20 Best Baseball Players of All Time in MLB History

The MLB is one of the most competitive sports baseball tournaments. The best baseball players gather in the tournament across the world.  They make the sport more enjoyable and entertain the audience.

There have been many great players From the very beginning of the tournament. Some of them defined their eras. The list goes on From Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson to Greg Maddux. Hence, finding out the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB is a difficult task.

We have focused on individual success and performance, contribution to the team, and overall impact on the game while making this list.

The 20 Best Baseball Players of All Time in MLB

Player	Playing position	Career
Babe Ruth	Hitter	1914-1935
Willie Mays	Center Fielder	1951-1973
Ted Williams	Hitter	1939-1960
Hank Aaron	Right Fielder	1954-1976
Ty Cobb	Center Fielder	1905-1928
Walter Johnson	Pitcher	1907-1927
Mickey Mantle	Center Fielder	1951-1968
Lou Gehrig	First Baseman	1923-1939
Cy Young	Pitcher	1890-1911
Greg Maddux	Pitcher	1986-2008
Christy Mathewson	Pitcher	1900-1916
Barry Bonds	Left Fielder	1986-2007
Joe DiMaggio	Center Fielder	1936-1951
Ken Griffey Jr.	Center Fielder	1989-2010
Nolan Ryan	Pitcher	1966-1993
Rogers Hornsby	Second Baseman	1915-1937
Honus Wagner	Shortstop	1897-1917
Sandy Koufax	Pitcher	1955-1966
Mariano Rivera	Pitcher	1995-2013
Jimmie Foxx	First Baseman	1925-1945

1. Babe Ruth

Full Name	George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr
Date of Birth	February 6, 1895
Place of Birth	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Debut	July 11, 1914 ( Boston Red Sox)
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
Retirement	1935
Hall of Fame	1936 (95.13% vote)
Death	August 16, 1948

Career Highlights

• 7 times World Series Champion (1915, 16, 18, 1923, 27, 28, 1932)
• 2 times All-Star (1933, 34)
• 1 time Most Valuable Player (1923)
• 1 time Batting champion (1924)
• 12 times Home run leader (1918–1921, 1923, 1924, 1926–1931)
• 5 times RBI leader (1919–1921, 23, 26)
• 1 time ERA Leader (1916)

It was the easiest choice to make. Yes, there have been many great players in the MLB. But no one was as great as Ruth. He changed the game. He made the sport more popular than ever.

Ruth was born in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. He was drafted to the MLB in 1914 by the Boston Red Sox. Hitting home runs were a rare moment during that time. But Ruth changed the scenario. He would hit home runs in every match.

Babe Ruth became the first player to hit 300 home runs. But he did not stop there. He eventually hit 714 home runs in his career. He ended his career as the player with the most home runs. No one could break his record in his lifetime.

Ruth had achieved everything in the MLB. He won the World Series Championship seven times in his career. He became a two times all-star and 12 times home run leader. Fans would eagerly wait to see him batting. In fact, he became a household name.

Ruth had a great impact on the game as well. The game was about strategies and small ball tactics. Stealing bases, bunting, and singles were mostly in the mind of the hitters. Ruth changed that. He popularized home runs. Hitters suddenly became the star of the team.

No player had as much significance as Ruth had. Therefore, he holds the number one spot on the list.

Career Stats of Babe Ruth

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
183.1	8399	2873	714	2174	2214	.690	123

2. Willie Mays

Full Name	Willie Howard Mays Jr.
Date of Birth	May 6, 1931
Place of Birth	Westfield, Alabama, U.S.
Debut	May 25, 1951 (New York Giants)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1973
Hall of Fame	1979 (94.7%  vote)

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series Champion (1954)
• 24 times All-Star (1954–1973)
• 2 times Most Valuable Player (1954, 1965)
• 1 time NL Rookie of the Year (1951)
• 4 times NL home run leader (1955, 1962, 1964, 1965)
• 4 times NL stolen base leader (1956–1959)
• 1 time Batting champion (1954)

Willi Mays is the second player on the list. He was a hitter also. The New York Giants drafted him in 1951. He was a right-handed hitter, and a very deadly one. He was the Babe Ruth of his generation.

