top players in mlb history

The term pure hitter was invented for players like George Brett, who is the only third baseman in history with more than 300 homers and 3,000 hits, and he has more career walks (1,096) than strikeouts (908). When Brett went on the disabled list to open the 1984 season, teammate Dan Quisenberry said Brett piled up 3,154 hits with a .305/.369/.487 career line, and he also had some decent pop with 665 doubles and 317 home runs. He won a batting title in three different decades as well and made a serious run at hitting .400 in 1980 when he finished the season with a .390/.454/.664 line to win AL MVP honors.

Albert Pujols broke into the league with one of the best rookie seasons of all time in 2001, and that would be the first of 10 straight seasons in which he topped a .300 average, 30 homers and 100 RBI. All told, he finished his 11 year stretch with the Cardinals with a .328/.420/.617 line to go along with 445 home runs and 1,329 RBI. He won three NL MVP awards during that stretch and helped lead the Cardinals to three NL pennants and two World Series titles. It was a rough first three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, but if he is starting to really turn things around in his fourth season with the Angels. If he can keep this up, he could very well climb up this list and find himself in the top 20 or maybe even better once his career is over.

Grover Cleveland Alexander doesnt always get mentioned with the cream of the crop when it comes to great starting pitchers, but he should. He finished his career with 373 wins which is tied for the most in National League history and third all time. Alexander finished his career with a 2.56 ERA and 2,198 strikeouts. He won one World Series title in 1926 and also won three triple crowns in the duration of his career.

Tris Speaker was as well rounded a center fielder as theres ever been. Offensively, he has the sixth highest career batting average (.345) in MLB history. His 3,514 hits are fifth on the all time list, and his 792 doubles are the most in MLB history. Defensively, Speaker holds career records for assists, double plays and unassisted double plays by an outfielder. He was also a member of three World Series teams and won one MVP award in 1912.

Ken Griffey Jr still has the sweetest swing Ive ever seen. I could sit and watch him take batting practice all day long. Griffey Jr used that swing to crank 630 home runs which is the sixth best of all time. He was named to the All Star team 13 times in his 22 year career, including winning the AL MVP in 1997. Defensively, he was as good as they come. Griffey Jr won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards, and routinely made difficult plays look easy.

Johnny Bench was the starting catcher for the Big Red Machine in the 1970s. That was a group that won six division titles, four NL pennants and two World Series titles. Bench was one of the greatest offensive catchers in MLB history. When he retired, he held the career home runs by a catcher record with 389. Bench won two MVP awards and was a 14 time All Star. He also won 10 Gold Glove awards for his defensive prowess.

Tom Seaver is the only member of the Hall of Fame to wear a New York Mets hat on his plaque. He is also only one of two Mets to ever have their numbers retired. Seaver finished his 20 year career with a 311 205 record, 2.86 ERA and 3,640 strikeouts. Tom Terrific was a 12 time All Star, three time Cy Young award winner and one time World Series champion.

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Rickey Henderson was one of the greatest athletes to ever play in MLB. Blessed with blazing speed, Henderson is the MLB career leader in stolen bases, (1,406), runs scored (2,295), walks (2,129) and lead off home runs (81). He also has the MLB single season record for stolen bases with 130 in 1982. Henderson is the most dynamic base runner and lead off hitter of all time.

The Ryan Express was one of the most enjoyable pitchers to watch anytime he would take the mound. Throughout his 27 year career, Ryan would throw a fastball that routinely broke 100 mph, even as he pitched into his 40s. Ryan is the career strikeouts leader with 5,714 and is also a member of the 300 wins club, posting 324 wins in his career. Ryan was an eight time All Star and one time World Series champion, but he never won a Cy Young.