Top 10 Best Position Players in Baseball History
This is a very debatable subject, but I am listing the top ten all around baseball players, excluding pitchers.
Willie Howard Mays Jr., nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who spent almost all of his 22-season career playing for the New York/San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. 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.
George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. 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 Sanderson Jeter is an American former professional baseball shortstop, current businessman and baseball executive who is the chief executive officer and part owner of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball. 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!
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 Enrique Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. 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.
#1 career average, .366. Roughest, meanest, dirtiest baseball player of all time, but he played with grace and passion.
Henry Louis Aaron, nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder who served as the senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves. 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.
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 nickname... read more Yeah, he's someone who showed up for work every day too!
He is the best and should be third.
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 Lamar Bonds is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. 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.
The Newcomers
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.
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!
People who are well-informed rank him in the top 5 or at least the top 10.
Where is the ball Chipper hit? Oh yeah, it's over the fence.
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.
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 prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, known for their dominance of the National... 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.
Griffey should be in the top five. He made some amazing plays and went all out, nothing held back.
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.
Joseph Paul DiMaggio, nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper", was an American baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. The best center fielder of all time, and a really underrated player.
George Brett was a great gamer.
One of the best all-around players ever.
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.
Michael Nelson "Mike" Trout, nicknamed The Millville Meteor, is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball.