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.

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 UNDRAFTED Free Agents of All Time

Since the inception of the MLB Draft, there have been many great players not considered to be very big prospects who were taken extremely low yet went on to have elite MLB careers. Players not taken in the first few rounds generally have a much tougher path to the big leagues and have to really impress in the Minor Leagues. Nevertheless, there have been some players such as Mike Piazza, who was taken as the 1,390th overall pick, who overcame being picked low in the draft and went on to become Hall of Famers. Still, there are many other players who have to take an even tougher path to baseball’s highest level – and for these players, the odds of even making it the big leagues – much less becoming an impact player - are even longer. These are players who were never drafted at all, despite being available in an MLB Draft. These players have to somehow get the attention of an MLB team with the help of an agent or by playing in the independent leagues, hoping to get signed as an undrafted free agent, giving them an opportunity to play in an affiliated minor league system. Even if this happens, the undrafted free agent is rarely considered anything more than a roster filler in the minors. They have to play extremely well in order to get the attention of the big league front office and finally be considered a realistic prospect.

Today, we will be ranking the Top 15 Best MLB Undrafted Free Agents of all time – these players were able to play well enough in the minors to get an opportunity in the big leagues and they took full advantage of it. As a side note, only players who were eligible for the first year MLB draft and were not drafted will be included – so this list will not include players such as Larry Walker and Edgar Martinez, who were signed as international free agents and were not eligible for the draft. Also, players were were drafted after High School but did not sign in order to go college, then later went undrafted after college are eligible for this list. So, let’s get into it, starting with 5 honorable mentions:

Honorable Mentions:

Kirby Yates – an active relief pitcher who led the National League with 41 saves in 2019

Kevin Millar – a 2004 World Series Champion with the Red Sox who hit 170 career home runs

Jim Leyrtiz – a two-time World Series champ with the Yankees who had an 11-year big league career

Dan Gladden – who won two rings with the Twins and retired with over 1,200 hits

Ken Hill – one of the best pitchers in the game for the Expos during the strike-shortened 1994 season

Now, let’s get into the Top 15

#15 Bernard Gilkey – OF (21.6 WAR)

First up is a classic name from the St. Louis Cardinals lineup of the early 90’s, Bernard Gilkey. Gilkey graduated from University City High School in 1984 but went completely undrafted. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cardinals and displayed amazing speed with a solid bat that only improved as he moved up through the minors. He stole 56 bases in Single A in ‘88 and another 53 in Double A in ‘89, leading the league. After 6 long years in the Minors, Gilkey was promoted and by 1991, was in the Opening Day lineup. He consistently hit around .300 for St. Louis until he was traded to the Mets, where in 1996 he had his best year, driving in 117 runs with a .317 batting average and 30 home runs. Unfortunately, he was snubbed from the ‘96 All Star Team. He finished his career with a .275 average and 118 homers.

#14 Esteban Loaiza – P (22.7 WAR)

Up next is a 14-year big league pitcher who started the 2003 All-Star Game – Esteban Loaiza. Loaiza was ready to enter professional baseball after a stellar High School career at Mar Vista High, but sadly went completely undrafted. Later, he was able to sign with the Pirates and entered their Minor League system in 1991, going 5-1 with a 2.26 ERA in Rookie Ball. He continued to impress as he moved up through the minors and in 1995, he made the team out of Spring Training and was put into the starting rotation. Loaiza was a serviceable big league arm for years with the Pirates, Rangers and Blue Jays until everything clicked in 2003 with the White Sox, when he went 21-9 with a 2.9 ERA and league-leading 207 strikeouts. He finished second in the Cy Young voting to Roy Halladay and started the All Star Game. He made a second All Star team in 2004, although he never repeated that amazing 2003 season.

#13 John Montefusco – P (19.9 WAR)

John “The Count” of Montefusco was a staple in the San Francisco Giants rotation during the 1970’s. He attended Brookdale Community College and went completely undrafted in 1972. Fortunately, he was able to sign a contract with the Giants and dazzled in the minor leagues, going 9-2 with a 2.17 ERA and a 9.5 per 9 strikeout ratio. He made his big league debut in 1974 and became a regular by ‘75, when he won the Rookie of the Year award and finished 4th in the Cy Young voting. In 1976, he threw a no-hitter against the Braves, which was the last Giants no-hitter up until 2009 when Jonathan Sanchez finally threw another one. Montefusco later pitched for the Braves, Padres and Yankees, finishing his career with a 90-83 record.

#12 Tommy Herr – 2B (23.6 WAR)

Next up is Tommy Herr, a fan favorite for many years in St. Louis who played in three separate World Series for St. Louis, helping them win one in 1982. He attended the University of Delaware and went undrafted in 1974. Luckily, he caught on with the Cardinals, signing for a $10,000 bonus, and began his Minor League career ‘75. He showed an amazing ability to hit for average and get on base while playing nearly flawless defense. In 1977, he led his Single A league with 156 hits and he also stole an incredible 50 bases. In 1979, he made his big league debut and by the 1980’s, became a regular in the lineup. His best season came in 1985 when he made the All Star Team and drove in 110 runs with a .302 average. He also stole 31 bases, being thrown out only 3 times. Herr retired with the best fielding percentage in the history of MLB for second basemen despite never winning a Gold Glove.

#11 Mike Bordick – IF (26.8 WAR)

A familiar name to Oakland A’s fans of the early 90’s, Mike Bordick played college ball at the University of Maine but no team picked his name during the 1985 MLB Draft. He went on to play in the Cap Cod League, where A’s scout J.P. Ricciardi, who went on to become the Blue Jays GM and now works in the Giants front office, noticed Bordick and signed him to play in the A’s organization. Although his stats were nothing spectacular, he showed incredible work ethic and knew how to work the count and get on base. He worked his way up through the minors and made his MLB debut in 1990. By ‘92, he was an everyday player and hit .300 with 151 hits and 40 walks. By 2000, he developed some power, crushing 20 home runs for the Mets and Orioles and making the All Star Team. He finished his career with an impressive 26.8 WAR.

#10 Danny Darwin – P (39.8 WAR)

Coming in at #10 is Danny Darwin, a starting pitcher and reliever who had a 21-year big league career. He pitched at Grayson County College in Texas and was completely overlooked in the draft. In May of 1976, he signed with the Rangers and quickly impressed in the Minors, going 13-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 1977. He was promoted to Triple A in 1978 and showed amazing strikeout ability, earning a call-up to the big leagues. He had his first full MLB season in 1980 and impressed, going 13-4 with a 2.63 ERA. From there, Darwin would become a solid MLB arm for two decades, as a reliever and starter, pitching for 8 separate teams. In 1990 with the Astros, he led the league with a 2.21 ERA. He pitched for the Giants from 1997 to 1998, retiring with nearly 2,000 career strikeouts and an extremely impressive 39.8 WAR.

#9 Tom Candiotti – P (41.4 WAR)

Up next is the Candy Man, Tom Candiotti, a knuckleballer who had a 16-year big league career. He pitched out of St. Mary’s College of California for four years, but was never drafted. He was able to catch on with an independent league team in British Columbia, Canada called the Victoria Mussels after attending a try-out in 1979. With no place to live, no money, and no car, Candiotti went 5-1 for the Mussels, sometimes sleeping on the field in a sleeping bag after the game. He pitched well enough to be sold to the Kansas City Royals, but later ended up in the Brewers organization. He pitched well in the minors but had a major setback when he underwent Tommy John Surgery. Candiotti came back strong, however and threw a shutout during his initial call-up to the big leagues in 1983. As a knuckler, he had great stamina and later with the Indians in 1986, led the league with 17 complete games. Candiotti was also a mainstay in the Dodgers rotation for several years in the 90’s. He retired with a 151-164 record and over 1,700 strikeouts.

#8 Larry Bowa – SS (22.8 WAR)

Up next is a player who many now know as an MLB coach and Manager – Larry Bowa. Long before his managerial career, Bowa was a High School kid who tried out for the baseball team and was cut – every single year. Fortunately, he continued to practice and did make his college team at Sacramento City College. He became a strong player there and a scout from the Phillies went to check him out, but he was ejected early in the game for arguing with the umpire. The kid definitely had a future as a manager. As it turned out, no team drafted him. However, the Phillies continued to keep an eye on him as he played in a winter league, showing signs of defensive brilliance and a strong bat. He was eventually offered a contract that included a $2,000 bonus. It turned out to be a wise decision as Bowa hit well in the minors and went on to have an incredible rookie year for the Phillies in 1970. He finished 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting and went on to make 5 All Star teams and take home 2 Gold Gloves. He hit .316 in the 1980 World Series, helping bring a ring to Philadelphia. He later went on to win the Manager of the Year Award for the Phillies in 2001.

