Best all-time players in MLB/Professional Baseball History

Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood. I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people. ~Steve Busby, in Washington Post, 8 July 1974

Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. ~Greg, age 8

Major league baseball (MLB) starts playing the regular season this week and is the professional baseball organization that is the oldest of the 4 major sports organizations which became very popular after the Civil War was over in 1865.  Baseball is described as “America’s national pastime” with a long and glorious sport history.  The National league (NL) was founded in 1876 while MLB was established in 1903 with 15 teams in each league (i.e. NL, AL) and 30 teams total.  The current MLB regular season usually begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the first Sunday in October.  Teams play 162 games each season and five teams in each league advance to a four-round postseason playoff series that culminates in the World Series with best of 7 game championship series between the two league champions.  Professional baseball has many great players at each position in their rich history.  I’ve attempted to rank the best players at each position including players, managers, GMs, and broadcasters.  This is not a complete list and players are not ranked in order but the list does include many great baseball players from the past history of major league baseball.  Sorry if I forgot any great or favorite players from your team.  You can fill in your best or favorite picks at the end of the article.  Enjoy and have fun!

Best All-time Major League/Professional Baseball Players by Position:

• 1B = Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Tony Perez, Rod Carew, Albert Pujols, Gil Hodges, Eddie Murray, Harmon Killibrew, George Sisler, Willie McCovey, Hank Greenberg, Johnny Mize, Ernie Banks, Steve Garvey, Jim Thome, Don Mattingly, Andrés Galarraga, Mark McGuire, Rafael Palmeiro, Will Clark, Mark Grace, Ryan Howard, Mark Teixeira
• 2B = Rogers Hornsby, Jackie Robinson, Frankie Frisch, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Eddie Collins, Napoleon Lajoie, Charlie Gehringer, Eddie Stanky, Craig Biggio Paul Molitor, Roberto Alomar, Jeff Kent, Robinson Cano, Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia
• SS = Honus Wagner, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, Jr., Ozzie Smith, Pee Wee Reese, Robin Yount, Larry Bowa, Nomar Garciaparra, Luke Appling, Lou Boudreau, Arky Vaughn, Joe Cronin, Barry Larkin, Luis Aparicio, Alan Trammel, Omar Vizquel, Joe Sewell, Miguel Tejada, Jimmy Rollins, Troy Tulowitzki
• 3B = Brooks Robinson, Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Eddie Mathews, Ron Santo, Ken Boyer, Craig Nettles, Ron Cey, Darrell Evans, Wade Boggs, Scott Rolen, Matt Williams, Jeff Bagwell, Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones, David Freese, Pablo Sandoval
• RF = Babe Ruth, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Roger Maris, Al Kaline, Mel Ott, Carlos Beltran, Dave Parker, Vladimir Guerrero, Larry Walker, Ichiro Suzuki, Pedro Guerrero, Reggie Smith, Dave Winfield, Andre Dawson, Bobby Abreu, Jason Heyward, Bryce Harper
• CF = Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey, Jr., Curt Flood, Willie McGee, Jim Edmonds, Fred Lynn, Kirby Puckett, Tris Speaker, Duke Snider, Oscar Charleston, Earl Averill, Cool Papa Bell, Richie Ashburn, Torii Hunter, Andrew McCutchen, Mike Trout
• LF = Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Joe Jackson, Willie Stargell, Manny Ramirez, Carl Yastrzemski, Lou Brock, Al Simmons, Billy Williams, Ralph Kiner, Tim Raines, Ed Delahanty, Goose Goslin, Lou Piniella, Dusty Baker, Bo Jackson, Lois Gonzales, Matt Holliday, Alex Gordon
• C = Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Josh Gibson, Johnny Bench, Joe Torre, Tony Pena, Gary Carter, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza, Mickey Cochrane, Ivan Rodriguez, Bill Dickey, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Simmons, Tim McCarver, Mike Matheny, Darrell Porter, Thurman Munson, Joe Mauer, Yadier Molina
