Major League Baseball has been a mainstay in the American sports world since it was established back in 1869. Since then baseball has become America’s pastime, a sport that symbolizes the changing of seasons, and one that brings friends and families together. Over the nearly 150 years that the MLB has been around we have seen some of the most talented athletes in the world take the field. Today we are plumbing the depths of history in order to field the ALL TIME GREATEST roster that baseball has ever seen. We picked the greatest players in franchise history for each active MLB team. Batter up!
Boston Red Sox – Ted Williams, LF.
Boston is one of the most storied baseball franchises in existence and you could make a reasonable case for a number of players. However, we chose to go with Ted Williams — one of the greatest hitters who ever lived. Williams’ was the first jersey retired for the Boston Red Sox and he had the highest OBP in baseball history, so we kinda understand it. You won’t need sci-fi contact lens in order to understand this choice.
Boston Red Sox Ted Williams, LF
Baltimore Orioles – Cal Ripken Jr, SS/3B.
He was the Iron Man before Iron Man was a household name. Ripken played in 2,632 straight games during his Hall of Fame career. Ripken is considered one of the best defensive shortstops to ever play the game and his offensive numbers were only a bonus. Yeah, we’ll pass on the discount contact lens. Our eyes see Ripken as the finest O to ever play the game.
Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr, SS:3B
Toronto Blue Jays – Roberto Alomar, 2B.
Alomar only played for five years in Toronto but it was clear as day he’s one of the best players to do so. Alomar has a career WAR of 66.8, 10 Gold Gloves to his name, and he was inducted to the Hall of Fame back in 2011.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Roberto Alomar
New York Yankees – Babe Ruth, OF.
It’s almost impossible to sort through all of the Yankee greats: Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Jeter, Berra. Still, we had to go with Babe Ruth. Ruth is to baseball what Gretzki and Jordan are to their respective sports.
New York Yankees Babe Ruth, OF.
Tampa Bay Rays – Carl Crawford, OF.
Before becoming a millstone in Boston, Carl Crawford was one of the most exciting players in all of baseball. Crawford owns pretty much every offensive record in Tampa Bay history: games played, ABs, runs scored, doubles, triples, and RBI. Evan Longoria was a close second.
Tampa Bay Rays – Carl Crawford, OF
Washington Nationals – Ryan Zimmerman, 1B/3B.
Zimm became the face of the franchise when Washington was still struggling to make a name for itself. Zimmerman was the first draft pick ever selected by the Nationals, back in 2005, and he has lived up to his history. Zimmerman has been with the team for 12 years and has a Gold Glove and a pair of Silver Sluggers to his name. Zimmerman’s a career .278/.343/.467 hitter so you won’t need to order contact lenses to help with his swing.
Washington Nationals – Ryan Zimmerman, 1B:3B.
New York Mets – Tom Seaver, SP.
There are a host of amazing bats you could pick from in Met history, but we have to go with ‘The Franchise’. Seaver won three Cy Young Awards, made 9x All Star teams, and was a first ballot Hall of Famer with 98.8% of the vote – the best ever.
Seaver Tom 1703.75 NBL
Miami Marlins – Miguel Cabrera, 1B.
While Cabrera has spent most of his Hall of Fame career in Detroit, it all started back in Florida. Cabrera burst onto the scene in 2003 and quickly turned into one of the best power hitters that the league has ever seen. His 77.7 offensive WAR is the 41st best in baseball history and the 2nd best among active players.
Miami Marlins – Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Philadelphia Phillies – Mike Schmidt, 3B.
Schmidt would play 18 seasons in the MLB, all of which were for the Phillies. He won 12 All Star appearances, landed 3 NL MVP awards, and knocked out 548 homers in his career. There hasn’t been anyone as good ever since since.
Philadelphia Phillies – Mike Schmidt, 3B.
Atlanta Braves – Hank Aaron, OF.
When you have an award named after you, then you’re probably pretty darn good. Aaron spent nine years in Atlanta where he would terrorize the NL as one of the most powerful hitters that the game has ever seen. Aaron ended his career with 755 homers and a 1st ballot invite to the HoF.
Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, OF.
Cleveland Indians – Bob Feller, SP.
Feller barely edges out Jim Thome for our spot. Feller played 18 seasons in the Majors, all for the Indians. He compiled up a 266 – 162 record with a career ERA of 3.25 despite taking off three years to serve in the military for this little thing called World War 2.
Cleveland Indians – Bob Feller, SP.
Detroit Tigers – Ty Cobb, OF.
