voters are not the sharpest tools in the shed and could only remember the tail end of Jones’ career. But Andruw Jones had more Defensive Wins Above Replacement than any outfielder in the history of the game – including Willie Mays and was a premiere power hitter for a decade. He finished 2nd for MVP in 2005, leading the league with 51 homers and 128 RBIs, and for me, he easily ranks as a Top 10 Centerfielder all time.

7. Duke Snider

One of the biggest stars in the game during the mid-1950’s was Duke Snider, who became the Dodgers regular center-fielder in 1949, a year in which he hit .292 with 23 homers. From there, he only improved and made his first All Star team in 1950. He hit .321 that year and led the league with 199 hits, beginning a streak of 7 consecutive All Star appearances. He averaged 31 home runs a year for 9 straight years, led the league in home runs in 1956 with 43 bombs, and led the league in runs for three straight seasons. He was also a top-notch defender, known for his ability to run, throw and make sensational catches. He suffered a series of injures in the late 50’s and had knee surgery in 1957. After the move to LA in 1958, Snider never regained his prior form although he made one more All Star team with the Mets in 1963. He retired with a career .295 batting average, 407 home runs, and a .919 OPS. He likely would have won a few Gold Gloves, but the award did not begin until 1957, just after his prime. Snider was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980.

6. Joe Dimaggio

The Yankee Clipper, Joe Dimaggio, made his big league debut in 1936, in the same lineup with Lou Gehrig. He set a rookie franchise record with 29 home runs that season, a record that was not broken until Aaron Judge came along in 2017. He also made the All Star team, his first of 13 – and he played in 13 seasons. In other words, Dimaggio was an All Star every single season he played. He led the league with 46 homers in 1937, won his first MVP in 1930 with a league leading .381 batting average, then won a second MVP in 1941, a season in which his most famous achievement took place – an unbreakable 56-game hitting streak that stretched from May 15th to July 17th. Then, in the prime of his career, he missed 3 straight seasons due to World War II. He came back strong, though, and won a 3rd MVP in 1947. Dimaggio also had two second place finishes for the award. He was considered a strong fielder, though modern defensive metrics suggest he was above average but not elite. He did have a very strong and accurate arm and his incredible bat made up for any defensive shortcomings anyway. Dimaggio retired with a .325 batting average, .977 OPS, 361 home runs and 2,214 hits. If not for WW2, he would’ve easily hit around 450 homers and surpassed 2,500 hits. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955, but the writers unbelievably snubbed him on two ballots before finally electing Joltin’ Joe.

5. Ken Griffey Jr.

Now we move into the Top 5, which include nothing but the best, and it starts with the Kid – Ken Griffey Jr., who grew up around baseball as the son of 3-time All Star Ken Griffey, who made his MLB debut when Junior was 3 years old. By the time he was in High School, he was the biggest prospect in the country, displaying incredible skills both defensively and offensively. He was drafted first overall by the Mariners, destroyed the minor leagues, and made his big league debut at age 19. He was an immediate sensation. In 1990, his first full season, he hit .300, won a Gold Glove, and made his first of 13 All Star teams. His dad was also still playing and in one of the most amazing moments in MLB history, the pair hit back to back home runs for the M’s. Jr. was sensational in the field, but absolutely raked at the plate and his power increased throughout the early 90’s, going from 22 home runs to 27 then to 45 in 1993. He was also a base-stealing threat in his early years, stealing at least 15 bases 8 times. In 1997, Griffey Jr.’s skillset reached its peak as he crushed 56 home runs with 147 RBIs, winning the MVP Award. He followed that season up with 56 more bombs and led the league in homers for 3 straight years, while consistently playing elite defense and making highlight reels. He ended up with 10 Gold Glove Awards. Jr. later played with the Reds and White Sox before returning to Seattle to finish off his amazing career, which included 630 home runs and 2,781 hits. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

4. Tris Speaker

Coming up next is the Gray Eagle, a complete player who still holds many MLB records to this day – the great Tris Speaker, who played most of his career with Boston and Cleveland. He was one of the best fielders in the history of the game, with blazing speed and freak athleticism. Speaker would play extremely shallow to defend against singles, with the confidence to chase down fly balls over his head to prevent extra base hits. But as good as he was defensively, Speaker might’ve been even better with the bat, and he had a .345 career batting average. He was a doubles machine, leading the league in the category 8 times. He also hit an incredible 222 career triples, maxing out at 22 in 1913. His speed was off the charts and unsurprisingly he also stole a lot of bases – 432 in total. Speaker even led the league in home runs in 1912. For most of his career, there was no MVP award, but it did exist from 1911 to 1914, and he got votes every time, winning the award in 1912, a season in which he had a league leading .464 on-base percentage. Speaker still holds the MLB record for career doubles, outfield assists, and unassisted double plays. He is 5th all time 3,514 career hits and was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of its second ceremony, the Class of 1937.

3. Ty Cobb

One of the early legends of the game, Ty Cobb, AKA The Georgia Peach, played 24 years in the Major Leagues, 22 with the Detroit Tigers, and set an insane 90 MLB records throughout his career. He still has more batting titles than any other player, and it all started in 1905, when he made his debut at just 18 years old. Jealous veterans subjected him to hazing, destroying his bats, tying knots in his clothing, while verbally abusing him. This only fueled the young star, who emerged as not only the best player on the Tigers, but as one of the premiere players in the game. In 1907, he .350 with 119 RBIs and 212 hits, each a league best. And Cobb continued to put up numbers that no one could touch. He led the league in batting average in 12 out of 13 seasons, surpassing .400 multiple times, while stealing bases at a ridiculous pace. He stole 53 bases one year, then 76, then 83, then 96 in 1915. He played the game all out every day, with a fire never before seen. Cobb led the league in hits 8 times, triples 4 times, and doubles 3 times. On four separate occasions, Cobb reached 1st, stole 2nd, stole 3rd, then stole home, another one of his many records. He regarded baseball as “something like a war,” and every single game for him felt like life or death. Casey Stengal said "I never saw anyone like Ty Cobb. No one even close to him. He was the greatest all time ballplayer. That guy was superhuman, amazing.” Cobb hit .366 for his entire career, a stunning number, and also had an MLB record 4,189 hits, a record that stood until Pete Rose became the new hit king. He was one of the first 5 inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2. Mickey Mantle

Up next we have the Commerce Comet, one of the greatest sluggers to ever walk the planet. Mickey Mantle was an incredibly talented switch-hitter who caught the attention of Casey Stengel during Yankees Spring Training in 1951 when he crushed tape-measure home runs from each side of the plate. He made the big league team, but struggled in his rookie year and was sent back to the minors. He almost quit, but reconsidered after his father said “I thought I raised a man. I see I raised a coward instead. You can come back to Oklahoma and work the mines with me.” Mantle stuck with baseball, made it back to the Yankees, and broke out in 1952 with a .311 batting average and league leading .924 OPS. He had unbelievable speed and explosiveness, but much of that declined after severe right knee injury sustained in the ‘51 World Series. Even with the injury and a torn ACL, Mantle went on to have an incredible career, becoming a generational superstar. He won back to back MVPs in 1956 and ‘57, winning a Triple Crown in ‘56 with a .353 average, 52 home runs and 130 RBIs. He won a third MVP and a Gold Glove Award in 1962. Mantle also led the league in walks 5 times, retiring with a .421 on-base-percentage. He made 20 All Star Teams, hit 536 career home runs, and batted .298 – all during a career that was plagued with injuries. He helped the Yankees to win 7 World Series titles and hit 18 World Series home runs. Mantle is an absolute legend and one of the greatest baseball players to ever live. He was inducted into Cooperstown in 1974.

1. Willie Mays

But coming at #1 is none other than the legendary Willie Mays, possibly the greatest all-around player in the history of the game. He won a Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 and by 1954, was the best player in the game despite missing nearly two full seasons due to military service. He hit .345 in ‘54 with 41 home runs, and took home his first MVP Award. From there, Mays was elite year after year, hitting for average and power, playing incredible defense while stealing a ton of bases. He led the league in steals for 4 straight seasons, averaged over 35 home runs per season for a decade, and led the league in multiple offensive categories every year. In 1957, the Gold Glove Award was introduced and Willie Mays won the award for 12 straight seasons. He won a second MVP award in 1965 with 52 home runs, a .317 average and 112 RBIs. Mays topped 100 RBIs 10 times and became the only player to ever hit 50 homers and 20 triples in the same season. He tied an MLB record with 4 home runs in a single game, made one of the most iconic catches in the history of the game in the 1954 World Series, and is the only player to ever reach 3,000 hits, 300 home runs and 300 steals while hitting over .300. He far exceeded some of those numbers, reaching 660 home runs in his career, 3,293 hits, and 339 steals. Although this list has some amazing legendary players, there was no one else but the Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays, who I could put as the #1 greatest center-fielder to ever play the game.

But let me know your thoughts down below; who else would you add to the list? Thanks so much for checking out the video and we’ll talk to ya’ll in the next one.

Top 15 MLB Right-Fielders of ALL TIME

Welcome back to another MLB top 15 position video and today we’ll be talking about some of the greatest right fielders to ever play the game. Right field is the farthest position from third base, usually meaning the right fielder needs to have an extremely powerful arm. Oftentimes, that’s not the only thing powerful about a right-fielder, as many of the greatest hitters of all time played the majority of their games as the position. On today’s Top 15, every single player is in the Hall of Fame. To be eligible for the list, a player has to be retired, has to have played in at least 1,000 games in right field and it had to be the position they played more than any other. But before getting into the Top 15, I have 5 quick honorable mentions.

Sammy Sosa

Sosa is 10th all time with 2,015 games played in right field and is 1st all time with 576 home runs as a right-fielder. The 1998 MVP hit over 60 home runs in a season 3 times, also a record. However, it’s hard to tell how good he would’ve been without the ‘roids. Sosa was below average defensively, although he did have a strong arm with 127 career assists. His career WAR of 58.6 is relatively low compared to other great right-fielders. But, he definitely deserves a mention for his insane peak.

Gary Sheffield

9-time All Star Gary Sheffield began his career as a shortstop and third baseman, but settled into right-field in 1994 with the Florida Marlins. He was one of the most feared hitters in the game, consistently hitting near .300 with big power. Sheffield had exceptional bat speed and impressive plate discipline. He retired with 509 home runs, a .394 on-base percentage and a .907 OPS. His 60.5 WAR ranks 19th among right-fielders

Dwight Evans

One of my top Hall of Fame snubs of all time, Dwight Evans barely missed out on the Top 15. He brought an incredible combination of power, patience and elite defense to the ballpark every night. Evans won 8 Gold Gloves, led the league in walks 3 times, and hit at least 20 home runs in 11 separate seasons. He retired with a .370 on-base percentage and 385 home runs. He is a borderline Hall of Famer with his bat alone, but the 8 Gold Gloves should definitely have put him over the top.

Vladmir Guerrero

Although he finished his career as a full-time DH, Guerrero played 1,605 games as a right-fielder with one of the most powerful arms in the game. But his main skillset was definitely his bat, and Guerrero had elite hand eye coordination that allowed him to put wood on the ball no matter where the pitch was thrown. He consistently hit well over .300 with power, crushing 449 career bombs. Guerrero made 9 All Star teams, won 8 Silver Sluggers, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Dave Parker

“The Cobra” was one of the most dangerous sluggers in baseball and also had a rocket for an arm. He won an MVP, 3 Gold Gloves, an All Star Game MVP, two World Series Rings and back-to-back batting titles. He was a key member of the Pirates championship team in 1979, hitting .333 in the NLCS and .345 in the World Series. He had 2,700 hits and 143 outfield assists in his career. Parker was just recently elected to the Hall of Fame, but sadly he also passed away in June. Rest in Peace Cobra.

Now, let’s jump into the Top 15...

15. Ichiro Suzuki

The fact that Ichiro comes in at the bottom of this list tells you just how good these players are. Ichiro came over to the United States after a stellar 9 year career in Japan, making his MLB debut at age 27. He had a season for the ages, winning the Rookie of the Year and MVP, hitting .350 with 242 hits and 56 stolen bases. It was just the beginning for Ichiro, who played in 19 separate seasons in the big leagues, leading the league in hits 7 times, and he made 10 straight All Star Games while winning 10 straight Gold Glove Awards. He reached 3,000 hits with a .311 career average. Who knows what career records he could’ve broken had he started his career back in 1992 when he began his pro career in Japan. But regardless, Ichiro is one of the greatest right-fielders to ever play the game.

14. Andre Dawson

The Hawk, Andre Dawson, played center-field for the first few years of his career with the Expos, but moved to right in 1984, where he played for the rest of his career. He was one of the most feared hitters in the game from the beginning, as he won the Rookie of the Year in 1977 and after signing with the Cubs in 1987, became one of the best in the game. That year, he won the MVP with 49 bombs and 137 RBIs. He was also a fantastic fielder and won 8 total Gold Gloves, half of them as a right-fielder. He ended his career with 438 home runs, 2,774 hits, and an .806 OPS. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2010.

13. Larry Walker

5-Time All Star Larry Walker could pretty much do it all. He obviously had big power, and hit 383 career home runs. He led the league in his MVP season of 1997 with 49 bombs. He could also hit for average like few others, leading the league in batting average 3 times, maxing out with a .379 mark in 1999. He also had a great eye, worked consistent walks, and was an elite fielder, winning 7 Gold Gloves. He retired with 150 career assists, 20th on the All Time list for right-fielders. He was even a great baserunner, with 11 seasons of double-digit steals including 33 in 1997. He stole 230 career bases, hit .313 and retired with a .965 OPS. Few players helped their teams win ballgames like the legendary Larry Walker, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

12. Dave Winfield

Up next is the 7-time Gold Glover and 6-Time Silver Slugger, Dave Winfield, whose reign of terror against pitchers began in 1977 when he made his first of 12 straight All Star Teams. That year, he crushed 25 homers and began a streak of 15 seasons, with the exception of the strike shortened 1981, in which he would crush at least 19 bombs. He drove in at least 100 runs 8 times and finished in the Top 10 for the MVP 7 times, although he never won the award. But he had incredible longevity, playing for 22 seasons. He was an impact player even later in his career, crushing 2 home runs in the 1992 ALCS for the Blue Jays, helping them reach and eventually win the World Series. He retired with 3,110 hits and 465 home runs and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001.

11. Sam Crawford

The legendary Sam Crawford was the best fielding and throwing right-fielder in the game during his time and he retired with an insane 191 assists, 5th all time. The speedy right-fielder played for 19 years and set all types of MLB records, many which still stand today. He led the league in triples 6 times, and RBIs 3 times, surpassing 100 6 times in his career. He even had pop for his era, crushing a league leading 16 home runs in 1901, an incredibly high number for the dead ball era. He was also a prolific basestealer, stealing at least 20 bases 9 times, with a maximum of 42 in 1912. Crawford, to this day, has an MLB record 309 triples, a record that may stand forever, as a player would need to average 16 triples a year for 20 years to break it, and no one has hit 16 triples in a season since Jose Reyes in 2011. I would say Crawford’s record is safe.

10. Harry Heilmann

Moving into the Top 10, we have one of the most overlooked players in MLB history because he played alongside Ty Cobb for a decade, Harry Heilmann, AKA Slug, was one of the best hitters in the game during his time. He is currently 15th all time with a .342 career batting average and he won four batting titles during his career, once topping .400 with a .403 mark in 1923. He also had solid power for his time, hitting double digit bombs 9 times, including 21 homers in 1922. On July 8th, 1921, he hit a home run over the centerfield wall in Detroit that, according to reports at the time, “actually made the patrons gasp in astonishment.” It was reported to have traveled 610 feet, certainly an exaggeration. Detroit’s grounds keeper said it was closer to around 500 feet. Heilmann was also a great fielder and certainly would’ve won some Gold Gloves if they existed back then. He had 175 career assists, 11th all time among right-fielders. Heilmann never won an MVP, competing with the likes of Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Walter Johnson, but he finished in the Top 5 four times. He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1952.

9. Paul Waner

Another forgotten superstar of the late 20’s and early 30’s, Paul Waner AKA Big Poison was an immediate sensation for the Pirates in 1926 when he hit .336 with a league leading 22 triples his rookie year. He followed that up with an MVP season in which he hit .380 with 131 RBIs. He continued to hit well over .300 nearly ever season, and he hit double-digit triples for 10 straight years. Waner was known as one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball, with amazing speed and an extremely strong and accurate arm that led to 238 right-field assists, 3rd in the history of the game and a National League record to this day. He threw out at least 15 runners in 8 separate seasons. He became the 7th member of the 3,000 hit club and retired with 3,152 hits. He had a .333 career batting average and .401 on-base percentage. His 191 triples are 10th all time and his 605 doubles are 14th. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1952.

