10 Most Famous Baseball Players Of All Time

llafoe · January 23, 2013 8:23AM

The Musial thread got me thinking...

We've discussed who the best baseball players are/should be... let's discuss who the most FAMOUS baseball players are (not my list):

1. Babe Ruth
2. Hank Aaron
3. Pete Rose
4. Ty Cobb
5. Reggie Jackson
6. Nolan Ryan
7. Lou Gehrig
8. Joe DiMaggio
9. Ted Williams
10. Mickey Mantle

To be the MOST famous, I suspect a baseball player would have been around for at least 40-50 years and is known to several generations.

Some of my honorable mentions:

Roberto Clemente
Joe Jackson
Willie Mays
Jackie Robinson

Time4aGansett · January 23, 2013 8:45AM

I'd take out Ryan and Reggie and add Robinson and Clemente.

70ToppsFanatic · January 23, 2013 8:58AM

In terms of pure "famousness" I think my choices would be:

Hank Aaron
Ty Cobb
Joe Dimaggio
Joe Jackson
Mickey Mantle
Willie Mays
Jackie Robinson
Babe Ruth
Ted Williams
Cy Young

llafoe · January 23, 2013 9:02AM

<< In terms of pure "famousness" I think my choices would be:

Hank Aaron
Ty Cobb
Joe Dimaggio
Joe Jackson
Mickey Mantle
Willie Mays
Jackie Robinson
Babe Ruth
Ted Williams
Cy Young >>

Okay, Pete Rose has to be in there somewhere?

llafoe · January 23, 2013 9:04AM

<< I'd take out Ryan and Reggie and add Robinson and Clemente. >>

That sounds about right... can't believe Willie Mays isn't in the Top 10!?

BrownBlueGreen · January 23, 2013 9:06AM

If you're just referring to household names, no way do you leave off Jackie, Mays and Rose.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 9:15AM

I think this would be my Top 10:

Hank Aaron ***** 1954 TOPPS HANK AARON
Roberto Clemente ***** 1955 TOPPS ROBERTO CLEMENTE
Ty Cobb ***** 1911 T205 GOLD BORDER TY COBB
Joe DiMaggio ***** 1941 PLAY BALL JOE DIMAGGIO
Lou Gehrig ***** 1934 GOUDEY LOU GEHRIG
Joe Jackson ***** 1915 CRACKER JACK SHOELESS JOE JACKSON
Mickey Mantle ***** 1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE
Willie Mays ***** 1951 BOWMAN WILLIE MAYS
Babe Ruth ***** 1933 GOUDEY BABE RUTH
Ted Williams ***** 1954 WILSON FRANKS TED WILLIAMS

PeteZaria · January 23, 2013 9:15AM

Rule 6) This forum is about collecting trading cards and/or memorabilia. If your post is not directly related to trading cards and/or memorabilia, then this is the wrong forum. Do not post it or your posting privileges may be removed.

Is there some reason you keep posting sports stuff in the wrong forum?

jay0791 · January 23, 2013 9:20AM

I think this question and answers are relevant to us collectors ...and most are at least 36 yo +
I'm 53 so I know all the names.

ask someone younger or who doesn't collect or know history they will answer derek jeter and arod.
Certainly they will not know joe jackson or ty cobb and even clemente or jackie robinson.

perkdog · January 23, 2013 9:23AM

<< Rule 6) This forum is about collecting trading cards and/or memorabilia. If your post is not directly related to trading cards and/or memorabilia, then this is the wrong forum. Do not post it or your posting privileges may be removed.

Is there some reason you keep posting sports stuff in the wrong forum? >>

YAWN

Ok here is my top 10

1- Babe Ruth
2-Micky Mantle
3-Joe Dimmagio
4-Lou Gehrig
5-Ted Williams
6-Hank Aaron
7-Willie Mays
8-Ty Cobb
9-Cy Young
10-Pete Rose

PeteZaria · January 23, 2013 9:34AM

llafoe · January 23, 2013 9:36AM

<< 

<< Rule 6) This forum is about collecting trading cards and/or memorabilia. If your post is not directly related to trading cards and/or memorabilia, then this is the wrong forum. Do not post it or your posting privileges may be removed.