Mays was highly inspired by Ruth. And he wanted to play like the great one. He was aggressive and careful in his batting. He recorded more than two thousand runs in his career. His career also includes 660 home runs, 1909 RBI. It makes him one of the greatest hitters in the MLB.

Mays personal achievements include the 1951 rookie of the year award. He also became a four times home run leader and four times stolen base leader. He won his only World Series Championship in 1954. With so much in his accolades, he is undoubtedly one of best baseball players of all time in MLB.

Career Statistics of Willie Mays

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
156.1	10924	3293	660	2068	1909	.557	338

3. Ted Williams

Full Name	Theodore Samuel Williams
Date of Birth	August 30, 1918
Place of Birth	San Diego, California, U.S.
Debut	April 20, 1939 (Boston Red Sox)
Bats	Left
Throws	Right
Retirement	1960
Hall of Fame	1966 (93.4% )
Death	July 5, 2002

Career Highlights

• 19 times All-Star: (1940–1942, 46–1951, 1953–1960)
• 2 times Most Valuable Player: (1946, 1949)
• 2 times  Triple Crown: (1942, 1947)
• 6 times Batting champion: (1941, 42, 47, 48, 1957, 58)
• 4 times Home run leader: (1941, 42, 47, 49)
• 4 times RBI leader: (1939, 1942, 47, 49)

You do not always need to win titles to be one of the bests. Ted Williams is a prime example of that. He is one of the finest batters the MLB audience has ever seen. He was named the MVP on two different occasions.

Williams, the left hand batter, won many things in the MLB, including two triple crowns! He is a six times batting champion and four times RBI leader. He dominated the sport in the 40s. He was the poster boy of the tournament during that time.

Williams played seventeen seasons in the MLB. Always for the Red Sox. It is sad the legendary player did not win any title. That, nonetheless, could not stop him from being one of the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB.

Career Dtats of Ted Williams

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	Stolen bases
122.0	7706	2654	521	1798	1839	24

4. Hank Aaron

Full Name	Henry Louis Aaron
Date of Birth	February 5, 1934
Place of Birth	Mobile, Alabama
Debut	April 13, 1954 (Milwaukee Braves)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1976
Hall of Fame	1982 (97.8% vote)

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion: (1957)
• 25 times All-Star: (1955–1975)
• 1 time Most Valuable Player: (1957)
• 3 times Gold Glove Award: (1958–1960)
• 2 times Batting champion: (1956, 59)
• 4 times Home run leader: (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967)
• 4 times RBI leader: (1957, 1960, 63, 66)

You must have heard the name of Hank Aaron. Every baseball player knows him. He is considered a superman of the sport. He carried on the legacy of Babe Ruth. In fact, he even broke his record of career home runs. Aaron surpassed Ruth with 755 home runs.

Aaron soon became a threat for the pitchers after his debut in 1954. It was impossible not to have him in the spotlight.  He quickly became one of the top players of the tournament. He was announced the MVP in 1957.

Aaro led the Milwaukee Braves to win the World Series Championship in 1957. He was at the peak of his career at that time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame with more than 97% votes in 1982.

Career Stats of Hank Aaron

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	Stolen bases
143.0	12364	3771	755	2174	2297	240

5. Ty Cobb

Full Name	Tyrus Raymond Cobb
Date of Birth	December 18, 1886
Place of Birth	Narrows, Georgia, U.S.
Debut	August 30, 1905 (Detroit Tigers)
Bats	Left
Throws	Right
Retirement	1928
Hall of Fame	1936 (98.2% vote)
Death	July 17, 1961

Career Highlights

• 1 time  Most Valuable Player: (1911)
• 1 time Triple Crown:  (1909)
• 12 times Batting champion: (1907–1915, 1917–1919)
• 1 time Home run leader: (1909)
• 4 times RBI leader: (1907–1909, 1911)
• 6 times AL stolen base leader: (1907, 1909, 1911, 1915–1917)

Next we have Ty Cobb. He was a center-fielder and a great hitter. He is one of the earliest stars in the MLB. He was drafted to the MLB in 1905. His confidence and positive attitude impressed everyone.