8. Tony Gwynn

Next up, we have one the greatest hitters to ever live, Padres legend Tony Gwynn. The Padres knew he was a pure hitter with solid potential when they took the local kid in the 3rd round out of San Diego State in 1981, but they had no idea just how good he would become. Gwynn immediately tore up the minor leagues, hitting .462 in Double-A, forcing a call up by 1982. He quickly became a regular in the Padres lineup, and led the league in 1984 with a .351 average and 213 hits, finishing 3rd for the MVP. He continued to rake his entire career, making 15 All Star Teams, winning 8 batting titles, and he also played excellent defense in right-field, taking home 5 Gold Glove Awards. He led the league in hits in 7 separate seasons and in batting average 8 separate seasons, finishing his career with 3,141 hits and a .338 career batting average. He was easily elected to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2007.

7. Reggie Jackson

A powerful slugger with a flair for the dramatic, Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, crushed 563 home runs in his illustrious career and that doesn’t count his 18 postseason bombs, many extremely dramatic, including 3 in one World Series game. He began his career with the A’s and made his first of 14 All Star teams in 1969, a season in which he hit 47 home runs with an OPS over 1.000. Jackson hit .310 with a home run in the 1973 World Series, helping the A’s take home the championship. He followed up with another solid World Series performance in ‘74, helping his team win back to back championships. He did the same for the New York Yankees and was unstoppable in both the 1977 and 1978 fall classics. In ‘77, he hit .450 with 5 bombs then in ‘78, hit .391 with 2 bombs and 8 RBIs. Jackson had a flamboyant personality and often crashed with his managers, most notably Billy Martin. He wasn’t the best defender and did strike out a lot, but it was all worth it for his incredible power and ability to come through when it counted. Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.

6. Al Kaline

Coming in at #6 is Al Kaline, who played 22 years in the big leagues, accumulating over 3,000 hits with 399 homers and a .297 batting average. He was a force at the plate since his rookie year and in 1955, he led the league with a .340 batting average while crushing 27 homers with 102 RBIs. He hit over .300 in 9 separate seasons, consistently hitting between around 20-29 homers. He had a good eye and worked 1,277 walks, resulting in a .376 on-base percentage. He was also one of most exceptional defenders in the game, retiring with a .987 fielding percentage and 146 assists. From the inception of the Gold Glove in 1957, he won one in ten out of eleven seasons. He would’ve likely won at least 2 or 3 more if they existed earlier in his career. In 1968, Kaline hit .379 with 2 home runs and 9 RBIs in the World Series, helping his Tigers win it all. Kaline retired as one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

5. Roberto Clemente

Now we move into the Top 5 for some of the most decorated and legendary ballplayers of all time, and they all played right field. At #5 is the Great One, Roberto Clemente, whose career was tragically cut short on December 31st, 1972 when he perished in a plane crash attempting to deliver aid packages to Nicaragua, which was affected by a massive Earthquake. When he died, Clemente was already a baseball legend, having played for 18 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an absolute superstar offensively and defensively. He had his breakout season in 1960 when he hit .314 with 16 homers, making his first of 15 All Star Teams, but the next year, he was even better, leading the league with a .351 average. He won 4 batting titles in his career, and finished in the Top 10 for MVP 8 times, winning the Award in 1966. As a defender, Clemente was absolutely stellar, possibly the greatest defensive right-fielder ever. He had a cannon for an arm and was ridiculously accurate as well. He had 256 career assists, second in the history of the game for a right-fielder. He was also known for spectacular catches, many times leaping or sliding to catch balls that seemed uncatchable. Clemente was simply was one of the best to ever play the game, and when he died, he had exactly 3,000 hits, a .317 batting average and 12 Gold Gloves. Clemente was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973 in a Special Election.

4. Frank Robinson

Next up is Frank Robinson, who lit up the league out of nowhere in his rookie year of 1956 with Cincinnati, hitting .290 with 38 bombs and a league leading 122 runs. He unanimously won the Rookie of the Year Award and continued to crush the baseball for 21 years, hitting at least 30 home runs 11 times while hitting for average. He led the league in OPS in 4 separate seasons, each eclipsing the 1.000 mark. In 1961, he won his first MVP, still with the Reds, by hitting .323 with 37 bombs, and a league leading .611 slugging percentage. He won another MVP in 1966, his first year with Baltimore, in a season for the ages – Robinson won the Triple Crown, hitting .316 with 122 RBIs and a career high 49 home runs. Robinson ended his career with 586 bombs and a .294 average and he also became the first black manager in MLB history in 1975, but he was also still a player, and went deep in his first at bat as manager. Robinson was also an elite defender and he won a Gold Glove in 1958, and he even stole over 200 bases in his career. He got his plaque in the Hall of Fame in 1982.

3. Mel Ott

During the 1930’s the best power hitter in the National League hands down was New York Giants right-fielder Mel Ott. He led the league in homers 6 times and was also one of the most patient hitters in the game, leading the league in walks 6 times and on-base percentage four times. He played for 22 years, all for the Giants, and retired with 511 home runs, 2,876 hits, 1,708 walks and a .304 batting average. He was an elite defender with an insane arm, retiring with 235 assists, still 4th in MLB history for a right-fielder. He made the first All Star Team in 1934 and went on to make a total of 11, and got MVP votes in 13 seasons, but never won the award. He might be the greatest MLB player of all time who played while the MVP award existed, and never actually won it. In 1942, he led the league in WAR, runs, home runs, walks, and OPS, but finished 3rd for the MVP behind Enos Slaughter and pitcher Mort Cooper. Ott is still 20th all time in career WAR with a 111 WAR, higher than Mickey Mantle. Ott was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1951.

2. Hank Aaron

Hammerin’ Hank Aaron needs no introduction. He was simply a once-in-a-lifetime generational talent who put together an insanely impressive career in which he made an MLB record 25 All Star teams, 13 Top 10 MVP seasons, 3,771 hits and at the time he retired an MLB record 755 home runs. Aaron was elite from day one with the Milwaukee Braves, and he won his MVP award in his 4th season, 1957, when he hit .322 with 44 home runs and 132 RBIs. He was incredibly consistent, year after year, crushing at least 20 home runs a year for an absolutely crazy 20 straight seasons, and he usually hit well over 30. Aaron was a 5-tool talent who could defend, throw, hit for power, hit for average and run – he stole over 20 bases in 6 separate seasons and retired with 179 right-field assists, 9th in the history of the game. He had a .305 career average, 2,227 RBIs and still holds the MLB record with 6,856 total bases, a record that may never be touched. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.

1. Babe Ruth

But at #1 has to be the greatest of all time, Babe Ruth, who played 1,128 games in right field. No player ever separated himself more from his peers than Ruth, who started his career as a pitcher, and he was elite, winning 23 games in 1916 with a league leading 1.75 ERA. But he was too good of a hitter to be a pitcher, and in 1919, he moved to the outfield full time and put up numbers no one ever thought possible before. Ruth smashed an MLB record 29 home runs with 113 RBIs, and he was just getting started. In 1920, he broke his own record with 54 homers, then broke it again in 1921 with 59. His offensive numbers dwarved those of every other player, and he also hit for average, hitting well over .300 nearly every season, maxing out an an incredible .393 mark in 1923, the year he won the MVP award. At that time, players were only allowed to win one MVP. Had that not been the case, Ruth could’ve won as many as 10 MVPs. Earlier in his career, Ruth had speed and was an above-average defender, but as he focused more on hitting and gained weight, his defensive skills declined. Still, Ruth’s offensive numbers more than made up for it and he ended his career with 714 home runs and a .342 batting average. To this day, Babe Ruth holds the MLB record for career slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, and WAR. He is 3rd all time in walks, 3rd in home runs, and even 13th in batting average. And he has to come in at #1 as the greatest right-fielder, and let’s be honest, compared to his peers, the greatest MLB player of all time.

And that is going to do it for today’s video ranking the greatest right-fielders in MLB history; let me know your thoughts down below. I hope you enjoyed the video; if so check out the playlist above which has my entire series, ranking every position in the game; I still have a few more to go, look forward to my ranking of the greatest left-fielders coming up next. Until then, enjoy the playlist and we’ll talk to you in the next one.

Top 15 MLB Left-Fielders of ALL TIME

Welcome back to another MLB top 15 position video and today it’s time to talk about some of the greatest modern day left-fielders to play the game of baseball, and it’s one of the most impressive lists yet. To be eligible, a player has to be retired, played the best years of their career after 1903, has to have played in at least 1,000 games in left field, more than another position – for example, Babe Ruth played 1,047 games in left field, but he played even more in right field and so that’s the ranking in which you’ll find the Salton of Swat. This list is going to contain some controversial names, and at least a couple big time left fielders have had connections to PEDs, making this list very tough… but, it has to be done. So, without any further ado today, I’m going to do my best to make a fair ranking of the greatest left fielders of all time – let me know your thoughts in the comment section down below and let’s jump into today’s list..

Honorable Mention. Minnie Minoso

Minnie Minoso, The Cuban Comet, played over 1,500 MLB games in left field, exciting crowds with his electric play. He began his pro career in Cuba then the Negro Leagues before singing with the Cleveland Indians in 1948. He was traded to the White Sox early in the 1951 season, his first full season. That year, he made the All Star team, led the league in triples and stolen bases while hitting .326 with a .422 on-base percentage. Minoso became an instant star, and continued to rake year in and year out, hitting over .300 in 8 separate seasons, while working lots of walks and also consistently leading the league in hit by pitches. He was also fantastic defensively, winning 3 Gold Glove Awards. He retired in the mid-60’s with a modern MLB record 197 hit by pitches, over 2,000 hits and a .299 batting average. Counting his time in the Negro Leagues, Minoso was a 13-time All Star. He made two brief comebacks – once in 1976 when he went 1 for 8 as a DH and pinch hitter, then again in 1980 at nearly 57 years old, he made two pinch hit appearances for the White Sox, officially playing professional baseball in 5 separate decades. He was dropped from the Hall of Fame ballot multiple times, but was finally elected by the Golden Era Committee in 2022.

15. Zack Wheat

Wheat played 19 years in the big leagues, 18 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he was one of the most consistent hitters in the league throughout his career. Wheat was a 5-tool talent before that term was coined. He hit over .300 in 14 separate seasons, inducing a league leading .335 in 1918. In 1924, he hit .375, but lost the batting title to Rogers Hornsby, who hit a ridiculous .424. He was a base stealing threat early in his career, averaging 19 steals per year for 7 straight seasons. Wheat was also an elite defender, leading NL left fielders in fielding percentage twice. He had a powerful arm, which helped him lead left fielders in putouts 7 times, and although his home run numbers would be considered below average today, he finished in the Top 10 several times and was considered a power hitter during his day. His career 132 home runs ranked 8th all time when he retired, and he is also 4th all time with 2,328 games played in left field. He made it into the Hall of Fame in 1959.

14. Jim Rice

8-Time All Star Jim Rice became an instant MLB star in 1975 when he hit .309 with 22 home runs, finishing second for the Rookie of the Year Award. In 1977, he had 407 total bases, the first MLB player with 400+ total bases in a season in nearly 20 years. He led the American League in the category for 3 straight seasons, a feat that had only been accomplished by Ty Cobb. Rice won the MVP award in 1978, crushing 46 home runs with 139 RBIs and a .315 batting average and made 4 straight All Star teams from 1977 to 1980. He repeated that feat from 1983 to 1986. He played his entire 16 year career with the Red Sox, following a tradition of great Boston left-fielders, including more names that will come up later on this list. Jim Rice was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

13. Joe Medwick

Long before Vladmir Guerrero and Pablo Sandoval, there was a Joe Medwick, a free swinger with elite hand eye coordination. He could hit almost any pitch. Medwick broke into the big leagues in 1932 and quickly became an everyday player for the Cardinals. He played the game as hard as anyone, and was extremely competitive, to the point of controversy at times. But he was also elite. He won the Triple Crown in 1937, taking home the MVP award with 31 bombs, 154 RBIs and a .374 batting average. He surpassed 100 RBIs for 6 straight seasons, made 7 consecutive All Star teams and finished in the Top 10 for MVP 4 times. Medwick also set a single season National League record with 64 doubles in 1936, a record that still stands. Shortly after a trade to Brookyln in 1940, Medwick was drilled in the head by a pitch by that put him in the hospital for nearly a week. Benches cleared as the beaning was believed to be intentional. Medwick eventually recovered, and returned to baseball, but never played as well as he did in the late 30’s. His last great season was in 1944 when he hit .337 with the Giants. He became a Hall of Famer in 1968 with a career .324 average and 2,471 hits.

12. Lou Brock

All-time Cardinals legend Lou Brock is mostly known for his 938 stolen bases, an MLB record at the time he retired. His speed was what made him a star and Brock led the league in steals in 8 out of 9 seasons, including 1974 when he stole a modern MLB record 118 bases. However, Brock was also a fantastic hitter who retired with a .293 batting average and .343 on-base percentage. He hit over .300 8 times, including his final season in 1979 when he hit .304. He had 3 additional seasons falling just short of .300, with a .297, .298 and .299 season. During his career, he had seasons in which he led the league in runs, doubles, triples, and at bats. He made 6 All Star Teams and was also an elite hitter in the postseason, hitting .391 in the World Series with 4 home runs in 87 at bats. He was a key player for the Cardinals during their 1964 and 1967 Championship seasons and finished his career with over 3,000 hits and exactly 900 RBIs. Lou Brock was easily elected into the Hall of Fame in 1985, his first year on the ballot.

11. Tim Raines

One of the most underrated MLB talents for decades, switch-hitter Tim Raines, AKA “Rock”, was one of the best leadoff hitters and baserunners in MLB history. He wasn’t drafted until the 5th round by the Montreal Expos but he sped through the minor leagues, literally, stealing 64 bases in 1980 while hitting .354 in Triple-A. He finished 2nd for the Rookie of the Year in 1981, leading the league with an incredible 71 steals. He went on to lead the league in the category for 4 consecutive seasons, maxing out at 90 steals in 1983, and he didn’t get thrown out much. Raines holds the highest stolen base success rate of any player with 400 or more stolen bases at an 84.7% success rate.  He could also hit, and led the league in 1986 with a .334 batting average. He made seven straight All Star teams with Montreal, led the league in doubles in 1984, won a Silver Slugger in 1986 and in his prime, was simply one of the most productive players in the game. Even after his best years, he continued to steal a ton of bases, with at least 40 stolen bases in 11 out of 12 seasons. He went on to have productive years with the White Sox, Yankees and A’s before finishing his career with the Orioles and Marlins, compiling 23 total big league seasons, 808 steals, 2,605 hits and a .294 batting average. Although it wasn’t until his 10th time on the ballot, Raines was finally voted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

10. Billy Williams

Chicago Cubs legend Sweet Swingin’ Billy Williams played in his first full season in 1961 and won the Rookie of the Year, hitting .278 with 25 bombs. The next year, his average jumped to .298 and he made his first of 6 All Star Teams. Williams was consistently good for 20-40 home runs, and a batting average near .300. He hit at least 20 homers for 13 straight seasons, maxing out at 42 in 1970, a year in which he hit .322 with a league leading 220 hits. He finished 2nd for the MVP, a feat he accomplished again in 1972 when he won a batting title with a .333 average and an OPS over 1.000. Williams wasn’t the best defender early on, but gradually improved throughout his career and was eventually considered above average. He retired with 2,711 hits, 426 home runs, 1,475 RBIs, a .290 average and .361 on base percentage. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987.

9. Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner’s MLB career might have started sooner if not for WW2 as he spent two years in the Navy, enlisting the day after Pearl Harbor. Fortunately, he wasted no time in the minors afterwards, making his big league debut in 1946 at the age of 23, and he led the league in home runs with Pirates. Kiner went on to the lead the league in big flies for 7 straight seasons, becoming the premiere power-hitter in the game. He crushed 51 bombs in 1947 and 54 in 1949, falling just 2 short of the NL record set by Hack Wilson. Kiner became the fourth MLB player to have at least four 30-home run, 100-RBI seasons in their first five years. He also knew the strike zone well and led the league in walks 3 times, consistently getting on base. He made 6 straight All Star teams and looked primed to become one of the greatest players to ever live. Unfortunately, a back injury cut his career short and Kiner retired at the age of 32, barely achieving the 10-year minimum to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1975, with 369 career home runs and a .946 OPS. Although he wasn’t able to have much longevity, Kiner had one of the most impressive peaks in MLB history.