• DH = Frank Thomas, Paul Molitor, Edgar Martinez, David Ortiz, Cecil Fielder, Harold Baines, Don Baylor, Hal McRae, Chile Davis, Brian Downing, Travis Hafner, Andre Thornton, Cliff Johnson, Jason Giambi, Jim Rice, Ken Singleton, Jose Canseco, Greg Luzinski, Richie Zisk, Mike Sweeny, Willie Horton, Dave Kingman, Danny Tartabull, Kendrys Morales
• SP = Satchel Paige, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, “Christy” Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Lefty Grove, Dizzy Dean, Denny McLain, Whitey Ford, Tom Seaver, Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn, Bob Feller, Pedro Martinez, Steve Carlton, Don Drysdale, Curt Shilling, Orel Hershiser, Dwight Gooden, Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Guidry, Vida Blue, Jim Palmer, Mardecai Brown, Roy Halladay, Kid Nichols, Robin Roberts, “Smokey” Joe Williams, Don Sutton, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Catfish Hunter, Phil Niekro, Luis Tiant, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, Dave Sterwart, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Bob Lemon, Mike Mussina, Jack Morris, Bert Blylevin, Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Carl Hubbell, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddox, Mark Buehrle, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, David Cone, Bret Saberhagen, Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner
• RP = Mariano Rivera, Dennis Eckersley, Trevor Hoffman, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Dan Quisenberry, Billy Wagner, Hoyt Wilhelm, Lee Smith, Jeff Reardon, Tug McGraw, Tom Henke, Jason Isringhausen, Todd Worrell, Al Hrabosky, Trevor Rosenthal, Wade Davis, Adroldis Chapman
• Managers = John McGraw, Joe McCarthy, Connie Mack, Casey Stengel, Buck O’Neil, Tony LaRussa, Walter Alston, Joe Torre, Sparky Anderson, Miller Huggins, Whitey Herzog, Tommy Lasorda, Earl Weaver, Billy Martin, Leo Durocher, Dick Williams, Lou Piniella, Bobby Cox, Dusty Baker, Jim Leyland, Joe Maddon
• GM = Branch Rickey, Billy Beane, Pat Gillick, Ed Barrow, Bob Howsam, George Weiss, John Shuberholz, Buzzie Bavasi, Harry Dalton, Dave Dombroski, Frank Cashen, Walt Jocketty, Theo Epstein, Dan Duquette, Sandy Alderson, Al Campanis, Brian Sabean, Joe Brown, Lee MacPhail, Cedric Tallis, Brian Cashman, Jim Campbell, John Hart, John Quinn, Andy MacPhail
• Broadcasters = Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell, Mel Allen, Red Barber, Bob Uecker, Russ Hodges, Jon Miller, Joe Garagiola

My Best All-time MLB/ Pro Baseball Players by Position:

• 1B = Lou Gehrig, Albert Pujols
• 2B = Rogers Hornsby, Jackie Robinson, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg
• SS = Honus Wagner, Alex Rodriguez, Ozzie Smith
• 3B = Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Brooks Robinson
• RF = Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Tony Gwynn
• CF = Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey, Jr
• LF = Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds
• C = Josh Gibson, Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella
• DH = Frank Thomas, Paul Molitor, Edgar Martinez, David Ortiz, Cecil Fielder
• SP = Satchel Paige, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson
• RP = Mariano Rivera, Dennis Eckersley, Trevor Hoffman, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter
• Managers = Connie Mack, Casey Stengel, Buck O’Neil, Tony LaRussa
• GM = Branch Rickey, Billy Beane
• Broadcasters = Jack Buck, Harry Caray

Your Best All-time MLB/ Pro Baseball Players by Position:

• 1B =
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• RF =
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• Managers =
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Please post your best or favorite all-time MLB players by position or any comments.

Dr.  Michael Fredrick PhD is Associate Professor, Chair of Sport Studies at USSA. He Can be reached at mfredrick@ussa.edu 

April 1, 2016