#7 Kevin Mitchell – OF (29.2 WAR)

Coming in appropriately at #7 is my favorite player growing up in the late 80’s, Kevin Mitchell, who blasted 234 career home runs and also made one of the most famous catches in MLB history with this barehanded snag. Long before that, Mitchell’s parents separated when he was two years old. He was raised by his grandmother in a rough neighborhood where he sometimes ran with the wrong crowds, getting involved in gang activity. He struggled in school and never even played High School baseball, but did have a talent for the game thanks largely to his grandma encouraging him to practice baseball, even though he preferred football and boxing. In 1980, a friend of Mitchell’s took him to an open New York Mets tryout and Mitchell displayed incredible power, impressing the scouts, who signed him to a contract for $600 a month to enter into their minor league system. He immediately stood out, hitting .335 with 7 homers in Rookie Ball. Step by step, he ascended through the system and made it to the Major Leagues by 1984. In 1986, his pinch-hit single kept the Mets alive in the World Series and was allowed them to make one of the most dramatic comebacks in baseball history. However, he became an absolute superstar later with the San Francisco Giants, crushing 47 home runs in 1989 and taking home the N.L MVP and a Silver Slugger Award. Mitchell’s career was not always smooth sailing and there are some wild stories about some of his off-the-field antics, but for being an undrafted free agent, he had an incredible career, crushing 234 career homers with a .284 batting average.

#6 Brian Downing – C/OF (51.5 WAR)

Brian Downing, who played Major League Baseball for 20 years and collected over 2,000 hits, was not only an undrafted free agent, but was also cut from his High School teams multiple times. He attended Cyprus College after graduating High School and decided to try out for baseball, but only made the team as the official bullpen catcher. Most people would have given up on their baseball career by this point, but Downing decided to make one last effort and attended a Chicago White Sox open try-out in 1969 and fortunately for Downing, a scout named Bill Lentini saw some potential and offered him a contract. Downing was solid in the minors, hitting .278 with 15 homers in Double A. He made it to the big leagues by 1973, and despite a slow start in MLB, he eventually became a regular in the lineup. During the 1977-78 offseason, he was traded to the Angels and found his comfort zone there. Downing crushed 28 home runs in 1978 and was eventually moved from catcher to outfield. He hit at least 19 home runs for 7 straight seasons and became a fan favorite in Anaheim. He retired with 275 homers and one All Star selection. He also worked an impressive 1,197 walks in his career, giving him a .370 career on-base-percentage. His 51.5 WAR is better than Hall of Famers Kirby Puckett and Orlando Cepeda.

#5 Bobby Bonilla – 3B/OF (30.2 WAR)

An absolute superstar from the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bobby Bonilla is another player who was incredibly never drafted. He did play baseball in High School and graduated in 1981, but went unselected in the draft. He decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science but happened to attend a baseball camp where he was spotted by Pirates scout and future GM Syd Thrift. He played well in the Minors for several years but had a major injury setback with a broken leg, then was claimed in the Rule 5 Draft by the White Sox before he could make his big league debut. The White Sox promoted him in 1986 and he hit .269 with a couple homers before the Pirates reacquired him. In 1987, he showed real promise by hitting .300 with 15 homers. Then, in 1988, everything came together as Bonilla crushed 24 homers with 100 runs driven in. From there, he made 4 consecutive All Star Teams and finished 2nd for the MVP in 1990 with 32 bombs and 120 RBIs. Later, he made two more All Star Teams with the Mets and hit .297 with the Marlins in 1997, helping them win their first World Series. He may be best known now for Bobby Bonilla Day, the annual day when the Mets have to pay Bonilla over a million dollars as part of his 2000 deferred salary – a payment that will continue until 2035.

#4 Dan Quisenberry – P (24.6 WAR)

For a few years, Dan Quisenberry was by far the best relief pitcher in all of baseball. He was encouraged by his stepfather to play the game and was a solid arm in High School, but was not a serious prospect. Later, he was the team’s MVP at Orange Coast College before transferring to La Verne, a Division III baseball program. Quisenberry’s name was never called at the MLB Draft, but he was able to sign with the Royals as an undrafted free agent and absolutely dazzled in the minors, with an even 1 ERA in in 1976. In Double A in 1977, he had a 1.34 ERA in 33 appearances. He had fantastic control and great stuff but could not overpower hitters, and it showed in Triple A when his ERA shot up to 3.6. Royals manager Jim Frey suggested he learn to pitch submarine style in order to keep hitters off balance. This worked wonders for Quisenberry, who quickly mastered the new style and in his first full MLB season in 1980, led the league with 33 saves. In ‘81, he had a 1.73 ERA, kicking off 7 consecutive seasons with an ERA under 3. He led the league in saves for four straight seasons, maxing out at 45, an MLB record, in 1983. He won the Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year award 5 times, finishing in the Top 5 for the Cy Young each of those seasons. His reign of complete domination ended around 1985, but he was still solid for several years out of the Royals bullpen. He ended up in St. Louis, where he had a nice year in 1989 with a 2.64 ERA in 63 appearances. He ended his career with 244 saves, and many fans believe he deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

#3 Frank White – IF (34.8 WAR)

Coming in at #3 is another Kansas City Royals legend, who had an elite glove and also collected over 2,000 MLB hits. His name is Frank White and at one time he was a community college baseball player with no expectations of playing beyond college. That’s when the Royals created Royals Academy, a concept where strong and powerful athletes would be trained to become elite baseball players. Unfortunately, the Academy only produced three big-league players, but Frank White was one of them – the others being U.L. Washington and former Rangers manager Ron Washington. After White entered the Royals system, it was obvious he had big talent – his glove was incredible, he could fly on the basepaths and his offensive stats were respectable. He made his big league debut in 1973 and it took a few years for Royals fans to warm up to him but by 1976, he was a regular. He won his first of 8 Gold Gloves in 1977 and made his first of five All Star Games in ‘78. By the mid-80’s, White had developed some pop as well, crushing 22 home runs in back to back seasons. He 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. He was inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame in 1995 and is also heavily supported as a potential candidate for the Basebal Hall of Fame.

#2 Toby Harrah – IF (51.4 WAR)

One of the most underrated players of all time, Toby Harrah comes in at #2 on my list of the best undrafted free agents in MLB history. Although his name doesn’t pop off the page like that of some of the previous mentioned players, you might be surprised at how good this guy was. He was scouted as a High School prospect but went undrafted and entered into the workforce, getting a job at a factory. When Phillies scout Tony Lucadello found out that no one had drafted Harrah and that he was not playing college ball, he got in touch with him and signed him to play in the Phillies organization. He was later claimed by the Washington Senators, who promoted him in for a cup of coffee in 1969, then a full-time role in 1971. Harrah had not shown much power at this point, but he knew how to work a walk like nobody else, did not strike out much, had great speed, and would be a front office analytical dream come true this day in age. Even then, his value was clear and the Senators made him an everyday player. In 1972, the team moved to Arlington, becoming the Texas Rangers and Harrah made his first All Star Team. In 1974, he decided to try to hit for more power and crushed 21 bombs. In ‘75, he hit 20 more while hitting .293 with a .403 on-base-percentage and 23 stolen bases. Harrah had also vastly improved his defense – he was near-elite in almost every aspect of the game at this point. This type of production continued year after year, with perhaps his best season in 1977 when he hit 27 homers and led the league with 109 walks. Harrah was never a massive superstar, but he did everything right to help his team throughout a 17-year career. He retired as a 4-time All Star with a career 51.4 WAR, which is better than several Hall of Famers including Ralph Kiner, Jim Rice and Ted Simmons and the best of any one on this list. The JAWS ranking has him as the 28th greatest third baseman in MLB history. He was also the last player to bat for the Washington Senators, one half of the only duo to hit back to back inside the park homers, and once played every inning of a doubleheader at shortstop and never handled the ball once. He also hit one of three grand slams in a game for the Rangers, becoming the first team to ever do so. On top of being an amazing MLB talent, he is the answer to several trivia questions.

#1 Bruce Sutter – P (24.1 WAR)

Although it was tempting to put Harrah as my #1 overall pick, there was just no way I could put any one else other than the only undrafted free agent who was also a Hall of Famer as my #1 – and that would be of course Bruce Sutter, who finished his career with exactly 300 saves. Sutter was drafted after High School by the Senators in the 21st round, but did not sign and attended college at Old Dominion. From there, he was never drafted and ended up dropping out and playing in some semi-pro league. Chicago Cubs scout Ralph DiLullo noticed Sutter and signed him to play pro ball. This was just the first time Sutter’s career would be revived after being nearly dead in the water. He only pitched in a couple games in the minors when a pinched nerve required surgery. Then, in 1973 in A Ball, he had a 4.13 ERA, giving up 94 hits in 85 innings. The Cubs were considering releasing Sutter, but a minor league instructor named Fred Martin convinced them to let him teach Sutter a new pitch first. He taught Sutter the same pitch he taught Mike Krukow – the split-fingered baseball. It wasn’t a pitch that worked for every one, but Sutter’s hands were perfect for it and in 1974 , he used to dominate minor league batters to the tune of 1.38 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 64 innings. In 1976, he began the year in Triple-A but was quickly promoted and had a 2.7 ERA in his rookie MLB season. This was only the beginning. In 1977, he became the closer and had 31 saves with a 1.34 ERA, making the All Star team and garnering Cy Young votes. He became an MLB superstar, making the All Star team nearly every year. In 1979, he had a monster season, tying an NL record with 37 saves while taking home the Cy Young Award. He would later tie Dan Quisenberry’s MLB record of 45 saves in 1984. He led the league in saves 5 times, won 4 Rolaids Relief Awards, made 6 All Star teams and was eventually honored with induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the first pitcher who never started a game to become a Hall of Famer.