8. Willie Stargell

Wilver Darnell Stargell made his MLB debut in 1962 with the Pirates but didn’t play his first full season until 1964, a year in which he made the All Star team and hit .273 with 21 homers. It was just the beginning for Pops, who hit 27 bombs in 1965, then 30 in 1966. His batting average also improved every year from .243 to .273 to .315. By the early 70’s, he was an absolute megastar, crushing a league leading 48 bombs in 1971, finishing 2nd for the MVP. He finished in the Top 3 for the award in three consecutive seasons, but didn’t win won until 1979 when he tied with Keith Hernandez. He hit more home runs than any other player during the 1970’s and played his entire 21-year career with the Pirates, crushing 475 home runs with a .282 batting average, and 1,540 RBIs. He became known for his tape measure bombs, seven of which left Forbes Field and several others which reached the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium. He became the first player to ever send a baseball completely out of Dodger Stadium. He was a key member of two Pirates championship clubs, one in 1971, and another in 1979, his MVP season, in which he also hit .400 with 3 home runs in the World Series. Stargell wasn’t known for his defense, but it was good enough to get by, especially with his insane offensive production. The 7-time All Star was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988.

7. Manny Ramirez

Up next is the first steroid-connected guy, the famous, or infamous, Manny Ramirez, who without a doubt was a gifted ballplayer with tremendous power and a pure hitting ability that was evident from his early years with Cleveland. Manny was one of many incredible talents on those mid 1990’s Indians teams, and he finished second for the Rookie of the Year in 1994 before breaking out in ‘95 with an All Star season in which he hit .308 with 31 homers and 117 RBIs. A star was born and his stats would continue to improve from there. In 1999, Manny led the league with 165 RBIs, a .663 slugging percentage and insane 1.105 OPS. He won 8 straight Silver Sluggers, 9 total, and hit at least 30 home runs in 12 out of 13 seasons. After signing as a free agent with the Red Sox, Manny continued to crush the baseball and helped them break the Curse of the Bambino by hitting .412 in the 2004 World Series. Although even back then, he had plenty of Manny Being Manny controversial moments, his career was clearly on a Hall of Fame trajectory. But then, in 2009, while with the Dodgers, he was suspended 50 games for violating the league’s PED policy. In early 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays, he was nailed again, and was facing a 100-game suspension when he decided to retire. Ramirez never played in another MLB game. For Manny, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact moment he started taking PED’s, but in my opinion, he would’ve been a Hall of Famer if he never touched them, as he was clearly an elite hitter and superstar from his early years with Cleveland. He ended up with 555 home runs, 12 All Star appearances and a .312 career batting average. Due to his two suspensions, he has not been elected to the Hall of Fame.

6. Goose Goslin

Up next, we’re going back to the 1920’s and 30’s with Goose Goslin, an elite hitter and defender who played in the big leagues for 18 years. Goslin was a 5-tool talent who had incredible speed, a pure bat, and power as well. He led the league in triples twice and had eleven seasons in which he hit at least .300. He won a batting title in 1928 with a .379 batting average. Goslin had big power potential, although the numbers didn’t always show it because he played at the mammoth Griffith Stadium. Still, he crushed at least 17 home runs in four separate seasons, mostly on the road, when he was traded to the St. Louis Browns in 1930 and suddenly smashed a career high 37 home runs. He ended his career with 248 bombs. He could also steal bases, with 176 career steals including 27 in 1925. He was fantastic in the field as well and used his powerful arm to lead the AL in assists five times and putouts four times. He remains in the top 5 all time in the American League in putouts and assists and is 22nd all time with 173 career triples. In 1924, he hit .344 with 3 home runs in the World Series, helping the Washington Senators win it all, then hit .308 with 3 more homers in the 1925 Fall Classic, although his team fell short that year. He did win one more ring with Detroit in 1935 and ended up hitting 7 home runs in 129 World Series at bats. Goslin is ranked higher than one might expect because of his overall contributions to his teams in every facet of the game. He was completely snubbed by the writers for the Hall of Fame, who couldn’t even get him to 1% on the 1948 ballot. Goslin was elected unanimously by the Veteran’s Committee in 1968.

5. Al Simmons

The legendary Al Simmons made an instant impact with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1924 when he hit .308 his rookie year with 103 RBIs. It was just the beginning for Simmons who broke out in 1925 with a league leading 253 hits and 392 total bases. He also crushed 24 homers, finishing 2nd for the MVP in his second season. He would go on to have at least 200 hits in 6 separate seasons, while hitting for power. He was a clutch hitter who drove in at least 100 runs in 11 straight seasons and 12 overall. He finished in the Top 10 for the MVP eight times but somehow never won the award. He was also elite in the postseason, hitting .300 with 2 homers in the 1929 World Series, then .364 with 2 more bombs in the 1930 Fall Classic. The A’s won both times. In 1931, although they lost, Simmons hit .333 with yet again 2 more home runs. Simmons was also an excellent defender in left field, retiring with a .982 fielding percentage and exactly 5,000 putouts. He retired as one of the best hitters in MLB history, with a .334 career average and four seasons above .380. He crushed 307 home runs and had a career .915 OPS. Simmons was inducted into Cooperstown in 1953.

4. Carl Yastrzemski

Moving into the top 3, we have Carl Yastrzemski, who played 1,912 games in left field, each and every one for the Boston Red Sox. He proved to a worthy successor to another legendary Red Sox left fielder who we’re about to talk about, except Yaz was even better defensively. He had a powerful arm and became an expert in dealing with the Green Monster in left field. He won seven Gold Gloves and lead his team in assists seven times. But he was also elite with the bat and Yastrzemski consistently hit around .300 with power. He won 3 batting titles, including one in 1967, a magical year in which he won the triple crown, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. He obviously won the MVP that year. Yastrzemski had incredible longevity as well, and played for 23 years, rarely missing a game, and was excellent the entire time, even making the All Star team – his 18th – in his final season in 1983. Yastrzemski had a great eye as well and led the league in walks twice. He retired with an on-base percentage of .379 to go along with 452 home runs and 3,419 hits. He even stole 168 bases. Carl Yastrzemski was one of the best and most complete players to ever pick up a bat and he comes in at #3 on today’s list of the best left fielders of all time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

3. Rickey Henderson

Coming in at #3, we have Rickey Henderson, the greatest base stealer and leadoff hitter in MLB history. But before his first MLB steal, the A’s themselves made an amazing steal by drafting Rickey in the 4th round of the 1976 MLB draft. He destroyed the minor leagues, crushing the baseball while stealing bases at a pace not seen in decades. He stole 95 bases in 1977 with the Modesto A’s. He made his big league debut in 1979 and in first full season in 1980, he stole a hundred bases and made All Star Game while hitting over .300 with a .408 on-base-percentage. His insane speed also made him an incredible fielder and he won a Gold Glove in 1981. He became the best leadoff hitter in the game, working walks at an incredible pace but also had a knack for crushing bombs to kick off a game, and he broke the MLB record for the most leadoff homers. He would go on to lead the league in steals 12 times in his career, racking up an MLB record 1,406 stolen bases. He also won an MVP in 1990, a season in which he hit .325 with 28 homers and 65 steals. Henderson had insane longevity and played for 25 years in the league, breaking the MLB walk record as well. He helped two teams win World Series championships – the A’s and Blue Jays, and won an ALCS MVP in 1989. The accolades of Rickey Henderson and way too long to list, but he is without a doubt one of the greatest left fielders to ever live and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

2. Ted Williams

At #2 is Yastrzemski’s predecessor, the great Ted Williams, who gets ranked slightly higher than Yaz only because his offensive prowess was just that amazing. In fact, many consider Ted Williams to be the greatest hitter to ever live. It was instantly apparent Williams was special when drove in a league leading 145 runs his rookie year in 1939, finishing 4th for the MVP. He would’ve easily won the Rookie of the Year had the award existed at that time. By 1941, he was absolutely unstoppable, leading the league in almost every offensive category. He hit .406 with 37 home runs, an insane .553 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.287. He probably should’ve won the MVP Award but understandably lost to Joe Dimaggio, who broke an MLB record with a hit in 56 consecutive games. But Ted Williams was definitely on his way to winning several MVPs when World War II broke out. Williams missed 3 seasons in the prime of his life serving his country. When he returned, though, he didn’t miss a single beat. In 1946, his first year back, he won the MVP, leading the league in runs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging and WAR. He could get on base like no one else, hit for an extremely high average and belt plenty of home runs. And he rarely swung out of the strike zone, leading the league in walks 8 times in his career. He won a second MVP in 1949, a year he also won his second Triple Crown, hit at least .400 3 times and retired with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs and a 1.116 OPS for his entire career. To put that in perspective, Shohei Ohtani’s OPS in his 50/50 season was 1.036, lower than Ted William’s career OPS. Another insane stat – Ted Williams never had an OPS lower than 1.000 in a single full season in his career. No amount of words can express how freakishly good Ted Williams was at hitting, so good that despite being an average defender in left field, he comes in 2nd all time on today’s list.

1. Barry Bonds

But, hopefully no one’s surprise, coming at #1 I had to go with the great Barry Bonds, who is obviously a controversial figure to say the least, but he is without a doubt the greatest baseball player I’ve ever watched in person, and even before he got a little boost in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, Bonds was on his way to becoming the greatest left fielder to ever play the game. Bonds had his first monster season in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he hit .301 with 33 bombs and 114 RBIs, while also winning a Gold Glove and stealing 52 bases. His all-around talent was off the charts, and Bonds won his first but certainly not last MVP that season. He would also go on to win 8 Gold Gloves in 9 years, becoming the premiere defender in left field, using his strong baseball instincts and amazing athleticism to get to the ball quickly and make extraordinary plays. He won a second MVP in 1992, with 34 home runs and 103 RBIs while leading the league in walks, runs, on-base percentage and slugging. Then, after signing with the Giants, he won his 3rd MVP in 1993, hitting a career high 46 homers with an OPS of 1.136. Bonds continued to be the best player in the game throughout the 90’s, cementing himself as a future Hall of Famer. Of course, we all know the story after that. Bonds went from being the best player in the game and a future Hall of Famer to becoming a Cyborg with numbers only seen in video games. He won 4 straight MVPs in the early 2000’s, broke the single season home run record with 73 bombs in 2001, became the first MLB player to put up a single season OPS north of 1.400, and eventually broke Hank Aaron’s all time home run record. Obviously, that portion of Bonds career has been clouded due to PEDs, but even if we tone down those numbers to what he would’ve put up without the extra help, I still believe Barry Bonds would’ve ended up as the greatest left fielder ever, and as a Giants fan, you don’t really expect me to put Barry Bonds anywhere than #1, do you? So Barry Bonds comes in as the greatest left fielder of all time, but if you wanna punish him for the PEDs, by all means Ted Williams would also be a respectable choice, so let me know your list down below; what is your top 5 or top 10?

I hope you all enjoyed the video; hit that thumbs up and subscribe button if you did and we’ll talk to you all in the next ranking.

Top 10 STEROID/PED MLB Hall of Fame SNUBS!!

Welcome back to another Humm Baby Baseball countdown and we’ve got a special and controversial one today – a snubs video but only involving MLB players with some type of PED connection. These are players who have been left out of the Hall of Fame due primarily or in most cases exclusively because of that connection. I’ve covered in depth some of my biggest MLB Hall of Fame Snubs including greats like Andruw Jones, Don Mattingly and Dwight Evans among many others, who for some reason or another have been rejected by the voters and are still on the outside of Cooperstown looking in. But I’ve always left off players with P.E.D connections, because we already know why they’re not in, and whether some of them should be allowed in or not is highly debated.

There are some fans who believe any player who ever took steroids or PEDs of any kind should never be allowed in the Hall of Fame under any circumstances. Others say, hey – MLB and former commissioner Bud Selig didn’t try to stop it, they didn’t enforce any rules against it, and a huge percentage of the league was doing it, so just consider it a particular era of the game – the Steroid Era – and vote the great players in who deserve it just like they did in every other era. But then, what about the more recent players who actually failed steroid tests, and were suspended for it? Again, opinions vary. Do they deserve harsher treatment since they actually failed a steroid test? Or does it matter? The debates continue to rage on.

For me, it’s a case by case basis. If a player appears on a Hall of Fame ballot, then that player is officially eligible and broke no rule so serious as to merit a ban. So, just as I would do for any player, I would follow the Hall of Fame’s guidelines for voters and use previously voted in players as precedence in how I should vote. The guidelines say

Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

So, according to those instructions, record and playing ability are considerations along with sportsmanship, character and integrity – and this is where Hall of Fame voters are able to justify not voting for some of the all time greats we’ll talk about today. Taking steroids is certainly a mark against a player in those categories, but nowhere does it say they have to be perfect human beings. There are many players in the Hall of Fame who have broken rules before and many with serious character flaws. Many if not most players will do whatever they can do gain an edge, and if it’s up to those who run the game to make sure there are enforced rules in place to stop it. Gaylord Perry was famous for throwing the illegal spitball for much of his career, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby even wrote an article titled “You’ve Got to Cheat to Win,” in which he claimed he cheated every chance he could and saw cheating in almost every game. I’m not condoning cheating, but the point is, players have done it throughout baseball history and will do so until measures taken to stop it, and when they’ve had Hall of Fame careers, they’ve been allowed in the Hall of Fame.

In the 90’s and 2000’s, absolutely nothing was done to curtail the use of steroids. Furthermore, there are without a doubt multiple players in who have already in the Hall of Fame who have done steroids. One might be David Ortiz, who reportedly tested positive for PEDs in 2003, when a series of tests was given to MLB players and was supposed to be secret, but it eventually leaked. Ortiz was given a pass by the voters, but they were not so gracious with other players. For these reasons, more and more fans are leaning towards the opinion that at least some of these great players should be in, and I completely agree. However, a player who gets suspended over and over once testing was implemented should be more harshly judged, since they intentionally violated MLB rules that were clearly in place, as opposed to what happened during the Steroid Era. So let’s get started with today’s top 10 MLB players with PED connections that deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and I’ll explain briefly why they are suspected of steroids, their career accomplishments and why I think they should be considered for Cooperstown. But first, I have one honorable mention, who probably doesn’t quite make my Hall of Fame ballot, but how could I do a steroid-related video without mentioning

Jose Canseco

Jose Canseco

We have to start with the Godfather of the Steroid Era, Jose Canseco. Growing up in the late 80’s, there was no bigger name in baseball, and my friends and I used to buy packs of baseball cards just hoping to pull a Jose Canseco. He made baseball history, becoming the first player to crush 40 homers and steal 40 bases, and he also won a Rookie of the Year, MVP Award and four Silver Sluggers. Canseco crushed 462 homers in his career, just 38 short of the magic 500. Unfortunately, he got just 1.1% of the vote on the Hall of Fame ballot, and later wrote a book that completely exposed MLB for the steroid era. He also named names of several teammates who Canseco alleged did steroids. In the book, he described his own process of taking steroids, and didn’t hold back whatsoever. The book didn’t make Canseco many friends and all but guaranteed he would never sniff Cooperstown. But should he get in?

Well, he definitely had the stardom – Canseco was an absolute superstar for years, and made 6 total All Star Teams. Statistically, though, despite the home run total, he is borderline with a .266 career average, 1,877 hits, and no gold gloves. On top of the steroids and the book, he also had lots of controversies and arrests throughout his career, which hurts regarding the character clause. Ultimately, although I wouldn’t mind seeing a Jose Canseco plaque in the Hall of Fame, the reality is there’s no way Jose Canseco should get in while some of the other names I’m about to get to are still on the outside. So, although I’m a Canseco fan and love listening to his videos, like the one where he challenges Aaron Judge to a home run contest, I would have to say in all seriousness, for the time being, Canseco is not a Hall of Famer, although if the name of the museum was accurate, he would definitely belong as there was nobody more famous during his prime as Jose Canseco. Now, let’s get to my Top 10 Snubs.

Manny Ramirez

10. Manny Ramirez

Starting off, we have Manny Ramirez, who actually failed not one, not two, but three steroid tests. The first was the same 2003 test that David Ortiz failed. Had this been his only failed test, the voters would’ve had to elected him, since they gave Ortiz a free pass for the same test. But Ramirez went on to fail two more, one that resulted in a 50 game suspension, and another that led to his retirement. For this reason, I understand voters leaving his name off the ballot, especially since they are only allowed 10 names. But Manny was an unbelievable hitter even as a youngster, likely before he ever touched steroids. He hit .308 with 31 home runs and 107 RBIs his first full season at just 23 years old in 1995.

By the end of his career, statistically anyway, Manny was easily a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is part of the 500 Home Run club with 555 career bombs, and retired with an extremely impressive .312 batting average. He was a 12-time All Star, 9-time Silver Slugger, World Series MVP and even won a batting title in 2002 with a .349 average. He finished in the Top 10 for MVP 9 times although he never won the award. But he was known as being very quirky during his career, and his odd behavior led to the phrase “Manny Being Manny.” But that quirkiness turned into misbehavior and he was involved in many controversies on top of the 3 failed steroid tests. For this reason, if I had a ballot, he would be one my last choices, and would usually get left off, but I do believe Manny would’ve had a Hall of Fame career had he never done steroids, and so if some of the better players on this list ever start getting in, I wouldn’t mind seeing Manny get in as well.

Jason Giambi

9. Jason Giambi

Giambi is one of the few PED-connected players who played throughout the entire steroid era of the 90’s and 2000’s, and continued his career into the 2010s. He ended up playing for 20 years, retiring after the 2014 season. Giambi hit 440 career bombs, but also excelled at getting on base, leading the league in walks four times and retiring with a .399 on-base-percentage and over 2,000 hits. He also has an MVP on his shelf, winning the award in 2000 with 43 home runs and 137 RBIs, which was before he started juicing according to his testimony.

Unlike most of the big names of the steroid era, Giambi apologized for using steroids during his career and urged other players to do the same. He was named in the BALCO investigation, and admitted to using steroids during the offseasons from 2001 to 2003. “I was wrong for using that stuff,” he told USA today in 2007, “What we should have done a long time ago was stand up – players, ownership, everybody – and say, ‘We made a mistake.’”

He continued to put up big numbers after he stopped juicing, smashing 32 home runs for the Yankees in 2008. Giambi always had a great eye to go along with a pure and powerful bat, but there’s no telling what his stats would’ve looked like without steroids. But he owned up to his mistake and apologized, then went on to have a great 20-year career. He also seemed to be a great teammate who was well-liked, otherwise there’s no way he would’ve stayed in MLB through his age 43 season. All told, he wouldn’t be one of the first names I put on a ballot, but if I had room, I would definitely check Jason Giambi’s name for the Hall of Fame.

Andy Pettitte

8. Andy Pettitte

Up next is Andy Pettitte, whose connection to PEDs has definitely helped keep him out of the Hall of Fame. He was straightforward about his use of HGH to help heal from an injury during 2002, and I personally believe that Pettite was not some one who was juicing throughout his career. He seemed honest and apologetic, and when he did it, HGH wasn’t even banned in MLB. As for his career, Pettitte had 256 wins, but it was his postseason performance that puts him over the top. He is the game’s all-time leader in playoff wins and innings pitched and is fourth in strikeouts behind Clayton Kershaw. A huge part of that is the Yankee teams he played for, but Pettitte still had to pitch well in the biggest moments and he consistently did that. As for the bulk of his career, he won over 20 games twice, struck out 2,448 batters, and ended his career with more wins than any pitcher in a Yankee uniform besides Whitey Ford and Red Ruffing, both Hall of Famers. Pettitte’s career WAR of 60.2 is higher than many big-name Hall of Famers including Whitey Ford, so Andy Pettite is another name I would put on my ballot if I had room, and in fact he was on my unofficial 2021 ballot, but he got just 13.7% of the vote that year. He did make some progress, though, getting 27.9% on this year’s ballot.

Rafael Palmeiro

7. Rafael Palmeiro

Palmeiro retired with 569 homers and 3,020 hits, normally more than enough for easy induction into the Hall of Fame. He was a fantastic hitter from his early years with the Cubs when he made the All Star team in 1988 and hit .307 with 41 doubles, although his power didn’t really show up until he was with the Texas Rangers in the early 90’s, the notorious steroid-driven team that had Canseco, A-Rod, Pudge, and Juan Gonzalez. He smashed 37 bombs in 1993, and the power continued with Baltimore with he hit 39 homers in 1995 and again in 1996. Back with Texas, he had perhaps his best year in 1999 with 47 homers and a .324 average.

He was also a smooth fielder and won three Gold Gloves. Palmeiro was named in Canseco’s book as a steroid-user and he appeared at a Congressional Hearing vehemently denying it, wagging his finger and saying he never used steroids, period. A few months later, he was suspended for failing a steroid test, but continued to claim he never intentionally put a banned substance into his body. It’s hard to believe that based on his failed test, Canseco’s book, and his sudden power surge when he joined the early 90’s Texas Rangers. It’s impossible to know what type of career he could’ve had without the ‘roids, but he was a first round pick, top prospect, and natural hitter from his early days, who had a chance to have a Hall of Fame career and develop big power without the extra help. As it stands, he is still one of just 7 members of the 3,000 hit, 500 home run club, which includes Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, so although I wouldn’t put his name above the next 6, Palmeiro is some one I would definitely vote for.

Alex Rodriguez

6. Alex Rodriguez

The only reason A-Rod is this low on the list is because he, like Manny, did steroids while testing was in full force and more than once, failed a test. If he had borderline stats like Jason Giambi or Jose Canseco, there is no way I could support him for the Hall of Fame. However, Alex Rodriguez was a generational talent whose numbers rank among the best in the history of the game. He was elite from his early years with the Seattle Mariners, before he ever touched steroids, crushing 36 home runs and 54 doubles in 1996, with a league-leading .358 batting average, finishing 2nd for the MVP at just 21 years old. He continued to put up massive numbers in Seattle, before signing a record-breaking deal with the Texas Rangers.

It was then he first started using steroids, and his stats blew up even bigger. He led the league in homers each of 3 seasons in Texas and took home the MVP in 2003. He was also an elite defender, winning back to back Gold Gloves, before moving on to the New York Yankees, where he won two more MVPs. It was in 2009 that his steroid use came to light, and he admitted to using them during his time with the Rangers. But then, in 2014, he was nailed again for steroids in part of a Biogenesis Scandal, and was subsequently suspended for a year. He still returned to crush 33 home runs at 40 years of age in 2015, proving his incredible talent. A-Rod ended his career with 696 home runs and a .295 average, but he would’ve probably hit over 500 without steroids, although we’ll never know for sure. Despite the steroid failures, Rodriguez was still one of the greatest players of all time, and although I would check the other names ahead of him on his list first, if I had room on my ballot, I would still vote for Alex Rodriguez, who got 37.1% of the vote on this year’s ballot.

Gary Sheffield

5. Gary Sheffield

Up next is Gary Sheffield, who got close but fell short with 63.9% of the vote in 2024 when he fell off the ballot. As a ballplayer, there is little doubt – he is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. Sheffield smashed 509 home runs, which historically would be enough alone to get a player in the Hall of Fame. But he also had 2,689 hits, a .292 average, 9 All Star selections, 5 Silver Sluggers and a batting title in 1992 when he hit .330. He finished in top 3 for MVP 3 times, once finishing second in 2004. He might not be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but there’s no doubt he has the numbers to get in.

But, he had a PED-connection, stemming from workouts with Barry Bonds in the early 2000s, during a time MLB did not test for steroids. He admitted to using some of the cream Bonds was using to help his muscles recover, and found out later that was a type of steroid. Sheffield also reportedly bought a small amount of vitamins from BALCO. He has one of the more flimsy connections to PEDs and it’s probable he was only taking them during the 2002 season with the Atlanta Braves. The vast majority of his career stats should be considered legit, and Sheffield was a massive talent from his early years in the 80’s with Milwaukee and he went on to become one of the best players in the early history of the Marlins.

Sheffield is a perfect example of how voters will pick and choose who they will forgive regarding steroids and who they won’t. He was surrounded by steroid users and made a couple mistakes during a short period of his career, but it shouldn’t keep him out of the Hall of Fame, especially if other players like Ivan Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and David Ortiz are all in, all of whom have had some type of connection to PEDs. Sheffield is definitely a major Hall of Fame Snub in my opinion.

Sammy Sosa

4. Sammy Sosa

Next on the list is a tough one, as Sammy Sosa clearly put together a Hall of Fame career statistically, but it’s likely he wouldn’t have been a Hall of Famer without the juice. He was a more or less average player with the Rangers and White Sox before his first big season in 1993 with the Cubs when he hit 33 home runs. He went on to have a solid 5 year period of averaging 34 homers and 100 RBIs from 1993 to 1997. This type of production alone could’ve led to a Hall of Fame career for Sosa. But then, he became a video game player in 1998, when he and Mark McGwire revived the sport and brought in millions of new fans as they chased the single-season home run record of 61, held by Roger Maris. Sosa ended up with 66 bombs and the MVP Award. McGwire ended up with the record with 70.

But it wasn’t a one and done season for Sosa. He continued to crush home runs at a ridiculous pace, smashing at least 60 home runs two more times and averaging 58 per season for a 5 year period. He eventually joined the exclusive 600 home run club, and finished his career with 609 round-trippers to go along with 2,408 hits and 1,667 RBIs.

Interestingly, the only evidence against Sosa is a positive test from the leaked 2003 list, the same list that had David Ortiz on it. So, David Ortiz got a complete pass and was inducted on his first ballot no less, while Sammy Sosa was snubbed on every ballot until he fell off. If the Hall of Fame wants to give the benefit of the doubt to players like Ortiz, Piazza, Pudge Rodriguez, and so on, then that should be the standard for every one – so, Sammy Sosa, with 600 career home runs, 7 All Star selections, and an MVP, should be in as well.

Mark McGwire

3. Mark McGwire

Moving into the top 3, we have another generational talent in Mark McGwire, a man born to hit home runs. He drilled 32 bombs for the USC Trojans in 1984 and was drafted 10th overall by the A’s. He had one of the most impressive rookie years ever seen in 1987, smashing 49 bombs with a league leading .618 Slugging Percentage, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. McGwire became an instant superstar and made 6 straight All Star teams, until injuries started to hamper his career around 1993. He played in just 74 games over a 2 year period, but he got healthy, his bat exploded and McGwire smashed 52 bombs in ‘96, then 58 in 1997. In 1998, with the St. Louis Cardinals, he crushed 70 bombs, breaking the single season home run record, then followed it up with 65 in 1999. McGwire hit 583 career bombs, made 12 total All Star teams, 3 Silver Sluggers, and even a Gold Glove.

He was named in Canseco’s book and appeared in the Congressional Hearing, where he famously declined to answer any questions, saying he did not want to “talk about the past.” However, he eventually did admit to steroid use during his career, although he said he didn’t need it for performance; rather to recover quickly from injuries and stay on the field more. There’s no doubt McGwire had all the talent in the world as far as hitting home runs, and he would’ve been a great power hitter without steroids, although just how great is unknown. Nevertheless, based on his accomplishments and the fact that he played during a time no testing was done and no measures were taken to prevent steroid use, I definitely support McGwire’s entry into Cooperstown and he deserves a plaque, although not before these next two legends of the game.

Roger Clemens

2. Roger Clemens

Perhaps the greatest pitcher to ever live, Roger Clemens was identified early as a potential superstar. He was drafted in the first round by the Boston Red Sox in 1983, and just 3 years later, he won the Cy Young and MVP with an absolutely dominant year in 1986, when he went 24-4 with 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts. He followed it up with another Cy Young Award in 1987, then won a 3rd in 1991. By 1996, his last year with Boston, he had already put together a Hall of Fame career, setting multiple records including a 20 strikeout 9-inning game. He even tied Cy Young with the most shutouts in Red Sox history. It was that year he did the impossible and struck out 20 batters in a single game for the second time. All this was done before he touched steroids.

But Clemens then he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he likely first started taking ‘roids. He immediately won a 4th Cy Young award in 1997, leading the league with 2.05 ERA with an also league-leading 292 strikeouts and 21 wins. In 1998, he won the award again. If there was any doubt that Roger Clemens was among the greatest pitchers to ever live, that doubt was gone. And he just kept dominating, winning his 6th Cy Young with the New York Yankees then a 7th in 2004 with Houston. No pitcher has won more Cy Young Awards. He retired with 354 wins, 46 shutouts, and 4,672 strikeouts.

Clemens never tested positive for steroids and never admitted to steroid use, even denying it under oath, but his personal trainer Brian McNamee testified that he regularly injected Clemens with steroids from 1998 to 2001. Clemens was indicted and charged with perjury, but McNamee’s testimony changed throughout the years. His inconsistency led to Clemens acquittal. Other evidence against Clemens included a steroid distributor named Kirk Radomski handing over shipping receipts that showed HGH was mailed to Roger Clemens home in 2002 and 2003, but his wife, Debbie, testified that that shipment was for her as she was taking HGH to prepare for a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot.

The entire story is way too long to get into here, but at the end of the day, Roger Clemens was one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball even before he was alleged to have started taking steroids. His greatness as a ballplayer should make up for his shortcomings and mistakes, including his psychotic moments. Clemens is one of the greatest starting pitchers of all time and deserves a plaque in Cooperstown.

Barry Bonds

1. Barry Bonds

But to no one’s surprise, coming in at #1 has to be Barry Bonds, one of if not the best hitter to ever live. Bonds, like Clemens, could’ve retired at a certain point in time before he ever touched steroids and would’ve easily been inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. He was a 6th overall selection out of Arizona State, then won his first two MVPs with the Pittsburgh Pirates, before signing with the Giants. In 1993, he hit 46 home runs with a .336 batting average, winning a 3rd MVP. Bonds was also a 5-tool talent who won 8 Gold Gloves and stole at least 25 bases 11 times. He could do it all at an elite level and was considered the best player in the game throughout the 1990’s.

By most accounts, he never touched steroids until around 1999. In 1998, Bonds led the league with an 8.1 WAR, crushing 37 homers with 28 steals, a .303 average and a Gold Glove, but the baseball world was paying much more attention to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as they chased the single-season home run record.

Based on the fact that there was no testing and no enforcement at the time, it would’ve been incredibly impressive if Bonds just took the high road and continued to play clean while he never got the attention he deserved. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be what happened as Bonds turned into an absolute monster entering into the 2000s. In his mid 30’s, he suddenly hit a career high 49 home runs in 2000 then had a season for ages in 2001, breaking McGwire’s record, finishing with an unbelievable 73 home runs. He had the most dominant 5-year period ever before seen, winning 4 straight MVPs, 5 straight Silver Sluggers, while leading the league in walks and OPS+ every season, all in his mid-to-late thirties when most players slow down significantly.

Bonds eventually ended his career with 762 home runs, 2,558 walks, 162.8 WAR and an amazing 168 intentional walks, all MLB records. But it was in 2004, around when the crackdown on steroids began, that the San Francisco Chronicle alleged that Bonds received Steroids from BALCO. Later, Gary Sheffield said he was introduced to BALCO and the testosterone-based cream by Bonds while in training before the ‘02 season. Bonds eventually admitted to receiving the cream & clear from his trainer, Greg Anderson, but didn’t know they were steroids. Books like the “Game of Shadows” were released, detailing the use of steroids and other drugs by Bonds. Investigations later revealed a BALCO screening test by Bonds in the year 2000 that tested positive for Steroids, but Bonds never failed a test during official MLB testing that started in 2003

Based on the stats, appearance, and evidence, it’s pretty tough to deny Barry Bonds was taking something during the early 2000’s when he became an absolute cyborg, but there is also no doubt he was one of the best baseball players ever born long before he touched steroids. He was a 3-time MVP on his way to being the first MLB player to ever hit 400 home runs and steal 400 bases, a feat he would’ve easily accomplished without the juice. Like I said at the start of this video, MLB has determined in their own rules, even today, that taking steroids does not result in the banning of a player like gambling on baseball does. So, why do voters treat this as a cardinal sin that should keep every player out forever no matter how good they were or no matter what they accomplished on the field, even before they took steroids? I can understand some of the names on today’s list being kept out due to steroids, but I’ll never understand how one of if not the greatest baseball player to ever live is still being snubbed – and he is my #1 PED-connected snub of all time, and perhaps the greatest snub of all time, period – Barry Lamar Bonds.

