Top 10 Best Position Players in Baseball History

Willie Mays

Willie Howard Mays Jr., nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder. He spent the majority of his 22-season career playing for the New York and San Francisco Giants. He finished his career with the New York Mets and is widely considered one of the greatest baseball... read more

Willie was superb in every facet of the game. He excelled beyond the other all-time greats.

Hey, if you're a guy who can make a sprinting catch behind your back, you're pretty good.

I believe he is the greatest baseball player ever because he could do everything.

Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, was an American professional baseball player whose Major League Baseball career spanned 22 seasons from 1914 through 1935. He began his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before becoming a legendary slugger for the New York Yankees. Ruth is widely... read more

Great pitcher, great hitter, 714 home runs, .342 batting average, .690 slugging percentage - career record. The Great Bambino was the first home run hitter and is one of the best.

And he served two years in the military. He served America, and so has baseball.

Don't forget to add that he hit more home runs than entire teams combined.

Derek Jeter

Derek Sanderson Jeter (born June 26, 1974, in Pequannock Township, New Jersey) is an American former shortstop who played for the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2014. He is also a businessman and baseball executive.

Jeter previously served as the chief executive officer and part owner of the Miami... read more

Batted a consistent .320 for most of his career and led his team to 5 World Series wins. An icon of the greatest team in pro sports.

Derek Jeter was and still is my inspiration to never give up in softball. His quotes make me feel powerful.

His range, agility, poise, and strong bat in the clutch make him the best. He deserves the #1 spot!

Ted Williams

Theodore Samuel Williams (August 30, 1918 - July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He spent his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960, primarily as a left fielder, though his career was interrupted by military service during... read more

Second greatest hitter of all time (Ruth), and a poor outfielder. Would be my DH on an all-time team.

Greatest hitter of all time. Last person to hit .400 in a season, with a .406 average.

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was known for his powerful arm, batting skills, and humanitarian efforts. Clemente was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball... read more

Best defensive outfielder of all time and the best hitter against good pitching in history. How could anyone be more complete?

When Mays says Clemente is the only player comparable to him, it confirms what we saw firsthand!

What an arm and batting consistency. Speed and elegance in fielding.

Ty Cobb

Tyrus Raymond Cobb (December 18, 1886 - July 17, 1961), nicknamed "the Georgia Peach," was an American professional baseball center fielder. A native of rural Narrows, Georgia, Cobb played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent 22 years with the Detroit Tigers and served as the team's player-manager... read more

#1 career average, .366. Roughest, meanest, dirtiest baseball player of all time, but he played with grace and passion.

Hank Aaron

Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank," was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time and held the MLB record for career home runs for 33 years. Aaron also served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves... read more

If Jeter is consistent, then Aaron hit 700 home runs, had an incredible 5-tool career, and hit 40 homers for many seasons.

All-time leader in home runs: 755. He hit for average, power, and was quick on the basepaths.

Lou Gehrig

Henry Louis Gehrig, nicknamed "The Iron Horse," was an American baseball first baseman who played his entire professional career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, from 1923 until 1939. Gehrig was renowned for his prowess as a hitter and for his durability, which earned him his famous... read more

Yeah, he's someone who showed up for work every day too!

He is the best and should be third.

Stan Musial

Stanley Frank Musial (born Stanislaw Franciszek Musial. November 21, 1920 - January 19, 2013), known by the nickname "Stan the Man," was an American professional baseball player. He played 22 seasons as an outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to... read more

Racked up total bases like crazy. Defensively, he always belonged at first base, not in the outfield.

The third greatest baseball player ever. Willie Mays is #1, and Babe Ruth is #2.

Barry Bonds

Barry Lamar Bonds is a former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants. He holds the MLB record for most career home runs, with 762. Bonds is also a seven-time National League MVP.

All-around the best. Without steroids, he might not have reached the same heights, but he would still be Hall of Fame caliber. Statistically, he has 500 steals and 500 homers, demonstrating his versatility. Derek Jeter is the most overrated player in sports.

?

Rogers Hornsby

?

Rickey Henderson

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 - August 13, 1995), nicknamed "The Mick" and "The Commerce Comet," was an American professional baseball player who spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951-1968) with the New York Yankees, primarily as a center fielder. Mantle is regarded by many... read more

I knew Mickey. He finally admitted, albeit too late in his career, that he should have taken better care of himself. What power! What strength and speed!

Extremely great and played almost his entire career on knees that were so bad most players would have quit in their rookie season.

If he had taken better care of himself, he had the power, speed, and everything else to have been the greatest player ever.

Mike Schmidt

Amazing defensive player, as well as hitting clutch home runs in the 8th and 9th innings during pressure-cooked games.

Just the best, bottom line. No one was better at that position. Ever!

Honus Wagner

People who are well-informed rank him in the top 5 or at least the top 10.

Chipper Jones

Where is the ball Chipper hit? Oh yeah, it's over the fence.

Shoeless Joe Jackson

Lifetime .356 hitter, amazing outfielder. If Barry Bonds is allowed consideration, then you can make an argument for Shoeless Joe as one of the best ever.

Right. For a long time, I've said Rose and Shoeless before Bonds.

Pete Rose

Peter Edward Rose Sr. (April 14, 1941 - September 30, 2024), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle," was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1986, most notably with the Cincinnati Reds, who dominated the National League in the 1970s as "The... read more

How can you leave off the Hit King? The man played practically every position and did it with pride! Charlie Hustle is the best ever.

Cal Ripken Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Griffey should be in the top five. He made some amazing plays and went all out, nothing held back.

Jackie Robinson

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

Joe DiMaggio

Joseph Paul DiMaggio, nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year Major League Baseball career for the New York Yankees. He was a three-time MVP and a 13-time All-Star. DiMaggio is also famous for his 56-game hitting streak in... read more

The best center fielder of all time, and a really underrated player.

George Brett

George Brett was a great gamer.

Carl Yastrzemski

One of the best all-around players ever.

Carlton Fisk

Catcher is the most tiring position in the game, and Fisk is the best catcher of all time. This makes him the best position player of all time. He was better with the ChiSox than the Bosox, by the way.

Brooks Robinson

Mike Trout

Michael Nelson "Mike" Trout, nicknamed "The Millville Meteor," is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball. He is an 11-time MLB All-Star and a three-time American League MVP (2014, 2016, and 2019). Trout is widely considered one of the best... read more