Top 20 Position players of all-time (Baseball)..

olb31 · August 25, 2011 4:03AM

Here, in my opinion, are the best position players of all-time. (no pitchers included, steroids not a factor).

1. Babe Ruth
2. Hank Aaron
3. Willie Mays
4. Ted Williams
5. Pete Rose
6. Ty Cobb
7. Lou Gehrig
8. Stan Musial
9. Cap Anson
10. Tris Speaker
11. Jimmie Foxx
12. Honus Wagner
13. Mickey Mantle
14. Carl Yastrzemski
15. Joe Dimaggio (Would be higher if he had played longer)
16. Alex Rodriguez
17. Albert Pujols
18. Frank Robinson
19. Ken Griffey, Jr.
20. Rickey Henderson

Let me know what you think.

hammered · August 25, 2011 4:06AM

If steroids are not a factor then Barry Bonds should be top 5
IMO

And as much as I like Rose, he doesn't even make my top 30

AkbarClone · August 25, 2011 4:17AM

I have player collections for 5 of those players because I considered them the greatest I had seen (when I was a kid and started collecting sports cards).

FavreFan1971 · August 25, 2011 4:20AM

<< If steroids are not a factor then Barry Bonds should be top 5
IMO

And as much as I like Rose, he doesn't even make my top 30 >>

Agreed,

Henderson goes higher a few spots. Rose is out. Yaz is out. Tony Gwynn in, Mike Schmidt in

slvnumber2 · August 25, 2011 4:29AM

I think one player that has to be included is Johnny Bench. Have to have a catcher on your team, and he was clearly the best of all time. What was unique about him is that he is a lot like Willie Mays in that Mays was one of the greatest hitters as well as the best defensive center fielder of all time. Bench was a decent hitter for average, but put up HR and RBI numbers for the position that had not been seen before and outside of Piazza were not touched. Add to that he was the best defensive catcher of all time and reinvented the position by using the one handed method, and had an absolute rocket for an arm. Great list by the original poster, and the only one I might remove would be Yaz - great player with 3000 hits but don't know about top 20 - maybe.

fkw · August 25, 2011 4:32AM

You made a major typo after #1..... and the order is off

..... and a few of them should be moved down the list or removed

1. Babe Ruth
2. Barry Bonds
3. Ted Williams
4. Willie Mays
5. Ty Cobb
6. Lou Gehrig
7. Jimmie Foxx
8. Albert Pujols
9. Honus Wagner
10. Joe DiMaggio
11. Rogers Hornsby
12. Alex Rodriguez
13. Stan Musial
14. Ken Griffey Jr.
15. Tris Speaker
16. Nap Lajoie
17. Joe Jackson
18. Aloisius Szymanski
19. Manny Ramirez
20a. Ichiro Suzuki
20b. Pete Rose

Rickey Henderson, Cap Anson, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson fall in the #20-#40 range, if that

WeekendHacker · August 25, 2011 4:35AM

Eddie Collins & Rogers Hornsby deserve a spot on this list - I'd insert them for Yaz (lifetime BA hurts him) & C Anson (focusing on post 1900 players).

Garabaldi · August 25, 2011 4:36AM

<< You made a major typo after #1..... and the order is off

..... and a few of them should be moved down the list or removed

1. Babe Ruth
2. Barry Bonds
3. Ted Williams
4. Willie Mays
5. Ty Cobb
6. Lou Gehrig
7. Jimmie Foxx
8. Albert Pujols
9. Honus Wagner
10. Joe DiMaggio
11. Rogers Hornsby
12. Alex Rodriguez
13. Stan Musial
14. Ken Griffey Jr.
15. Tris Speaker
16. Nap Lajoie
17. Joe Jackson
18. Aloisius Szymanski
19. Manny Ramirez
20a. Ichiro Suzuki
20b. Pete Rose

Rickey Henderson, Cap Anson, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson fall in the #20-#40 range, if that >>

Manny Ramirez?

Morgoth · August 25, 2011 4:37AM

Here is a list of the top 20 position players ranked by career WAR

1. Babe Ruth+ 172.0 L
2. Barry Bonds 171.8 L
3. Ty Cobb+ 159.4 L
4. Willie Mays+ 154.7 R
5. Hank Aaron+ 141.6 R
6. Honus Wagner+ 134.5 R
7. Tris Speaker+ 133.0 L
8. Rogers Hornsby+ 127.8 R
Stan Musial+ 127.8 L
10. Eddie Collins+ 126.7 L
11. Ted Williams+ 125.3 L
12. Mickey Mantle+ 120.2 B
13. Lou Gehrig+ 118.4 L
14. Rickey Henderson+ 113.1 R
15. Mel Ott+ 109.3 L
16. Mike Schmidt+ 108.3 R
17. Frank Robinson+ 107.4 R
18. Alex Rodriguez (35) 105.3 R
19. Nap Lajoie+ 104.2 R
20. Joe Morgan+ 103.5 L

Only current MLB player on the list is A-Rod. Pujols is ranked in the 30's, pretty high for only 10 seasons of play.