The Top 15 MLB THIRD BASEMEN In MLB HISTORY

Welcome back to another Humm Baby Baseball countdown and today we’re talking about the best 15 third basemen in modern MLB history. Third base, known as the hot corner, is one of the toughest position on the diamond, requiring elite reflexes and a powerful arm. They don’t typically have the agility and range of a shortstop, meaning third basemen are oftentimes larger and more physically imposing players who are expected to bring more power as a hitter, and so third basemen can typically hit the long ball with frequency. Players need to have played at least 1,200 games at the position to qualify, so look for players like Edgar Martinez and Paul Molitor on the DH video and Cal Ripken Jr. and A-Rod on the shortstop video, and also this list doesn’t include active players. Before getting to today’s main list, there are several honorable mentions I have so let’s run through a few great third basemen who just missed the Top 15.

Evan Longoria

One of my favorite players, Evan Longoria looked like a future Hall of Famer after making 3 straight All Star Games and winning 2 Gold Gloves with the Rays his first 3 seasons, but as it turned out, he never made another All Star team, although he did win a 3rd Gold Glove in 2017. Still, Longoria continued to be a consistent power hitter, playing elite defense year and year, and retired with 342 homers.

David Wright

After his first 6 full seasons, David Wright looked like a possible future Hall of Famer, making 5 straight All Star Teams, winning two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, while hitting for power and average. Sadly, his career was cut short due to a series of debilitating injuries and spinal stenosis, leading to an early retirement.

Ron Cey

Dodger Legend Ron Cey hit at least 22 home runs in 10 out of 11 seasons, driving in over 100 runs twice while making 6 All Star Teams during his 17-year career. He never won a Gold Glove but was always solid defensively and hit .350 with a home run in the ‘81 Fall Classic, taking home the World Series MVP Award.

Robin Ventura

Although he’s mostly remembered for getting beat up by Nolan Ryan, Robin Ventura was a great third basemen, winning 6 Gold Glove Awards while being a consistent hitter throughout his career. He hit 294 career homers with a .362 career on-base percentage and made two All Star teams.

Carney Lansford

Lansford was a complete player who didn’t have massive power but did hit 19 home runs in 3 separate seasons. He was extremely fast for a third baseman and stole 224 career bases, but his main skill was hit pure hitting ability. Lansford won a batting title in 1981 with a .336 average and ended his career with over 2,000 hits.

Gary Gaetti

Gaetti played for 20 years in the big leagues and brought elite defense with consistent power year after year. During the 80’s, he won four consecutive gold gloves, and smashed at least 20 home runs eight times, three times surpassing 30. Gaetti retired with 360 bombs.

Aramis Ramirez

A player who was probably better than most fans remember, Aramis Ramirez had over 2,300 hits in his career, more than many legendary Hall of Famers including Joe Dimaggio and Willie McCovey. He also hit .283 with a .341 on-base percentage and crushed 386 career home runs, driving 1,417 runs. He even finished in the Top 10 for MVP 3 times. Unfortunately, he was not known as a great defender and never won a Gold Glove. If he was a better defender, he might’ve had a shot at the Hall of Fame.

Ken Caminiti

Ken Caminiti, was an elite defender and extremely powerful hitter for years, playing mostly for the Astros and Padres. He won three straight Gold Gloves and averaged 30 homers per year during his peak from ‘95 to ‘98. After retiring, he admitted to using steroids during the 1996 season in which he crushed 40 homers and won the MVP. Caminiti struggled with drug abuse and tragically died from an overdose in 2004.

Bill Madlock

Hitting machine Bill Madlock consistently hit well over .300 year after year throughout his most of his career, winning a total of four batting titles, more than any player in MLB history who is not in the Hall of Fame. He hit .354 in 1975 with the Cubs, his second full season, and made his first of three All Star teams. Madlock ended his career with a .305 average and over 2,000 hits.

Tim Wallach

Wallach excelled defensively and offensively for the Montreal Expos in the 80’s and early 90’s, winning 3 Gold Glove Awards while being a consistent power threat at the plate. He led the league in doubles twice and hit at least 20 home runs 5 times in his career, including 23 homers in 1994 with the Dodgers. Wallach made 5 All Star teams and had over 2,000 career hits.

Sal Bando

For about decade, Sal Bando was one of the best third basemen in the game, smashing over 20 home runs almost every season while playing excellent defense. He almost never missed a game and made 3 straight All Star teams in the mid-70’s and a total of 4 in his career. Bando averaged 21 homers per year for an 11 year period and finished in the top 4 for MVP 3 times, finishing 2nd in 1971.

George Kell

Kell played in the 40’s and 50’s and made 10 All Star teams throughout his 15 year career. During his time, he was one of the best third basemen in the game, playing great defense with a consistent bat. He hit .306 for his career with 2,054 career hits and 870 RBIs, but did not have much home run power. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1983.

Home Run Baker

There was a time Hall of Famer Home Run Baker would’ve easily come in at #1, but that was about 100 years ago. In his time, he was one of the biggest home run threats in baseball – hence the nickname. He led the league for four consecutive seasons in homers, but that number was only about 10 per season, although his RBI numbers are still impressive, including 130 in 1912. He played for just 13 seasons, retired with a .307 average, over 1,800 hits, 96 homers, and a .363 World Series average. Compared to his peers, he was the best third baseman in the game at the time.

Now, let’s jump into the Top 15

15. Matt Williams

4-time Silver Slugger Award Winner and San Francisco Giants legend Matt Williams was an absolute superstar in the 80’s and 90’s, consistently hitting 30+ homers per season. He led the league with 122 RBIs in 1990 and in 1994 was on track to challenge Roger Maris’s single season record of 61 homers when the season ended due to the player strike. He led the league with 43 bombs that year and finished 2nd for the MVP. Williams was also an elite defender and won four Gold Gloves, playing for the Giants, Indians, and Diamondbacks. He went on the become a manager, won a Manager of the Year Award with the Nationals, and is now the third base coach for the Giants.

14. Graig Nettles

A master defender and clutch power hitter, Graig Nettles played for over 20 years and made hundreds of spectacular plays at the hot corner, winning two Gold Gloves in 1977 and 1978. He also consistently hit over 20 home runs per year, maxing out at a league leading 32 in 1976. He hit 376 total bombs in his career, made 6 All Star teams and hit .500 in the 1981 ALCS, taking home the ALCS MVP. Despite an amazing career, Nettles fell off the Hall of Fame ballot in 1997 with less than 5% of the vote, likely due to his relatively low .248 career batting average.

13. Ken Boyer

An elite offensive and defensive player, Ken Boyer won 5 Gold Gloves with 11 All Star Selections.  He won the MVP in 1964 for hitting .295 with 24 bombs and an MLB-best 119 RBIs while leading the Cardinals to the World Series. He retired with over 2,000 hits, a .287 career average, an MVP and a career WAR higher than multiple Hall of Famers including Yogi Berra and Harmon Killebrew, but somehow he got completely overlooked on the Hall of Fame ballot.

12. Buddy Bell

One of the greatest defensive third basemen of all time, Buddy Bell won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was also no slouch at the plate, collecting 2,514 career hits, more hits than any third basemen not in the Hall of Fame. He also hit over 200 career homers during his 18 year career. Bell never made the postseason, which likely hurt his Hall of Fame chances, but based on his contributions offensively and defensively along with his total numbers, he should’ve gotten a lot more consideration.

11. Pie Traynor

Career Pittsburgh Pirate Pie Traynor was an offensive force in the big leagues for over a decade in the 20’s and 30’s. He drove in over 100 runs in seven separate seasons, hit over .300 10 times, and led the league in triples in 1923. He had some power, but played in the massive Forbes Field, which limited his home runs. Traynor played excellent defense and made the first two All Star games that existed in 1933 and 1934. He retired with over 2,400 hits and a career .320 batting average. He also got MVP votes in 9 separate seasons although he never won the award. Traynor retired as the greatest third basemen of all time, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1948.

10. Darrell Evans

Moving into the Top 10, My #1 most underrated player in MLB history, Darrell Evans was a fantastic defender and excellent hitter who brought power and an elite eye to the plate for over 20 years in the big leagues. He made just two All Star teams but should’ve made many more. Evans would be much more valued today for his ability to work a walk, retiring with 1,605 walks and a .361 on-base percentage, but he also had big power, crushing over 400 career home runs, including at least 40 in two separate seasons. He was completely snubbed on the Hall of Fame ballot, falling off after one year.

9. Ron Santo

Ron Santo was a multi-talented player who could field like few others, but also had big power along with an incredible knack for getting on base. He was the best fielding third baseman in the National League during the 60’s and won 5 straight Gold Gloves, but also led the league in on-base percentage twice and led the league in walks 4 times. Santo smashed at least 20 home runs 11 times and retired with 342 round trippers and a career on-base percentage of .362. He also made 9 All Star Teams, but on the Hall of Fame ballot, he got a stunning 3.9% of the vote in 1980, falling off the ballot. Fortunately, the committee voted for him at a 93.8% rate, but unfortunately, he had already passed away.

8. Scott Rolen

Next up, we have a relatively new Hall of Famer, Scott Rolen, who was probably the best defensive third baseman of the 2000s. He won a Rookie of the Year award in 1997 then his first of 8 career Gold Gloves in 1998. He made so many sparkling plays throughout his career, but could also rake, smashing 316 career homers with a .281 average. Rolen hit over 20 home runs for 8 straight seasons, and retired as one of the best third basemen ever. He was still snubbed on the ballot for many years before finally getting elected to the Hall of Fame in 2023.

7. Adrian Beltre

At #7 it’s Adrian Beltre, who dominated offensively and defensively for well over a decade for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox, and Rangers. Beltre was a solid player during his first 5 seasons but didn’t look like a future Hall of Famer until 2004 when he smashed 48 bombs with a .334 average, winning a Silver Slugger and finishing second for the MVP. Although he never matched that season, from there on he became a star, consistently hitting for power and average while also playing elite defense. He won 5 Gold Gloves in his career and made four All Star teams, not making his first one until 2010 at age 31. But he kept playing well into his late thirties, retiring with 477 home runs and a .286 average. He had 3,166 hits, including an MLB record 2,987 as a third baseman.

6. Brooks Robinson

Now, we move to some of the absolute undeniable legends of the game, starting at #6 with Brooks Robinson, the Human Vacuum Cleaner, simply the greatest defensive third baseman to ever live. Many of the great American League third basemen on today’s list did not win many Gold Gloves during the 60’s and 70’s, because Brooks Robinson simply won them all. From 1960 to 1975, Brooks Robinson won the Gold Glove every single season, a total of 16 Gold Gloves. He also made 18 All Star teams and could hit, leading the league with 118 RBIs in his MVP year of 1964. He also crushed at least 20 homers 6 times, and retired with 2,848 hits. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

5. Chipper Jones

A rare switch hitting third baseman, 8-time All Star Chipper Jones put up some of the best offensive numbers ever seen from a third baseman, combining power and average from both sides of the plate for nearly 20 years. He made 5 All Star teams in 6 years and the one he missed was from the year he won the MVP, 1999, when he hit .319 with 45 home runs. Jones consistently hit close to if not over 30 homers year after year and retired with 468 total homers and a .303 batting average. He had 5 seasons in which his OPS exceeded 1.000, an incredible feat at the MLB level. In 2008, he won a batting title with a .364 average. He was not known as the best defender, but he could make sparkling plays and had smooth hands which helped him make the classic barehanded grab and throw play as well as anybody. Overall, as of now, Chipper Jones comes in as a top 5 third baseman of all time.

4. George Brett

Moving on to #4, we have the Royals legend, Hall of Famer George Brett who finished his career with 3,154 hits, 317 home runs, a .315 batting average and even over 200 stolen bases. He made 13 consecutive All Star teams and won two batting titles, including in 1980 with he hit .390. That year, he also smashed 24 bombs and led the league in average, on-base, slugging, and OPS, taking home the MVP Award. He also hit .337 in the postseason, won an ALCS MVP and won a World Series ring in 1985. Brett continued to hit at an elite level and play spectacular defense at third base throughout his career and he won a Gold Glove in 1985, a year he finished in second for the MVP. He finished in the top 3 for the MVP four times. Brett was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1999.

3. Wade Boggs

Then there’s a man born to swing a bat, Wade Boggs, who was not drafted until the 7th round out of High School, but hit over .300 every season in the minors, forcing a call up then immediately hit .349 with just 21 strikeouts in 381 plate appearances in 1982 with the Red Sox. From there, he never stopped hitting, with a league leading .361 average in ‘83, his first of 5 career batting titles, and .368 average in 1985, a year he collected 240 hits, the most hits in a season by an MLB player since 1930. On top of his incredible bat, Boggs could also defend, winning back to back Gold Gloves in the 90’s, and he likely would’ve won more if not for Buddy Bell and Gary Gaetti. Boggs retired with over 3,000 hits, a .328 career batting average, and a .415 on-base percentage. He was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.

2. Eddie Mathews

Up next, barely above Boggs, I’m going with Eddie Mathews for his incredible power combined with an elite ability to bet on base and a fantastic glove on defense. His batting average won’t compare to Boggs, but he did smash 512 career home runs. He led the league in homers twice with 47 in 1953 and 46 in 1959, but he also led the league in walks four times. He retired with a .376 on-base percentage, 12 All Star Selections, and two World Series championships. He got MVP votes in 10 separate seasons, finishing second twice, and for a trivia question answer, Eddie Mathews was the only player to play for the Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves and Atlanta Braves. He was a feared power hitter who played excellent defense for about 15 years, and comes in as the second best third baseman of all time.

1. Mike Schmidt

But coming in at #1 to no one’s surprise hopefully is the legendary Mike Schmidt, the greatest third baseman in MLB history, who retired with 548 career home runs. He played for 18 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, and brought elite power to the plate every single season for 15 years, leading the league in round trippers 8 times between 1974 and 1986. He set an MLB record with 515 home runs as a third baseman, and also tied an MLB record with 4 home runs in a single game. He was also disciplined and worked plenty of walks, leading the league 4 times in the category and led the league in multiple seasons in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. Aside from the incredible bat, he was one of the best defenders of all time, winning 10 career Gold Gloves. Schmidt won back to back MVPs in 1980 and ‘81, then won a third MVP in 1986. He also had four career postseason bombs and helped the Phillies win it all in 1980 with a .381 average and 2 bombs in the World Series, and he did win the World Series MVP award. For me, it’s not even close, the greatest third baseman in the history of the game has to be Mike Schmidt and it’s a title he might just hold forever.

The Top 15 MLB SHORTSTOPS In MLB HISTORY!!

Welcome back to to another Humm Baby ranking and today we’re ranking the top 15 modern day MLB players who played the position of shortstop, the ultimate position where oftentimes the best player on the team ends up, because it requires athleticism, quickness, and a powerful arm, and it’s also a spot where a ton of baseball get hit by right handed batters. So, it’s not too surprising that shortstop is going to contain many of the greatest players who ever lived, and the vast majority of the players we talk about today are already or will soon be enshrined in Cooperstown. I forgot to mention this in my second base video, but I’m only talking about retired players, since active players are continuing to put up numbers and could quickly move up in ranking, which would make this video obsolete a lot faster that I’d like to it to be. Also, players who spent more of their career at the position might get a little bump, so that’s why a few of these players might seem lower than expected if they played only part of their career at shortstop.

15. Pee Wee Reese

Up first is Hall of Famer, Pee Wee Reese, who played almost exclusively shortstop throughout his 16 year career. He was an extremely patient hitter and consistently worked over 80 walks per season, leading the league with 104 in 1947, resulting in a career .366 on-base-percentage. He was also a fantastic baserunner, stealing 232 career bases. Reese was outstanding defensively and led the N.L in putouts four times, double plays twice and fielding percentage and assists once. He was a 10-time All Star and finished in the Top 15 for MVP 10 times. His career totals would’ve looked much stronger had he not missed 3 seasons during his prime years to serve his country during World War II.