Cobb reached his full potential in 1909. He became a triple crown winner that season. He was the home run leader, RBI leader, and stolen base leader also. He did not win any championship because  the Detroit Tigers did not have much star power during his time.

Cobb’s best performance was yet to come. He became an invincible batter in 1911. He was named the MVP of the season. Besides, he became a twelve times batting champion. With all these accolades, Cobb certainly ranks among the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB.

Career Stats of Ty Cobb

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	Stolen bases
151.5	11440	4189	117	2245	1944	897

6. Walter Johnson

Full Name	Walter Perry Johnson
Date of Birth	November 6, 188
Place of Birth	Humboldt, Kansas, U.S.
Debut	August 2, 1907 (Washington Senators)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1927
Hall of Fame	1936 (83.63%  vote0
Death	December 10, 1946

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion: (1924)
• 2 times Most Valuable Player: (1913, 1924)
• 6 times Wins leader: (1913–1916, 1918, 1924)
• 5 times ERA leader: (1912, 1913, 1918, 1919, 1924)
• 12 times AL strikeout leader: (1910, 1912–1919, 1921, 1923, 1924)
• 3 times Triple Crown: (1913, 1918, 1924)

Walter Johnson ruled the MLB with his fierce pitching for two decades. He was a nightmare for the batters. He earned a reputation as the “big train.” He could throw his pitches with incredible force and speed. His fastballs would approach the hitter at ninety miles per hour speed.

Johnson had excellent control over his pitches in addition to his speed. It complemented his fierce throws. Batsmen would often be dumbfounded. And of course, he was a workhorse. He played more than 800 games and recorded 417 wins, along with over thirty-five hundred strikeouts.

Fans often fantasize about seeing Babe Ruth playing against Johnson. Though it is not possible,  we can have them in the same list of greatness.

Career Stats of Walter Johnson

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts	Shutouts
802	666	34	5914.1	164.9	417	279	3509	110

7. Mickey Mantle

Full Name	Mickey Charles Mantle
Date of Birth	October 20, 1931
Place of Birth	Spavinaw, Oklahoma, U.S.
Debut	April 17, 1951 (New York Yankees)
Bats	Switch
Throws	Right
Retirement	1968
Hall of Fame	1974 (88.2%  vote)
Death	August 13, 1995

Career Highlights

• 7 times World Series champion: (1951–1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
• 20 times All-Star: (1952–1965, 1967, 1968)
• 3 times Most Valuable Player: (1956, 1957, 1962)
• 1 time Gold Glove Award: (1962)
• 1 time Triple Crown: (1956)
• 1 time Batting champion: (1956)
• 4 times Home run leader: (1955, 56, 58, 1960)
• 1 time RBI leader: (1956)

Someone who has seven World Series Championships by his name, surely deserves to be on this list. Mickey Mantle is one such a player. He found much success in his career. He is a Yankee legend, as well as an MLB legend.

Mantle was born in 1931. He became an MLB player only at the age of twenty. What is the best thing about Mantle? He was consistent. Very consistent. His career span is 1951 to 1968. And he was in the all-star team in every season, except for once.

What did not Mantle achieve in his career? He became the most valuable player in three seasons. He was the Gold Glove winner in 1962. But he gave his career best performance in 1956. He became a triple crown winner in that season. Mantle really is one of the greatest MLB players of all time.

Career Stats of Mickey Charles Mantle

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	Stolen bases
110.2	8102	2415	536	1676	1509	153

8. Lou Gehrig

Full Name	Henry Louis Gehrig
Date of Birth	June 19, 1903
Place of Birth	Yorkville, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Debut	June 15, 1923 ( New York Yankees)
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
Retirement	1939
Hall of Fame	1939 (Special Election)
Death	June 2, 1941

Career Highlights

• 6 times World Series champion: (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936–1938)
• 7  times All-Star: (1933–1939)
• 2 times  Most Valuable Player: (1927, 1936)
• 1 time Triple Crown: (1934)
• 1 time Batting champion: (1934)
• 3 times Home run leader: (1931, 34, 36)
• 5 times RBI leader: (1927, 1928, 1930, 31, 34)

Lou Gehrig is a legend and a myth in the MLB. He was drafted into the MLB in 1923 and remained active till 1939! He is the best workhorse the MLB has ever had. He broke the record for most consecutive games with 2,130 games!