This list versus your list

No Pete Rose
No Carl Yastrzemski
No Pujols (yet)
No Joe Dimaggio
No Ken Griffey Jr.
No Cap Anson

Has Nap Lajoie
Has Joe Morgan
Has Mel Ott
Has Eddie Collins
Has Mike Schmidt
Has Barry Bonds

Only Bonds and A-rod are sterioid boys on this list.

Pete Rose is ranked really, really high on your list compared to his alltime WAR standing.

cwazzy · August 25, 2011 4:38AM

<< You made a major typo after #1..... and the order is off

..... and a few of them should be moved down the list or removed

1. Babe Ruth
2. Barry Bonds
3. Ted Williams
4. Willie Mays
5. Ty Cobb
6. Lou Gehrig
7. Jimmie Foxx
8. Albert Pujols
9. Honus Wagner
10. Joe DiMaggio
11. Rogers Hornsby
12. Alex Rodriguez
13. Stan Musial
14. Ken Griffey Jr.
15. Tris Speaker
16. Nap Lajoie
17. Joe Jackson
18. Aloisius Szymanski
19. Manny Ramirez
20a. Ichiro Suzuki
20b. Pete Rose

Rickey Henderson, Cap Anson, Carl Yastrezemski, Mickey Mantle, Frank Robinson fall in the #20-#40 range, if that >>

Nice lists but as a Cardinal fan I have a problem with Pujols being listed ahead of Musial. It very well may come to pass that he is the better of the two but until he puts up numbers like he has for another 5-7 years I would still have to give the edge to Musial. Top 20 of all time right now is a no-brainer, but probably not top 10. Yet.

And I wouldn't include Manny Ramirez or Ichiro on my list. But outside of that I think it's solid.

Tabe · August 25, 2011 4:50AM

<< Here, in my opinion, are the best position players of all-time. (no pitchers included, steroids not a factor).

1. Babe Ruth
2. Hank Aaron
3. Willie Mays
4. Ted Williams
5. Pete Rose
6. Ty Cobb
7. Lou Gehrig
8. Stan Musial
9. Cap Anson
10. Tris Speaker
11. Jimmie Foxx
12. Honus Wagner
13. Mickey Mantle
14. Carl Yastrzemski
15. Joe Dimaggio (Would be higher if he had played longer)
16. Alex Rodriguez
17. Albert Pujols
18. Frank Robinson
19. Ken Griffey, Jr.
20. Rickey Henderson

Let me know what you think.

>>

Leaving off Barry Bonds is a huge, huge oversight, IMO. 7-time MVP (should be 8 or 9-time), 8-time Gold Glove winner, 14-time all-star, all-time career & single-season HR, all-time single-season SLG% record, all-time single season walks record, all-time single-season OBP record, top 3 OPS+ seasons of all-time - the list is endless. You can make a great case for Bonds as the best of all-time, let alone as a member of the top 20.

Including Carl Yastrzemski - and putting him ahead of significantly better players like Alex Rodriquez and Albert Pujols - is another.

Ditto for including Pete Rose at all.

I'd also toss out Cap Anson.

Tabe

olb31 · August 25, 2011 5:07AM

<< Here, in my opinion, are the best position players of all-time. (no pitchers included, steroids not a factor).

You are 100% correct. I did leave him out. Here is revised list.

1. Babe Ruth
2. Hank Aaron
3. Willie Mays
4. Ted Williams
5. Pete Rose
6. Ty Cobb
7. Lou Gehrig
8. Barry Bonds
9. Stan Musial
10. Cap Anson
11. Tris Speaker
12. Jimmie Foxx
13. Honus Wagner
14. Mickey Mantle
15. Carl Yastrzemski
16. Joe Dimaggio (Would be higher if he had played longer)
17. Alex Rodriguez
18. Albert Pujols
19. Frank Robinson
20. Ken Griffey, Jr.

tigerdean · August 25, 2011 5:30AM

I think Ozzie Smith deserves recognition. He may have not been a bat but there is no denying all those gold gloves. JMO

lanemyer85 · August 25, 2011 5:30AM

Win Shares based WAR

RWAR WAR Name
001 163.2 Babe Ruth
002 152.9 Ty Cobb
003 147.1 Honus Wagner
004 138.8 Tris Speaker
005 137.7 Willie Mays
006 137.5 Barry Bonds
007 130.5 Hank Aaron
008 127.1 Mickey Mantle
009 126.5 Ted Williams
010 124.1 Stan Musial
011 119.2 Eddie Collins
012 109.7 Rogers Hornsby
013 107.8 Lou Gehrig
014 106.3 Mel Ott
015 103.7 Rickey Henderson
016 103.2 Joe Morgan
017 102.1 Nap Lajoie
018 101.9 Frank Robinson
019 094.7 Mike Schmidt
020 091.5 Jimmie Foxx

scmavl · August 25, 2011 5:35AM

No Brooks Robinson? 16 Gold Gloves...

scmavl · August 25, 2011 5:42AM

1. Babe Ruth
2. Ty Cobb
3. Stan Musial
4. Ted Williams
5. Lou Gehrig
6. Honus Wagner
7. Tris Speaker
8. Mickey Mantle
9. Joe DiMaggio
10. Hank Aaron
11. Pete Rose
12. Willie Mays
13. Brooks Robinson
14. Mike Schmidt
15. Rickey Henderson
16. Barry Bonds
17. Alex Rodriguez
18. Ichiro
19. Ken Griffey Jr.
20. Ryne Sandberg

cwazzy · August 25, 2011 5:45AM

<< No Brooks Robinson? 16 Gold Gloves... >>

I literally just had this debate with a friend. LOL A good glove should be definately be a consideration. But I don't think it's enough for a top 20 list. I never saw him play but judging by his .267 career average and 268 career HRs I don't think he makes the list even though he was great with the glove. Defense is often overlooked but I think a good bat probably carries more weight.

This is, of course, JMHO.

QUITCRAB · August 25, 2011 6:12AM

Brooks was clutch in big games! voted century player for 3rd base....by the way he was my favorite player and I collect him....I have just about every Brooks card.

cwazzy · August 25, 2011 6:23AM

<< Brooks was clutch in big games! voted century player for 3rd base....by the way he was my favorite player and I collect him....I have just about every Brooks card. >>

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt any of that and I would probably vote him that way as well. I'm just not sure I would have him in my top 20.

Do you have scans of your Brooks collection?

cone10 · August 25, 2011 6:41AM

1. Ruth
2. Mays
3. Aaron
4. Ted
5. Bonds
6. Musial
7. Cobb
8. Hornsby
9. Mantle
10.Clemente
11.Wagner
12.Joe D
13.Gehrig
14.Bench
15.Schmidt
16.Speaker
17.Henderson
18.Foxx
19.Rose
20.Arod

miconelegacy · August 25, 2011 6:55AM

Brooks... Great player however I would take Boggs over him.

.328 lifetime hitter(34th)
On Base % .415(25th)
3,010 hits(26th)
Doubles(19th)
Walks(25th)
Singles(17th)
Times on base 4,445(21st)
Defensive games at 3B 2,215 (4th)

6 years #1 in on base %
5 batting titles, 11 years in the top 5!
12 All Star games.

Just didn't have any big power. Like Brooks he doesn't get the credit IMO. Boggs scored almost 300 runs more than Brooks in 5 less years. I would take Rodriguez, then Boggs...

I'm a Boston fan what can I say.

Mickey71 · August 25, 2011 7:41AM

By all accounts.....the greatest catcher and no doubt a top 5 on this list is Josh Gibson. He may be #1.

MULLINS5 · August 25, 2011 7:46AM

Anyone who played when blacks were not allowed should be off this list.

judgebuck · August 25, 2011 8:05AM

What about Roberto Clemente? I don't think I've seen his name mentioned. Also, in Ted Williams greatest hitters book, he leaves Clemente out entirely. And Clemente could run, throw, and play a little defense, too.

WeekendHacker · August 25, 2011 8:16AM

<< What about Roberto Clemente? >>

I am a HUGE Clemente Fan - but I gotta go with my head - not my heart - He was great but not top 20 great, top 50 - for sure - but not top 20.

Mickey71 · August 25, 2011 12:33PM

Weekend,
You said it perfectly regarding Clemente.