14. Luke Appling

A Chicago White Sox legend and Hall of Famer, Luke Appling played for 20 years in the big leagues from 1930 to 1950, hitting over .300 15 times and retiring with a .310 average and .399 on-base-percentage. In 1936, he won a batting title with a phenomenal .388 batting average, finishing 2nd for the MVP to Lou Gehrig. He won a second batting title in 1943, but finished 2nd again for the MVP, this time to pitcher Spud Chandler, who won 20 games with 1.64 ERA, before the Cy Young Award was introduced. He missed 1944 due to military service, but still managed 2,749 career hits, playing until he was 43 years old. Appling’s talent never completely went away and he’s also remembered for hitting a home run at the age of 75 in an Old Timer’s Game.

13. Luis Aparaicio

One of the finest defensive shortstops throughout the late 50’s, the entire decade of the 60’s and the early 70’s was Luis Aparacio, who played for the White Sox, Orioles and Red Sox. He became an instant star in 1956 with Chicago, winning the Rookie of the Year mainly with his phenomenal glove but also blazing speed as he stole a league leading 21 bases. That was just the beginning and he went on to lead the league in steals for 9 straight seasons, surpassing 50 steals in 3 straight years. He also won 9 Gold Glove awards throughout his career and made 13 All Star Teams. Although his bat wasn’t as impressive as his baserunning and defense, he could still hold is own and retired with 2,677 hits and an a .262 average. He hit .308 in the 1959 World Series, then won a ring in 1966 with Baltimore. Aparaicio retired as the shortstop MLB recordholder in games played, assists and double plays. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.

12. Lou Boudreau

A remarkable fielder and consistent hitter, Lou Boudreau was one of the premiere shortstops of the 1940, playing for the Cleveland Indians. He was an asbolute doubles machine and led the league in the category 3 times, but also broke and still holds an MLB record for the most consecutive doubles in a single game with four. In 1944, he won a batting title with a .344 average, but did even better in 1948, hitting .355 with 18 homers and 106 RBIs, good enough to win the MVP Award. The 7-time All Star was also a member of the 1948 Cleveland Indians World Series Championship team, the last Cleveland team to win it all. He was a great leader and spent 10 years as a player-manager, starting at the age of 24. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970.

11. Alan Trammell

Career Detroit Tiger Alan Trammel was another 5-tool talent who could play a smooth shortstop, with soft hands, a quick release, and an accurate arm. He won four Gold Glove Awards and was also an excellent hitter, retiring with a .352 on base percentage and over 1000 RBIs. He developed some impressive power by the mid-80’s and crushed 28 bombs in 1987. That year, he also hit .343, drove in 105 runs and won a Silver Slugger, but he finished 2nd in the MVP voting to George Bell, who crushed 47 bombs. Trammell also had speed and stole 236 bases in his career, maxing out at 30 in 1983. Despite a fantastic 20-year career in which Trammel did almost everything well, and even helped the Tigers in a World Series in 1984, hitting .450 with 2 bombs in the Fall Classic, he was completely snubbed on the Hall of Fame ballot and the clueless voters never elected him. However, he was elected in by the committee in 2018.

10. Joe Cronin

One of the forgotten greats of the game, Joe Cronin, an excellent fielding shortstop, played for 20 years in the big leagues, primarily for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. He had his breakout year with Washington in 1929, hitting .281, but then broke through as an absolute superstar in 1930, hitting .346 with 126 RBIs, beating out names like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Al Simmons for the AL MVP Award. He continued to be one of the better hitters in the game year after year, and when the All Star Game was introduced in 1933, he became an annual lock for the Midsummer Classic, making 7 total All Star Teams. He was a player-manager for 13 seasons and retired with a .301 average, 2,285 hits and a .390 on-base percentage. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956.

9. Arky Vaughan

Another forgotten legend, Akry Vaughan played for 14 years in the league, a relatively short amount of time compared to other players on today’s list, but he made the most of it, hitting over .300 nearly every season, including a league leading .385 mark in 1935. That season, he led the league in average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. He was an on-base machine as well, and would get on base however possible, even if it meant a walk or hit by pitch. His career on base percentage was .406 and he led the league in walks 3 times. He could also steal a base and led the league with 20 in 1943, retiring with 118 swipes. Vaughan made 9 straight All Star Teams and retired as an all-time great shortstop, but inexplicably got denied on the Hall of Fame ballot and was not elected until 1985 by the Committee,

8. Ernie Banks

One of the few players who will make multiple position rankings is Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who was also a top all time first baseman and actually played more games at first base. However, since he played his best years at shortstop is probably more remembered as a shortstop, I had to put him on the list as well. He won back to back MVPs as a shortstop in 1958 and 1959 and crushed 298 home runs while playing the position. At one point, Banks played in 717 consecutive games and was also smooth with the glove, winning a Gold Glove in 1960. He was one of the best shortstops in baseball throughout the 50’s before early 60’s before moving to first, where he continued to pile up impressive numbers, retiring with 512 total home runs.

7. Alex Rodriguez

And now at #7 is the first and only non-Hall of Famer on today’s list. How could a player with 696 home runs, a .295 career batting average, 3,115 hits, two Gold Gloves and not one, not two, but three MVPs possibly not get in the Hall of Fame? Well, I think every one watching already knows the answer to that question. The problem with A-Rod is he got nailed not just once, but twice for PED’s, once in 2009 when after a failed steroid test became public, he admitted to using steroids while with the Rangers during a 3-year period, then again in 2014 when he was suspended for taking PED’s as part of the BioGenesis Scandal. Nevertheless, Alex Rodriguez was born to play baseball and for the first 10 years of his career, played almost exclusively shortstop with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. During that time, he made 7 All Star Teams and won an MVP in 2003, a year he was taking PED’s. If we just look at his years with the Mariners, likely clean years, he surpassed 40 home runs 3 times and hit as high as .358 in 1996, a year he finished second for the MVP. He would’ve become an easy Hall of Famer even if never touched the juice. Despite moving to third base with the Yankees for his last 12 seasons, A-Rod is still 2nd all time in home runs as a shortstop with 345 bombs. He, like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, had all the talent in the world and never needed any extra help, but those bad decisions have kept him out of the Hall of Fame. I’m ranking him this low due to limited years at shortstop and because his best seasons are all clouded by PED use.

6. Ozzie Smith

Up next is a Hall of Famer who was elected to Cooperstown for one reason – his defense. Smith was a switch hitter who had very little power and hit over .300 just once in his career, although he did hit a dramatic walk off bomb in the 1985 NLCS, interestingly enough his only career homer batting left handed. Defensively, he is considered by most to be the best shortstop in the history of baseball. The Wizard was the definition of a human highlight reel at shorstop, using his legendary range, quickness and agility to make insane diving catches, lightning-fast and accurate throws, and mind-bending acrobatic plays. He has a shortstop record 13 Gold Gloves, and made 15 All Star Teams, becoming a massive superstar almost exclusively with his glove. He did have one other elite skill, however, and that was stealing bases. He stole at least 20 bases every year for 16 straight years, topping 30, 40 and even 50 on multiple occasions. Smith was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first year on the ballot.

But before getting into the Top 5, I have 2 quick super-honorable mentions from the Negro Leagues, despite many angry commenters who hate when I talk about Negro League players or Jackie Robinson, but the point is these players would’ve ranked very high, but sadly, we’ll never know just how great they might’ve been stacked up against other big leaguers, so I think it’s right to at least give them a mention...

Willie Wells

Former big leaguer Monte Irvin said “You should have seen Willie Wells play shortstop; as good as Ozzie Smith and a better hitter.” Despite his incredible hitting ability – a .330 career batting average with a league-leading .411 mark in 1930 – Wells was mainly known for his amazing defense. While playing in Mexico, his athleticism and acrobatic ability at shortstop earned him the nickname “El Diablo” – “The Devil.” He could also hit for power, leading his league in homers 3 times. The 8-time All Star had an OPS over 1,000 for 7 straight years and led the league in steals twice, making him a true 5-tool player.

Pop Lloyd

Considered the best shortstop in Negro League history, Pop Lloyd played for 25 years and regularly hit well above .300 and was a rare combination of power and small-ball. Lloyd could hit for power when the situation dictated it, but he could also bunt and use the entire field to his advantage. He was a fantastic base-runner as well, stealing bases not just with pure speed but through knowing the situation and studying the opposing pitchers. Throughout most of his career, stats were not kept permanently, but from 1921 to 1929 – age 37 to 45 – he hit .349 with a .400 on-base percentage and 59 stolen bases. That was during his twilight years as a player. Lloyd simply had one of the best baseball IQ’s in the history of the game and, with this knowledge, went on to become a fantastic manager.

Now, let’s get in to the Top 5...

5. Barry Larkin

Career Cincinnati Red, Barry Larkin, was a 5-tool talent who could do it all, and played shortstop throughout his entire 19-year career. At the plate, he was an extremely disciplined batter who could get on base via the walk, but could also absolutely rake and hit over .300 9 times in his career. He also had some pop and crushed 33 homers in 1996 and finished his career with 198. He had phenomenal speed as well, stealing 379 career bases, and of course, was an elite defender at shortstop, making tough plays seem easy. Larkin won 3 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1994 to 1996 and would’ve won many more if not for Ozzie Smith, who was winning them every season until Larkin finally got one. In 1995, he won the MVP award, won a total of 9 Silver Sluggers, and made 12 All Star Teams. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2012.

4. Robin Yount

Young was a 3rd overall pick in 1973 by the Brewers, and it definitely worked out for both them. He was an instant stud and made it to the big leagues at just 18 years old. Yount broke a record for most games played in the Major Leagues before turning 20. He played elite defense and shortstop while piling up hits and driving in runs. In 1982, he hit .331 with 29 home runs, winning a Gold Glove and the American League MVP Award while helping his team reach the World Series. Despite hitting .414 with a home run in the Fall Classic, the Brewers fell short to St. Louis. Young won a second MVP Award in 1989, and retired with 3,142 hits, 251 home runs and a .285 batting average. Shockingly, he only made three All Star teams, missing the team even in his MVP season of 1989, because he had a much stronger second half. Despite this, Yount is still one of the greatest shortstops of all time.

3. Derek Jeter

Moving into the Top 3, we have the legendary Yankee Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, who finished his career with 3,465 hits, and played no position other than shortstop throughout his entire 20 year career. Many consider Jeter overrated because he never won an MVP, and because of east coast bias in the fact he played for the Yankees, which no doubt elevates any player’s overall reputation, but the fact is Derek Jeter comes in first all time as a shortstop in hits, doubles, walks, runs, and games played while also landing in the Top 5 for home runs, triples, RBIs and stolen bases. When you combine that with his illustrious postseason career, in which he hit .308 with 20 home runs, and is an MLB recordholder in games, runs, hits, doubles and triples in the postseason, there’s no way I could rank Jeter any lower. He was not only an amazing player who made 14 All Star teams, he also stayed incredibly healthy and played in at least 145 games in 16 out of 20 seasons. Jeter was a consistent hitter with a career .310 batting average and also was elite with the glove, winning 5 Gold Gloves. He won 5 rings with the Yankees, and was awarded the World Series MVP in 2000 after hitting .409 with two bombs. His entire resume is way too long to recap in this video, but when it’s all added up, Jeter might be underrated if anything, and he comes in as the third greatest shortstop of all time.

2. Honus Wagner

But coming in at #2 is a player who was there right at the start of the modern era, Honus Wanger. He actually began his career in 1897 with the Louiville Colonels, who reluctantly gave him a shot after watching him play with a minor league team in West Virginia. He was oddly built at 5’11”, 200 lbs with a barrel chest, massive hands and bowed legs. No one would describe him as graceful, but he knew how to hit and run, and became the star player for the Colonels, hitting .341 with 114 RBIs and 37 steals in 1899. He was traded to the Pirates and in 1900, won his first of 8 batting titles with a .381 average, and led the Pirates to the first ever World Series in 1903. He led the league in triples and doubles multiple times and was an absolute force with Pittsburgh for over 15 years. As a baserunner, he led the league in steals 5 times, maxing out with 61 steals in 1907. Wagner was extremely versatile and could play multiple positions, and in fact, played every position but catcher. However, shortstop was his main spot and he ended up playing 1,887 games at the position, 28th all time. In 1909, he hit .333 in the World Series to help the Pirates win it all. He hit at least .300 for 15 straight years, and retired an MLB record 3,420 hits and stole 723 career bases. He was among the first five players to ever be elected to the Hall of Fame.

1. Cal Ripken Jr.

But barely beating out Wagner in a tough decision is the all-time home run leader at the position of shortstop, Cal Ripken Jr., who crushed 353 bombs at the position, which he played for the first 16 years of his career before moving to third for the final five. He was an immediate sensation with the Orioles, crushing 28 home runs in 1982, taking home the Rookie of the Year Award before winning the MVP in 1983 with a .318 average while leading the league in runs, hits and doubles. He helped lead the O’s to a World Championship that year. Ripken also quite literally never missed a game and began a streak that defined all logic, finding a way to stay on the field for 16 straight seasons. He broke The Iron Horse Lou Gehrig’s seemingly unbreakable record, and went to play in 2,632 consecutive games. But that’s not the main reason he is the 2nd greatest shortstop of all time. Ripken made a ridiculous 19 straight All Star Teams, won a second MVP in 1991 and was also an elite defensive shortstop, winning two Gold Gloves. Among shortstops, he’s second all time in hits and games played, and first in home runs and RBIs. The Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr. retired with 431 bombs, and 3,184 hits, and in a close race, I put him as the #1 greatest shortstop in MLB history.

The Top 15 MLB 2nd BASEMEN Of All Time!! KENT, Jackie Robinson, JOE MORGAN!!! ETC ETC..

Welcome to another position ranking and today I’m doing my Top 15 2nd basemen in modern MLB history. Second base is an underrated position that might not require the arm strength of shortstop or third, but it does require accuracy, quick reflexes, a wide range or motion, the ability to get rid of the ball quickly and a smooth and fluid motion for turning double plays. It’s definitely a lot harder than professional second basemen make it look. But to be one of the greatest, they also have to hit and today we’ll be talking about the most elite second basemen, most of whom could field and hit at an elite level, some with big power. Many on today’s list are in the Hall of Fame and the ones who aren’t probably should be. But let’s start with 10 quick honorable mentions.

Dustin Pedroia

The 2007 Rookie of the Year and 2008 MVP looked like a future Hall of Famer until injuries derailed his career. He still won four Gold Gloves and hit .299 for his career with 140 bombs and was instrumental in helping the Red Sox win World Series championships in 2007 and 2013.

Bobby Doerr

Another Red Sox legend, Bobby Doerr never played another position besides second base. He was a great all around player who could hit for average and power. He made 9 All Star Teams and hit .288 with 223 bombs while being regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of his era.

Willie Randolph

A player who just missed the top 15, Willie Randolph was a patient hitter, excellent bunter, speedster and phenomenal defender who played second base for 18 years, most notably for the New York Yankees. He walked 1,243 times in his career, had a .373 on base percentage, stole 271 bases, won 2 World Series rings and made 6 All Star Teams.

Frank White

Frank White had an incredible glove and could fly on the basepaths while swinging a solid bat. He won 8 Gold Gloves and made five All Star Games. White had some pop as well, crushing 22 home runs in back to back seasons and was also clutch in the big moments, winning the 1980 ALCS MVP, crushing a home run in the ‘85 World Series and even hitting a deciding home run in the 1986 All Star Game.

Bill Mazeroski

Mazeroski didn’t quite make my top 15, but he is a Hall of Famer mostly for his absolutely exceptional defense at second base. He broke an MLB record for career double plays at the position and is also remembered for an iconic walk off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Tony Phillips

One of the best players to never make an All Star Team, Tony Phillips was one of the most versatile players in the league, with an elite ability to play defense, steal bases, and get on base. He even hit 160 career home runs including 27 in 1995. Despite all he did to help his team win games, Phillips was underrated during and after his career, never receiving a single award of any kind.

Ian Kinsler

A 5-tool talent who could crush the baseball and play elite defense, Ian Kinsler made four All Star teams and won Two Gold Gloves, playing mostly for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. He’s one of just 16 players with multiple 30-30 seasons, crushing 30 bombs and stealing at least 30 bases.

Nellie Fox

Nellie Fox had World Class hand-eye coordination and came to the plate 10,351 times in his career,. striking out 216 times, an unbelievable statistic. He was also a slick fielder and won a Gold Glove the first year it became an award, playing for Chicago White Sox. He went on to win two more and even won an MVP in 1959.