Gehrig had a difficult childhood. But he won it with his hard work and dedication. He made it to the MLB in 1923, when he was only twenty. He impressed everyone in his rookie years. He showed the signs to become a legend.

Gehrig and Ruth became the deadliest pair of hitters. Both were masters at hitting home runs. On their good days, the pitchers would become helpless. He recorded 1888 runs, and 493 home runs before retiring.

Career Stats of Lou Gehrig

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	Stolen bases
113.6	8001	2721	493	1888	1995	102

9. Cy Young

Full Name	Denton True “Cy” Young
Date of Birth	March 29, 1867
Place of Birth	Gilmore, Ohio
Debut	August 6, 1890 (Cleveland Spiders)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1911
Hall of Fame	1937 (76.12% )
Death	November 4, 1955

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion: (1903)
• 5 times Wins leader: (1892, 1895, 1901–1903)
• 2 times ERA leader: (1892, 1901)
• 2 times strikeout leader: (1896, 1901)
• 1 time Triple Crown: (1901)

Cy Young is arguably the greatest pitcher of all time. He is the icon, the role model of all the pitchers. Today, the best pitcher of the season is given the Cy Young award. You can guess how influential the man is on baseball.

Young was born in Ohio, in 1867. Cleveland Spiders drafted him in 1890. He recorded many records during his career in the MLB. He became a five time wins leader. He still holds the record for the most career wins.

Young played a total of 906 games and had 2803 strikeouts. These are some really overwhelming facts about Cy Young. Baseball was not as popular as it has become today. Still, Young has a great fan base.

Career Stats of Cy Young

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
906	815	18	7356.0	163.6	511	315	2803

10. Greg Maddux

Full Name	Gregory Alan Maddux
Date of Birth	April 14, 1966
Place of Birth	San Angelo, Texas, U.S.
Debut	September 3, 1986 (Chicago Cubs)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	2008
Hall of Fame	2014 (97.2%)

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion: (1995)
• 8 times All Star: (1988, 1992, 1994–1998, 2000)
• 18 times Gold Glove: (1990–2002, 2004–2008)
• 4 times NL Cy Young Award: (1992–1995)
• 3 times Wins leader: (1992, 1994, 1995)
• 4 times ERA leader: (1993–1995, 1998)

Greg Mddux is a new edition in the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB. He had his debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1986. He played a total of 744 games and recorded 8 all-star team appearances, and 18 gold glove wins.

Maddux was a confident rookie player. His confidence, speed, control, and optimistic attitude impressed everyone. He was at the peak of his career from 1992 to 1996. He became the best pitcher four times between these five years.

Maddux had the speed and control like the other great pitch. Moreover, Madduzx had a wide array of pitches at his disposal, including a fastball, changeup, sinker, and cutter. No wonder he was feared by the hitters.

Career Stats of Greg Maddux

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
744	740	0	5008.1	106.6	355	227	3371

11. Christy Mathewson

Full Name	Christopher Mathewson
Date of Birth	August 12, 1880
Place of Birth	Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.
Debut	July 17, 1900 (New York Giants)
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Last Game	September 4, 1916 (Cincinnati Reds)
Hall of Fame	1936 (90.7% votes)
Death	October 7, 1925

Career Highlights

• 2 times World Series champion: (1905, 1921)
• 4 times Wins leader: (1905, 1907, 1908, 1910)
• 5 times ERA leader: (1905, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913)
• 5 times AL strikeout leader: (1903–1905, 1907, 1908)
• 2 times Triple Crown: (1905, 1908)

Christy Mathewson may sound a little unfamiliar. It is a shame that such a legendary pitcher has a little recognition. He became the first pitcher of the modern era to record 300 or more wins in the MLB.