Cobb is one of the greatest pure hitters to ever play the game of baseball. He grabbed 4,189 hits over his 24 year career. Cobb is 6th All Time in career WAR, with a 151.1.
Detroit Tigers – Ty Cobb, OF
Kansas City Royals – George Brett, 1B/DH.
Brett played 21 seasons for Kansas City, landing an MVP and 13x All Star nods. Brett landed in the HoF in 1999 with 98.2% of the vote – hot damn.
George-Brett
Chicago White Sox – Frank Thomas, 1B
Frank Thomas, the Big Hurt, is the most feared hitter to take the field in Chicago. Frank Thomas won a pair of MVPs en route to slugging 521 homers. He was breathtakingly good every time he stepped up on the plate.
Chicago White Sox – Frank Thomas, 1B
Minnesota Twins – Kirby Puckett, OF.
Puckett was the engine in two different World Series teams for Minnesota. Puckett landed 10x All Star nominations thanks to his amazing penchant for contact at the plate.
Minnesota Twins – Kirby Puckett, OF
Chicago Cubs – Ernie Banks, 1B/SS.
Call him “Mr Sunshine” or “Mr. Cub” and you’ve learned all you need to know about the man. Banks was a 14x All Star, playing his entire career with Chicago. To call him a legend would be an understatement, surely.
Chicago Cubs – Ernie Banks, 1B:SS.
St. Louis Cardinals – Stan Musial, OF/1B.
Stan Musial scored 24 All Star nods in his career and that’s to say the least about his legendary career. Musial brought the Cardinals to the forefront of baseball history. The man deserves a standing ovation for all he’s done.
St. Louis Cardinals, 1957 Spring Training
Pittsburgh Pirates – Roberto Clemente, RF.
Who could ever forget the great Clemente who scored 3,000 hits in his career with a batting average of .317? Yeah, his career is one no fan could ever forget. Clemente routinely sat near the top of the NL for batting title contention.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Roberto Clemente, RF.
Milwaukee Brewers – Robin Yount, OF.
‘Rockin Robin’ is Brewer royalty thanks to his long career with the team. Yount has a pair of MVP’s to his name. The Brewers were lucky to have him, and his legend is one never to be forgotten.
Milwaukee Brewers – Robin Yount
Cincinnati Reds – Pete Rose, 1B.
Love him or hate him, Pete Rose is one of the greatest hitters to ever take the field. Rose scored 4,256 hits in his career while landing 17x All Star nods. You just can’t deny the talent that he had every single time he stepped up to the plate.
Cincinnati Reds – Pete Rose, 1B.
Texas Rangers – Nolan Ryan, SP.
Ryan pitched for 27 years, crossing the huge threshold to score 324 wins with a career ERA of 3.19. Ryan racked up 5,714 strikeouts in his career. His number has been retired three different times. That earns him a spot on our list without even a second thought.
Texas Rangers – Nolan Ryan, SP.
Seattle Mariners – Ken Griffey Jr, OF.
Call him ‘The Kid’ but he was a grown man on the field. Ken Griffey Jr. was a breath of fresh air in an era of power hitters tainted by steroids. Griffey’s career was sidelined by injuries but he still put up historic numbers.
Seattle Mariners – Ken Griffey Jr, OF.
Houston Astros – Craig Biggio, OF/2B.
Biggio spent his career with the Houston Astros as both an elite defender and a killer hitter. Biggio played until 2007 before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Big time for sure.
Houston Astros – Craig Biggio, OF:2B.
Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout, OF.
At 25 years old Mike Trout has already become the best hitter in Angel history. Trout is a career .306 hitter with 168 homers and 497 RBI. He’s a two time MVP and a five time Silver Slugger.
Mike Trout
Oakland Athletics – Ricky Henderson, LF.
Henderson started his career in Oakland where he established himself as one of the best base runners in the league. Henderson’s career WAR of 110.8 is among the best of all time. Henderson won an MVP, scored 10x All Stars and landed in the HoF. A walking legend and there’s no questioning that.
Oakland Athletics – Ricky Henderson, LF.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Sandy Koufax, SP.
Koufax spent 9 of his 12 years in Los Angeles, scoring an MVP and 3x Cy Young Awards. Koufax won 25+ games in three different seasons for the Dodgers. Need we go on? Didn’t think so.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Sandy Koufax, SP.
San Francisco Giants – Willie Mays, CF.
Willie Mays landed 12 Gold Gloves in his 22 year career, before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
San Francisco Giants – Willie Mays, CF.