Joe Gordon

Hall of Famer Joe Gordon played for the Yankees and Indians. He was the most powerful second basemen in MLB history when he retired with 253 bombs. He was a 9-time all star and also helped the Yankees to win 4 World Titles. Gordon was also a member of the last Cleveland team to win a World Series in 1948.

Chase Utley

16-year MLB star Chase Utley was a major piece of the Philadelphia Phillies teams of the 2000s and early 2010’s and he helped them win a World Championship in 2008. During his peak, from 2006 to 2010, he made 5 straight All Star teams and was one of the betters players in the game, hitting for average and power while playing excellent defense.

Now, let’s jump into the Top 15…

15. Lou Whitaker

Coming in at #15 is a 5-Tool Player who did almost everything well for 19 years, Sweet Lou Whitaker. He was insultingly thrown off the hall of fame ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote in 2001. With 2,369 hits and 244 bombs, he didn’t hit the major milestones, but he did help his team win games for 19 years, all for the Detroit Tigers. He won a Rookie of the Year award, was a 5-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glover and even won 4 Silver Sluggers. His career WAR on Baseball Reference is better than Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and Tony Gwynn among many other Hall of Famers. He also had over 1100 career walks and an impressive .363 career on base percentage. He was a key member of the World Champion 1984 Detroit Tigers and the team retired his number in 2022.

14. Robinson Cano

Up next is Robinson Cano, a smooth fielding, power hitting second baseman who crushed 335 career bombs, hit over .300 for his career and made 8 All Star teams. Unfortunately, he also failed not one, but two steroid tests and was suspended for an entire season in 2021. That certainly holds him back on this list, but he still makes the Top 15 as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play. He hit .297 with the Yankees in 2005, finishing second for the Rookie of the Year. The next year, he became an absolute superstar, hitting .342 and making his first All Star Team. In 2009, he crushed 25 bombs, helping the Yankees reach the playoffs. They went on to win it all that season and Cano won his first and only ring. He finished his career with 2,639 hits and also won two Gold Gloves with the Yankees. Cano was considered the best second baseman in the game for about a decade. He never won an MVP but finished in the Top 10 six times. Most of his best years were with the Yankees and Mariners, but he also played for the Mets, Padres and Braves. Cano had a hall of fame career statistically, but with 2 failed steroid tests, there’s no way he will get voted in with players like Bonds and Clemens still on the outside looking in.

13. Jeff Kent

Coming in at #13 is the 2000 MVP, Jeff Kent, who is the recordholder with the most home runs as a second baseman with 354 bombs at the position. Kent played for 17 years in the league but never really became a huge star until he was traded to the San Francisco Giants from Cleveland and hit 29 bombs in 1997, finishing 8th for the MVP. From there, he continued to consistently hit at least 20 home runs per season. He accomplished this 12 times in his career, and got up to 37 bombs in 2002, a season in which he helped lead the Giants to the World Series. He could also hit for average, hitting .290 for his career. In his MVP season, he hit .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs. Although he never won a Gold Glove and isn’t considered an elite defender, Kent did make most of the routine plays and each season, made multiple spectacular plays. During his career, no one considered Jeff Kent a poor defender from what I remember as a Giants fan. But his best skillset was certainly his bat and Kent won four Silver Sluggers and made 5 All Star Teams during his 17 year career. He was a solid postseason performer and smashed 3 bombs for the Giants in the 2002 World Series, then 3 more for the Astros in the 2004 World Series. Unfortunately, his team lost both Fall Classics, although he also played for the 1992 Blue Jays, who went on the win the World Series, but Kent was traded to the Mets before the postseason, although I assume he was given a ring. Kent is definitely up there among the greatest hitting second basemen of all time and deserves a plaque in Cooperstown, but after 10 tries, failed to gain the votes necessary for election.

12. Bobby Grich

Coming up next is a vastly underrated player who made 6 All Star Teams and won 4 Gold Gloves. When comparing Grich to other second basemen, he is one of the greatest of all time and gets nowhere close to that type of respect. On The JAWS list for second baseman, he comes in at #8, above several Hall of Fame second basemen. Grich had an incredible ability to work a walk and was one of the best defensive second baseman in the game. Although he did have power, Grich only hit more than 20 home runs twice, which prevented him from entering into superstardom. However, he worked at least 75 walks 9 times in his career and retired with a .371 on-base percentage. On defense, he was probably the best in the game for a 5 year period. Although he only had 1,833 hits in his career, he also had 1,087 walks, which gave him far less total at bats, because he worked the count so well. He got on base however possible, and even led the league with 20 hit by pitches in 1974. Because voters don’t do any research and just look at a name then vote, Grich did not even get the 5% required to stay on the ballot more than one year – he received an unfathomable 2.6% of the vote.

11. Roberto Alomar

Up next is Hall of Famer Robert Alomar, one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the game. He won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in MLB history with 10 and also made 12 straight All Star teams. He started his career with the San Diego Padres and quickly became a superstar with a consistent solid bat, but also an absolutely incredible glove. He was incredibly smooth and elegant, but could also be acrobatic and flamboyant, making the toughest plays look easy. He was traded to Toronto before the 1991 season and helped them win back to back World Series. In 1993, he hit .326 with 17 bombs in the regular season but was absolutely phenomenal in the postseason. He won the 1992 ALCS MVP, hitting .423, then hit .480 in the ‘93 World Series. He has a postseason batting average of .313. Alomar also played with Cleveland alongside defensive wizard Omar Vizquel at shortstop and turned some of the smoothest double plays ever seen. He retired with an even .300 batting average, 210 homers and 2,724 hits. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his second ballot, perhaps losing some votes on the first ballot due to a controversial moment when he spit in an umpire’s face. Later, during his retirement, he was fired and banned from MLB due to sexual harassment allegations, but his plaque will remain in Cooperstown since they don’t retroactively ban players. This is a huge topic for another video, but despite the controversies, Alomar is one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the game.

10. Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio had a 20-year MLB career, all with the Houston Astros, and accumulated 3,060 hits. He started his career as a catcher in 1988, then started playing the outfield a bit before moving permanently to second base in 1992. He won four consecutive gold gloves at the position and went on to become one of the greatest Astros players of all time. He hit at least .300 four times, scored at least 100 runs eight times and holds franchise records in career games, at bats, hits, runs scored, doubles, total bases and extra base hits. He also has a National League record for most times leading off a game with a home run with an incredible 53 lead off bombs. He’s among the best in MLB history in every defensive stat at second base as well. Although he never won an MVP, he was incredibly consistent, performing at an elite level year after year. For his career, he hit .281 with 291 home runs and led the league multiple times in runs scored and doubles. He was also an iron man and rarely went on the disabled list and is definitely deserving as a Top 10 second baseman in MLB history.

9. Frankie Frisch

At #9 we have Frankie Frisch, who played for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. He has the most hits in World Series history for some one who never played for the New York Yankees. Frisch signed with the Giants in 1919 and went straight to the big leagues without playing a single game in the minors. He made a quick impact, with an incredibly consistent bat, blazing speed and elite defense. He led the league with 49 stolen bases in 1921 and also hit .341, beginning an 11 year streak in which he never finished a season with a batting average under .300. He led the league in steals 3 times and even won an MVP in 1931. He was especially elite in the World Series and helped the Giants win it all in 1921 and 1922. In ‘22, he hit .471 in the Fall Classic. With the Cardinals, he also won two World Series titles. For Frisch’s career, he had 2,880 hits, 1,244 RBIs, a .316 batting average and 419 stolen bases. He also made the first 3 All Star Games. Frisch was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947.

8. Ryne Sandberg

Up next is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who after a quick stint with Philadelphia, played 15 seasons as a Chicago Cub. In 1984, he made a name for himself on national television with two dramatic bombs, one in the 9th and one in the 10th, propelling the Cubs to a 12-11 victory. That season, he led the league in triples, runs and WAR, made his first of 10 consecutive All Star teams and won the MVP award. He became a massive MLB star, not only as a hitter, but also as an elite defender. He won nine straight Gold Glove Awards and retired with the best fielding percentage in MLB history as a second baseman. He is also tied with Jose Altuve for the most career Silver Sluggers with seven. He led the league in home runs with 40 bombs in 1990. Sandberg surprisingly retired early on in 1994 after a slow start, but returned in 1996 and crushed 25 home runs. When he retired after 1997, he had the MLB record for most home runs as a second baseman, a record that was eventually broken by Jeff Kent. Sandberg was somehow snubbed on two ballots before being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

7. Jackie Robinson

Up next is the legendary Jackie Robinson, who is most famously remembered for breaking the color barrier and becoming a national hero and civil rights activist. However, he was also one of the greatest second basemen to ever play baseball. Due to military service and, of course, segregation in MLB, he didn’t make his MLB debut until he was 28 years old, but made the most of his 11 year career. Robinson used his incredible speed, plate discipline, quick swing, and elite defense to propel the Brookyln Dodgers to 6 World Series appearances and a championship in 1955. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, stealing a league leading 29 bases with a .297 average. In 1949, he was simply the best in the game, with a .342 average, 37 steals, 16 bombs and 124 RBIs, all while playing excellent defense at second base. He won the MVP that season. Robinson made 6 consecutive All Star teams, and led the league in multiple offensive categories throughout his career, despite dealing with on-field abuse and racism, especially in the early stages of his career. Unfortunately, he only played 11 years so his all-time totals are not overly impressive, but Robinson was still a Hall of Fame caliber player and was elected to the Hall on his first year on the ballot, 1962.

6. Rod Carew

Up next is Rod Carew, who played primarily second base from 1967 to 1978 with the Minnesota Twins. He moved to 1st base for the for the latter part of his career with the Angels, and continued to be a great player, but his best years were in Minnesota. Carew was an incredible all-around talent who could hit, defend and run. He started his career with a bang in 1967, winning the Rookie of the Year Award with a .292 average and .341 on-base-percentage. By 1969, he was a superstar, leading the league with a .332 batting average. He led the A.L. in batting average in 7 separate seasons, maxing out at an incredible .388 mark in his MVP season of 1977. He also led the league in on-base-percentage, OPS, hits and runs that year. Overall, he picked up 3,053 hits in his career, 353 stolen bases, and over 1,000 RBIs. But what’s most impressive is that he made the All Star Team every single season of his career except the final one. Since he had a 19 year career, that makes 18 consecutive All Star appearances. He received over 90% of the vote on his first ballot, becoming a Hall of Famer in 1991.

5. Charlie Gehringer

Coming in at #5 is an underrated Tigers legend who played his entire career at second base – Charlie “The Mechanical Man” Gehringer. In the 1930’s, he was a massive star and played every single inning of the first six All Star Games. During his 19 year MLB career, he had seven 200+ hit seasons, seven 100+ RBI seasons, 181 stolen bases, 184 home runs and 2,839 total hits. In 1937, he led the league with a .371 batting average, taking home the A.L. MVP. He was a pivotal member of the 1930’s and early 40’s Detroit Tiger teams that won three pennants. In the 1935 World Series, he hit .375 with 4 RBIs, helping lead the Tigers to a World Championship. In addition to his incredible bat, he was one of the greatest fielding second basemen of all time. When Gehringer retired, he was #1 in double plays turned as a second baseman. He is still second all time in assists and 6th in putouts. Gehringer is 53rd all time with an 84.7 career WAR, better than many more well-known all-time greats like Joe Dimaggio, Ken Griffey Jr., and Nolan Ryan. He might be the most overlooked great player in MLB history and he comes in as the 5th greatest second baseman in MLB history.

4. Joe Morgan

An unlikely future Hall of Famer in High School, Morgan received no offers from MLB teams and ended up playing college ball at Oakland City College. He was signed by the Houston Colt .45’s and given a $3,000 bonus. He impressed in the minor leagues with stellar defense and a consistent and patient approach at the plate. Morgan made his big league debut in 1962 with the Colt .45’s. In 1965, they became the Houston Astros and Morgan led the league with 97 walks, finishing the season with a .373 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 20 stolen bases. In ‘66, he made his first of 10 All Star Teams and only got better from there. He was traded to the Reds before the 1972 season, and became an absolute superstar in Cincinnati, winning 5 straight Gold Gloves, and 2 consecutive MVPs, each which corresponded with a World Series championship. He drew walks like no one else, rarely struck out and also brought some power with him, averaging 22 home runs per season for a 6 year period. In 1976, he led the league in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and OPS+. He returned to Houston in 1980 and helped them make the playoffs, leading the league with 93 walks. Then, he signed with the Giants and hit a famous home run on the last day of the season in 1982 that knocked the rival Dodgers out of the playoffs. He won a Silver Slugger that year and had a 5.1 WAR for the Giants. He also played with the Phillies and A’s before retiring with a .392 career on-base percentage. His 100.6 career WAR is 31st all time and Morgan was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

3. Nap Lajoie

Nap Lajoie’s career started in 1896 but continued into the modern era, and he became one of the greatest hitters in the early years of professional baseball. He played almost exclusively second base, but occasionally filled in at the other infield spots. Lajoie hit .338 for his career, maxing out at a ridiculous .463 batting average in 1901. He led the league multiple times in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, RBIs, and doubles. He led the league in WAR 6 times and batting average 5 times. His career lasted over 21 seasons, playing for the Phillies, A’s, and Cleveland Bronchos, who changed their name to the Cleveland Naps in honor of Lajoie while he was still on the team – that’s how much of a legend he was. He even won a Triple Crown in 1901, hitting .426 with 125 RBIs and 14 home runs, a huge number during the dead ball era. He would’ve easily won the MVP that season, but it didn’t exist at that time. He retired with a .338 batting average and over 3,200 hits.

2. Eddie Collins

No one in MLB history has played in more games at second base than Eddie Collins, with 2,650 games played the position with the Philadelphia A’s and Chicago White Sox. He also had an incredible combination of elite defense, blazing speed a pure bat. He had his breakout season in 1909 when he hit .347 with 63 stolen bases. In 1910, he led the league with 81 steals while hitting .324. The only tool that was lacking was his power, but other than that, he could do it all. From 1911 to 1914, he never finished lower than 6th for the MVP. He won the award in 1914 with a .344 batting average, but hit even higher in the previous 3 seasons, maxing at .365 in 1911. He also had an amazing eye and was consistently among the league leader in walks. He was one of the best bunters in MLB history as well and the current leader all time in sacrifice bunts. Collins continued to produce year after year and finished second for the MVP in 1923 and 1924, leading the league in steals in each season. He finished his career with 3,315 hits and a .333 batting average. He also earned 6 World Series rings, hitting .429 in the 1910 World Series, .421 in 1913 and .409 in 1917. Collins inexplicably was not elected on his first few ballots, but finally reached the 75% threshold in 1939 and got his much deserved plaque in Cooperstown.

1. Rogers Hornsby

But coming in at #1 has to be Rogers Hornsby, perhaps the greatest right handed hitter to ever live. He started his career as a shortstop but settled into second base in 1920 and stayed there for the rest of the decade, playing a total of 1,561 games at the position. He was one of the best players in baseball for well over a decade, and led the National League in WAR in an astonishing 11 out of 13 seasons. He was consistently among the league leaders, oftentimes #1, in almost every offensive category including home runs, and led he league in batting average for six straight seasons, 3 times finishing above .400. In 1924 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he had a superhuman season, hitting .424 with a 1.203 OPS but finished 2nd for the MVP, because pitcher Dazzy Vance went 28-6 with a 2.16 ERA, before the Cy Young Award existed. Hornsby did win the MVP the next year, and also became a player-manager, a position he would hold for most of the remainder of his career. He won a second MVP with the Cubs in 1929 before injuries slowed him down in the 1930’s, but he continued to play when he could through the 1937 season. He retired with 2,930 hits, 301 home runs and an insane .358 batting average. His career OPS was over 1.000. He did not have a reputation as the nicest guy – more on that in a future video – but his talent cannot be denied and based on the decade of the 1920’s alone, he has to come in as the greatest second baseman in MLB history.

The Top 15 FIRST BASEMEN In Modern MLB HISTORY!!

Welcome back to to another countdown; today we’re talking about the greatest 1st basemen in modern MLB history; I played first base myself so it’s definitely my favorite position and not as easy as a lot of people think.