Christy Mathewson was born in 1880. He got involved in various sports. But ultimately decided to pursue his career in baseball. Mathewson had his debut with the New York Giants in 1900. He was giving a tough fight to the experienced pitchers in his initial years.

Mathewson had his best run between 1905 and 1910. He won his first World Series Championship in 1905. He became a four times wins leader between those six years. Mathewson became the first pitcher to win the triple crown twice in 1905 and 1908.

Mathewson, with all those awards and records, is one of the best pitchers in the history of MLB.

Career Stats of Christy Mathewson

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
636	552	30	4788.2	106.6	373	188	2507

12. Barry Bonds

Full Name	Barry Lamar Bonds
Date of Birth	July 24, 1964
Place of Birth	Riverside, California, U.S.
Debut	May 30, 1986
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
Retirement	2007

Career Highlights

• 14 times All-Star (1990, 1992–98, 2000–04, 2007)
• 7 times NL MVP (1990, 92, 93, 2001–2004)
• 12 times Silver Slugger Award (1990–1994, 96, 97, 2000–04)
• 8 times Gold Glove Award (1990–1994, 1996–1998)
• 2 times NL batting champion (2002, 2004)
• 2 times NL home run leader (1993, 2001)

Why isn’t Bonds in the higher ranks of the list? You can raise your voice for that. But to our defense, we had to keep some names in the back to keep you holding. Barry Bonds, no doubt, is one of the finest hitters of all time.

Bonds debuted at the age of 22 in 1986. He hit 16 home runs in his very first season. Everyone was impressed by his performance. But no one, perhaps, speculated that the boy would become the batter with the most home runs. He broke all home runs records with his career 762 home runs.

Barry Bonds dominated the nineties. He became the MVP in seven seasons, without winning any championships. He was an exceptional fielder as well. The eight gold gloves to his name bears the evidence of it. Surely, you can complete the list without mentioning Barry Bonds.

Career Stats of Barry Bonds

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
162.8	9847	2935	762	2227	1996	.607	514

13. Joe DiMaggio

Full Name	Joseph Paul DiMaggio
Date of Birth	November 25, 1914
Place of Birth	Martinez, California, U.S.
Debut	May 3, 1936
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1951
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1955

Career Highlights

• 13 times All-Star (1936–1942, 1946–1951)
• 9 times World Series champion (1936–1939, 1941, 1947, 1949–1951)
• 3 times AL MVP (1939, 1941, 1947)
• 2 times AL batting champion (1939, 1940)
• 2 times AL home run leader (1937, 1948)

Did you think we forgot about DiMaggio? Is that even possible? How can anyone forget the nine times world champion?  Surely, he had one of the most successful careers in the MLB.

The Hall of Famer did not just win the World Series. He was declared the MVP three times. A two time home run leader, two times batting champion, DiMaggio is often under appreciated. He recorded 1390 before retiring in 1951. And He was honored with Hall of Fame induction in 1955.

Career Stats of Joe DiMaggio

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
79.1	6821	2214	361	1390	1537	.579	30

14. Ken Griffey Jr.

Full Name	George Kenneth Griffey Jr.
Date of Birth	November 21, 1969
Place of Birth	Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Debut	April 3, 1989
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
Retirement	May 31, 2010
Hall of Fame	2016 (99.3% votes)

Career Highlights

• 13 times All-Star (1990–2000, 2004, 07)
• 1 time AL MVP (1997)
• 10 times Gold Glove Award (1990–1999)
• 7 times Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996–1999)
• 4 times AL home run leader (1994, 1997–1999)

Ken Giffey Jr. is our next best player on the list. He is mostly known for his offensive batting. The Pennysylvanian star won seven silver sluggers as a recognition of his offensive batting. Besides, he is a four time home run leader and the 1997 MVP.

