Baseball is America’s pastime. The game has been around for over 150 years and has seen some of the greatest athletes in history take the field. In this blog post, we will countdown the top 20 baseball players of all time. These are the players who have shaped the game and left their mark on history. From Babe Ruth to Jackie Robinson, these are the men who have made baseball what it is today.
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. He was a dominant pitcher and hitter, and his larger-than-life personality made him one of the most famous athletes in the world. Ruth began his career with the Boston Red Sox, where he helped them win three World Series titles. He then became a star with the New York Yankees, winning four more World Series championships. Ruth retired in 1935 as the all-time leader in home runs and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. He was a five-tool player who could do it all on the field. He could hit for average and power, he was an excellent fielder, and he had one of the strongest arms in baseball.
Mays was born in 1931 in Alabama and grew up playing sandlot baseball. He began his professional career in the Negro Leagues before being signed by the New York Giants in 1951. He made his Major League debut in May of that year and quickly became one of the best players in baseball.
Mays won two MVP Awards and was a 12-time All-Star during his 22-year career. He helped lead the Giants to World Series titles in 1954 and 1962. He retired as the all-time leader in home runs (660) and walks (2,062). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
Hank Aaron
If there’s one name that’s synonymous with baseball, it’s Hank Aaron. The former Atlanta Braves outfielder is considered one of the greatest players of all time, and his accomplishments on the diamond are truly legendary.
Aaron began his professional career in 1952 with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues, and he would go on to play 21 seasons in the Major Leagues. During that time, he established himself as one of the game’s best hitters, winning three Gold Glove Awards and leading the league in hits four times.
But it was his home run hitting that really made Aaron a household name. He set a then-Major League record by hitting 755 homers over his career, a mark that would stand for 33 years until it was finally broken by Barry Bonds in 2007. In addition to his home run record, Aaron also holds MLB records for most career RBI (2,297), extra-base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856).
He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1982 in his first year of eligibility, and his impact on the game is still felt today. He remains an inspiration to players and fans alike, and his legacy as one of the game’s greatest players will continue to live on for generations to come.
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He played for the Detroit Tigers from 1905 to 1928 and is considered one of the best hitters in baseball history. He had a career batting average of .366 and led the league in batting average 12 times. He also holds the record for most career hits with 4,191.
Stan Musial
Stan Musial, nicknamed “Stan the Man”, was an American baseball player who spent his entire 22-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the St. Louis Cardinals. Regarded as one of the greatest and most consistent hitters in baseball history, Musial was a first-ballot inductee into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.
Musial batted .331 over his career and hit 475 home runs. He also had 1,951 RBIs and 3,630 hits, which is still fifth all-time among major leaguers despite his retirement nearly 60 years ago. A seven-time National League (NL) batting champion, Musial held numerous NL records at the time of his retirement. Many of those records still stand today, including most hits in a season (228 in 1948), most extra-base hits in a season ( 429 ), most total bases in a season ( 451 ), and most games played in a career (3,026).
Honus Wagner
1. Honus Wagner
Widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, Honus Wagner was a shortstop who spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an excellent hitter and fielder, winning eight batting titles and setting multiple records for both hits and stolen bases. He was also a member of the first class inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 21-year career with the Washington Senators. He was nicknamed “The Big Train” for his powerful fastballs and ability to strike out batters. He is considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history and holds several pitching records, including the most career strikeouts, the most shutouts, and the most wins.
Johnson was born in Humboldt, Kansas in 1887. He began his professional career in 1907 with the Weiser Kids of the Idaho State League. He was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1907 and made his major league debut that same year. He quickly emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball, leading the American League in strikeouts for six consecutive seasons from 1910 to 1915. He also led the league in wins three times and ERA twice. His best season came in 1913 when he won 36 games and had an ERA of 1.14.
Johnson continued to be one of baseball’s best pitchers into his thirties and helped lead the Senators to their only World Series title in 1924. He retired after the 1927 season with a record of 417-279 and 3,509 strikeouts. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, becoming just the second player to be elected unanimously.
Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson was one of the most successful pitchers in baseball history. He played for the New York Giants from 1900 to 1916, and helped the team win five World Series titles. Mathewson was a two-time National League MVP and a three-time World Series MVP. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle was one of the most talented and popular baseball players of all time. He played for the New York Yankees for his entire 18-year career, winning seven World Series titles. Mantle was a three-time MVP and a 14-time All-Star. He hit 536 home runs, including a record 18 in one season, and had a .298 batting average. Mantle is widely considered one of the greatest players in baseball history.
Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens is one of the top baseball players of all time. He played for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. He was a seven-time Cy Young Award winner and an 11-time All-Star. In 1986, he won the American League MVP Award. He is the only pitcher in history to have struck out 20 batters in a game more than once. He also holds the record for the most strikeouts in a season, with 4,672.
Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He played for 27 seasons, mostly with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. Ryan holds numerous pitching records, including the most no-hitters (7) and the most strikeouts (5,714). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez is one of the most successful baseball players of all time. He played for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets, and was a World Series champion with the Red Sox in 2004. Martinez was also a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and he was named to eight All-Star teams during his career.
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver is a legendary baseball player who played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox. He was a 3-time National League Cy Young Award winner and a 12-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson is a former MLB pitcher who played for 22 seasons. He is a five-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star, and two-time Cy Young Award winner. Johnson is considered one of the best pitchers in baseball history. He was nicknamed “The Big Unit” because of his 6’10” height and formidable pitching style.
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux, born in 1966, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres. He is currently the assistant pitching coach for the Texas Rangers.
Maddux was known for his precision control and his ability to change speeds while pitching. He won four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992 to 1995 and he helped lead the Braves to a World Series title in 1995. In 2014, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot with 97.2% of the vote.
Maddux is considered one of the best pitchers of all time. He was nicknamed “The Professor” for his ability to outthink hitters.
Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay, nicknamed “Doc”, was a professional baseball player who pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. He was an eight-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner. In 2010, he became the first pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter in the same season. Halladay was born in Denver, Colorado, on May 14, 1977, and grew up in Arvada, Colorado. His father, Harry Halladay, was a pilot for American Airlines. Roy’s older brother Braden also played baseball.
Halladay was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1995 MLB draft out of high school. He made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 1998. He quickly became one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the Cy Young Award in 2003. He continued to pitch well for the Blue Jays until he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.
In Philadelphia, Halladay became one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. He won his second Cy Young Award in 2010 after throwing a perfect game against the Florida Marlins on May 29 and a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on October 6. He retired after the 2013 season with a record of 203-105 and an ERA of 3.38.
Halladay is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His perfect game was just the 20th in major league history and his no
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is arguably the best relief pitcher in baseball history. Over his 19-year career, he played for the New York Yankees and was a key member of their late-1990s dynasty that won four World Series titles. He is a five-time World Series champion and a thirteen-time All-Star.
Rivera was born in Panama and came up through the Yankees’ farm system. He made his major league debut in 1995 and became the Yankees’ closer in 1997. He quickly established himself as one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, with a signature cut fastball that confounded hitters. In 1999, he was named the American League Championship Series MVP after helping the Yankees to victory over the rival Boston Red Sox.
Rivera went on to have a remarkable career, setting records for most saves (652) and lowest ERA (2.21) among relief pitchers. He was an integral part of the Yankees’ success during their run of four World Series titles in five seasons from 1996 to 2000. After retiring following the 2013 season, he was unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
There are few players in baseball history who can match Mariano Rivera’s accomplishments. He is without doubt one of the greatest players of all time.
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is one of the best baseball players of all time. He has won the National League Cy Young Award three times and is a eight-time All-Star. In 2014, he was the NL Most Valuable Player.
Kershaw has pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. He is currently the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball, with an annual salary of $32 million.
In his career, Kershaw has thrown more than 2,000 innings and has struck out more than 2,500 batters. He has a career earned run average of 2.43 and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 1.02.
Kershaw is considered one of the best pitchers in baseball history. His combination of size, stuff, mechanics, intelligence, and competitiveness is unmatched. He consistently ranks among the league leaders in strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP.