The Top 15 MLB THIRD BASEMEN In MLB HISTORY

Welcome back to another Humm Baby Baseball countdown and today we’re talking about the best 15 third basemen in modern MLB history. Third base, known as the hot corner, is one of the toughest position on the diamond, requiring elite reflexes and a powerful arm. They don’t typically have the agility and range of a shortstop, meaning third basemen are oftentimes larger and more physically imposing players who are expected to bring more power as a hitter, and so third basemen can typically hit the long ball with frequency. Players need to have played at least 1,200 games at the position to qualify, so look for players like Edgar Martinez and Paul Molitor on the DH video and Cal Ripken Jr. and A-Rod on the shortstop video, and also this list doesn’t include active players. Before getting to today’s main list, there are several honorable mentions I have so let’s run through a few great third basemen who just missed the Top 15.

Evan Longoria

One of my favorite players, Evan Longoria looked like a future Hall of Famer after making 3 straight All Star Games and winning 2 Gold Gloves with the Rays his first 3 seasons, but as it turned out, he never made another All Star team, although he did win a 3rd Gold Glove in 2017. Still, Longoria continued to be a consistent power hitter, playing elite defense year and year, and retired with 342 homers.

David Wright

After his first 6 full seasons, David Wright looked like a possible future Hall of Famer, making 5 straight All Star Teams, winning two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, while hitting for power and average. Sadly, his career was cut short due to a series of debilitating injuries and spinal stenosis, leading to an early retirement.

Ron Cey

Dodger Legend Ron Cey hit at least 22 home runs in 10 out of 11 seasons, driving in over 100 runs twice while making 6 All Star Teams during his 17-year career. He never won a Gold Glove but was always solid defensively and hit .350 with a home run in the ‘81 Fall Classic, taking home the World Series MVP Award.

Robin Ventura

Although he’s mostly remembered for getting beat up by Nolan Ryan, Robin Ventura was a great third basemen, winning 6 Gold Glove Awards while being a consistent hitter throughout his career. He hit 294 career homers with a .362 career on-base percentage and made two All Star teams.

Carney Lansford

Lansford was a complete player who didn’t have massive power but did hit 19 home runs in 3 separate seasons. He was extremely fast for a third baseman and stole 224 career bases, but his main skill was hit pure hitting ability. Lansford won a batting title in 1981 with a .336 average and ended his career with over 2,000 hits.

Gary Gaetti

Gaetti played for 20 years in the big leagues and brought elite defense with consistent power year after year. During the 80’s, he won four consecutive gold gloves, and smashed at least 20 home runs eight times, three times surpassing 30. Gaetti retired with 360 bombs.

Aramis Ramirez

A player who was probably better than most fans remember, Aramis Ramirez had over 2,300 hits in his career, more than many legendary Hall of Famers including Joe Dimaggio and Willie McCovey. He also hit .283 with a .341 on-base percentage and crushed 386 career home runs, driving 1,417 runs. He even finished in the Top 10 for MVP 3 times. Unfortunately, he was not known as a great defender and never won a Gold Glove. If he was a better defender, he might’ve had a shot at the Hall of Fame.

Ken Caminiti

Ken Caminiti, was an elite defender and extremely powerful hitter for years, playing mostly for the Astros and Padres. He won three straight Gold Gloves and averaged 30 homers per year during his peak from ‘95 to ‘98. After retiring, he admitted to using steroids during the 1996 season in which he crushed 40 homers and won the MVP. Caminiti struggled with drug abuse and tragically died from an overdose in 2004.

Bill Madlock

Hitting machine Bill Madlock consistently hit well over .300 year after year throughout his most of his career, winning a total of four batting titles, more than any player in MLB history who is not in the Hall of Fame. He hit .354 in 1975 with the Cubs, his second full season, and made his first of three All Star teams. Madlock ended his career with a .305 average and over 2,000 hits.

Tim Wallach

Wallach excelled defensively and offensively for the Montreal Expos in the 80’s and early 90’s, winning 3 Gold Glove Awards while being a consistent power threat at the plate. He led the league in doubles twice and hit at least 20 home runs 5 times in his career, including 23 homers in 1994 with the Dodgers. Wallach made 5 All Star teams and had over 2,000 career hits.

Sal Bando

For about decade, Sal Bando was one of the best third basemen in the game, smashing over 20 home runs almost every season while playing excellent defense. He almost never missed a game and made 3 straight All Star teams in the mid-70’s and a total of 4 in his career. Bando averaged 21 homers per year for an 11 year period and finished in the top 4 for MVP 3 times, finishing 2nd in 1971.

George Kell

Kell played in the 40’s and 50’s and made 10 All Star teams throughout his 15 year career. During his time, he was one of the best third basemen in the game, playing great defense with a consistent bat. He hit .306 for his career with 2,054 career hits and 870 RBIs, but did not have much home run power. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1983.

Home Run Baker

There was a time Hall of Famer Home Run Baker would’ve easily come in at #1, but that was about 100 years ago. In his time, he was one of the biggest home run threats in baseball – hence the nickname. He led the league for four consecutive seasons in homers, but that number was only about 10 per season, although his RBI numbers are still impressive, including 130 in 1912. He played for just 13 seasons, retired with a .307 average, over 1,800 hits, 96 homers, and a .363 World Series average. Compared to his peers, he was the best third baseman in the game at the time.

Now, let’s jump into the Top 15

15. Matt Williams

4-time Silver Slugger Award Winner and San Francisco Giants legend Matt Williams was an absolute superstar in the 80’s and 90’s, consistently hitting 30+ homers per season. He led the league with 122 RBIs in 1990 and in 1994 was on track to challenge Roger Maris’s single season record of 61 homers when the season ended due to the player strike. He led the league with 43 bombs that year and finished 2nd for the MVP. Williams was also an elite defender and won four Gold Gloves, playing for the Giants, Indians, and Diamondbacks. He went on the become a manager, won a Manager of the Year Award with the Nationals, and is now the third base coach for the Giants.

14. Graig Nettles

A master defender and clutch power hitter, Graig Nettles played for over 20 years and made hundreds of spectacular plays at the hot corner, winning two Gold Gloves in 1977 and 1978. He also consistently hit over 20 home runs per year, maxing out at a league leading 32 in 1976. He hit 376 total bombs in his career, made 6 All Star teams and hit .500 in the 1981 ALCS, taking home the ALCS MVP. Despite an amazing career, Nettles fell off the Hall of Fame ballot in 1997 with less than 5% of the vote, likely due to his relatively low .248 career batting average.

13. Ken Boyer

An elite offensive and defensive player, Ken Boyer won 5 Gold Gloves with 11 All Star Selections.  He won the MVP in 1964 for hitting .295 with 24 bombs and an MLB-best 119 RBIs while leading the Cardinals to the World Series. He retired with over 2,000 hits, a .287 career average, an MVP and a career WAR higher than multiple Hall of Famers including Yogi Berra and Harmon Killebrew, but somehow he got completely overlooked on the Hall of Fame ballot.

12. Buddy Bell

One of the greatest defensive third basemen of all time, Buddy Bell won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He was also no slouch at the plate, collecting 2,514 career hits, more hits than any third basemen not in the Hall of Fame. He also hit over 200 career homers during his 18 year career. Bell never made the postseason, which likely hurt his Hall of Fame chances, but based on his contributions offensively and defensively along with his total numbers, he should’ve gotten a lot more consideration.

11. Pie Traynor

Career Pittsburgh Pirate Pie Traynor was an offensive force in the big leagues for over a decade in the 20’s and 30’s. He drove in over 100 runs in seven separate seasons, hit over .300 10 times, and led the league in triples in 1923. He had some power, but played in the massive Forbes Field, which limited his home runs. Traynor played excellent defense and made the first two All Star games that existed in 1933 and 1934. He retired with over 2,400 hits and a career .320 batting average. He also got MVP votes in 9 separate seasons although he never won the award. Traynor retired as the greatest third basemen of all time, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1948.

10. Darrell Evans

Moving into the Top 10, My #1 most underrated player in MLB history, Darrell Evans was a fantastic defender and excellent hitter who brought power and an elite eye to the plate for over 20 years in the big leagues. He made just two All Star teams but should’ve made many more. Evans would be much more valued today for his ability to work a walk, retiring with 1,605 walks and a .361 on-base percentage, but he also had big power, crushing over 400 career home runs, including at least 40 in two separate seasons. He was completely snubbed on the Hall of Fame ballot, falling off after one year.

9. Ron Santo

Ron Santo was a multi-talented player who could field like few others, but also had big power along with an incredible knack for getting on base. He was the best fielding third baseman in the National League during the 60’s and won 5 straight Gold Gloves, but also led the league in on-base percentage twice and led the league in walks 4 times. Santo smashed at least 20 home runs 11 times and retired with 342 round trippers and a career on-base percentage of .362. He also made 9 All Star Teams, but on the Hall of Fame ballot, he got a stunning 3.9% of the vote in 1980, falling off the ballot. Fortunately, the committee voted for him at a 93.8% rate, but unfortunately, he had already passed away.

8. Scott Rolen

Next up, we have a relatively new Hall of Famer, Scott Rolen, who was probably the best defensive third baseman of the 2000s. He won a Rookie of the Year award in 1997 then his first of 8 career Gold Gloves in 1998. He made so many sparkling plays throughout his career, but could also rake, smashing 316 career homers with a .281 average. Rolen hit over 20 home runs for 8 straight seasons, and retired as one of the best third basemen ever. He was still snubbed on the ballot for many years before finally getting elected to the Hall of Fame in 2023.

7. Adrian Beltre

At #7 it’s Adrian Beltre, who dominated offensively and defensively for well over a decade for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox, and Rangers. Beltre was a solid player during his first 5 seasons but didn’t look like a future Hall of Famer until 2004 when he smashed 48 bombs with a .334 average, winning a Silver Slugger and finishing second for the MVP. Although he never matched that season, from there on he became a star, consistently hitting for power and average while also playing elite defense. He won 5 Gold Gloves in his career and made four All Star teams, not making his first one until 2010 at age 31. But he kept playing well into his late thirties, retiring with 477 home runs and a .286 average. He had 3,166 hits, including an MLB record 2,987 as a third baseman.

6. Brooks Robinson

Now, we move to some of the absolute undeniable legends of the game, starting at #6 with Brooks Robinson, the Human Vacuum Cleaner, simply the greatest defensive third baseman to ever live. Many of the great American League third basemen on today’s list did not win many Gold Gloves during the 60’s and 70’s, because Brooks Robinson simply won them all. From 1960 to 1975, Brooks Robinson won the Gold Glove every single season, a total of 16 Gold Gloves. He also made 18 All Star teams and could hit, leading the league with 118 RBIs in his MVP year of 1964. He also crushed at least 20 homers 6 times, and retired with 2,848 hits. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983.

5. Chipper Jones

A rare switch hitting third baseman, 8-time All Star Chipper Jones put up some of the best offensive numbers ever seen from a third baseman, combining power and average from both sides of the plate for nearly 20 years. He made 5 All Star teams in 6 years and the one he missed was from the year he won the MVP, 1999, when he hit .319 with 45 home runs. Jones consistently hit close to if not over 30 homers year after year and retired with 468 total homers and a .303 batting average. He had 5 seasons in which his OPS exceeded 1.000, an incredible feat at the MLB level. In 2008, he won a batting title with a .364 average. He was not known as the best defender, but he could make sparkling plays and had smooth hands which helped him make the classic barehanded grab and throw play as well as anybody. Overall, as of now, Chipper Jones comes in as a top 5 third baseman of all time.

4. George Brett

Moving on to #4, we have the Royals legend, Hall of Famer George Brett who finished his career with 3,154 hits, 317 home runs, a .315 batting average and even over 200 stolen bases. He made 13 consecutive All Star teams and won two batting titles, including in 1980 with he hit .390. That year, he also smashed 24 bombs and led the league in average, on-base, slugging, and OPS, taking home the MVP Award. He also hit .337 in the postseason, won an ALCS MVP and won a World Series ring in 1985. Brett continued to hit at an elite level and play spectacular defense at third base throughout his career and he won a Gold Glove in 1985, a year he finished in second for the MVP. He finished in the top 3 for the MVP four times. Brett was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1999.

3. Wade Boggs

Then there’s a man born to swing a bat, Wade Boggs, who was not drafted until the 7th round out of High School, but hit over .300 every season in the minors, forcing a call up then immediately hit .349 with just 21 strikeouts in 381 plate appearances in 1982 with the Red Sox. From there, he never stopped hitting, with a league leading .361 average in ‘83, his first of 5 career batting titles, and .368 average in 1985, a year he collected 240 hits, the most hits in a season by an MLB player since 1930. On top of his incredible bat, Boggs could also defend, winning back to back Gold Gloves in the 90’s, and he likely would’ve won more if not for Buddy Bell and Gary Gaetti. Boggs retired with over 3,000 hits, a .328 career batting average, and a .415 on-base percentage. He was easily inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.

2. Eddie Mathews

Up next, barely above Boggs, I’m going with Eddie Mathews for his incredible power combined with an elite ability to bet on base and a fantastic glove on defense. His batting average won’t compare to Boggs, but he did smash 512 career home runs. He led the league in homers twice with 47 in 1953 and 46 in 1959, but he also led the league in walks four times. He retired with a .376 on-base percentage, 12 All Star Selections, and two World Series championships. He got MVP votes in 10 separate seasons, finishing second twice, and for a trivia question answer, Eddie Mathews was the only player to play for the Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves and Atlanta Braves. He was a feared power hitter who played excellent defense for about 15 years, and comes in as the second best third baseman of all time.

1. Mike Schmidt

But coming in at #1 to no one’s surprise hopefully is the legendary Mike Schmidt, the greatest third baseman in MLB history, who retired with 548 career home runs. He played for 18 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, and brought elite power to the plate every single season for 15 years, leading the league in round trippers 8 times between 1974 and 1986. He set an MLB record with 515 home runs as a third baseman, and also tied an MLB record with 4 home runs in a single game. He was also disciplined and worked plenty of walks, leading the league 4 times in the category and led the league in multiple seasons in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. Aside from the incredible bat, he was one of the best defenders of all time, winning 10 career Gold Gloves. Schmidt won back to back MVPs in 1980 and ‘81, then won a third MVP in 1986. He also had four career postseason bombs and helped the Phillies win it all in 1980 with a .381 average and 2 bombs in the World Series, and he did win the World Series MVP award. For me, it’s not even close, the greatest third baseman in the history of the game has to be Mike Schmidt and it’s a title he might just hold forever.

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 2nd BASEMEN Of All Time!! KENT, Jackie Robinson, JOE MORGAN!!! ETC ETC..