Is there some reason you keep posting sports stuff in the wrong forum? >>

YAWN

Ok here is my top 10

1- Babe Ruth
2-Micky Mantle
3-Joe Dimmagio
4-Lou Gehrig
5-Ted Williams
6-Hank Aaron
7-Willie Mays
8-Ty Cobb
9-Cy Young
10-Pete Rose >>

We're close... we're just off by Rose/Clemente

orioles93 · January 23, 2013 9:37AM

If youre talking about most famous players, how can Derek Jeter be left off the list?

llafoe · January 23, 2013 9:46AM

<< If youre talking about most famous players, how can Derek Jeter be left off the list? >>

Of All Time... he's famous, but he wouldn't make a Top 10 list of all time.

ElToroLoco · January 23, 2013 9:46AM

Babe Ruth
Jackie Robinson
Roberto Clemente
Hank AAron
Willie Mays
Yogi Berra
Cy Young
Ty Cobb
Pete Rose
Ernie Banks

orioles93 · January 23, 2013 9:51AM

<< 

<< If youre talking about most famous players, how can Derek Jeter be left off the list? >>

Of All Time... he's famous, but he wouldn't make a Top 10 list of all time. >>

I guess im just saying famous, meaning a name that most people would know or had heard of. Because i would say the majority of younger people know who Derek Jeter is if you bring up his name in conversation, but would have no idea who Cy Young or Ty Cobb are, unless they are baseball fans.

Kinda like everyone knows who Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson are, regardless if theyre baseball fans or not.

jeffcbay · January 23, 2013 9:58AM

It depends on who you ask... if you were to ask a teenager, they probably wouldn't have heard of half of those guys on the list.

70ToppsFanatic · January 23, 2013 10:05AM

I couldn't include Rose in my list because he is INFAMOUS....

Same with Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, etc.

GBJay · January 23, 2013 11:40AM

Babe Ruth
Jackie Robinson
Joe Dimaggio
Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Lou Gehrig
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Pete Rose
Cy Young
Tommy John

Brick · January 23, 2013 12:33PM

Everyones list may vary a bit but there is no doubt Babe Ruth belongs at the top.

Cokin75 · January 23, 2013 12:36PM

If we are talking worldwide, Ichiro would be right up there.

NVbaseball · January 23, 2013 12:45PM

<< To be the MOST famous, I suspect a baseball player would have been around for at least 40-50 years and is known to several generations. >>

But the younger generations out-number the older generations by a large amount. Jeter, Bonds, Ripken are far more well known than Reggie Jackson, probably Ty Cobb, too

How do we define 'Fame?'

orioles93 · January 23, 2013 12:55PM

Its all in who you ask.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 1:02PM

<< 

<< To be the MOST famous, I suspect a baseball player would have been around for at least 40-50 years and is known to several generations. >>

But the younger generations out-number the older generations by a large amount. Jeter, Bonds, Ripken are far more well known than Reggie Jackson, probably Ty Cobb, too

How do we define 'Fame?' >>

Of All Time.. not Of This Generation.

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 1:09PM

Derek Jeter is on this list. No matter what anyone thinks of him, he is one of the most "famous" players to ever play the game. EASILY top-ten. Your grandmother has probably heard of Derek Jeter.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 1:16PM

<< Derek Jeter is on this list. No matter what anyone thinks of him, he is one of the most "famous" players to ever play the game. EASILY top-ten. Your grandmother has probably heard of Derek Jeter. >>

I'm certain both of them died before he began playing baseball.

NVbaseball · January 23, 2013 1:32PM

<< Of All Time.. not Of This Generation.

>>

Again, among all generations, Bonds, Ripken and Jeter and more well known than Musial and Wagner. Your dead grandmother isn't familiar with any of them. The few 90-year-old grandmothers who still have a familiarity with the sport probably recognize the modern names as well as the names from 50 to 100 years ago

doog71 · January 23, 2013 1:47PM

Mattingly.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 1:49PM

<< 

<< Of All Time.. not Of This Generation.

>>

Again, among all generations, Bonds, Ripken and Jeter and more well known than Musial and Wagner. Your dead grandmother isn't familiar with any of them. The few 90-year-old grandmothers who still have a familiarity with the sport probably recognize the modern names as well as the names from 50 to 100 years ago >>

There's a difference between name recognition and THE most famous... if you compiled a list of the 10 Most Famous Presidents of All Time, Ronald Reagan MAY appear on the list. This generation might not even be able to name the last 10 Presidents, but they might be able to recognize their names. Just because someone is famous and well-known doesn't mean they should automatically be included in a Top 10 list of All Time.

As a sidenote, not a single poster included Musial or Wagner in their Top 10.