TheTalkingWalnut · August 25, 2011 1:13PM

Mullins is right about the exclusion of blacks skewing things. With that disclaimer AND the disclaimer that I hate the Yanks and love the Sox, I'd say that if you cherry picked each man's five best offensive seasons, George Brett, Rod Carew and Joltin Joe would be Top Ten. Ruth is probably #1. And much as I hate to say it, Mays, Mantle and Aaron would fall down the list. Henderson, Rose and Cobb are odd cases as I believe their public perceptions adversely affect them. And using that metric, nice solid guys like Stan the Man, Brooks and Yaz probably don't crack Top 20. So here is my stab at it without regard to specific placement:

Ruth
Joltin Joe
Ted Williams
G. Brett
Mays
Hornsby
Cobb
Gwynn
Carew
Foxx
Henderson
Arod/Bonds (they PROBABLY would have been great without the sauce but they have to split a spot)
Clemente
Aaron
Brooks
Mantle
Josh Gibson
Oh
Ichiro
Rose

Institutionalized racism, childhood nutrition, HGH, beer, day games, fence dimensions, war. All the things that allow us to argue this over and over again. And it's still fun. Who wants to do a best guitarists list next?

cone10 · August 25, 2011 3:31PM

<< 

<< What about Roberto Clemente? >>

I am a HUGE Clemente Fan - but I gotta go with my head - not my heart - He was great but not top 20 great, top 50 - for sure - but not top 20. >>

I've been honored to have listened to Vin Scully for the past 53 years and he has always said that Clemente was one of the best of all time. He will remain on my top 20.

Francart · August 25, 2011 8:07PM

Mike Schmidt definitley needs to be on this list. Arguably best 3B ever.

gecko109 · August 25, 2011 8:11PM

" I'd say that if you cherry picked each man's five best offensive seasons......."

If you are doing that, then Frank Thomas easily becomes a top 20 of all time.

miconelegacy · August 25, 2011 8:11PM

I agree Schmidt was incredible. With choosing a top ten list it's all about choosing the player when they where in their prime. If you where to choose a top 20 list and use a 5 year span of each, the list may be a bit different...

scmavl · August 25, 2011 8:41PM

Also surprised not to see Shoeless Joe on these lists. But this isn't Net54...

onebamafan · August 25, 2011 10:36PM

COBB
RUTH
AARON
MAYS
WAGNER

GEHRIG
BONDS
WILLIAMS
MUSIAL
SPEAKER

LAJOIE
COLLINS
YAZ
MURRAY
RIPKEN

DIMAGGIO
HENDERSON
AROD
HORNSBY
GRIFFEY JR.

fiveniner · August 26, 2011 1:09AM

Shoeless Joe should be in the top 10 at least.

fiveniner · August 26, 2011 1:11AM

<< Mike Schmidt definitley needs to be on this list. Arguably best 3B ever. >>

Agreed!!!!

drewsef · August 26, 2011 1:16AM

stf

jeffcbay · August 26, 2011 1:17AM

R-I-P-K-E-N

...with the glove AND the bat!

gecko109 · August 26, 2011 3:41AM

<< R-I-P-K-E-N

...with the glove AND the bat! >>

Which Ripken? The one with the .247 lifetime average, or the one with the .276 lifetime average?

jeffcbay · August 26, 2011 3:43AM

<< 

<< R-I-P-K-E-N

...with the glove AND the bat! >>

Which Ripken? The one with the .247 lifetime average, or the one with the .276 lifetime average?

>>

The one with 431 HRs and 3184 hits! lol

Tabe · August 26, 2011 8:22AM

What's with all the love for Yaz in this thread? I get it, he was a fine player. But top 20 of all-time? 3 seasons of 40+ HR - good. But no others above 30? Only 5 seasons of 100+ RBI? You look over his record and see that he was a LOT more likely to put up .290/18/85 than anything resembling a great season. Is he REALLY better than so many other guys already named?

Tabe

zendude · August 26, 2011 10:05AM

<< What's with all the love for Yaz in this thread? I get it, he was a fine player. But top 20 of all-time? 3 seasons of 40+ HR - good. But no others above 30? Only 5 seasons of 100+ RBI? You look over his record and see that he was a LOT more likely to put up .290/18/85 than anything resembling a great season. Is he REALLY better than so many other guys already named?

Tabe >>

+1 regarding Yaz.

onebamafan · August 26, 2011 10:13AM

Career statistics
Batting average .285
Hits 3,419
Home runs 452
Runs batted in 1,844
Teams
Boston Red Sox (1961–1983)

Career highlights and awards
18× All-Star
7× Gold Glove Award winner
1967 AL MVP .................................TRIPLE CROWN WINNER
1970 MLB All-Star Game MVP
1967 Hutch Award

Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame 94.6%
Induction 1989

Tabe · August 26, 2011 4:36PM

I completely acknowledge the Yaz is a HOF'er, no doubt about it. I just don't see him as a top 20 (or 30...) player. He was average for way too many years to be in the top 20 all-time.

Tabe

Top 20 Position players of all-time (Baseball)..

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