Welcome to another position ranking and today I’m doing my Top 15 2nd basemen in modern MLB history. Second base is an underrated position that might not require the arm strength of shortstop or third, but it does require accuracy, quick reflexes, a wide range or motion, the ability to get rid of the ball quickly and a smooth and fluid motion for turning double plays. It’s definitely a lot harder than professional second basemen make it look. But to be one of the greatest, they also have to hit and today we’ll be talking about the most elite second basemen, most of whom could field and hit at an elite level, some with big power. Many on today’s list are in the Hall of Fame and the ones who aren’t probably should be. But let’s start with 10 quick honorable mentions.

Dustin Pedroia

The 2007 Rookie of the Year and 2008 MVP looked like a future Hall of Famer until injuries derailed his career. He still won four Gold Gloves and hit .299 for his career with 140 bombs and was instrumental in helping the Red Sox win World Series championships in 2007 and 2013.

Bobby Doerr

Another Red Sox legend, Bobby Doerr never played another position besides second base. He was a great all around player who could hit for average and power. He made 9 All Star Teams and hit .288 with 223 bombs while being regarded as one of the greatest defensive players of his era.

Willie Randolph

A player who just missed the top 15, Willie Randolph was a patient hitter, excellent bunter, speedster and phenomenal defender who played second base for 18 years, most notably for the New York Yankees. He walked 1,243 times in his career, had a .373 on base percentage, stole 271 bases, won 2 World Series rings and made 6 All Star Teams.

Frank White

Frank White had an incredible glove and could fly on the basepaths while swinging a solid bat. He won 8 Gold Gloves and made five All Star Games. White had some pop as well, crushing 22 home runs in back to back seasons and 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.

Bill Mazeroski

Mazeroski didn’t quite make my top 15, but he is a Hall of Famer mostly for his absolutely exceptional defense at second base. He broke an MLB record for career double plays at the position and is also remembered for an iconic walk off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series.

Tony Phillips

One of the best players to never make an All Star Team, Tony Phillips was one of the most versatile players in the league, with an elite ability to play defense, steal bases, and get on base. He even hit 160 career home runs including 27 in 1995. Despite all he did to help his team win games, Phillips was underrated during and after his career, never receiving a single award of any kind.

Ian Kinsler

A 5-tool talent who could crush the baseball and play elite defense, Ian Kinsler made four All Star teams and won Two Gold Gloves, playing mostly for the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. He’s one of just 16 players with multiple 30-30 seasons, crushing 30 bombs and stealing at least 30 bases.

Nellie Fox

Nellie Fox had World Class hand-eye coordination and came to the plate 10,351 times in his career,. striking out 216 times, an unbelievable statistic. He was also a slick fielder and won a Gold Glove the first year it became an award, playing for Chicago White Sox. He went on to win two more and even won an MVP in 1959.

Joe Gordon

Hall of Famer Joe Gordon played for the Yankees and Indians. He was the most powerful second basemen in MLB history when he retired with 253 bombs. He was a 9-time all star and also helped the Yankees to win 4 World Titles. Gordon was also a member of the last Cleveland team to win a World Series in 1948.

Chase Utley

16-year MLB star Chase Utley was a major piece of the Philadelphia Phillies teams of the 2000s and early 2010’s and he helped them win a World Championship in 2008. During his peak, from 2006 to 2010, he made 5 straight All Star teams and was one of the betters players in the game, hitting for average and power while playing excellent defense.

Now, let’s jump into the Top 15…

15. Lou Whitaker

Coming in at #15 is a 5-Tool Player who did almost everything well for 19 years, Sweet Lou Whitaker. He was insultingly thrown off the hall of fame ballot after receiving less than 5% of the vote in 2001. With 2,369 hits and 244 bombs, he didn’t hit the major milestones, but he did help his team win games for 19 years, all for the Detroit Tigers. He won a Rookie of the Year award, was a 5-time All Star, 3-time Gold Glover and even won 4 Silver Sluggers. His career WAR on Baseball Reference is better than Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and Tony Gwynn among many other Hall of Famers. He also had over 1100 career walks and an impressive .363 career on base percentage. He was a key member of the World Champion 1984 Detroit Tigers and the team retired his number in 2022.

14. Robinson Cano

Up next is Robinson Cano, a smooth fielding, power hitting second baseman who crushed 335 career bombs, hit over .300 for his career and made 8 All Star teams. Unfortunately, he also failed not one, but two steroid tests and was suspended for an entire season in 2021. That certainly holds him back on this list, but he still makes the Top 15 as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play. He hit .297 with the Yankees in 2005, finishing second for the Rookie of the Year. The next year, he became an absolute superstar, hitting .342 and making his first All Star Team. In 2009, he crushed 25 bombs, helping the Yankees reach the playoffs. They went on to win it all that season and Cano won his first and only ring. He finished his career with 2,639 hits and also won two Gold Gloves with the Yankees. Cano was considered the best second baseman in the game for about a decade. He never won an MVP but finished in the Top 10 six times. Most of his best years were with the Yankees and Mariners, but he also played for the Mets, Padres and Braves. Cano had a hall of fame career statistically, but with 2 failed steroid tests, there’s no way he will get voted in with players like Bonds and Clemens still on the outside looking in.

13. Jeff Kent

Coming in at #13 is the 2000 MVP, Jeff Kent, who is the recordholder with the most home runs as a second baseman with 354 bombs at the position. Kent played for 17 years in the league but never really became a huge star until he was traded to the San Francisco Giants from Cleveland and hit 29 bombs in 1997, finishing 8th for the MVP. From there, he continued to consistently hit at least 20 home runs per season. He accomplished this 12 times in his career, and got up to 37 bombs in 2002, a season in which he helped lead the Giants to the World Series. He could also hit for average, hitting .290 for his career. In his MVP season, he hit .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs. Although he never won a Gold Glove and isn’t considered an elite defender, Kent did make most of the routine plays and each season, made multiple spectacular plays. During his career, no one considered Jeff Kent a poor defender from what I remember as a Giants fan. But his best skillset was certainly his bat and Kent won four Silver Sluggers and made 5 All Star Teams during his 17 year career. He was a solid postseason performer and smashed 3 bombs for the Giants in the 2002 World Series, then 3 more for the Astros in the 2004 World Series. Unfortunately, his team lost both Fall Classics, although he also played for the 1992 Blue Jays, who went on the win the World Series, but Kent was traded to the Mets before the postseason, although I assume he was given a ring. Kent is definitely up there among the greatest hitting second basemen of all time and deserves a plaque in Cooperstown, but after 10 tries, failed to gain the votes necessary for election.

12. Bobby Grich

Coming up next is a vastly underrated player who made 6 All Star Teams and won 4 Gold Gloves. When comparing Grich to other second basemen, he is one of the greatest of all time and gets nowhere close to that type of respect. On The JAWS list for second baseman, he comes in at #8, above several Hall of Fame second basemen. Grich had an incredible ability to work a walk and was one of the best defensive second baseman in the game. Although he did have power, Grich only hit more than 20 home runs twice, which prevented him from entering into superstardom. However, he worked at least 75 walks 9 times in his career and retired with a .371 on-base percentage. On defense, he was probably the best in the game for a 5 year period. Although he only had 1,833 hits in his career, he also had 1,087 walks, which gave him far less total at bats, because he worked the count so well. He got on base however possible, and even led the league with 20 hit by pitches in 1974. Because voters don’t do any research and just look at a name then vote, Grich did not even get the 5% required to stay on the ballot more than one year – he received an unfathomable 2.6% of the vote.

11. Roberto Alomar

Up next is Hall of Famer Robert Alomar, one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the game. He won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in MLB history with 10 and also made 12 straight All Star teams. He started his career with the San Diego Padres and quickly became a superstar with a consistent solid bat, but also an absolutely incredible glove. He was incredibly smooth and elegant, but could also be acrobatic and flamboyant, making the toughest plays look easy. He was traded to Toronto before the 1991 season and helped them win back to back World Series. In 1993, he hit .326 with 17 bombs in the regular season but was absolutely phenomenal in the postseason. He won the 1992 ALCS MVP, hitting .423, then hit .480 in the ‘93 World Series. He has a postseason batting average of .313. Alomar also played with Cleveland alongside defensive wizard Omar Vizquel at shortstop and turned some of the smoothest double plays ever seen. He retired with an even .300 batting average, 210 homers and 2,724 hits. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his second ballot, perhaps losing some votes on the first ballot due to a controversial moment when he spit in an umpire’s face. Later, during his retirement, he was fired and banned from MLB due to sexual harassment allegations, but his plaque will remain in Cooperstown since they don’t retroactively ban players. This is a huge topic for another video, but despite the controversies, Alomar is one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the game.

10. Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio had a 20-year MLB career, all with the Houston Astros, and accumulated 3,060 hits. He started his career as a catcher in 1988, then started playing the outfield a bit before moving permanently to second base in 1992. He won four consecutive gold gloves at the position and went on to become one of the greatest Astros players of all time. He hit at least .300 four times, scored at least 100 runs eight times and holds franchise records in career games, at bats, hits, runs scored, doubles, total bases and extra base hits. He also has a National League record for most times leading off a game with a home run with an incredible 53 lead off bombs. He’s among the best in MLB history in every defensive stat at second base as well. Although he never won an MVP, he was incredibly consistent, performing at an elite level year after year. For his career, he hit .281 with 291 home runs and led the league multiple times in runs scored and doubles. He was also an iron man and rarely went on the disabled list and is definitely deserving as a Top 10 second baseman in MLB history.

9. Frankie Frisch

At #9 we have Frankie Frisch, who played for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. He has the most hits in World Series history for some one who never played for the New York Yankees. Frisch signed with the Giants in 1919 and went straight to the big leagues without playing a single game in the minors. He made a quick impact, with an incredibly consistent bat, blazing speed and elite defense. He led the league with 49 stolen bases in 1921 and also hit .341, beginning an 11 year streak in which he never finished a season with a batting average under .300. He led the league in steals 3 times and even won an MVP in 1931. He was especially elite in the World Series and helped the Giants win it all in 1921 and 1922. In ‘22, he hit .471 in the Fall Classic. With the Cardinals, he also won two World Series titles. For Frisch’s career, he had 2,880 hits, 1,244 RBIs, a .316 batting average and 419 stolen bases. He also made the first 3 All Star Games. Frisch was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947.

8. Ryne Sandberg

Up next is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who after a quick stint with Philadelphia, played 15 seasons as a Chicago Cub. In 1984, he made a name for himself on national television with two dramatic bombs, one in the 9th and one in the 10th, propelling the Cubs to a 12-11 victory. That season, he led the league in triples, runs and WAR, made his first of 10 consecutive All Star teams and won the MVP award. He became a massive MLB star, not only as a hitter, but also as an elite defender. He won nine straight Gold Glove Awards and retired with the best fielding percentage in MLB history as a second baseman. He is also tied with Jose Altuve for the most career Silver Sluggers with seven. He led the league in home runs with 40 bombs in 1990. Sandberg surprisingly retired early on in 1994 after a slow start, but returned in 1996 and crushed 25 home runs. When he retired after 1997, he had the MLB record for most home runs as a second baseman, a record that was eventually broken by Jeff Kent. Sandberg was somehow snubbed on two ballots before being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2005.

7. Jackie Robinson

Up next is the legendary Jackie Robinson, who is most famously remembered for breaking the color barrier and becoming a national hero and civil rights activist. However, he was also one of the greatest second basemen to ever play baseball. Due to military service and, of course, segregation in MLB, he didn’t make his MLB debut until he was 28 years old, but made the most of his 11 year career. Robinson used his incredible speed, plate discipline, quick swing, and elite defense to propel the Brookyln Dodgers to 6 World Series appearances and a championship in 1955. He won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, stealing a league leading 29 bases with a .297 average. In 1949, he was simply the best in the game, with a .342 average, 37 steals, 16 bombs and 124 RBIs, all while playing excellent defense at second base. He won the MVP that season. Robinson made 6 consecutive All Star teams, and led the league in multiple offensive categories throughout his career, despite dealing with on-field abuse and racism, especially in the early stages of his career. Unfortunately, he only played 11 years so his all-time totals are not overly impressive, but Robinson was still a Hall of Fame caliber player and was elected to the Hall on his first year on the ballot, 1962.

6. Rod Carew

Up next is Rod Carew, who played primarily second base from 1967 to 1978 with the Minnesota Twins. He moved to 1st base for the for the latter part of his career with the Angels, and continued to be a great player, but his best years were in Minnesota. Carew was an incredible all-around talent who could hit, defend and run. He started his career with a bang in 1967, winning the Rookie of the Year Award with a .292 average and .341 on-base-percentage. By 1969, he was a superstar, leading the league with a .332 batting average. He led the A.L. in batting average in 7 separate seasons, maxing out at an incredible .388 mark in his MVP season of 1977. He also led the league in on-base-percentage, OPS, hits and runs that year. Overall, he picked up 3,053 hits in his career, 353 stolen bases, and over 1,000 RBIs. But what’s most impressive is that he made the All Star Team every single season of his career except the final one. Since he had a 19 year career, that makes 18 consecutive All Star appearances. He received over 90% of the vote on his first ballot, becoming a Hall of Famer in 1991.

5. Charlie Gehringer

Coming in at #5 is an underrated Tigers legend who played his entire career at second base – Charlie “The Mechanical Man” Gehringer. In the 1930’s, he was a massive star and played every single inning of the first six All Star Games. During his 19 year MLB career, he had seven 200+ hit seasons, seven 100+ RBI seasons, 181 stolen bases, 184 home runs and 2,839 total hits. In 1937, he led the league with a .371 batting average, taking home the A.L. MVP. He was a pivotal member of the 1930’s and early 40’s Detroit Tiger teams that won three pennants. In the 1935 World Series, he hit .375 with 4 RBIs, helping lead the Tigers to a World Championship. In addition to his incredible bat, he was one of the greatest fielding second basemen of all time. When Gehringer retired, he was #1 in double plays turned as a second baseman. He is still second all time in assists and 6th in putouts. Gehringer is 53rd all time with an 84.7 career WAR, better than many more well-known all-time greats like Joe Dimaggio, Ken Griffey Jr., and Nolan Ryan. He might be the most overlooked great player in MLB history and he comes in as the 5th greatest second baseman in MLB history.