I’ll be included retired players who played primarily first base throughout their career, at least 1,200 games at the position. So, that’s why certain players like Frank Thomas, David Ortiz and Jim Thome and many others who played a few seasons at first base aren’t on this list – look for them on the upcoming DH video. Also, as for the 19th century players, I’ll be honoring all the great players from that era in a huge video upcoming soon, so for these rankings, I’m sticking with the modern era. Before getting to the top 15, there were so many great 1st basemen I know if I didn’t mention some of them, the comment section would completely implode, so I had to throw in a few quick honorable mentions -

Buck Leonard

A player who would easily have made the top 10 and probably top 5 all time had he been allowed to play in the Major Leagues, Buck Leonard made 13 All Star Games in a 14 year career in the Negro Leagues. The official stats that exist give him a .346 career average and he maxed out at .420 in 1938. He was a 3 time Negro League World Series champ and one of the most talented pure hitters to ever live.

Don Mattingly

For a period of time in the mid-80’s, Don Mattingly was among the best overall players in baseball, winning the MVP in 1985 with a 145 RBIs, 35 home runs and 48 doubles. From 1984 to 1989, he made every All Star Team and was also an elite fielder, winning a total of 9 Gold Gloves in his career. He retired with a .307 average and 2,153 hits and as of this recording, like Hernandez, remains a Hall of Fame snub.

Will Clark

Of course I have to mention Giants legend Will “The Thrill” Clark, who had the sweetest swing of the 80’s and 90’s. He hit .303 for his career with 284 homers, and also won a Gold Glove. But Clark was also a postseason machine, hitting .333 with several clutch hits. He finished his career strong with the Cardinals and Orioles in 2000, hitting .319 with 21 homers, and could’ve easily kept playing but decided to retire, which kept his career numbers small enough to prevent entry thus far into the Hall of Fame.

Carlos Delgado

Another Hall of Fame snub, Carlos Delgado was an absolute power-hitting machine for about 13 years, crushing between 25 to 44 home runs per season in the late 90’s and 2000’s. He ended up with 473 home runs, 1,512 RBIs, and 3 Silver Sluggers. He finished 2nd for the MVP in 2003 with 42 home runs and 145 RBIs, falling short to Alex Rodriguez. Delgado somehow only made 2 All Star teams, and only got 3.8% of the vote in 2015, falling off the Hall of Fame ballot.

Tony Perez

Perez played first base for 23 seasons, accumulating over 2,700 hits and 379 home runs, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He was a key member of the Big Red Machine, averaging more than 100 RBIs per season from 1970 to 1976, consistently crushing over 20 home runs per season. He hit 3 home runs in 1975 World Series, and had multiple postseason clutch moments, helping the Reds win back-to-back World Series championships. He also made 7 All Star teams, winning an All Star MVP Award in 1967. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his 9th year on the ballot in the year 2000.

Keith Hernandez

Hernandez was an all around talent who could hit and field at an elite level for well over a decade he has more Gold Gloves than any other 1st baseman in MLB history with 11. He could also rake and hit .296 for his career with an .821 OPS. In 1979, had a monster MVP season with a .344 average, 48 doubles and 105 RBIs. Hernandez has two rings - one from 1982 with the Cardinals and another from ‘86 with the Mets. He made five all star teams, won two Silver Sluggers, an MVP and a batting title. It’s an absolute travesty that he hasn’t been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Mark Grace

Mark Grace, A 3-time All Star with 4 Gold Gloves and 2,445 hits, had a spectacular 16 year MLB career with the Cubs and Diamondbacks. He hit .329 in the postseason and was a member of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks championship team. Believe it or not, Mark Grace had more hits in the 1990’s than any other MLB player – more than Ripken, Griffey, Bonds, and even Tony Gwynn. He also led the 90’s in doubles. He was simply one of the best hitters and smoothest defenders of the 90’s and is a highly underrated talent that should’ve gotten more consideration for the Hall of Fame, but got just 4.1% of the vote and fell off the ballot.

Orlando Cepeda

I don’t know but somehow I couldn’t squeeze Cepeda into the Top 15 despite an MVP, Rookie of the Year, and 11 All Star Appearances. He was an absolute superstar for the Giants in the late 50’s and early 60’s and won the MVP with the Cardinals in 1967 when he drove in 111 runs with a .325 average and 25 bombs. He finished his career with 379 home runs and a .297 average, and made the Hall of Fame in 1999. He would’ve been #16 if I had an additional name of the list. So, let’s now get into the official Top 15.

15. Fred McGriff

My original #1 all-time Hall of Fame snub before he was finally elected in 2023 was the Crime Dog, Fred McGriff. McGriff was one of the most consistent producers for nearly 20 years, crushing 30 home runs season after season after season. He ended up 493, just 7 short of the magic 500, and if he would’ve managed just 7 more, he probably would’ve been elected to the Hall of Fame a decade sooner than he was. Although he never won an MVP, he finished in the Top 10 six times, competing against bulked up hitters during the Steroid Era. He drove in over 100 runs in 8 separate seasons, and hit .284 for his career, which lasted 19 years. He may have never been the literal best in the game, but to his unbelievable consistency makes Fred McGriff one of the better 1st basemen to ever play the game.

14. Ernie Banks

A surprising entry since most fans remember Ernie Banks as a shortstop, but he played in 1,259 games at first base after 1st playing the position in 1961 before moving there permanently in 1962. Although his best years were at shortstop, he still made 5 All Star games as a first baseman and in one game, he tied an MLB record with putouts in a single game for a first baseman with 22. For his career, Banks was an all time great, crushing 512 home runs, winning back to back MVPs in 1958 and 1959. He was an iron man who played nearly every day, at one point playing in 717 consecutive games. Even though he didn’t move to first base until after his best seasons, I’m still considering Banks a 1st baseman since he passed the 1,200 game threshold. He became an excellent defender at first base, not surprising since he won a Gold Glove at shortstop. He was the Cubs starting 1st baseman for nearly the entire decade of the 1960’s.

13. George Sisler

For a 7 year period, George Sisler was one of the best players in the game, playing for the St. Louis Browns. It started in 1916 when he hit .305, but he kept getting better from there. He hit .353 in 1917, then .407 in 1920 and maxed out at an incredible .420 batting average in 1922, his MVP season. He had over 200 hits for 3 straight seasons, including a ridiculous 257 in 1920, a single season record that was not broken until Ichiro came along in 2004. But after that MVP year, Sisler fell ill with sinusitis, and his vision began to deteriorate. He was seeing with double vision and doctors said he would never play again. He had surgery, missed the 1923 season, and returned in 1924, and despite limited vision, having to squint to see the ball, he could still hit. He hit .345 in 1925 and played another 7 seasons, finishing his career with a .340 average and 2,812 hits.

12. Bill Terry

Bill Terry had a relatively short career, but made the most of it, hitting well over .300 almost every season, all with the New York Giants. He became their every day first baseman in 1927 and hit .326. A couple years later, he hit .372, then in 1930, his average topped .400 with a league leading .401 mark. He also led the league with 254 hits, but it happened the same year Hack Wilson crushed 56 homers and drove in 191 runs, so Terry fell short for the MVP. He did finish in the Top 10 for MVP for seven straight seasons, although he never won one. In 1924, he hit .429 in the World Series, but his Giants fell short, although he did eventually win a ring in 1933. Terry made 3 All Star teams, but would’ve made many more, if they existed during the majority of his career. Terry retired with a .341 career batting average, 18th all time. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1954.

11. Johnny Mize

Mize played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, but missed out on 3 due to military service during World War II. He was a powerful left handed slugger who played for the Cardinals, Giants and Yankees. He led the league in home runs 4 times, maxing out with 51 bombs in 1947. He was also a fantastic hitter in general, hitting over .300 every season for the first 9 years of his career. In 1939, he hit .349 with a 1.070 OPS, but finished 2nd for the MVP then was even better in 1940 with 43 homers and 137 RBIs, but finished in 2nd place again and never did win an MVP, although he was one of the best players in baseball for about 10 years. He hit 3 home runs in a game an MLB record 6 times and retired with a .312 average and 359 homers.

10. Rafael Palmeiro

Perhaps a controversial entry is Rafael Palmeiro, but I don’t know how I keep him out of the Top 15 after a 20 year career in which he collected 3 Gold Gloves, over 3,000 hits and 569 career home runs. Palmeiro famously wagged his finger at a hearing in which he stated he had never used steroids, then promptly failed a steroid test. But Rafael Palmeiro is still one of the greatest first basemen to ever play, even if we don’t know how much steroids propelled his statistics. That’s the unfortunate reality of the steroid era, so I’m just going to rank the players for what they did on the field, and Palmeiro is the only player on this list with 500 homers and 3,000 hits. He surprisingly made just 4 All Star teams, and never won a World Series or MVP, but was a consistent producer for 20 years and so, to be fair, since you know Barry Bonds is going to be on my left fielder list, I gotta add Rafael Palmeiro’s name.

9. Mark McGwire

And that goes for #10 as well, Mark McGwire, who I put a bit higher than Palmeiro because of his insane star power and ridiculous peak, which yes, was steroid propelled. But Mark McGwire was a huge prospect, taken in the 1st round in 1984, and was expected to be a great home run hitter. He had an insane first year, crushing a rookie record 49 bombs, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. He became a superstar in Oakland, crushing over 30 home runs every year he stayed healthy. In 1996, he smashed 52 bombs with an insane 1.168 OPS as the steroid era was well underway, and he finished 7th for the MVP with players like Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez beating him out. In 1998, of course, McGwire broke Roger Maris’ single season record of 61 homers by crushing 70, an unthinkable number at the time. He then hit 65 more in 1999. McGwire made 12 All Star Games during his career and would’ve been an easy 1st ballot Hall of Famer if not for the juice.

8. Joey Votto

Up next is Cincinnati Reds legendary 1st baseman, Joey Votto, who ranks 5th all time among 1st basemen with a .409 On-Base-Percentage. He had plate discipline like no one else throughout his career and led the league in on-base-percentage 7 times, working walks with frequency but also punishing mistakes, crushing 356 career home runs with a .294 batting average. He won an MVP in 2010, smashing 37 home runs with a 1.024 OPS, leading the Reds to the playoffs. In 2011, he won a Gold Glove and in 2012, led the Reds back to the postseason with a .337 average and league leading .474 on-base-percentage. He made 6 total All Star teams and finished his career with 2,135 hits and a .920 OPS. He is definitely a future Hall of Famer; the only question is whether or not he gets in on the first ballot.

7. Todd Helton

Up next is Colorado Rockies legend, Todd Helton, who was gifted with the glove but even better with the bat. He won three Gold Gloves, but could hit like few others, especially in the early 2000s. In the year 2000, he hit .372 over 160 games, a feat that almost seems impossible against modern day pitchers. That year, he drove in 147 runs, crushed 42 home runs and had a league leading 59 doubles. It was a season that would’ve normally earned him an easy MVP, but voters held it against him that he played at Coors Field, and he ended up finishing in 5th place. In 2003, he hit .358 with 32 bombs, but fell quite short of the MVP again, competing with the likes of Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols. In his 17 year career, he hit .316 with 369 home runs, four Silver Slugger and five All Star Selections, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024.

6. Willie McCovey

One of my favorite players of all time, enough so that I named my cat McCovey – we have “Stretch,” Willie McCovey, the long time San Francisco Giant who played in four different decades and 22 years in total. He won a Rookie of the Year in 1959 with an insane .354 batting average, but hadn’t even tapped into his power yet with 13 homers. That would happen in 1963 when he crushed 44 bombs to match his number, a league leading number. He had massive power and Bob Gibson called him the scariest hitter in baseball. In 1969, he had a monster MVP season, crushing 45 homers with 126 RBIs, a .435 slugging and a 1.108 OPS. He even won the All Star Game MVP that season. He led the National League in OPS and Slugging for 3 straight seasons, and ended up hitting 521 career homers, 439 as a first baseman. The 6-time All Star also played for Padres and A’s and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

5. Jeff Bagwell

Career Houston Astro and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell played 15 seasons, the entire time as first baseman, and crushed a total of 449 home runs, averaging over 30 per season. He made his debut in 1991 and won an Rookie of the Year with a .294 batting average, 15 homers and 82 RBIs. By 1994, he was an absolute MLB superstatar, crushing 39 home runs with a .368 average and an OPS over 1.200 before the season ended prematurely due to the strike. He was still awarded the MVP for his incredible season and a Gold Glove to go along with it. Bagwell continued to be an offensive threat for 10 years, making 4 All Star teams and taking home 3 Silver Slugger Awards. He was also fast in his prime and has the career record for stolen bases as a 1st baseman. Unfortunately, major injury issues left him unable to play in more than 39 games in 2005 and he missed the 2006 season before retiring. But Bagwell hit .297 for his career with a .948 OPS, the 25th best career OPS in MLB history.

4. Eddie Murray

No one played more games at first base than Hall of Famer Eddie Murray with a total of 2,438 over a 21 year career. He was an immediate phenom, hitting 27 bombs in 1977, taking home the Rookie of the Year award, and becoming the long time first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. During the 80’s, he won 3 consecutive Gold Gloves, consistently hit around .300 with power, and could get on base like others. He crushed 2 bombs in the 1983 World Series, helping the O’s win it all, then led the league with a .410 on-base percentage in 1984, and although he never won an MVP, he finished in the top 5 six times in his career, including a 2nd place finish in 1983 and 1984. He was eventually traded to the Dodgers and in 1990, hit .330 with 26 bombs. In 1995, he was a key member of a stacked Cleveland Indians team and hit .323 with 21 bombs, helping them get to the World Series. Murray has the MLB record for RBIs as a switch hitter, more than even Mickey Mantle. He finished his career with 3,255 hits, 8 All Star Appearances, 3 Silver Sluggers and is easily one of the greatest 1st basemen of all time.

3. Albert Pujols

At #3 is the great Albert Pujols, who played over 2,000 games at first and hit more career home runs than any one else on today’s list with 703 total bombs. He burst onto the scene in 2001 with an insane rookie year, crushing 37 homers with 130 RBIs, winning a Rookie of the Year and becoming an instant star. He never slowed down during his time in St. Louis, going on to win 3 MVPs while leading the league in multiple offensive categories. He also helped lead the Cardinals to 3 World Series appearances and 2 championships, winning an NLCS MVP in 2004 and hitting .319 with 19 home runs in his postseason career. He was stellar defensively and won two Gold Gloves. The second half of his career, mostly in Anaheim, wasn’t as spectacular but he continued to crush home runs and eventually, after a year with the Dodgers, made his return to St. Louis in 2022, making his 11th and final All Star team. He retired with a .296 average, 6 Silver Sluggers, a batting title, and a definite future plaque in the Hall of Fame.

2. Jimmie Foxx

Coming in at #2 is the powerful Jimmie Foxx, who played mostly for the Philadelphia A’s and Boston Red Sox. Of his 534 career home runs, he hit 521 as a first baseman, second in MLB history to only Mark McGwire. In the early 1930’s, he was probably the most feared hitter in baseball. In 1932, he hit .364 with a league leading 58 home runs and 169 RBIs, easily taking home the MVP. He followed it up with another MVP season in ‘33, winning the Triple Crown with 48 homers, 163 RBIs, and a .356 batting average. He also won an MVP in 1938 with the Red Sox and, ended up playing 20 years with a .325 career batting average and OPS of 1.038 – that’s for an entire career. He set a record by hitting at least 30 home runs in 12 consecutive seasons and had over 100 RBIs in 13 straight years. He was a good defender with a powerful arm as well, retiring with a .990 fielding percentage. But his absolutely ridiculous offensive numbers are what makes him one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

1. Lou Gehrig

And coming in at #1 to hopefully no one’s surprise is the all time great Yankee legend Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, who played in 2,130 consecutive games, a seemingly unbreakable record that somehow was eventually broken by Cal Ripken Jr. But Gehrig played through many injuries and even fractures, producing at an elite level year after year. He also set several other records during his incredible career including career grand slams, which was eventually broken by Alex Rodriguez. Gehrig finished in Top 3 for MVP in 9 out of 11 seasons, winning the award twice, and ended his career with 493 home runs. If he hadn’t tragically been stricken with ALS at just 36 years old, he would’ve easily surpassed 500 home runs and likely retired with closer to if not more than 600. He had a career .990 fielding percentage and always had quick feet while playing solid defense, although his bat was certainly what made him a superstar. Gehrig hit .361 in the World Series, won 7 rings and retired with an incredible career batting average of .340 and an OPS over 1.000. Among first basemen, he is first all time in runs, hits, triples, RBIs, walks, batting average, slugging, on base percentage, OPS and WAR, and he easily comes in at #1 in today’s list.