NVbaseball · January 23, 2013 1:56PM

<< Just because someone is famous and well-known doesn't mean they should automatically be included in a Top 10 list of All Time. >>

If there aren't 10 others more famous, they absolutely should be included automatically. . .

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 2:02PM

<< 

<< 

<< Of All Time.. not Of This Generation.

>>

Again, among all generations, Bonds, Ripken and Jeter and more well known than Musial and Wagner. Your dead grandmother isn't familiar with any of them. The few 90-year-old grandmothers who still have a familiarity with the sport probably recognize the modern names as well as the names from 50 to 100 years ago >>

There's a difference between name recognition and THE most famous... if you compiled a list of the 10 Most Famous Presidents of All Time, Ronald Reagan MAY appear on the list. This generation might not even be able to name the last 10 Presidents, but they might be able to recognize their names. Just because someone is famous and well-known doesn't mean they should automatically be included in a Top 10 list of All Time.

As a sidenote, not a single poster included Musial or Wagner in their Top 10. >>

This is absurd. Nolan Ryan played until 1993, but you don't think Jeter belongs because he started his career in 1995? Jeter is one of the most FAMOUS players of all-time. No matter how badly you don't want him on your list, he belongs on it. I would put him in over Ty Cobb, who is mostly known only to people who follow baseball, or Reggie Jackson. Before anyone gets all stupid, I'm not saying Jeter is better than Cobb. This is about fame.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 2:11PM

I think you guys are really missing the concept of ALL TIME... President Barrack Obama would be more famous at this moment in time, but he would not be included in a list of the Top 10 Most Famous Presidents of All Time. Is Obama more famous now... absolutely, but he hasn't shown that he will be more famous for All Time. Bo Jackson was VERY famous in the late 80s and by your logic would have probably been included in the Top 10 Football... in the 1989-1995 era, but he's not one of the Top 10 Most Famous Football Players. Jeter hasn't proven himself to have staying power, the others have proven themselves for Decades.

If you read my initial post, I wrote "(not my list)". If you read MY list, Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson are not part of my Top 10.

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 2:14PM

<< I think you guys are really missing the concept of ALL TIME... President Barrack Obama would be more famous at this moment in time, but he would not be included in a list of the Top 10 Most Famous Presidents of All Time. Is Obama more famous now... absolutely, but he hasn't shown that he will be more famous for All Time. Bo Jackson was VERY famous in the late 80s and by your logic would have probably been included in the Top 10 Football... in the 1989-1995 era, but he's not one of the Top 10 Most Famous Football Players. Jeter hasn't proven himself to have staying power, the others have proven themselves for Decades.

If you read my initial post, I wrote "(not my list)". If you read MY list, Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson are not part of my Top 10. >>

I can't even begin to explain how illogical it is to leave off players just because they are still playing. That makes absolutely NO sense. You are simply leaving off a player or players for no good reason at all. Just because you want to. It's senseless. Hey, whatever floats your boat.

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 2:17PM

It's hard to fathom what the OP is even asking if he's only asking for inactive players. How the hell could we ever possibly know that Ty Cobb is more "famous" than Derek Jeter? How do you gauge fame, especially when the player hasn't played since 1928. If you wanted the list restricted to only inactive players, you should have stated that in the OP.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 2:18PM

<< 

<< I think you guys are really missing the concept of ALL TIME... President Barrack Obama would be more famous at this moment in time, but he would not be included in a list of the Top 10 Most Famous Presidents of All Time. Is Obama more famous now... absolutely, but he hasn't shown that he will be more famous for All Time. Bo Jackson was VERY famous in the late 80s and by your logic would have probably been included in the Top 10 Football... in the 1989-1995 era, but he's not one of the Top 10 Most Famous Football Players. Jeter hasn't proven himself to have staying power, the others have proven themselves for Decades.

If you read my initial post, I wrote "(not my list)". If you read MY list, Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson are not part of my Top 10. >>

I can't even begin to explain how illogical it is to leave off players just because they are still playing. That makes absolutely NO sense. You are simply leaving off a player or players for no good reason at all. Just because you want to. It's senseless. Hey, whatever floats your boat. >>

Your debating skills are well honed!