4. Joe Morgan

An unlikely future Hall of Famer in High School, Morgan received no offers from MLB teams and ended up playing college ball at Oakland City College. He was signed by the Houston Colt .45’s and given a $3,000 bonus. He impressed in the minor leagues with stellar defense and a consistent and patient approach at the plate. Morgan made his big league debut in 1962 with the Colt .45’s. In 1965, they became the Houston Astros and Morgan led the league with 97 walks, finishing the season with a .373 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and 20 stolen bases. In ‘66, he made his first of 10 All Star Teams and only got better from there. He was traded to the Reds before the 1972 season, and became an absolute superstar in Cincinnati, winning 5 straight Gold Gloves, and 2 consecutive MVPs, each which corresponded with a World Series championship. He drew walks like no one else, rarely struck out and also brought some power with him, averaging 22 home runs per season for a 6 year period. In 1976, he led the league in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and OPS+. He returned to Houston in 1980 and helped them make the playoffs, leading the league with 93 walks. Then, he signed with the Giants and hit a famous home run on the last day of the season in 1982 that knocked the rival Dodgers out of the playoffs. He won a Silver Slugger that year and had a 5.1 WAR for the Giants. He also played with the Phillies and A’s before retiring with a .392 career on-base percentage. His 100.6 career WAR is 31st all time and Morgan was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

3. Nap Lajoie

Nap Lajoie’s career started in 1896 but continued into the modern era, and he became one of the greatest hitters in the early years of professional baseball. He played almost exclusively second base, but occasionally filled in at the other infield spots. Lajoie hit .338 for his career, maxing out at a ridiculous .463 batting average in 1901. He led the league multiple times in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, RBIs, and doubles. He led the league in WAR 6 times and batting average 5 times. His career lasted over 21 seasons, playing for the Phillies, A’s, and Cleveland Bronchos, who changed their name to the Cleveland Naps in honor of Lajoie while he was still on the team – that’s how much of a legend he was. He even won a Triple Crown in 1901, hitting .426 with 125 RBIs and 14 home runs, a huge number during the dead ball era. He would’ve easily won the MVP that season, but it didn’t exist at that time. He retired with a .338 batting average and over 3,200 hits.

2. Eddie Collins

No one in MLB history has played in more games at second base than Eddie Collins, with 2,650 games played the position with the Philadelphia A’s and Chicago White Sox. He also had an incredible combination of elite defense, blazing speed a pure bat. He had his breakout season in 1909 when he hit .347 with 63 stolen bases. In 1910, he led the league with 81 steals while hitting .324. The only tool that was lacking was his power, but other than that, he could do it all. From 1911 to 1914, he never finished lower than 6th for the MVP. He won the award in 1914 with a .344 batting average, but hit even higher in the previous 3 seasons, maxing at .365 in 1911. He also had an amazing eye and was consistently among the league leader in walks. He was one of the best bunters in MLB history as well and the current leader all time in sacrifice bunts. Collins continued to produce year after year and finished second for the MVP in 1923 and 1924, leading the league in steals in each season. He finished his career with 3,315 hits and a .333 batting average. He also earned 6 World Series rings, hitting .429 in the 1910 World Series, .421 in 1913 and .409 in 1917. Collins inexplicably was not elected on his first few ballots, but finally reached the 75% threshold in 1939 and got his much deserved plaque in Cooperstown.

1. Rogers Hornsby

But coming in at #1 has to be Rogers Hornsby, perhaps the greatest right handed hitter to ever live. He started his career as a shortstop but settled into second base in 1920 and stayed there for the rest of the decade, playing a total of 1,561 games at the position. He was one of the best players in baseball for well over a decade, and led the National League in WAR in an astonishing 11 out of 13 seasons. He was consistently among the league leaders, oftentimes #1, in almost every offensive category including home runs, and led he league in batting average for six straight seasons, 3 times finishing above .400. In 1924 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he had a superhuman season, hitting .424 with a 1.203 OPS but finished 2nd for the MVP, because pitcher Dazzy Vance went 28-6 with a 2.16 ERA, before the Cy Young Award existed. Hornsby did win the MVP the next year, and also became a player-manager, a position he would hold for most of the remainder of his career. He won a second MVP with the Cubs in 1929 before injuries slowed him down in the 1930’s, but he continued to play when he could through the 1937 season. He retired with 2,930 hits, 301 home runs and an insane .358 batting average. His career OPS was over 1.000. He did not have a reputation as the nicest guy – more on that in a future video – but his talent cannot be denied and based on the decade of the 1920’s alone, he has to come in as the greatest second baseman in MLB history.

The Top 15 FIRST BASEMEN In Modern MLB HISTORY!!

Welcome back to to another countdown; today we’re talking about the greatest 1st basemen in modern MLB history; I played first base myself so it’s definitely my favorite position and not as easy as a lot of people think.

I’ll be included retired players who played primarily first base throughout their career, at least 1,200 games at the position. So, that’s why certain players like Frank Thomas, David Ortiz and Jim Thome and many others who played a few seasons at first base aren’t on this list – look for them on the upcoming DH video. Also, as for the 19th century players, I’ll be honoring all the great players from that era in a huge video upcoming soon, so for these rankings, I’m sticking with the modern era. Before getting to the top 15, there were so many great 1st basemen I know if I didn’t mention some of them, the comment section would completely implode, so I had to throw in a few quick honorable mentions -

Buck Leonard

A player who would easily have made the top 10 and probably top 5 all time had he been allowed to play in the Major Leagues, Buck Leonard made 13 All Star Games in a 14 year career in the Negro Leagues. The official stats that exist give him a .346 career average and he maxed out at .420 in 1938. He was a 3 time Negro League World Series champ and one of the most talented pure hitters to ever live.

Don Mattingly

For a period of time in the mid-80’s, Don Mattingly was among the best overall players in baseball, winning the MVP in 1985 with a 145 RBIs, 35 home runs and 48 doubles. From 1984 to 1989, he made every All Star Team and was also an elite fielder, winning a total of 9 Gold Gloves in his career. He retired with a .307 average and 2,153 hits and as of this recording, like Hernandez, remains a Hall of Fame snub.

Will Clark

Of course I have to mention Giants legend Will “The Thrill” Clark, who had the sweetest swing of the 80’s and 90’s. He hit .303 for his career with 284 homers, and also won a Gold Glove. But Clark was also a postseason machine, hitting .333 with several clutch hits. He finished his career strong with the Cardinals and Orioles in 2000, hitting .319 with 21 homers, and could’ve easily kept playing but decided to retire, which kept his career numbers small enough to prevent entry thus far into the Hall of Fame.

Carlos Delgado

Another Hall of Fame snub, Carlos Delgado was an absolute power-hitting machine for about 13 years, crushing between 25 to 44 home runs per season in the late 90’s and 2000’s. He ended up with 473 home runs, 1,512 RBIs, and 3 Silver Sluggers. He finished 2nd for the MVP in 2003 with 42 home runs and 145 RBIs, falling short to Alex Rodriguez. Delgado somehow only made 2 All Star teams, and only got 3.8% of the vote in 2015, falling off the Hall of Fame ballot.

Tony Perez

Perez played first base for 23 seasons, accumulating over 2,700 hits and 379 home runs, mostly with the Cincinnati Reds. He was a key member of the Big Red Machine, averaging more than 100 RBIs per season from 1970 to 1976, consistently crushing over 20 home runs per season. He hit 3 home runs in 1975 World Series, and had multiple postseason clutch moments, helping the Reds win back-to-back World Series championships. He also made 7 All Star teams, winning an All Star MVP Award in 1967. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his 9th year on the ballot in the year 2000.

Keith Hernandez

Hernandez was an all around talent who could hit and field at an elite level for well over a decade he has more Gold Gloves than any other 1st baseman in MLB history with 11. He could also rake and hit .296 for his career with an .821 OPS. In 1979, had a monster MVP season with a .344 average, 48 doubles and 105 RBIs. Hernandez has two rings - one from 1982 with the Cardinals and another from ‘86 with the Mets. He made five all star teams, won two Silver Sluggers, an MVP and a batting title. It’s an absolute travesty that he hasn’t been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Mark Grace

Mark Grace, A 3-time All Star with 4 Gold Gloves and 2,445 hits, had a spectacular 16 year MLB career with the Cubs and Diamondbacks. He hit .329 in the postseason and was a member of the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks championship team. Believe it or not, Mark Grace had more hits in the 1990’s than any other MLB player – more than Ripken, Griffey, Bonds, and even Tony Gwynn. He also led the 90’s in doubles. He was simply one of the best hitters and smoothest defenders of the 90’s and is a highly underrated talent that should’ve gotten more consideration for the Hall of Fame, but got just 4.1% of the vote and fell off the ballot.

Orlando Cepeda

I don’t know but somehow I couldn’t squeeze Cepeda into the Top 15 despite an MVP, Rookie of the Year, and 11 All Star Appearances. He was an absolute superstar for the Giants in the late 50’s and early 60’s and won the MVP with the Cardinals in 1967 when he drove in 111 runs with a .325 average and 25 bombs. He finished his career with 379 home runs and a .297 average, and made the Hall of Fame in 1999. He would’ve been #16 if I had an additional name of the list. So, let’s now get into the official Top 15.

15. Fred McGriff

My original #1 all-time Hall of Fame snub before he was finally elected in 2023 was the Crime Dog, Fred McGriff. McGriff was one of the most consistent producers for nearly 20 years, crushing 30 home runs season after season after season. He ended up 493, just 7 short of the magic 500, and if he would’ve managed just 7 more, he probably would’ve been elected to the Hall of Fame a decade sooner than he was. Although he never won an MVP, he finished in the Top 10 six times, competing against bulked up hitters during the Steroid Era. He drove in over 100 runs in 8 separate seasons, and hit .284 for his career, which lasted 19 years. He may have never been the literal best in the game, but to his unbelievable consistency makes Fred McGriff one of the better 1st basemen to ever play the game.

14. Ernie Banks

A surprising entry since most fans remember Ernie Banks as a shortstop, but he played in 1,259 games at first base after 1st playing the position in 1961 before moving there permanently in 1962. Although his best years were at shortstop, he still made 5 All Star games as a first baseman and in one game, he tied an MLB record with putouts in a single game for a first baseman with 22. For his career, Banks was an all time great, crushing 512 home runs, winning back to back MVPs in 1958 and 1959. He was an iron man who played nearly every day, at one point playing in 717 consecutive games. Even though he didn’t move to first base until after his best seasons, I’m still considering Banks a 1st baseman since he passed the 1,200 game threshold. He became an excellent defender at first base, not surprising since he won a Gold Glove at shortstop. He was the Cubs starting 1st baseman for nearly the entire decade of the 1960’s.

13. George Sisler

For a 7 year period, George Sisler was one of the best players in the game, playing for the St. Louis Browns. It started in 1916 when he hit .305, but he kept getting better from there. He hit .353 in 1917, then .407 in 1920 and maxed out at an incredible .420 batting average in 1922, his MVP season. He had over 200 hits for 3 straight seasons, including a ridiculous 257 in 1920, a single season record that was not broken until Ichiro came along in 2004. But after that MVP year, Sisler fell ill with sinusitis, and his vision began to deteriorate. He was seeing with double vision and doctors said he would never play again. He had surgery, missed the 1923 season, and returned in 1924, and despite limited vision, having to squint to see the ball, he could still hit. He hit .345 in 1925 and played another 7 seasons, finishing his career with a .340 average and 2,812 hits.

12. Bill Terry

Bill Terry had a relatively short career, but made the most of it, hitting well over .300 almost every season, all with the New York Giants. He became their every day first baseman in 1927 and hit .326. A couple years later, he hit .372, then in 1930, his average topped .400 with a league leading .401 mark. He also led the league with 254 hits, but it happened the same year Hack Wilson crushed 56 homers and drove in 191 runs, so Terry fell short for the MVP. He did finish in the Top 10 for MVP for seven straight seasons, although he never won one. In 1924, he hit .429 in the World Series, but his Giants fell short, although he did eventually win a ring in 1933. Terry made 3 All Star teams, but would’ve made many more, if they existed during the majority of his career. Terry retired with a .341 career batting average, 18th all time. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1954.

11. Johnny Mize

Mize played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, but missed out on 3 due to military service during World War II. He was a powerful left handed slugger who played for the Cardinals, Giants and Yankees. He led the league in home runs 4 times, maxing out with 51 bombs in 1947. He was also a fantastic hitter in general, hitting over .300 every season for the first 9 years of his career. In 1939, he hit .349 with a 1.070 OPS, but finished 2nd for the MVP then was even better in 1940 with 43 homers and 137 RBIs, but finished in 2nd place again and never did win an MVP, although he was one of the best players in baseball for about 10 years. He hit 3 home runs in a game an MLB record 6 times and retired with a .312 average and 359 homers.

10. Rafael Palmeiro

Perhaps a controversial entry is Rafael Palmeiro, but I don’t know how I keep him out of the Top 15 after a 20 year career in which he collected 3 Gold Gloves, over 3,000 hits and 569 career home runs. Palmeiro famously wagged his finger at a hearing in which he stated he had never used steroids, then promptly failed a steroid test. But Rafael Palmeiro is still one of the greatest first basemen to ever play, even if we don’t know how much steroids propelled his statistics. That’s the unfortunate reality of the steroid era, so I’m just going to rank the players for what they did on the field, and Palmeiro is the only player on this list with 500 homers and 3,000 hits. He surprisingly made just 4 All Star teams, and never won a World Series or MVP, but was a consistent producer for 20 years and so, to be fair, since you know Barry Bonds is going to be on my left fielder list, I gotta add Rafael Palmeiro’s name.

9. Mark McGwire

And that goes for #10 as well, Mark McGwire, who I put a bit higher than Palmeiro because of his insane star power and ridiculous peak, which yes, was steroid propelled. But Mark McGwire was a huge prospect, taken in the 1st round in 1984, and was expected to be a great home run hitter. He had an insane first year, crushing a rookie record 49 bombs, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. He became a superstar in Oakland, crushing over 30 home runs every year he stayed healthy. In 1996, he smashed 52 bombs with an insane 1.168 OPS as the steroid era was well underway, and he finished 7th for the MVP with players like Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez beating him out. In 1998, of course, McGwire broke Roger Maris’ single season record of 61 homers by crushing 70, an unthinkable number at the time. He then hit 65 more in 1999. McGwire made 12 All Star Games during his career and would’ve been an easy 1st ballot Hall of Famer if not for the juice.

8. Joey Votto

Up next is Cincinnati Reds legendary 1st baseman, Joey Votto, who ranks 5th all time among 1st basemen with a .409 On-Base-Percentage. He had plate discipline like no one else throughout his career and led the league in on-base-percentage 7 times, working walks with frequency but also punishing mistakes, crushing 356 career home runs with a .294 batting average. He won an MVP in 2010, smashing 37 home runs with a 1.024 OPS, leading the Reds to the playoffs. In 2011, he won a Gold Glove and in 2012, led the Reds back to the postseason with a .337 average and league leading .474 on-base-percentage. He made 6 total All Star teams and finished his career with 2,135 hits and a .920 OPS. He is definitely a future Hall of Famer; the only question is whether or not he gets in on the first ballot.

7. Todd Helton

Up next is Colorado Rockies legend, Todd Helton, who was gifted with the glove but even better with the bat. He won three Gold Gloves, but could hit like few others, especially in the early 2000s. In the year 2000, he hit .372 over 160 games, a feat that almost seems impossible against modern day pitchers. That year, he drove in 147 runs, crushed 42 home runs and had a league leading 59 doubles. It was a season that would’ve normally earned him an easy MVP, but voters held it against him that he played at Coors Field, and he ended up finishing in 5th place. In 2003, he hit .358 with 32 bombs, but fell quite short of the MVP again, competing with the likes of Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols. In his 17 year career, he hit .316 with 369 home runs, four Silver Slugger and five All Star Selections, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024.