Griffey Jr. was born in 1969. His father Ken Sr. won back to back championships in 1975 and 1976. Little Ken Jr. got invested into the game since then. His father also motivated and inspired him. Finally, he debuted with the Seattle Mariners in 1989. He went on to play for four different teams.

Giffey would contribute for the team through his batting and fielding. He won ten gold gloves for his outstanding fielding. It makes Giffey Jr. one of the best MLB fielders of the modern era. He hit 630 home runs before retiring in 2010. Griffey Jr. received 99.3% votes for his induction into the Hall of Fame 2016 class.

Career Stats of Ken Griffey Jr.

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
83.8	9801	2781	630	1662	1836	.538	184

15. Nolan Ryan

Full Name	Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr.
Date of Birth	January 31, 1947
Place of Birth	Refugio, Texas
Debut	September 11, 1966
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	September 22, 1993
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1999

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion (1969)
• 2 times NL ERA leader (1981, 87)
• 11 times Strikeout leader (1972–74, 1976–79, 1987–90)

Next we have the all time strikeout leader Nolan Ryan. He holds the record for most strikeout leader award. He is one of those few pitchers who could continuously throw at 100 miles speed.

Ryan debuted in 1966 and quickly came into the spotlight for his vert fast fastballs. Besides, he also holds several records as a pitcher. Ryan holds the record for the most no-hitters in MLB history with 7.

Ryan remained active for twenty-seven seasons and played more than eight hundred games. His career stats include 324 wins and 292 losses. Ryan became a Hall of Famer in 1999.

Career Stats of Nolan Ryan

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
807	773	3	5386.0	81.3	324	292	5714

16. Rogers Hornsby

Full Name	Rogers Hornsby
Date of Birth	April 27, 1896
Place of Birth	Winters, Texas
Debut	September 10, 1915
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1937
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1942

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion (1926)
• 2 times NL MVP (1925, 1929)
• 2 times Triple Crown (1922, 1925)
• 7 times NL batting champion (1920–1925, 1928)
• 2 times NL home run leader (1922, 1925)
• 4 times NL RBI leader (1920–1922, 1925)

Roger Hornsby is a two time Triple Crown winner! Isn’t that enough to include him among the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB? But there are more accolades in the bucket of the hall of famer.

Hornsby debuted in 1915. He had some decent rookie years, but did not reach his full potential till 1920. He became the RBI leader in 1920. Since then, he started to show maturity in his batting. He became a batting champion seven times.

Hornsby was named the most valuable player in 1925 and 1929. He was an important member of the 1926 World Series Championship winning St. Louis Cardinals team. He was voted as a Hall of Famer in 1942.

Career Stats of Rogers Hornsby

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
127.1	8173	2930	301	1579	1584	.577	135

17. Honus Wagner

Full Name	Honus Wagner
Date of Birth	February 24, 1874
Place of Birth	Chartiers, Pennsylvania
Debut	1897
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1917
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1936
Death	December 6, 1955

Career Highlights

• 1 time World Series champion (1909)
• 8 times NL batting champion (1900, 1903, 04, 1906–09, 11)
• 5 times NL RBI leader (1901, 02, 08, 09, 12)
• 5 times NL stolen base leader (1901, 02, 04, 07, 08)

Next we have the five time RBI and stolen base leader Honus Wagner. He used to play as a shortstop and a batter. He was quite skillful in both positions. He even hit 101 home runs in his career.

Honus Wagner debuted in 1897. He showed incredible speed and earned the nickname “the flying Dutchman.” His 101 home runs was a remarkable achievement considering the time. He had great skills and was known as a complete hitter of his time.

Wagner was not a power hitter and he knew that. So, he rather chose to rely on his speed. He recorded a total of 723 stolen bases. It is the second most in MLB history. He is a pioneer of skilled hitting in the MLB. And that makes him a nominee of this list.