NVbaseball · January 23, 2013 2:26PM

<< absolutely, but he hasn't shown that he will be more famous for All Time. >>

Exactly. Just as Woodrow Wilson and James Madison have become less famous than Obama and Bush, Ty Cobb and Cy Young are now less famous than Jeter and Bonds. Fame is a fluid quality

llafoe · January 23, 2013 2:30PM

An All Time list will inherently have names from the past since by it's nature, the names will have to stand the test of time (hence, all time). How can an active player demonstrate they will stand the test of time? Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, etc., would all have been More Famous during their prime than ANY other player on any list, but that doesn't mean they're the Top 10 Most Famous of All Time.

llafoe · January 23, 2013 2:37PM

10 Most Famous Presidents from 1980

1. Lincoln
2. FDR
3. Washington
4. Jefferson
5. Roosevelt
6. Wilson
7. Jackson
8. Truman
9. Adams
10. LBJ

10 Most Famous Presidents from 2010

1. FDR
2. Roosevelt
3. Lincoln
4. Washington
5. Jefferson
6. Madison
7. Monroe
8. Wilson
9. Truman
10. Ike

Again, just because Obama may be the most famous NOW, doesn't mean he is or will be the most famous of All Time.

Edited to add: In 2010, Obama was #15. Even when he was the current President, he didn't make the Top 10 of All Time. You'll also notice that Wilson and Madison are still on the list; while Obama and Bush are not.

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 2:57PM

<< An All Time list will inherently have names from the past since by it's nature, the names will have to stand the test of time (hence, all time). How can an active player demonstrate they will stand the test of time? Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, etc., would all have been More Famous during their prime than ANY other player on any list, but that doesn't mean they're the Top 10 Most Famous of All Time. >>

So why do you have Nolan Ryan on the list. His career ended just one year before Jeter's started. Was 1993 the cut-off for all-time fame gauging?

llafoe · January 23, 2013 3:02PM

<< 

<< An All Time list will inherently have names from the past since by it's nature, the names will have to stand the test of time (hence, all time). How can an active player demonstrate they will stand the test of time? Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, etc., would all have been More Famous during their prime than ANY other player on any list, but that doesn't mean they're the Top 10 Most Famous of All Time. >>

So why do you have Nolan Ryan on the list. His career ended just one year before Jeter's started. Was 1993 the cut-off for all-time fame gauging? >>

Again, I DON'T have Ryan on my list... look at my original post, it clearly states (not my list). The list is from a famous sports writer.

This is my list:

Hank Aaron ***** 1954 TOPPS HANK AARON
Roberto Clemente ***** 1955 TOPPS ROBERTO CLEMENTE
Ty Cobb ***** 1911 T205 GOLD BORDER TY COBB
Joe DiMaggio ***** 1941 PLAY BALL JOE DIMAGGIO
Lou Gehrig ***** 1934 GOUDEY LOU GEHRIG
Joe Jackson ***** 1915 CRACKER JACK SHOELESS JOE JACKSON
Mickey Mantle ***** 1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE
Willie Mays ***** 1951 BOWMAN WILLIE MAYS
Babe Ruth ***** 1933 GOUDEY BABE RUTH
Ted Williams ***** 1954 WILSON FRANKS TED WILLIAMS

NVbaseball · January 23, 2013 3:24PM

<< Again, just because Obama may be the most famous NOW, doesn't mean he is or will be the most famous of All Time. >>

If your list is accurate, Obama isn't among the most famous NOW (or at least wasn't in 2010)

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 3:26PM

<< 

<< 

<< An All Time list will inherently have names from the past since by it's nature, the names will have to stand the test of time (hence, all time). How can an active player demonstrate they will stand the test of time? Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, etc., would all have been More Famous during their prime than ANY other player on any list, but that doesn't mean they're the Top 10 Most Famous of All Time. >>

So why do you have Nolan Ryan on the list. His career ended just one year before Jeter's started. Was 1993 the cut-off for all-time fame gauging? >>

Again, I DON'T have Ryan on my list... look at my original post, it clearly states (not my list). The list is from a famous sports writer.

This is my list:

Hank Aaron ***** 1954 TOPPS HANK AARON
Roberto Clemente ***** 1955 TOPPS ROBERTO CLEMENTE
Ty Cobb ***** 1911 T205 GOLD BORDER TY COBB
Joe DiMaggio ***** 1941 PLAY BALL JOE DIMAGGIO
Lou Gehrig ***** 1934 GOUDEY LOU GEHRIG
Joe Jackson ***** 1915 CRACKER JACK SHOELESS JOE JACKSON
Mickey Mantle ***** 1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE
Willie Mays ***** 1951 BOWMAN WILLIE MAYS
Babe Ruth ***** 1933 GOUDEY BABE RUTH
Ted Williams ***** 1954 WILSON FRANKS TED WILLIAMS >>