6. Willie McCovey

One of my favorite players of all time, enough so that I named my cat McCovey – we have “Stretch,” Willie McCovey, the long time San Francisco Giant who played in four different decades and 22 years in total. He won a Rookie of the Year in 1959 with an insane .354 batting average, but hadn’t even tapped into his power yet with 13 homers. That would happen in 1963 when he crushed 44 bombs to match his number, a league leading number. He had massive power and Bob Gibson called him the scariest hitter in baseball. In 1969, he had a monster MVP season, crushing 45 homers with 126 RBIs, a .435 slugging and a 1.108 OPS. He even won the All Star Game MVP that season. He led the National League in OPS and Slugging for 3 straight seasons, and ended up hitting 521 career homers, 439 as a first baseman. The 6-time All Star also played for Padres and A’s and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

5. Jeff Bagwell

Career Houston Astro and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell played 15 seasons, the entire time as first baseman, and crushed a total of 449 home runs, averaging over 30 per season. He made his debut in 1991 and won an Rookie of the Year with a .294 batting average, 15 homers and 82 RBIs. By 1994, he was an absolute MLB superstatar, crushing 39 home runs with a .368 average and an OPS over 1.200 before the season ended prematurely due to the strike. He was still awarded the MVP for his incredible season and a Gold Glove to go along with it. Bagwell continued to be an offensive threat for 10 years, making 4 All Star teams and taking home 3 Silver Slugger Awards. He was also fast in his prime and has the career record for stolen bases as a 1st baseman. Unfortunately, major injury issues left him unable to play in more than 39 games in 2005 and he missed the 2006 season before retiring. But Bagwell hit .297 for his career with a .948 OPS, the 25th best career OPS in MLB history.

4. Eddie Murray

No one played more games at first base than Hall of Famer Eddie Murray with a total of 2,438 over a 21 year career. He was an immediate phenom, hitting 27 bombs in 1977, taking home the Rookie of the Year award, and becoming the long time first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles. During the 80’s, he won 3 consecutive Gold Gloves, consistently hit around .300 with power, and could get on base like others. He crushed 2 bombs in the 1983 World Series, helping the O’s win it all, then led the league with a .410 on-base percentage in 1984, and although he never won an MVP, he finished in the top 5 six times in his career, including a 2nd place finish in 1983 and 1984. He was eventually traded to the Dodgers and in 1990, hit .330 with 26 bombs. In 1995, he was a key member of a stacked Cleveland Indians team and hit .323 with 21 bombs, helping them get to the World Series. Murray has the MLB record for RBIs as a switch hitter, more than even Mickey Mantle. He finished his career with 3,255 hits, 8 All Star Appearances, 3 Silver Sluggers and is easily one of the greatest 1st basemen of all time.

3. Albert Pujols

At #3 is the great Albert Pujols, who played over 2,000 games at first and hit more career home runs than any one else on today’s list with 703 total bombs. He burst onto the scene in 2001 with an insane rookie year, crushing 37 homers with 130 RBIs, winning a Rookie of the Year and becoming an instant star. He never slowed down during his time in St. Louis, going on to win 3 MVPs while leading the league in multiple offensive categories. He also helped lead the Cardinals to 3 World Series appearances and 2 championships, winning an NLCS MVP in 2004 and hitting .319 with 19 home runs in his postseason career. He was stellar defensively and won two Gold Gloves. The second half of his career, mostly in Anaheim, wasn’t as spectacular but he continued to crush home runs and eventually, after a year with the Dodgers, made his return to St. Louis in 2022, making his 11th and final All Star team. He retired with a .296 average, 6 Silver Sluggers, a batting title, and a definite future plaque in the Hall of Fame.

2. Jimmie Foxx

Coming in at #2 is the powerful Jimmie Foxx, who played mostly for the Philadelphia A’s and Boston Red Sox. Of his 534 career home runs, he hit 521 as a first baseman, second in MLB history to only Mark McGwire. In the early 1930’s, he was probably the most feared hitter in baseball. In 1932, he hit .364 with a league leading 58 home runs and 169 RBIs, easily taking home the MVP. He followed it up with another MVP season in ‘33, winning the Triple Crown with 48 homers, 163 RBIs, and a .356 batting average. He also won an MVP in 1938 with the Red Sox and, ended up playing 20 years with a .325 career batting average and OPS of 1.038 – that’s for an entire career. He set a record by hitting at least 30 home runs in 12 consecutive seasons and had over 100 RBIs in 13 straight years. He was a good defender with a powerful arm as well, retiring with a .990 fielding percentage. But his absolutely ridiculous offensive numbers are what makes him one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

1. Lou Gehrig

And coming in at #1 to hopefully no one’s surprise is the all time great Yankee legend Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, who played in 2,130 consecutive games, a seemingly unbreakable record that somehow was eventually broken by Cal Ripken Jr. But Gehrig played through many injuries and even fractures, producing at an elite level year after year. He also set several other records during his incredible career including career grand slams, which was eventually broken by Alex Rodriguez. Gehrig finished in Top 3 for MVP in 9 out of 11 seasons, winning the award twice, and ended his career with 493 home runs. If he hadn’t tragically been stricken with ALS at just 36 years old, he would’ve easily surpassed 500 home runs and likely retired with closer to if not more than 600. He had a career .990 fielding percentage and always had quick feet while playing solid defense, although his bat was certainly what made him a superstar. Gehrig hit .361 in the World Series, won 7 rings and retired with an incredible career batting average of .340 and an OPS over 1.000. Among first basemen, he is first all time in runs, hits, triples, RBIs, walks, batting average, slugging, on base percentage, OPS and WAR, and he easily comes in at #1 in today’s list.

The Top 15 MLB CATCHERS Of ALL TIME!! POSEY, BERRA, MOLINA?...

The catcher position has to be single toughest position to play in the game of baseball. Simply being able to catch pitches from an MLB pitcher is hard enough, and requires elite hand-eye coordination, but they also have to call pitches, manage a pitching staff, be quick and explosive, have a strong and accurate throwing arm, all while exposed to an array of foul balls ripped into their head and body throughout the game. It’s a position that requires an insane amount of physical and mental toughness. I played catcher in one game in Little League, and told my coach – “never again.”

Today, I’ll be ranking my Top 15 greatest MLB catchers in the history of the game. These are the toughest of the tough and best of the best, and I’m taking into account not only how good they were defensively and offensively but also their leadership skills with bonus consideration for World Series rings. But before getting into the Top 15, I have one huge honorable mention, who probably belongs in the Top 10, maybe even #1, but I couldn’t figure out exactly where to rank him since he was never allowed to play alongside other legendary major leaguers - and of course I’m talking about

Josh Gibson

By some accounts, this spectacular player crushed close to 800 career home runs, but he was never allowed to play in the major leagues due to the color of his skin and the detestable “gentlemen’s agreement”, which prevented non-white players from participating in MLB. For this reason, his full statistics are unknown since the Negro Leagues didn’t always compile complete statistics or box scores. MLB incorporated the Negro League stats we do have, and they are now considered MLB stats, and after a few years of research, Josh Gibson became the official all-time MLB leader with a .373 career batting average, .718 slugging percentage and insane 1.176 OPS. It was a controversial decision to allow Gibson to be the new official leader in these important percentile statistics, because only 2,168 career at bats were considered, it does not right the horrific wrongs of the past committed by MLB and MLB owners, and we don’t really know what his stats would’ve looked like if he had been allowed to play in the proper big leagues at the time, but it’s pretty clear Josh Gibson would’ve been one of the greatest. He was known as the “black Babe Ruth,” although some of those who saw both play called Ruth “the white Josh Gibson.” He won consecutive Triple Crowns, leading his league in homers, RBIs and batting average and was #1 in home runs 11 times. His home run to at bat ratio was even better than Babe Ruth’s. Those who watched him play marveled at his incredible power and pure hitting ability, but he was also a good catcher who started his career as an average defender, but improved every year. He had a powerful arm and was a fantastic handler of his pitching staff. Sadly, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1943, but still played four more seasons, leading his league in homers each time. He passed away in January of 1947 at just 35 years old. But Josh Gibson was one of the greatest catchers to ever play the game and if he had been allowed to play Major League Baseball, he very well could’ve been confirmed to be the greatest catcher of all time.

Now, let’s get into the Top 15.

15. Ted Simmons

A player who wasn’t considered an all time great when he retired, but still compiled impressive enough career numbers to get in the Hall of Fame anyway was St. Louis Cardinal legend Ted Simmons. He played an incredible 21 years in the league, also playing for the Brewers and Braves, and hit .285 with 248 home runs. He was selected to 8 All Star Teams. Simmons was a highly productive and consistent switch-hitting catcher who knew how to get on base, walking more than he struck out throughout his career. He wasn’t considered a great defender, but got the job done and did something that no catcher does today – he caught nearly every game. He led the league multiple seasons in games caught, including 153 games in 1973 and 154 games in 1975. These days, catchers rarely allowed to play the position in more than 120 games.

14. Gabby Hartnett

An all-around elite talent who played for 20 years was Chicago Cub legend Gabby Hartnett. Although he never led the league in a particular offensive category, he was a model of consistency, catching over 100 games per season and consistently hitting close to if not over .300. He finished his career with a .297 average and that came with 236 career homers. He hit over 20 bombs 3 times and maxed out with 37 in 1930. He made the first 6 All Star teams from 1933 to 1938, and would’ve made many more had they existed sooner. In his best season, 1935, he hit .344 and took home the MVP award. Hartnett was also an excellent defensive catcher and worked extremely well with the pitching staff. His leadership skills led him to the position of player-manager during his last 3 seasons with the Cubs. In his final season, he played for the New York Giants as a player-coach and hit .300 as a backup catcher before retiring. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955. Unfortunately, his teams never won a World Series championship.

13. Thurman Munson

If it weren’t for his untimely and tragic death in a plane accident, Thurman Munson would easily been a Top 10 all-time catcher and would’ve also been a shoe-in Hall of Famer. In fact, he should be in the Hall of Fame anyway despite just playing 11 years, as Munson made 7 All Star Teams, won a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP, 3 Gold Gloves and 2 World Series championships. It would not be a sympathy vote to check Munson’s name on a Hall of Fame ballot, but somehow he got completely snubbed, never even getting 10% before falling off the ballot in 1995. Munson had just 1,558 hits in his career, but he also hit .357 in the postseason and .373 in the World Series, while being one of the best players in the game for a decade. He was considered the heart and soul of the Yankee teams he played for and was not only an elite hitter and defender, but also had excellent leadership qualities and was absolutely clutch throughout his career, rising to the occasion during the biggest moments. It’s an absolute travesty he is not in the Hall of Fame.

12. Bill Dickey

One of the best and most forgotten superstar catcher in MLB history has to be mentioned in this video – Bill Dickey. He played for the New York Yankees and hit .313 with over 200 home runs during his 17-year Hall of Fame career. Dickey rarely struck out, retiring with a strikeout rate of one strikeout per 28.1 at bats, a better rate than even Tony Gwynn. He made 11 All Star Teams, including a streak of 8 in a row, which was interrupted by World War II. He missed two full seasons serving in the Navy before returning in 1946, when became a player-manager. Dickey made 9 World Series appearances and won 8 total championships. He was known for his reserved personality, which earned him the nickname “The Man Nobody Knows.” But he was one of the greatest players of all time and also one of the most underrated as his name is rarely mentioned alongside other Yankee greats that he played with like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

11. Yadier Molina

Next up is a recent legend who played for 19 years in the big leagues and retired at #1 among catchers in putouts and #2 with 130 defensive runs saved. He also ranks 4th all time in games played as a catcher. He was absolutely elite defensively, throwing out over 40% of would-be base stealers. He also caught the 4th most games of all time, an incredible feat considering he played so recently. There was nobody better as a defensive catcher during most of Molina’s career, but he was also solid as a hitter. He compiled 2,100 hits and 150 bombs, maxing out with 22 in 2012. Although his offensive don’t jump off the page, he was a clutch hitter with several key hits during the postseason. Molina made 10 All Star teams and won 9 gold gloves, 4 platinum gloves, 2 World Series and a Silver Slugger. He is a future Hall of Famer who played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals and will definitely go down in history as one of the greatest catchers ever.

10. Mickey Cochrane

Although he only played 12 years in the league, Mickey Cochrane retired as one of the greatest catchers to ever play. He was promoted to the big leagues with the Philadelphia A’s after just one year in the minors and immediately became a star, hitting .331 and finishing 10th for the MVP. He went on the win the MVP in 1928 with the A’s and again in 1934 with the Tigers. He also led his teams to 3 World Series Championships, once as a player-manager in 1935. He made two All-Star teams in 1934 and 1935 and would’ve made many more if they existed during the majority of his career. His career was cut short after he was hit in the head by a pitch, which might have been intentional since he had homered in his previous at bat. Cochrane almost died from the injury and was ordered not to play again by doctors. He retired with a career batting average of .320 and an .897 OPS.

9. Buster Posey

Up next we have the 7-time All Star and 5-time Silver Slugger Buster Posey, who played his first full MLB season in 2010, and immediately propelled the Giants to their first World Series Championship in the city of San Francisco. He hit .305 with 18 home runs in the regular season, won the Rookie of the Year, and hit .300 in the World Series with a home run. But more importantly, he excelled defensively and showed amazing leadership skills, handling one of the best pitching staffs in the game. After a gruesome injury in 2011, he bounced back in a huge way in 2012, winning the MVP and Comeback Player of the Year Awards, hitting a league leading .336, crushing 24 bombs, then leading his team once again to a World Title, crushing 3 home runs in the postseason including a dramatic grand slam in Cincinnati to help the Giants come back from an 0-2 deficit in the series to win 3 games on the road and move on to the next round. He continued to hit and defend at an elite level every year and his team won a 3rd World Title in 2014. Posey opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic, but returned in 2021 to hit .304 with 18 homers, winning his second comeback player of the year award, while helping the Giants win a franchise record 107 games before his somewhat surprising retirement. Since he only played 12 seasons, his career totals aren’t the most impressive, but Buster Posey’s amazing leadership abilities and on-field skillset led the Giants to their only dynasty in the San Francisco era and since his retirement, they haven’t made the playoffs again. So, the Giants called on Buster to be their President of Baseball Operations and we will see if he has as much success in the front office as he had on the field.

8. Joe Mauer

Mauer only comes in this low because he was a catcher for the first 10 years of his career before moving to first base for the final five. But it was during those 10 years Mauer became one of the best in the game. He was one of the greatest contact hitters to ever play catcher and became the first and still only American League catcher to ever win a batting title when he hit .347 in 2006. That was just his first of 3 batting titles and in 2009, he hit an absolutely incredible .365 with 28 bombs and an OPS of 1.031, good enough for an A.L. MVP. In addition to his elite bat, he was an incredible defender and led the league twice in caught stealing percentage. He finished his career with a .995 fielding percentage and took home 3 Gold Gloves. Unfortunately, in 2014 he gave up catching due to previous injuries and concussions. He continued to put up solid numbers as a hitter for 5 more seasons before retiring in 2018. Before his retirement, however, he made one more brief appearance as a catcher for the home crowd in Minnesota. For his career, Joe Mauer hit .306 with 6 All Star appearances and 5 Silver Sluggers. Unfortunately, his Twins teams never made it past the ALDS, so he didn’t win a ring, but for his outstanding career, Mauer was elected into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2024.

7. Gary Carter

“The Kid,” Gary Carter was never really a mega superstar, but he played his heart out every game with incredible skill and was a catcher the entire time, playing the position in 94% of his games even in his final year in 1992. He helped his team win games like few others, accumulating a 70.2 career WAR, second highest of any catcher in MLB history and higher than many all-time greats like Tony Gwynn, Eddie Murray and Willie McCovey. He did it with elite defense, ranking 3rd all time in defensive WAR among catchers, and a consistent, powerful and clutch bat. Defensively, he was one of the best in baseball history, with an ability to frame pitches, control the running game and make spectacular catches. But with the bat, he was no slouch. For an 11 year period, from 1977 to 1987, he averaged 24 home runs per season, while driving in at least 100 runs 4 times. He led the league in RBIs in 1984 with a 106, and in 1986, he was a key member of the New York Mets and picked up one of the two-out hits in the 9th inning as part of the incredible comeback in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, leading to the critical Bill Buckner error. Carter can be seen in the celebration, already wearing his catching gear in case of extra innings. Carter also played for the Giants and Dodgers before returning to Montreal for his final season. All told, he had 2,092 hits, 324 home runs, 11 All Star appearances and 3 Gold Gloves, but it was also his consistency, clutch moments, leadership and overall positive impact on the game during a 19-year career that got him in the Hall of Fame.

6. Roy Campanella

Up next is another legendary catcher who began his career in professional baseball before the color barrier was broken, and for that reason, as a mixed race individual, he had to play in the Negro Leagues. He was just 15 when he started his career and was an absolute phenom, showing a high level of skill with the bat and the glove, playing mostly with the Baltimore Elite Giants. In 1944, he led the league with a .388 batting average. The Brooklyn Dodgers, who had already signed Jackie Robinson, took notice of Campanella and offered him a contract. Although it was Robinson who broke the color barrier in 1947, Campanella made his big league debut the following year and quickly became the Dodgers starting catcher. In 1949, he made his first of 11 All Star teams and hit .287 with 22 homers. From there, he only improved and went on to win not one, not two, but three MVPs, one in 1953 when he drove in a league leading 142 runs. He smashed 41 home runs, 40 as a catcher, an MLB record that remained until 1996 when Todd Hundley hit 41. But his most impressive statistic is a defensive one. Roy Campanella threw out 57% of would be base-stealers in his career, the highest percentage of any catcher in MLB history. Sadly, he played his last game at just 35 years of age, because of an automobile accident that resulted in a broken neck and paralysis from the shoulders down. But despite a late start and early end to his MLB career, Campanella retired as a 3-time MVP with multiple MLB records. Although it inexplicably took 5 years, he was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame.

5. Mike Piazza

The 1,390th pick in the 1988 MLB Draft was a young Junior College first baseman named Mike Piazza, who was only drafted as a favor, because his father knew Tommy Lasorda. Lasorda suggested Piazza convert to a catcher, and he did so, while showing immense talent as a hitter, crushing 29 home runs in High A Bakersfield in 1991. Piazza then tore up Double A and Triple A, forcing a promotion to the big leagues and in 1993, he hit .318 with 35 bombs, becoming an instant superstar and winning the Rookie of the Year award. He made 10 straight All Star teams and became one of the greatest power hitting catchers in the history of baseball. His defense wasn’t always elite, and he didn’t have the best throwing arm, but he could block balls, frame pitches and call a solid game. As a hitter, he still holds the all time record with 399 home runs as a catcher and is tied with Bill Dickey with a .313 career batting average at the position. He hit 427 total in his career, but perhaps none more memorable as the shot he hit during the New York Mets first game after the 9/11 attacks. Piazza made 12 All Star Teams and won 10 Silver Sluggers during his career. On the downside, he never won a World Series ring, but did lead his team to a World Series appearance in 2000, hitting .412 with 2 bombs in the NLCS then 2 more big flies in the World Series, but his Mets team fell short to the Yankees. Nevertheless, Mike Piazza was one of the best catchers to ever play.

4. Carlton Fisk

Up next Carlton “Pudge” Fisk, who played his first professional game as a catcher while Lyndon B. Johnson was President, and his last with Bill Clinton in office. His big league career stretched 24 years and he played in four different decades. His 24 years as a catcher is an MLB record that may never be broken. During his first full season, it became clear Fisk was a special talent and he hit .293, leading the league with 9 triples, winning the Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove Award. It was only the beginning. He continued to make the All Star team nearly ever year and in 1975, he hit .417 in the ALCS, helping his Red Sox sweep the A’s and go to the World Series. In Game 6 of the Fall Classic against the Reds, he connected in the bottom of the 12th inning at Fenway, hitting one of the most iconic walk off home runs in MLB history. Unfortunately, his team lost the next game and Fisk never did win a World Series, but retired with several records as a catcher including most home runs, which was eventually broken by Mike Piazza. He is still second with 366 bombs as a catcher, and is 3rd all time in RBIs with 1,288. Carlton Fisk was one of the toughest MLB players of all time, playing for the Red Sox and White Sox, and it’s incredible how he was able to perform at a high level as a catcher for so many years, not retiring until the age of 45, still in the squat until the end.

3. Ivan Rodriguez

During his 21-year career, Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez broke several career MLB career records for catchers including games played, runs scored, hits, doubles and stolen bases. He played almost exclusively behind the dish, appearing at other defensive positions in only 9 games. Starting in 1991 with the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez was an instant superstar and made 10 straight All Star Games, and won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves, becoming one of the best defensive catchers in MLB history. He led the league in caught-stealing percentage 9 times and threw out more than 50% of the would-be base stealers 8 times. In total, he won 13 Gold Gloves, more than any other catcher in MLB history. Offensively, he was almost just as good, hitting at least .300 in 10 separate seasons with power. He ended up with 2,844 hits, a .296 career average, .798 OPS and 311 home runs. In 2003, he was a force in the playoffs for the Florida Marlins and hit .353 in the NLDS, making an outstanding defensive play to finish off the series against Giants, a depressing memory for a Giants fan like myself. He went on to win the NLCS MVP against the Cubs then helped lead his team to a World Series title. He was one of the most durable catchers ever and holds many records for catchers that might never be broken. It took him longer than expected to get in the Hall of Fame, likely due to some steroid suspicions that mainly stemmed from his time on the Rangers with Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro. Canseco named Rodriguez in his book as a steroid user. Nevertheless, Rodriguez was eventually elected in 2017 with 76% of the vote.

2. Yogi Berra

Coming in at #2 is the Yankee legend, Yogi Berra, who was mentored by another player on today’s list, Bill Dickey. Berra’s early professional career had a huge interruption as he served in World War II in the U.S. Navy before joining the Newark Yankees in 1946. He was impressive enough to earn a promotion to the big leagues and hit .364 during a brief call up. By 1948, he was the Yankees everyday catcher and he held on to that position for another 15 years. He made the All Star Team every season for 15 straight years, hitting for power and average while playing elite defense. Berra became the backbone of a New York Yankees dynasty that appeared in the World Series in an astonishing 15 out of 18 seasons. He holds the record as most World Series wins as a catcher with 10 championships. But he was also one of the best players in baseball, and won three total MVPs, one in 1951 then back to back MVPs in 1954 and 1955, beating out greats like Ted Williams and his teammate Mickey Mantle. He crushed at least 20 home runs for 10 straight years, and had multiple 100+ RBI seasons. As a catcher, he always got the best out of his pitchers and caught Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. At one point, he played in 148 consecutive games without making an error. He was a consistent and healthy producer who played in at least 119 games per season for 14 straight years. Although he was on extremely stacked New York Yankees teams, there is no way they would have won as many championships without the great Yogi Berra.

1. Johnny Bench

Coming in at #1 as the greatest MLB catcher of all time is of course Johnny Bench, the Cincinnati Reds legend who played 17 years in the big leagues and became the leader of the Big Red Machine, the Reds teams that dominated the National League in the mid-70’s. Bench played his first full season in 1968 and became the first catcher to win the N.L. Rookie of the Year award, hitting .275 with 15 home runs. His defensive capabilities were quickly clear as he led the league in putouts and assists and became the first rookie catcher to win a Gold Glove. In 1969, he threw out a league leading 57.1% percent of baserunners and was even better offensively, hitting .293 with 26 homers. Then, in 1970, his bat exploded and he crushed a league leading 45 home runs, driving in 148 runs. He easily took home the MVP award that year and also led his team to the World Series, but the Reds lost to Baltimore. Still, a megastar was born and Johnny Bench continued to dominate offensively and defensively, winning another MVP in 1972, making 14 All Star Games and winning 10 Gold Gloves. The Reds made it back to the postseason several times, and eventually won it all in 1975. In 1976, they won it again, and Bench was absolutely unstoppable, hitting .533 with 2 home runs, taking home World Series MVP honors. He was an elite and clutch player who would always rise to the occasion and even hit a game-tying home run in his last Major League Game, on Johnny Bench day. Johnny Bench hit 356 home runs as a catcher and is in the Top 5 in multiple offensive and defensive categories, and as an overall contributor and leader at the catcher, there was no one better than Johnny Bench, so he comes in at #1.

Top 10 BUSH LEAGUE & DIRTY Plays In MLB HISTORY (Film Era)

Although I’ve always hated most of the ridiculous unwritten rules in the sport of baseball, there are definitely certain plays that just feel unprofessional and amateurish – in other words, Bush League. For me, if it’s a standard baseball play like a bunt or stolen base, I don’t care what the score is, I don’t consider it bush league. But there are times when players cross a line from real baseball plays to straight up bush league by breaking the rules, intentionally hitting batters for ridiculous reasons, or just playing dirty and dangerously in a way the game is not designed. You don’t see bush league plays too often in the big leagues, but they do happen and in today’s video, we’ll look back at 10 of the most bush league and dirty moments that were caught on video in MLB history. These are moments that had major implications in the game and went beyond breaking unwritten rules in my opinion. Before jumping into the top 10, here’s a hilarious clip of a college player pretending to be hit by a pitch when the ball wasn’t even close to him – true next level bush league.

I also have one super dishonorable mention and I didn’t even know where to rank this one because I don’t know whether to call it bush league or pyscho league, but I had to at least mention Roger Clemens firing a bat at Mike Piazza during the 2000 World Series. Piazza had homered in three consecutive at bats against Clemens until their 4th meeting, earlier that season, when Clemens hit Piazza in the head with a fastball, causing him to miss the All Star Game. Every one was eager to see this match-up. What if Clemens hits him again? Would Piazza charge the mound? Or maybe it would be settled on the field. With all the speculation, no one, and I mean no one, could have predicted what actually went down.

Throwing that weapon of a broken bat towards Piazza goes beyond Bush League but I had to at least mention it as it was one of the most bizarre and insane moments in MLB history.

Now let’s get into the Top 10, and let me know in the comments, which of these do you think are dirty or bush league and which of them are completely legit.

10. Strickland Beans Harper

Pitchers throwing at hitters intentionally has always been a part of the game and it has created a debate among fans on whether it’s a good or bad thing. Some fans like it and think it’s a natural part of the game, but even those fans have to agree, a pitcher has to have a good reason to throw at a batter – usually as retaliation for a recent event or to send a message. But to retaliate nearly 3 years after the fact is unheard of and that’s what Hunter Strickland of the San Francisco Giants decided to do back in 2017, when he faced Bryce Harper for the first time since the 2014 playoffs, when Harper hit a couple of huge home runs off him.

Even as a Giants fan, I can’t defend this and even Buster Posey stood at the plate confused. There was no expectation he was going to do that and it caused a massive brawl, which ended the career of Giants 1st baseman Michael Morse after he ended up with a concussion. This intentional hit by pitch is especially bush league, because back in 2014, the Giants went on to win that series against the Nationals despite the Harper home runs, and in fact, they won the World Series as well.

9. A-Rod Distracts Fielder

This is the first, but certainly not last appearance of Alex Rodriguez on today’s list. I’m generally against unwritten rules and believe players should always try their best to win, even if it means bunting to break up a no-hitter, stealing with a decent lead, or swinging with a 3-0 count regardless of the score. But all those examples are real baseball plays. When it comes to a play like this – Alex Rodriguez yelling “Ha I got it!” as a baserunner to make the infielder think some one else is calling for the ball, that’s where I draw the line.

It could be argued that fielders try to decoy runners all the time with their motions, which is true, but screaming “I got it” as a baserunner to confuse an infielder looking up in the air and listening for his teammate to call him off seems a lot more bush league to me, but let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

8. Machado Kicks Aguilar

Manny Machado is no stranger to being called a bush leaguer. Here’s an example of his dropping the bat right by a catcher’s feet to cause him to miss a pop fly.

A notoriously dirty player, at least earlier in his career, Machado also created controversy against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2018 NLCS. First, there was the way he slide into second base in Game 3, reaching out with his hand to stop a double play.

Then, he appeared to intentionally kick first baseman Jesus Aguilar’s foot while running to first base on a groundout.

This caused benches to empty and tempers to flare. Luckily, Aguilar wasn’t seriously injured, but Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich called the play “a dirty play by a dirty player.”

7. Dempster Throwing at A-Rod

Next up is another incident involving A-Rod, but this time he was on the receiving end of the bush league antics. In 2013, just as Rodriguez was returning from a long stint on the D.L., it was announced he would be suspended for taking PED’s as part of the Biogenesis Scandal, but because he was appealing, he would still get to play. A couple weeks later, Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster, who had no known previous beef with A-Rod, decided he was going to drill him no matter what. He threw the first pitch behind him, and kept going inside on him until the 4th pitch nailed A-Rod in the elbow.

It was obviously intentional, but when umpire Brian O’Nora failed to eject Dempster and gave out warnings to both teams, Yankees manager Joe Giardi flipped out and ended up getting ejected himself. Dempster eventually was suspended 5 games and fined an undisclosed amount. He admitted to hitting Rodriguez on purpose in 2016.

Although lots of fans loved to see A-Rod getting drilled, I find plays like this bush league for a number of reasons, but in this case, he sent a message with the first pitch and missed him, so there was no need to throw at him again, especially when the only reason he was throwing at him was because he didn’t like him – there was no on-field incident; Dempster just decided he was going to drill A-Rod.

6. Jose Tabata Leans Into Scherzer’s Pitch

This one is a little tough to include because I hate most of the unwritten rules and one of the stupidest is the ridiculous ‘no bunting during a no-hitter’ rule. If a pitcher is working on a no-hitter or perfect game, I want to break it up as a hitter and get something started for my team – but only within the rules. Leaning into a pitch to intentionally get hit in order to break up a perfect game with 2 outs in the ninth of a 6-0 game has to be considered bush league. First of all, it’s against the rules, as not only can you not lean into a pitch, you have to make an effort to avoid getting hit in order to be awarded first base. But Jose Tabata made no such effort when he was facing Max Scherzer, who was working on a perfect game with 2 outs in the 9th inning.

So, yes, I always say, try your best to win and help your team within the rules. If Tabata bunted for a hit or even if Scherzer threw one right at Tabata and it hit him, I’d have no issue with this. But to lean into one and let it hit you in a situation like that is completely bush league, and the umpires probably should’ve called him out. Instead, Scherzer’s perfect game was ruined, but fortunately he got the next one for the no-hitter.

5. Mota Beans Piazza

Next up is one of the most insane moments I’ve seen on a baseball field. I’ve never seen a player more maniacally pissed off than Mike Piazza was during a game when he was hit by a pitch by Guillermo Mota. The story goes back farther than the hit by pitch. During 2002 Spring Training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Mike Piazza was the target of several hit by pitches and he finally had enough after Guillermo Mota beaned him in the back with a 3-0 pitch. Piazza gave Mota an angry look but took his base then was replaced by a pinch runner.

Later in the game, as Mota was walking by the Mets dugout, Piazza confronted him and things quickly got heated with Piazza grabbing him by the shirt. Some shoving occurred, but no punches where thrown.

Fast forward to Spring Training 2003, and Piazza was facing Mota once again. Mota threw the first pitch uncomfortably inside. Then on the next, he intentionally drilled Piazza with an up and in pitch and shit completely hit the fan.

I’ve never seen an entire team go after a pitcher like that, never seen a pitcher that terrified and never saw this look before in my life – I fear what Mike Piazza would have done to Mota if he got his hands on him. But ultimately, it was an absolute bush league move to drill Piazza like that in a Spring Training game a year later, although I can’t blame him for back-peddling and running away, just look at Mike Piazza’s face.

4. Utley Breaks Tejada’s Leg

There’s been so many examples of the reckless “slide” into second base trying to take out the fielder going for the double play, you can include them all here. For most of baseball history, it was expected the runner would make an aggressive slide to break up a double play at second base, but sometimes, the runner takes it way too far, such as Chase Utley here taking out Ruben Tejada, which resulted in a broken leg.

Utley wasn’t even trying to hide the fact he was taking out the fielder and not at all trying to slide into second base. Another example happened in a Giants Cardinals playoff game when Matt Holliday takes out and Marco Scutaro. In the play, which I watched live, I initially thought Scutaro had to be seriously injured.

MLB made some rule changes in 2016 to prevent these types of dangerous plays in which fielders can get seriously injured. A runner now has to make a bonafide slide into second base, otherwise both runners will be called out, but it should be noted even before the rule changes, these types of slides should never have been legal. Under the old rules, umpires could call out a runner if he “willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder with the obvious intent to break up a double play.” I would say both the Utley and Holliday slides qualify.

3. Albert Belle Levels Vina

But coming in at #3 is one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen in an MLB game, a break up of a double play that somehow didn’t cause an all-out brawl. Albert Belle didn’t even make it to second base before absolutely leveling Fernando Vina, who made an attempt to tag Belle before throwing to first. He obviously never got the throw off.

Somehow, Vina held on to the ball and had some words for Belle, who took him out earlier in the game as well.

2. A-Rod’s Glove Swat

Up next is a play we’ve seen a few times and I find it completely bush league. In this case, it was a playoff game - Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series with the Red Sox needing a win to force a Game 7. They had a 4-2 lead in the 8th with one out and Derek Jeter on first base. Up stepped Alex Rodriguez with a chance to tie the game. Instead, here’s what happened.

A-Rod appeared to actually swat the ball right out of pitcher Bronson Arroyo’s glove. This doesn’t feel fair at all, but is it actually against the rules? Well, per section 6.,1 of the MLB Umpire Manual, “While contact may occur between a fielder and runner during a tag attempts, a runner is not allowed to use his hands or arms to commit an obviously malicious or unsportsmanlike act.”

After Red Sox manager Terry Francona argued the call, the 6 umpires got together and changed the call from safe to out. The Yankee fans flipped out and began to throw trash on to the field, but most agree the call turned out correct as replay shows A-Rod intentionally slapping Arroyo’s hand to free the ball. The Red Sox went on to win the game, the series and then the World Series.

1. Kent Hrbek Takes Down Gant

But coming in at #1 was a classic moment I remember watching live to do this day - it was Game 2 of one of the greatest World Series in the history of the Game as the Twins and Braves, two last place teams from 1990 went toe to toe in the 1991 Fall Classic. The Twins were up 2-1 in the 3rd when Ron Gant picked up a two-out base hit, sending Lonnie Smith to third. After Gant rounded first and the ball briefly got away, pitcher Kevin Tapani tried to throw him out as he retreated back to first base. Gant was back in time until first baseman Kent Hrbek decided to go full WWF Wrestling, remove him from the base and tag him out.

Power-hitter Dave Justice would’ve been up with two men on but instead, the inning was over as the umpire ruled Gant out, saying his momentum pulled him off the bag.

The Braves ended up losing the game in 3-2 and the Twins eventually won the 1991 World Series in 7 games. I find it hard to believe Ron Gant was going to fall over off the back during a simple retreat. I find it pretty clear Hrbek helped him off that base, but let me know – bush league or fair play?

Top 10 Most HORRIFIC & Impactful INJURIES In MLB HISTORY!!

As everybody knows, injuries are part of sports and baseball is no exception. Players can be hurt in a variety ways such as getting hit by a 90+ mile per hour pitch, breaking a bone or ligament from the unnatural and violent motion of pitching a baseball, getting hit in the face by a line drive or from a bad hop on a groundball or getting plowed through by a runner trying to score or break up a double play. And those are just a few examples. Fortunately, graphic and horrific injuries are fairly rare considering the amount of baseball games played but they have happened and today we'll be counting down the 10 most memorable, horrific and impactful injuries in MLB history - injuries that caused major changes to the game of baseball or threatened to end a player's career on the spot or sometimes, something far worse.

Before getting to the main list, which just consists of MLB moments, there were a couple of minor league injuries that definitely deserve a mention.

The Tyler Zombro Incident

It was one of the scariest moments in professional baseball history, and it happened out of nowhere in the 9th inning of a typical Triple-A minor league game in Durham, North Carolina. Tampa Bay Rays prospect Tyler Zombro was facing Brett Cumberland of the Norfolk Tides. Cumberland smashed a 104 mile per hour line drive off Zombro's head, causing Zombro to lose consciousness and then go into a seizure. He was quickly removed from the field on a stretcher and taken into surgery, where surgeons had to insert 16 titanium plates and 36 screws to repair a major skull fracture. He eventually regained consciousness and had to undergo physical, speech and occupational therapy. He made a miraculous recovery and returned to the mound, throwing a scoreless inning his return. Zombro retired after the 2024 season.

The Mike Coolbaugh Tragedy

Mike Coolbaugh played 17 years of pro baseball including parts of 2 seasons in the big leagues, hitting 260 total professional home runs. He retired after the 2006 season and became a coach in the Colorado Rockies organization. In July of 2007, as the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers, tragedy struck when he was hit in the neck by a line drive, resulting in a severe brain hemorrhage that almost instantly killed him. Coolbaugh was pronounced dead less than an hour after being struck by the line drive. That offseason, it was determined that all base coaches in the Major and Minor Leagues would wear helmets.

Now, let's get into the main list.

#10 Buster Posey Season-Ending Break

In 2010, Buster Posey hit .305 with 18 bombs and caught every inning of the playoffs, helping to lead the San Francisco Giants to their first World Series since moving west from New York. But the next year, Posey's season was cut short on May 25th during a play at the plate with the Marlins Scott Cousins attempting to score. Posey fractured his fibula and tore multiple ligaments. He missed the remainder of the 2011 season before bouncing back in 2012, winning the MVP and Comeback Player of the Year Awards. The injury led MLB to reinterpret the rulebook and adopt Rule 7.13, the "Buster Posey Rule," stating a runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order initiate contact with the catcher.

#9 The Ray Fosse-Pete Rose Collision

This play didn't end Ray Fosse's career or even put him on the disabled list, but he was never really the same afterwards. Pete Rose had a chance to score the winning run in the 1970 All Star Game and was hustling towards home plate, with the only thing between him and victory being catcher Ray Fosse. You can guess what happened next. The collision separated Fosse's shoulder, although it was improperly diagnosed as the time and he didn't miss any games. But according to Fosse, the pain from the injury lingered throughout his career and life. There is debate to whether or not this injury ruined Fosse's career, but he was a top prospect who had 16 home runs with a .312 average at the All Star break in 1970 then hit just 2 the rest of the season. His power completely vanished and he never topped 12 home runs in a season for the rest of his career.

#8 Mickey Mantle vs. The Drain

A knee injury that likely had a major impact on history occured in the 5th inning of Game 2 of the 1951 World Series. Mickey Mantle was a red hot rookie who could do it all, including hit for tremendous power as a switch hitter and absolutely fly on the basepaths. He was playing right-field with veteran superstar Joe Dimaggio in center. Yankees manager Casey Stengel instructed Mantle to go for everything hard because Dimaggio's heel was hurting. The Giants Willie Mays hit a flyball to right-center field and the two fielders converged, with Mantle hustling hard for it. In the book The Last Boy, Mantle is quoted as saying “I was running as hard as I could. At that point in time, I could outrun anybody. I ran over to catch it as Casey had told me to. Just as I was getting ready to put my glove up, I heard him say, ‘I got it.’ Well shit, you don’t want to run into Joe DiMaggio in center field in Yankee Stadium, I slammed on my brakes.” When he did so, Mantle's spikes got caught in an exposed drain pipe and something in his right knee tore as he went down in tremendous pain. He suffered a severely torn ligament, one that would have required immediate surgery today, but back then, he was told to let it heal on its own. He eventually had multiple knee surgeries and had almost no cartiladge in his knees by the time his career was over. After the injury, Mantle played the rest of his career with a torn or semi-torn ACL and never played again without pain. He was still good enough to hit 536 home runs and become one of the greatest all of time. It's incredible to imagine that he would've been even better if not for that injury in the 1951 World Series.

#7 Tony Conigliaro Hit by Pitch

Tony Conigliaro played mostly for the Boston Red Sox. His pro career started in 1963 when he tore up the Minor Leagues, hitting .363 with 24 home runs. The next year, he was in the Red Sox lineup and hit .290 with 24 home runs followed by a league leading 32 bombs in 1965, becoming the youngest American League player to ever lead the league in home runs. The Red Sox had a superstar on their hands and he made the All Star Team in 1967. He hit his 100th home run at just 22 years old. Then, everything changed during a game on August 18th, 1967 against the California Angels. Facing pitcher Jack Hamilton. A pitch struck Conigliaro in the face, causing a linear fracture of his left cheekbone, a dislocated jaw and severe damage to his left retina. He was carried off the field on a stretcher and it was questionable if he would ever play again. Conigliaro’s eyesight was permanently damaged. He missed the next two seasons entirely. Then, in 1969, 2 and a half years after playing his last game, Congliario attempted a comeback. The Red Sox were happy to give him the opportunity, but didn’t know what to expect. Congliario’s comeback was astonishing as he hit 20 home runs with a .255 average driving 82 runs. The next year, he set a career high in home runs and RBIs with 36 and 116 respectively, while hitting .266. His amazing comeback inspired the Tony Congliaro Award, which has since been awarded to those who overcome adversity. Unfortunately, his eyesight worsened as he entered his thirties and Congliario was forced to retire, but the fact that he came back from such a horrific injury to play four more years, including a career year is truly inspirational.

#6 Tony Saunders Breaks Arm

Pitcher Tony Saunders was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 1992 by the expansion Florida Marlins, and he dominated the minor leagues as a starter, although he had to miss time in 1994 and 1995 due to elbow reconstruction surgery. He continued to pitch well after the surgery and

earned a call-up to the big leagues in 1997 when he became a part of the Marlins rotation. He was picked up by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in their innagural draft for the 1998 season. He had a rough season but was 9th in the league in strikeouts and still had a bright career ahead. That is, until one fateful game in 1999 when Saunders delivered a 3-2 pitch to Juan Gonzalez and his elbow snapped loudly enough for the entire stadium to hear it. He collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony as teammates rushed to his side. He had to be carted off the field, in too much pain to even walk. It was one of the most horrific moments in MLB history and he was diagnosed with a humerus fracture and torn ligament, ending his season. As it turned out, it ended his MLB career. Saunders bravely attempted a comeback, but during a rehab game in the minors, the humerus snapped again, leading to his retirement. He tried to comeback once again in 2005 and pitched in a Spring Training game with the Cardinals and in a few independent league games with the Mesa Miners, but never returned to the big leagues.

#5 Adam Greenberg Instant Career-Ender

In 2002, Adam Greenberg was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and worked his way through the minor leagues, getting promoted in 2005. It looked like he had a bright future as a big leaguer – that is, until the first pitch he ever saw in the Majors. Greenberg never got the chance to prove whether or not he could stick in Major League Baseball as that 92 mile per hour pitch from Valerio de los Santos hit Greenberg in the back of the head. He fell to the ground in pain, and had the sensation that his head had been split open, with thoughts of just trying to stay concious. He suffered a skull fracture and severe concussion, spending the rest of the season the D.L. He had vertigo symptoms for years including headaches, nausea, double vision and dizziness.

The symptoms that took more than two years to clear up. Then a string of other ailments thwarted any comeback bids. He returned to the minor leagues in 2006 but his numbers fell and after stints in the Dodgers, Angels and Royals minor league systems, he ended up in the independent leagues. After 4 years with the Bridgeport Bluefish, it was becoming clear that Greenberg would never get back to the big leagues.

That is, until the Miami Marlins, the team Greenberg was facing when he was hit in the head, signed him to a one-day contract in order to give him a chance to have a proper MLB at bat, which he had earned way back in 2005 but never got. It was a great gesture by the Marlins, although I never understood why they chose to give him the at bat against the practically unhittable R.A. Dickey, who was baffling even the greatest MLB hitters at that time. Other than that one weird detail, it was awesome to see Greenberg get a real MLB at bat.

Unfortunately, he struck out 3 pitches, and R.A. Dickey won the Cy Award and led the league in strikeouts. But at least Greenberg got his official MLB at bat.