Colorado Rockies – Todd Helton, 1B.
Now onto our top three spots and we just had to do with Rockies legend, Todd Helton. Helton racked up 369 homers over 17 years with Colorado. Colorado is notoriously kind to hitters and Helton certainly took advantage. Helton had a Top-10 WAR five different times in his career.
Colorado Rockies – Todd Helton, 1B.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Randy Johnson, SP.
The ‘Big Unit’ is potentially the most intimidating starting pitcher in baseball history. Randy Johnson scored 303 wins in his career, fifth most by any lefty, and he was only behind Nolan Ryan on the all-time strikeout list for left handers. And if Johnson ranks as #2 then just who is #1?!
Arizona Diamondbacks – Randy Johnson, SP.
San Diego Padres – Tony Gwynn, OF.
They call him “Mr. Padre” for a reason. Tony Gwynn scored eight batting titles, second most in the history of Major League Baseball. Gwynn is revered as one of the most consistent hitters in baseball history. Was there ever any doubt he wouldn’t land in the #1 position?
San-Diego Padres Tony Gwynn OF
Washington Senators – Walter Johnson, SP.
Out of the 3,000 strikeout club members Johnson, aka the original “strikeout king”, was the only member for 50+ years. Just one more than Nolan Ryan, Johnson led the league in strikeouts – a record breaking 12 times. With 110 shutouts, Johnson has 20 more than any other player in MLB history.
Walter Johnson
New York Yankees – Lou Gehrig, FB.
Lou Gehrig honorably has the Yankees’ career RBI record (1,995), which is more than legendary Babe Ruth. But that’s not all that Gehrig holds the top record for. New York Yankees first baseman also holds the best record for highest slugging percentage in a World Series: 1.727% in 1928’s four-game sweep against the Cardinals.
Lou Gehrig
New York Yankees – Mickey Mantle, CF/FB.
1952-65, 1967-68: 20-time All Star, 1956:Triple Crown, 1956-57, 1962: three-time MVP, 1962: Gold Glove, 1974: Hall of Fame – Mickey Mantle has successfully experienced/accomplished some of MLB’s highest and most honorable achievements ever. Mantle is no doubt one of the most iconic and greatest players in MLB history.
Mickey Mantle
Pittsburgh Pirates & San Francisco Giants – Barry Bonds, LF.
On the baseball field since 1986, Barry Bonds is the only player in MLB history who’s won more than three MVP awards! Not only that, but Bond’s incomparable single-season on-base percentage ranks/holds him at the top two. Okay, he’s also the home run, walk, and MVP award champion. Not too shabby Mr. Bonds.
Barry Bonds
Detroit Tigers – Al Kaline, RF.
Al Kaline is the youngest batting champion ever, hitting .340 at just 20-years-old. Not to mention 1955’s renowned Ted Williams announced Kaline as the league’s greatest right-handed hitter.
Al Kaline
Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants – Warren Spahn, LHP.
For Spahn it wasn’t the overall season that establishes him as one of the greatest MLB players, but it’s his individual games that tell the story. For four years in a row, Warren powerfully lead the National League in strikeouts – 18 strikeouts in a 15-inning game against the Chicago, Cubs is just one example of his accomplishment. However, Warren didn’t get his first win until the age of 25. But hey, since when did age become a factor in baseball?
Warren Spahn
Baltimore Orioles – Brooks Robinson, 3B.
With 16 straight Gold Gloves and leading the American League in fielding percentage for 11 seasons, Robinson is undoubtedly one of the most skilled defensive third basemen ever. Sparky Anderson acknowledged Robinson by saying, “He can throw his glove out there and it will start 10 double plays by itself.”
Brooks Robinson
Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox – Pedro Martinez, RHP.
Five-time ERA and three-time strikeout champion, Pedro Martinez successfully struck out 5 of 6 hitters (at the plate) during the 1999 All-Star Game. Thanks to his infamous fastballs, baseball has never witnessed so many strikeouts from one player during the 1992-2009 MLB season.
Pedro Martinez
New York Yankees – Derek Jeter, SS.
Not only one of the best shortstops, but Jeter is also famous for being the leader in steals – stealing bases that is. The New York Yankees shortstop is considered the ultimate winner of his generation with 3,000 hits, 250 home runs, 1,200 RBIs, and 300 steals, placing him second right after Willie Mays (#1).
Derek Jeter
St. Louis Cardinals & Los Angeles Angels – Albert Pujols, 1B.