Oh, okay. I would say Joe Jackson is more infamous than famous. Same with Rose (not saying Rose is on your list). I think a case could be made for Jeter over those two and Cobb. Of course these are all subjective, but I simply can't see a list not having Jeter on it. The guy is a legend, not simply famous.

sportscardtheory · January 23, 2013 3:37PM

My list (in no particular order)

Hank Aaron
Roberto Clemente
Lou Gehrig
Ken Griffey Jr.
Derek Jeter
Mickey Mantle
Willie Mays
Babe Ruth
Nolan Ryan
Ted Williams

dontippet · January 23, 2013 3:48PM

The way I answer this question is to look at baseball through my wife's eyes. She would definitely know that Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are baseball players. I would also think about adding Mark McGwire to the list. Anybody alive in '98 knows that name.

My list based on my wife's possible answers are:

Babe Ruth
Lou Gehrig
Pete Rose
Joe Dimaggio
Mickey Mantle
Ty Cobb
Mark McGwire

Without talking to her, I can't come up with anymore gaurantees than that.

corncobb · January 23, 2013 8:52PM

Thats a no brainer! Joe Namath

Willie Mays is a close second as he is the ONLY one to have had his own cartoon series

gstarling · January 24, 2013 12:17AM

<< Willie Mays is a close second as he is the ONLY one to have had his own cartoon series >>

Bo Jackson had one in which he co-stared with Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky in Pro Stars.

I think the wife test is the best test to gauge famous. I'll talk to my wife and see what names she knows.

gstarling · January 24, 2013 10:37AM

I recreated ESPN's Top 100 baseball players of all time list:
Top 100 Google Doc
Then I asked my wife which ones she knew were baseball players. There are no local teams here (OKC) and she doesn't follow baseball at all - which to me is a true measure of fame. She knew 27 names, but not greats like Ted Williams or even many modern stars like Albert Pujols. Here are the players she knew (FWIW, she said the most famous to her by far were Ruth, Mantle & Berra). Another thing to note is the power of the Yankee brand.
1. Babe Ruth, RF/LHP
2. Willie Mays, CF
3. Barry Bonds, LF
5. Hank Aaron, RF
6. Ty Cobb, CF
7. Roger Clemens, RHP
9. Mickey Mantle, CF
10. Honus Wagner, SS
11. Lou Gehrig, 1B
17. Cy Young, RHP
18. Alex Rodriguez, SS/3B
21. Joe DiMaggio, CF
23. Randy Johnson, LHP
31. Cal Ripken Jr., SS/3B
34. Ken Griffey Jr., CF
35. Nolan Ryan, RHP
37. Pete Rose, OF/1B
38. Derek Jeter, SS
41. Pedro Martinez, RHP
52. Jackie Robinson, 2B
55. Reggie Jackson, OF
56. Yogi Berra, C
71. Ivan Rodriguez, C
78. Mike Piazza, C
83. Mark McGwire, 1B
85. Manny Ramirez, LF
95. Sammy Sosa, RF

fkw · January 25, 2013 7:00AM

1a. Babe Ruth
1b. Ichiro Suzuki

then farther down in fame/name recognition...
Joe DiMaggio
Barry Bonds
Lou Gehrig
Mickey Mantle
Derek Jeter
Pete Rose
etc.
etc.

llafoe · January 25, 2013 7:11AM

<< 1a. Babe Ruth
1b. Ichiro Suzuki

then farther down in fame/name recognition...
Joe DiMaggio
Barry Bonds
Lou Gehrig
Mickey Mantle
Derek Jeter
Pete Rose
etc.
etc. >>

I quit following baseball around 1999 and am just now watching it again... I had no idea who Ichiro Suzuki was until I looked him up this week. If I didn't know who he was, I doubt he's that famous.

CNote · January 25, 2013 7:19AM

Yes, because a person who didn't follow baseball has no idea who a person is/was means they certainly aren't THAT famous.

llafoe · January 25, 2013 7:48AM

<< Yes, because a person who didn't follow baseball has no idea who a person is/was means they certainly aren't THAT famous. >>

I've been surrounded by testosterone for the past 5 years and not one person ever mentioned him. They discussed a LOT of sports players from all sports, but never once was his name mentioned. If a bunch of dudes aren't talking about him, then he's probably not that famous to the average American.

10 Most Famous Baseball Players Of All Time

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