#4 Juan Encarnacion Career Ending Foul Ball

2-time World Series champion and 11-year veteran Juan Encarnacion's career ended without notice in July of 2007 while he was waiting to bat in the on-deck circle. Teammate Aaron Miles hit an absolute rocket towards Encarnaction, who had his eyes elsewhere at that moment. The baseball smashed his left eye and he fell to to the ground, remaining still for several minutes as the crowd went silent. He eventually got up and waved a stretcher away, leaving the field with the assistance of Jim Edmonds. The Cardinals rallied that inning and won the game, making Tony La Russa the winningest manager in Cardinals history, but he was not in the mood to celebrate after the game after what had happened. The line drive caused a fractured bone and the immediate end to Encarnacion's 2007 season. As it turned out, it was the end of his career as his eyesight never fully recovered and he never played professional baseball again.

#3 Dave Dravecky Breaks Arm

Dave Dravecky was a solid left-handed arm in the San Diego Padres rotation for several years in 80’s, making an All Star team in 1983 and maintaining an ERA around 3 every season. On July 4th, 1987, the San Francisco Giants traded for him, along with Craig Lefferts and Kevin Mitchell, for Mark Grant, Mark Davis and Chris Brown. He pitched well for the Giants, including a shutout performance in the 1987 playoffs against St. Louis. In 1988, he was pitching well with a 3.16 ERA after 7 starts when a cancerous tumor was found in his pitching arm. It was a rare and aggressive tumor known as a desmoid tumor. Unfortunately, it was positioned on his left deltoid muscle, a muscle that is needed by pitchers to even pitch. Doctors would have to remove the tumor and surrounding muscle, a huge portion of his arm, in order to save his life. The surgery was performed in October of 1988 and half of the deltoid muscle was removed. The humerus bone was frozen as well in order to kill all of the cancerous cells. Doctors advised him that he would never pitch again but Dravecky had other plans. His rehab was astonishingly fast, going from not being able to move his arm at all, to lifting 1 lb. Dumbbells, to actually pitching all in a matter of months and by 1989 Dravecky already felt ready to pitch again, although doctors urged him to wait until at least 1990. They feared that the frozen humerus bone could snap if stressed too early. But Dravecky was determined to return that year and he did, returning to the minors in 1989 on rehab assignment, where he threw 3 complete games. Imagine a pitcher being allowed to complete any games so early in their comeback attempt in today's game. But in 1989, it happened – he threw three complete games and a shutout, convincing the Giants he was ready for his official comeback game. It occurred on August 10th, 1989, in an amazing day at Candlestick Park. Dravecky pitched 8 innings, defeating the Reds 4-3, despite the doctor’s prediction that he would lose 95% of the use of his left arm. Unfortunately, it was short-lived as during his next start in Montreal, he felt a strange tingling in his arm, continued to pitch anyway and then the unthinkable happened and the entire stadium heard the snap as Dravecky, as doctors feared, broke his arm on a pitch. He crumbled to the ground in pain in one of the scariest and horrific injuries in MLB history. Later, the cancer returned with a vengeance and he had to have his arm amputated. He never threw another MLB pitch after that injury. Dave Dravecky continues to travel the country and give motivational speeches today.

#2 Doc Powers Wall Collision

This is an injury that may or may not have immediately led to the death of a player, but my research indicates that an on-field injury may have never happened at all, and if it did, probably just accelerated an already existing medical condition. Mike "Doc" Powers started his professional career way back in 1898 with the Louisville Colonels after playing college ball at Holy Cross and Notre Dame. He ended up playing most of his career with the Philadelphia Athletics as a backup catcher and first baseman and was also a physician when not playing baseball, hence the nickname. On Opening Day in 1909, he was beginning his 11th MLB season, in the starting lineup for the Athletics. According to many online sources including wikipedia, during the first play of the game, he crashed into a wall at full speed chasing a foul pop fly. Powers stayed in the game and even got a base hit. But none of the medical reports or newspaper articles I could find from the time period mention an on-field injury as part of what caused his condition. What articles of the time do say is that in the 7th inning of the game he became noticeably ill, some mentioning it occurred after eating a ham sandwich. Powers insisted on finishing the game and did so, going 1 for 4, and then was taken immediately to the hospital. Physicians determined he was suffering from a condition described as "strangulation of the intestines" or "intussusception", a life-threatening condition that occurs when part of the intestine folds into the next section, blocking the flow of food and fluids. This is not a condition that would be caused by a collision as the intestines removed were decaying due to lack of blood supply, indicating he had been suffering from this condition for a substantial period of time. Powers underwent immediate emergency surgery and more than a foot of gangrenous intestines had to be removed. He rallied for a time and showed some improvement, but the problems returned and after two additional surgeries, he passed away, 2 weeks after the game. Although it is written all over the internet that Powers experienced an on-field injury that led to his death, long articles written after his death at the time never mention any on-field injury or collision nor do articles about the actual game. I researched this mystery for hours and found one 2014 internet piece that questioned the on-field injury theory and it agrees that there is no evidence an on-field injury actually led to his death and he was likely already suffering from the condition before the game even started. I will link that website in the description. I will still put this possible injury at #2 as, if there was an on-field injury, it was evidently bad enough to send Powers to the hospital, where he eventually lost his life - and if there wasn't an on-field injury, he still got sick in the middle of the game he was playing in and died just 2 weeks later. If any one does have real sources from the time period mentioning an on-field collision, please let me know so I can update this story, but I looked up hundreds of articles from the day after the game and beyond, none mentioning any on-field injury. Even modern newspaper articles as recent as 2009 discussing the mystery make no mention of an on-field injury. It's almost as if some one wrote it on Wikipedia one day and then the internet took it as fact and ran with it.

#1 Ray Chapman Hit In The Head

But coming in at #1 is a story that can be confirmed as the only definite on-field injury that led to the death of an MLB player. It happened to lifelong Cleveland player Ray Chapman, who was playing in his 9th season. He had over 1,000 career hits and had stolen 238 bases. Chapman set a single-season MLB record with 67 sacrifice hits in 1917, a record that stands today. On August 16th, 1920, he was taking an at bat at the Polo Grounds, facing Yankees pitcher Carl Mays. Mays was known as a "bean ball" pitcher who liked to throw inside. Back during this time, the balls were commonly dirtied with soil or tobacco juice and not typically thrown out of a game until they were hit in the stands or out of the ballpark, and even then sometimes the ball would be retrieved and put back in the game. Hitters also did not wear helmets. This led to a tragic situation in which Chapman did not pick up the high and in pitch from Mays and was hit so hard in the head, Mays thought it hit the end of Chapman's bat. He fielded the ball and threw to first. Meanwhile, Chapman crumpled to the ground. The crowd went silent as medical personal rushed to assist the batter. Chapman briefly regained concinousness and made it to his feet but collapsed before reaching the clubhouse. Chapman's skull was broken and doctors operated on him throughout the night. He initially survived the surgery but then passed away later in the morning. At first, much outrage was placed towards Carl Mays with demands that he be banned, but he insisted the ball was wet and simply got away from him, also saying "It is the most regrettable incident of my baseball career; I would give anything if I could undo what has happened." He went into seclusion for about 10 days before rejoining his team. The death of Ray Chapman had an enormous impact on the future of the game, as spitballs were banned along with scuffing or altering the baseball in any way. Baseballs hit out of play were not used again and the live ball era was introduced. Helmets eventually became the norm and are now required to be worn by all batters and baserunners. Fortunately, no other player has been killed from an on-field injury since Ray Chapman.

TOP 20 NON-MLB Athletes DRAFTED By an MLB TEAM!! NFL & NBA SUPERSTARS!!

It’s not unusual to find out some of the greatest professional athletes played multiple sports at one point, usually back in High School or sometimes even in College. The greatest athletes in the world having the ability to play multiple sports at a high level isn’t surprising, but many of these athletes were so good they had the opportunity to choose which sport they would play at the professional level. Today, we’ll be ranking the Top 20 professional athletes in sports other than baseball – in this case mostly football but there are a couple NBA players as well who were actually drafted by a Major League Baseball team, but either decided not to sign or they only played in the minors before making it big in another sport. So, I won’t include the obvious guys who actually played both at the highest level – i.e. Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. These are guys primarily known for their career in another sport besides baseball. But before getting to the main guys, let’s do a few honorable mentions.

Colin Kaepernick (AV 49)

One of the most famous NFL players for more reasons than one, Colin Kaepernick was an intriguing High School baseball prospect who could light up the radar gun as a pitcher and the Chicago Cubs drafted him in the 43rd Round of the 2009 MLB Draft while he was playing football at the University of Nevada. He decided to continue college instead and was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the 49ers and went on to play in the NFL for 6 years.

Jameis Winston (AV 67)

Another Heisman Trophy Winner, Jameis Winston, was a two-way baseball player in High School who could pitch and hit at a high level. The Texas Rangers drafted him in 2012 in the 15th Round, but Winston decided to go to college, and at Florida State, he continued to look like he could have a future in baseball, especially on the mound, where he had a 1.94 ERA coming out of the bullpen for the Seminoles, striking out 8.4 batters per 9 in 2014. But he was even better at football and was taken 1st overall by the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Brandon Weeden (AV 14)

At Edmond Santa Fe High School in Oklahoma, Brandon Weeden was a star player for both the football and baseball teams and had the opportunity to go to college to play D1 football or enter professional baseball after he was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Yankees. He decided to go pro, signing for a $565,000 bonus and entered the Yankees minor league system as a pitcher. He struggled through 5 seasons in the minors, getting traded to the Dodgers and taken in the Rule 5 by the Angels along the way. He had a great arm, but injuries and under performance let him to retire from baseball and enroll at Oklahoma State in 2009, where he joined the football team as a backup quarterback . By 2010, at 27 years old, he became the starter and in 2011, broke all types of school records, leading the Cowboys to an 11-1 record and Big 12 Championship. He was drafted 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns and did not have a great NFL career, but did play in parts of 5 seasons, mostly as a backup QB for the Cowboys and Texans.

Matt Cassel (AV 51)

Cassel was a great baseball player going back to Little League, when his team made it to the finals of the Little League World Series in 1994. He attended Chatsworth High School in Los Angeles and was a standout in all three major sports. He decided to attend college at USC, but he was mostly a backup quarterback and didn’t throw a single touchdown pass. He only made 8 appearances as a pitcher for the baseball team. He was taken in the 7th round by the New England Patriots and the 36th Round by the Oakland A’s. With a slightly brighter future in football, he signed with the Pats and slowly moved up the depth chart. After Tom Brady tore an ACL in 2008, he took over the as the starter and had a phenomenal breakout season, leading the team to an 11-5 record. Cassel was traded to Kansas City, and went on have a great 14 year NFL career.

Scott Burrell Bur-EL (WS 16.4)

In high school, Scott Burrell was the star player on the basketball team, quarterback of the football team and flamethrowing ace pitcher for the baseball team. He became a top baseball prospect, and after was taken 26th overall in the MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. He decided not to sign and instead went to Uconn to play basketball, but baseball teams weren’t giving up. In the 1990 MLB Draft, his name was called again, this time by the Blue Jays in the 5th round. He signed with the agreement that he could continue playing college basketball. He pitched for 2 seasons in the Blue Jays system, going 2-6 with a 3.71 ERA and an impressive 8.9 per 9 strikeout ratio. He decided to quit baseball, focus on basketball ,and was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets 20th overall in 1993. Burrell went on to play for 8 years in the NBA.

Kyler Murray (AV 62)

An active NFL player currently in his 6th season as the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray was drafted by the Oakland A’s in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft and is the only athlete to be drafted in the 1st Round of both the NFL and MLB Drafts. He hit .296 with 10 homers for Oklahoma, and signed with the A’s to play professional baseball, planning to attend Spring Training in 2019. However, after winning the Heisman Trophy with the Sooners, he decided to enter the NFL Draft, got picked first overall and forfeited his $4.6 Millon signing bonus to play football instead.

Golden Tate (AV 72)

Golden Tate was a phenomenal athlete at High School in Henderson, Tennesee and a star player on the diamond and gridiron. He was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 42nd round of the 2007 MLB Draft, but decided not to sign and instead went to Notre Dame where he continued to play both baseball and football. He hit .329 in 2009 with an OPS over .800 and was drafted again, this time in the 2010 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants, but not until the 50th Round. With a brighter looking career in football, he signed with the Seahawks, who took him in the 2nd round and went on to have a productive 11-year career, winning a Superbowl with the Eagles in 2018.

Now, let’s get into the Top 20.

#20. Charlie Ward (WS 33)

When it comes to mutli-sport talent, not many were better than Charlie Ward, who was excellent at baseball, basketball, football, tennis and track in High School. He eventually became a solid NBA point-guard who spent 11 years in the league. Before that, he was a star basketball player and Heisman-Trophy winning quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles. He could’ve gone on to have a great NFL career, but stated that he wouldn’t play football unless he was drafted in the first round. So, NFL teams decided not to draft him at all. However, the same can’t be said for MLB teams as he was drafted twice just on the off chance he might sign – by the Brewers in the 59th round of the ‘93 draft and shockingly again by the Yankees in the 18th round of the ‘94 draft. They did this despite the fact Ward wasn’t even playing baseball in college. He obviously did not sign. He remains the player in the history of the NBA to have won the Heismann Trophy.

#19. Ricky Williams (AV 91)

Speedster Ricky Williams was drafted out of Patrick Henry High School in San Diego back in 1995 and decided to sign and enter the minor leagues. He was an impressive base-stealer with explosive speed, but hit just .211 with 4 home runs over 4 seasons. During this time, he still found time to play football at the University of Texas and after winning the Heisman Trophy in 1998, it was clear which path made more sense. He was taken 5th overall by the Saints and went on to play 11 years in the National Football League.

#18. Archie Manning (AV 94)

College Football Hall-of-Famer and 2-time Pro Bowler Archie Manning was drafted in the MLB Draft not once, not twice, not three times, but four total times. The first time was out of High School in 1967 in the 43rd round by the Atlanta Braves. He went on to play College Football for 3 seasons at Ole Miss as the starting quarterback.  He threw 4,753 yards, 31 touchdowns and ran for 823 yards. He also played shortstop on the Ole Miss Baseball team and the White Sox drafted him in 1970 and 1971. The Royals also drafted him, but Manning never played pro baseball. Instead, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, who took him in the 1st round in 1971. Manning played for 13 seasons in the NFL, throwing 125 touchdowns.

#17. Michael Vick (AV 112)

Quarterback Michael Vick played for 13 seasons in the NFL, made 4 Pro Bowls, and was also a standout college football player who finished 6th for the Heismann Trophy. The weird thing is Vick did not play college or High School baseball, but the Colorado Rockies surprisingly picked his name in the 30th Round of the 2000 MLB Draft. Vick hadn't played baseball since 8th Grade, but the Rockies decided to roll the dice on an incredibly explosive and elite athlete who could’ve covered a ton of ground in the outfield. Of course, Vick was destined for the NFL and did not sign with the Rockies.