Career Stats of Honus Wagner

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
131.0	10439	3420	101	1739	1732	.467	723

18. Sandy Koufax

Full Name	Sanford Koufax
Date of Birth	December 30, 1935
Place of Birth	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Debut	June 24, 1955
Bats	Left
Throws	Left
Retirement	November 18, 1966
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1972

Career Highlights

• 4 times  World Series champion (1955, 59, 1963, 65)
• 2 times  World Series MVP (1963, 65)
• NL MVP (1963)
• 3 times  Cy Young Award (1963, 65, 66)
• 7 times All-Star (1961–1962, 1963–66)
• 3 times  Triple Crown (1963, 65, 66)
• 3 times MLB wins leader (1963, 65, 66)

Sandy Koufax had a relatively short career. He competed eleven seasons. But he had some real impact. He was named the 1963 most valuable player. Besides, he appeared seven times in the all-star team.

Koufax was a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He could throw a variety of pitches, including fastball and curveball. In addition, he had great control over his throws. It made it very difficult for the batters to smash him for home runs.

Koufax was highly effective in the big games. He led the Dodgers to three championship wins in four years. He was also named two World Series MVP. He is a legend in his own right. And the list would be incomplete without him.

Career Stats of Sandy Koufax

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
397	314	9	2324.1	48.9	165	87	2396

19. Mariano Rivera

Full Name	Mariano Rivera
Date of Birth	November 29, 1969
Place of Birth	Panama City, Panama
Debut	May 23, 1995
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	September 26, 2013
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 2019

Career Highlights

• 5 times World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000, 2009)
• World Series MVP (1999)
• 13 times All-Star (1997, 1999–2002, 2004–06, 2008–11, 2013)

Next we have a five time World Series Champion Mariano Rivera. Rivera represented the Yankees for eighteen years. His performance in the 1999 World Series made him the poster boy of the Yankees.

Rivera used to play both soccer and baseball in his childhood. But his favorite sport was soccer. He was a huge fan of Pele. Rivera debuted in the MLB in 1995. However, he ended up becoming a professional baseball player. He debuted in the MLB in 1995.

River was a closer pitcher. He saved the game for the Yankees many times. He recorded 652 saves from 1115 games. It makes him the all-time saves leader. It helped him get 13 all-star appearances. He is one of the finest closers of all time, no argument.

Career Stats of Mariano Rivera

Games	GS	Saves	IP	WAR	Win	Loss	Strikeouts
1115	10	652	1283.2	56.3	82	60	1173

20. Jimmie Foxx

Full Name	James Emory Foxx
Date of Birth	October 22, 1907
Place of Birth	Sudlersville, Maryland
Debut	May 1, 1925
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Retirement	1945
Hall of Fame	Inducted in 1951
Death	July 21, 1967

Career Highlights

• 2 times World Series champion (1929, 1930)
• 3 times AL MVP (1932, 1933, 1938)
• Triple Crown (1933)
• 9 times All-Star (1933–1941)
• 2 times AL batting champion (1933, 1938)
• 4 times AL home run leader (1932, 1933, 1935, 1939)
• 3 times AL RBI leader (1932, 1933, 1938)

And here we are. To the last entrant of the list. But do not think he is any less legendary than the rest of the players. He is a two time World Series champion, a three times AL MVP, a one time triple crown winner, and had nine all-star team appearances. He is Jimmie Foxx.

Foxx was very athletic and active from his childhood. He played for several small clubs in his high schools. He showed all the signs of a great player. And he truly became a great one. He was a very aggressive hitter. It earned him several nicknames, including “the beast.”

Foxx hit a total of 534 home runs in his career. He led the Philadelphia Athletics to win two World Series. He was also the triple crown winner in 1935. His technically sharpen mind and aggression was a unique combination for a hitter.

Career Stats of Jimmie Foxx

WAR	At bats	Hits	Home Runs	Runs	RBI	SLG	Stolen bases
93.0	8134	2646	534	1751	1922	.609	87

Conclusion

This was our list of the 20 best baseball players of all time in MLB. You can see that all of them had established their legacies. They had a great impact and influence on the game. Some of them even became a household name and increased the popularity of the sport.

Players like Ruth, Ryan, Young, and the others on this list have made it very challenging to reach greatness in the MLB. However, MLB has brought new great players in every era. This is what makes it one of the most exciting sports tournaments.

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