Besides Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols is the only Hall of 100 members to debut this century. Right off the the bat (no pun intended), Albert hit .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in each one of his first 10 years. Pujols is so freaking good at baseball, on so many levels, that if he’s able to snatch one more MVP he’ll join Barry Bonds as the only player with over 3 MVP’s. That in itself describes why he’s made our list.
Albert Pujols
Boston Red Sox – Carl Yastrzemski, LF.
Leading the AL in outfield assists not one, but seven times is why Carl Yastrzemski is recognized as one of MLB’s greatest. Not to mention his extraordinary 1967 season where he won the Triple Crown, as well as dominated the AL (again) in slugging percentage, hits, runs, OBP, OPS, and total bases. Helmets off to you Yastrzemski!
Carl Yastrzemski
Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers – Eddie Mathews, 3B.
Known for having one of the best swings in baseball history, Eddie Mathews has hit 30 home runs (at least) in nine consecutive seasons (1953-1961). And ready for this, he succesfully completed his 17-year baseball career with 512 home runs! How incredible is that?
Eddie Mathews
San Francisco Giants – Mel Ott, RF/3B.
Even though it’s been over 65 years since Mel Ott has retired from baseball, he honorably still ranks 12th in RBIs. But for those MLB players thinking to retire, we suggest retiring in the same style as Mel Ott as an NL record-holder with 511 home runs, 1,860 RBIs, 1,859 runs, and 1,708 walks. Okay, maybe not those exact numbers but fairly close.
Mel Ott
St. Louis Cardinals – Bob Gibson, RHP.
“He’s always pitching when the other team doesn’t score any run,” commented Tim McCarver. His incredibly powerful, very intimidating, pitching approach and attitude allowed him to win over 20 games in just five seasons! And did you know that from 1957-58 Gibson played for the Harlem Globetrotters?
Bob Gibson
New York Giants – Christy Mathewson, RHP.
“Big Six”, “The Christian Gentleman”, “Matty”, and “The Gentleman’s Hurler” – all nicknames for former New York Giants right-handed pitcher Christy Mathewson. Throughout his 16-year baseball career, Mathewson has established himself as one of the most powerful pitchers of his time. Matthewson led the NL in ERA five-times, as well as achieved 0.97 World Series ERA (11 stars).
Christy Mathewson
Cincinnati Reds – Johnny Bench, C.
The moment you’ve all been waiting for… a catcher has (finally) made the list. But the difference between Bench and other MLB catchers, is that he was an extraordinary hitter and outfielder as well. Johnny lead the league in home runs two times and brought in 43 percent of attempted “basestealers” in his entire baseball career. Johnny Bench is essentially a “triple threat” in MLB.
Johnny Bench
Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies – Jimmie Foxx, 1B.
Former first baseman Jimmie Foxx, graced the baseball field (and MLB) for a long 20 years. His most productive and successful baseball years were undoubtedly from 1925-45, where he hit 30+ homers in 12 straight years and in 13 consecutive years he drove in over 100 runs! Additionally, he was the AL leader in slugging (five times) and 1933’s Triple Crown winner. Foxx was the first of only three players to walk 6 times in a game and 1 of 9 players with 3 MVP awards, marking this as his claim-to-fame and position on our list.
Jimmie Foxx
Oakland Athletics & Boston Red Sox – Lefty Grove, LHP.
The man who won over 300 games in 17 years, Mr. Lefty Grove ladies and gentleman. From 1928-1931 MLB saw a four-year stretch like none other, all thanks to Grove who went 103-23. Crazy, right?! And on an even more impressive note, is how in each of his first seven seasons he led the league in strikeouts. Hands-down Grove is MLB’s strikeout champion.
Lefty Grove
Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps- Nap Lajoie, 2B.
Here’s a fun fact about 1896-1916 baseball legend: (1901) Nap is said to be the first player walked intentionally with the bases loaded. Lajoie is really nothing but an MLB champion, leading the league five-times in batting average, four-times hits, five-times doubles, three-times and RBIs. This all American League player will be hard to come by.
Nap Lajoie
Atlanta Braves – Chipper Jones, 3B/LF.
And finally #50, the Atlanta Braves switch-hitter Chipper Jones. Besides his skillfulness with a bat, Jones is one of the greatest third basemen of all MLB history. In 2008 he won the NL batting title with .364. And finally, Chipper is within the 14 players to top .300/.400/.500 in MLB history/career BA/OBP/slugging percentage.
Chipper Jones