#16. Kerry Collins

College Football Hall of Famer and 2-time Pro Bowler Kerry Collins played for 17 years in the NFL and, like many of the athletes on this list, played all three major sports in High School. He had an electric arm and was drafted in the 26th round of the 1990 MLB Draft by the Tigers as a pitcher, but Collins did not sign. He was a good enough quarterback to be recruited by Joe Paterno and decided to play football at Penn State, where he became a consensus first team All-American, breaking several Penn State football records. Despite not even playing baseball in college, he was selected two more times in the MLB Draft, by Tigers again in the 60th Round in 1991 and by the Blue Jays in the 48th Round in 1994, but he obviously had no interest as football was the obvious path forward.

#15. Dell Curry (ws 41.5)

The Charlotte Hornets all-time leader in games played and 2-point field goals is still Dell Curry, who put together a fantastic 16 year NBA career in which he finished in the Top 10 for 6th man of the year 6 times and won the award once, in the 93-94 season. Back in High School, he was the star basketball and baseball player and he was so good at the later as both a pitcher and hitter, that he actually got drafted in the 37th round of the 1982 MLB Draft. He decided to go to college instead of playing pro ball and became a starter for Virginia Tech, where he was named player of the year his Senior season. Dell could hit the long shot with regularity before the 3-point line was introduced, a skill that would serve him well in the NBA. He also pitched for the Virginia Tech baseball team and was selected to play pro baseball again, this by the Baltimore Orioles in the 14th Round of the 1985 Draft. He decided to play college ball for one more year instead, and taken by the Utah Jazz 15th overall in 1986. But, he did eventually get a chance to play bro baseball when the Texas Rangers Single-A team, the Gastonia Rangers allowed Dell and Hornets teammate Muggsy Bogues to suit up for a game on a one-day contract in June of 1991. The owner of the Gastonias also owned the Hornets, and he thought this would make an amazing promotion. The game sold out and Dell started the game and threw 3 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk. He struck out 4, including back to back strikeouts in the second inning. Scouts clocked his fastball at 85 MPH. Muggsy didn’t fair as well and struck out twice, but did make a nice play at second base. Unfortunately, the game was called after 3 innings due to rain.

#14. Kevin Johnson (WS 92.8)

The 5-time All NBA star played for 12 years in the National Basketball League, made three All-Star teams and scored over 13,000 points, averaging at least 20 per game in 5 separate seasons. A year before he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1st Round, he was also drafted by a Major League Basball team – the Oakland A’s, in the 23rd Round of the 1986 MLB draft. He even signed and played in 2 games with the Single-A Modesto A’s, but went 0 for 2, scoring one run as a pinch runner, before retiring from baseball and concentrating on basketball, a wise decision as it would turn out.

#13. Ray Guy

Ray Guy is to this day the only punter enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He attended Thompson High School in Georgia, where he was a multi-sport star, playing football, baseball, basketball and track. His punting skills were insane and he averaged around 50 yards per punt, a bigger number than most NFL punters, but he was doing it in High School. In basketball, he routinely scored more than 30 points per game. But his future also looked bright on the mound, as Guy completely dominated the opposition and threw a 15-inning shutout in the state playoff semi-finals in 1969. He was taken by the Reds in the 14th round of the ‘69 Draft, but decided to attend college at Southern Miss. He became one of the best punters in college football, but continued to pitch and continued to dominate, striking out 266 batters in 200 innings. He even threw a no-hitter. In 1971, the Astros drafted him, but he did not sign. In 1972, it was the Braves who took a shot at him in the 17th Round. Finally, in 1973, he was drafted for the fourth time by the Reds again. He never signed with any pro baseball team, but when he became the 1st ever punter to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, he signed to play with the Oakland Raiders. Guy played his entire career with the Raiders, mostly in Oakland but also 5 years in Los Angeles, receiving 7 Pro Bowl selections and becoming an all-time great punter in NFL history.

#12. Joe Theismann (AV 107)

Theismann lettered in baseball, basketball and football at South River High School in New Jersey. He accepted a scholarship to play college football at Notre Dame, but also played shortstop on the baseball team in 1970. He absolutely thrived on the grid-iron and was an All-American in contention for the Heisman. He set multiple school records including passing yards in one game, passing yards in one season and touchdowns in a season. He was selected in the 4th round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Dolphins and the 39th round of the 1971 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. After negotiations with the Dolphins broke down, he entered the Canadian Football League, playing for the Toronto Argonauts. Eventually, he did make it the NFL with the Washington Redskins and played for 12 years in the NFL, winning the MVP in 1983.

#11. John Lynch (AV 116)

Two-time All-Pro, 9-Time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion John Lynch put together an impressive 15-year career as a defensive back in the NFL. Before that, he played football, baseball and basketball at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego. He was recruited by Stanford University and became a Cardinal, playing for both their baseball and football teams. He was mostly a backup quarterback for his first 3 seasons, appearing in just 8 games. Frustrated with the lack of playing time, he decided to pursue baseball after being drafted in the 2nd Round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Florida Marlins. He started 7 games for the Low A Erie Sailors in 1992 and had a 2.15 ERA. Lynch had the honor of throwing the first pitch in the history of the Marlins organization. In 1993, Bill Walsh, the new head coach for the Stanford Football Team, contacted Lynch and told him he wanted him to return to Stanford as a starting safety, as he saw the talent in him others didn’t. Lynch agreed and became an All-America selection, and the third-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993.

#10. Hines Ward (AV 119)

Career Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward put together a fantastic NFL career as a Wide Receiver, making 4 consecutive Pro Bowls and winning 2 Superbowl Rings. At Forrest Park High School in Georgia, he was not only a standout football player, but also an outstanding outfielder with a powerful bat. He was taken by the Florida Marlins in the 73rd round of the 1994 MLB Draft. Instead of going that route, he went to the University of Georgia to play football, where he had 149 career receptions for a total of 1,965 yards. He holds multiple Georgia records and looked to be a potential first round pick, until it was discovered he was missing an ACL in one of his legs, the result of a childhood bicycle accident. The Steelers took a shot at him in the 3rd round and the rest is history.

#9 Mark Brunell (AV 120)

3-time Pro Bowler Mark Brunell always had a powerful left-handed arm that he not only used to become an elite quarterback, but he also used to dominate batters as a pitcher at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, California. Not surprisingly, he was a star basketball player as well. “I’m basically known as a jock,” he once joked as a High School Senior. As a baseball player, he went 10-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 74 innings. As a hitter, he hit .470 with 20 RBIs. He won his local district’s Player of the Year Award. If it weren’t for his strong commitment to play football at Washington, he would’ve likely been taken in the MLB Draft out of High School. He went on to play football at Washington, but after a knee injury, he lost the starting quarterback job to Billy Joe Hobert. The Atlanta Braves decided to take him in the 44th round of the 1992 MLB Draft as a pitcher in a desperate attempt to see if they could bring him back to baseball. Brunell stuck with football and after Hobert was suspended for violating NCAA rules by receiving over $50,000 in loans, Brunell got the starting job back and was eventually drafted by the Green Bay Packers and went on to have an extremely successful NFL career.

#8. Steve McNair (AV 125)

Years before Steve McNair became a 3-time Pro Bowler and 2003 Associated Press MVP, he was one of the best baseball players on the Mount Olive High School team in Mississippi. McNair was a shortstop who caught the attention of then-Mariners scout, Dan Jennings. Jennings said, “He was Adonis, a muscular kid; athletic build. I'm thinking, 'This is my day. The baseball gods are shining on me.'" Jennings convinced the M’s to draft McNair in the 35th Round of the 1991 MLB Draft. McNair and his family sat down with Jennings to discuss the contract. He was offered a $15,000 bonus but eventually, after hard consideration, decided not to sign and to instead pursue a professional football career.

#7. Ken Stabler (AV 118)

Ken “The Snake” Stabler was a well rounded athlete at Foley High School in Alabama, averaging 29 points per game in basketball, leading his football team to 29-1 record as the starting quarterback and dominating as a left-handed starting pitcher for the baseball team. He was recruited by the legendary Bear Bryant to play football at Alabama. He also played for their baseball team at first, under the tutelage of Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Sewell. In 1966, he had a 1.44 ERA in 25 innings, striking out 21 batters. He also led the football team to an 11-0 record. The New York Yankees drafted him in the 10th Round of the ‘66 Draft, but when they showed up at his house to negotiate the contract, no one was home. A neighbor told them he decided to return to college. He was suspended in 1967 by Bear Bryant for missing class, partying too much and skipping baseball practice. He eventually quit baseball all together, but was drafted again in 1967 by the Houston Astros. Stabler considered signing, saying he would go with whoever paid him the most money, but when the Oakland Raiders drafted him to play in the NFL, he decided to go in that direction as the Raiders were a winning club at the time. He won the MVP in 1974 with Oakland and put together a 15-year Hall of Fame NFL career.

#6. Patrick Mahomes

One of the top quarterbacks in the NFL today, he will surely be much higher on a list like this after he retires, but as of now, he has played 8 seasons in the NFL and already has 2 MVPs and 6 Pro Bowls and is well on his way to a Hall of Fame NFL Career. He has led the Kansas City Chiefs to six consecutive AFC championship games and three total Super Bowl wins so far. He was a top football and baseball prospect back in High School in Texas, receiving scholarship offers from Texas Tech, Rice, and Houston. Mahomes was also drafted as a pitcher by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th Round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He was only taken so late due to his strong commitment to Texas Tech. He decided not to sign with Detroit and went on to play football and baseball at Texas Tech. He was drafted 10th overall by the Chiefs, signed with them and the rest is history, much of it still in the making for NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes.

#5 Russell Wilson (AV 179)

The still active quarterback Russell Wilson recently returned from injury and is the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers as I record this video. But the veteran is in his 13th NFL season and, with 9 Pro Bowl Selections and a Superbowl Ring, he is a likely future Hall of Famer. He was an all-state High School football star in Richmond, Virginia and also good enough at baseball to be selected by the Orioles in the 41st round of the 2007 MLB Draft as a second baseman. He did not sign and instead continued to play football and baseball at North Carolina State. In 2010, he hit .306 with a .929 OPS, prompting the Colorado Rockies to draft him in the 4th Round. He spent two years in the Rockies minor league system, hitting .229 with 5 home runs and 19 steals in 93 games. In 2012, he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round and Wilson became the starting QB for Seattle, a position he held for 10 seasons before moving on to Denver and now Pittsburgh. As for his baseball career, he was traded to the Rangers and he appeared in Spring Training, but never played for their minor league system. In 2018, the Rangers traded him to the Yankees so he could make one at bat in pinstripes, as he grew up a Yankees fan. He made the at at bat in 2018 Spring Training, striking out in 5 pitches against Max Fried.

#4 Marshall Faulk (AV 164)

Entering the top 5, we have nothing but the best of the best – Pro Football Hall of Famers like Marshall Faulk, who had a 12-year NFL career in which he became one of the best running backs in the game during the early 2000s. Faulk won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and made 7 Pro Bowls, also taking home a Superbowl Ring. He was a standout football player, baseball player and track star at Carver High in New Orleans. He accepted an offer to play running back at San Diego State and finished second for the Heisman in 1992. Despite not playing baseball since High School, the California Angels decided to take a waiver on him in the MLB Draft for his speed and explosiveness, taking him in the 43rd round in 1992. Obviously, he did not sign and continued his college football career. He did sign with the Indianapolis Colts, who took him 2nd overall in the 1994 NFL Draft. He went on to become one of the greatest running backs of all time and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame his first year on the ballot.

#3 John Elway (AV 206)

Coming in at #3 we have the great John Elway, whose awards and accolades are too long to list. He was a duel-threat quarterback going all the way back to High School, where he also excelled at baseball as an outfielder and pitcher. If he wasn’t so good at football with a heavy commitment to Stanford, he would’ve likely been selected higher than the 18th Round, but that’s where the Kansas City Royals took him out of High School. He obviously did not sign and went to Stanford, where he continued to play both sports. As a quarterback, he was a consensus All-American who set virtual every Pac-10 and Stanford career record for total offense and passing. But he was no slouch as a baseball player, hitting .349 with 9 home runs and 50 RBIs as a sophomore. The New York Yankees drafted him in the 2nd Round of the 1981 MLB Draft and this time, he actually signed. George Steinbrenner planned to have him in the Yankees lineup by 1985. In 1982, he showed massive potential in Low A, hitting .318 with an .896 OPS and just 25 strikeouts in 151 at bats. The clear potential for a baseball career gave him leverage when the Baltimore Colts drafted him 1st overall in 1983. Elway did not want to play for the Colts because of a losing culture and a preference to be closer to the West Coast. They eventually traded him to the Denver Broncos, where he spent his entire 16 year career, winning an MVP, a Superbowl MVP, 2 Superbowl Rings and 9 Pro-Bowl Selections. He was elected to both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame. He never played pro baseball again after that one season in 1982.

#2 Dan Marino (AV 216)

The 1984 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, Dan Marino, played 17 years in the NFL and is 7th all-time with 420 passing touchdowns. He led the league in passing yards 5 times and was a 9-time Pro Bowler, widely considered one of the greatest QB’s of all time. He attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he was not only a star football player, but also a top prospect as a right-handed pitcher. Despite a commitment to the University of Pittsburgh, the Kansas City Royals selected Marino in the 4th Round of the 1979 MLB Draft, 99th overall. Marino didn’t sign and instead went to Pittsburgh where he played in every game for four years, accumulating 8,597 passing yards and 79 touchdowns. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and, of course, after his legendary NFL career, the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well.

#1 Tom Brady (AV 326)

Coming in easily at #1 is the consensus greatest quarterback in the history of football, Tom Brady, who played for an insane 23 seasons in the NFL and holds a multitude of offensive records including completions, yards, touchdowns, and games started. He is a 7-time Superbowl Champion and 15-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer the moment he is eligible. He was an impressive player at San Mateo High School in California, but no one could have predicted how good he would become. As a baseball player, he was a catcher with a tremendous arm and a powerful bat. The Montreal Expos selected him in the 18th Round of the 1995 MLB Draft and, in an unusual move, invited him to Candlestick Park during a road trip to work out with the team. The Expos front office considered him a future All-Star at a minimum. They offered him a large bonus the size you would normally see in the 2nd or 3rd round, but ultimately, Brady decided not to sign and ended up playing football at the University of Michigan. Of his 5 years at Michigan, he only started in his final two and had a solid but not otherwordly performance. He wasn’t drafted until the 6th Round, when the New England Patriots called his name in a move that would change football history. 198 football players, many of whom never made it past the practice squad, were selected before Tom Brady.

And that’ll do it for today’s video on some of the greatest athletes in sports history who were also good enough baseball players to be selected in the MLB Draft, but made their fame elsewhere.