top players in mlb history

Mike Schmidt is the greatest third baseman to ever play the game of baseball. Offensively, Schmidt had 2,234 hits, 548 home runs and 1,595 RBIs in his career. He made 12 All Star teams, three NL MVP awards, six Silver Slugger awards and led the NL in home runs in eight different seasons. Defensively, Schmidt won 10 Gold Glove awards for his outstanding play at third base. He was the total package.

Christy Mathewsons career is littered with video game numbers, if they had video games in 1900. He ranks in the all time top 10 in wins, ERA and shutouts. He is the only pitcher to rank in the top 10 in both wins and ERA. He holds the National League record for career wins, posting 373. He won all those games while maintaining a minuscule ERA of 2.18. Mathewson won two World Series titles and two Triple Crowns in his career as well.

Frank Robinsons illustrious MLB career included winning the Triple Crown, being a two time World Series champion, winning an MVP in both leagues and being selected to 14 All Star games. Robinson fell 57 hits shy of the 3,000 hits club, but he did hit 586 home runs and drove in 1,812 RBIs. He later went on to be a manager for the Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals.

Jimmie Foxx played 20 major league seasons in MLB and put together an amazing career. Normally first basemen are known for their power and ability to drive in runs. Foxx certainly could do that, as evidenced by his 534 home runs and 1,922 RBIs. The aspect that isnt usually attributed to first basemen is the ability to hit for average. Foxx finished his career with a .325 average. He also won three MVP awards and two World Series titles.

Roberto Clemente lost his life way too soon in a plane crash in 1972. Before that moment, he put himself in the conversation as one of the greatest players in MLB history. Clemente was the poster boy for a five tool player. He could hit as evidenced by his .300 lifetime batting average and 3,000 hits. He was also the best defensive right fielder of all time, winning 12 Gold Glove awards. Clemente was a 15 time All Star and won the 1966 NL MVP.

JoltinJoe DiMaggio holds one of those records that will never be broken. In 1941, DiMaggio put strung together a 56 game hitting streak in an otherworldly display of consistency. The Yankee Clipper finished his career with a .325 batting average, 2,214 hits, 361 home runs and 1,537 RBIs. He was named to 13 All Star teams, won three AL MVP awards and brought home nine World Series titles with the New York Yankees.

Greg Maddux was like a professor on the mound. He knew exactly what he wanted to do in every situation, and most of the time, it was the opposite of what the hitter was thinking. Maddux became the first pitcher in MLB history to win four consecutive Cy Young awards (1992 95). Maddux also holds the record for most Gold Glove awards at any position with 18. He finished his career with 355 wins, a 3.16 ERA and 3,371 strikeouts.

Cy Young is the one greatest pitchers in MLB history and that will never change. In his 21 year career, he started a record 815 games, logged a record 7,355 innings pitched and tossed 749 complete games. Young is the all time wins leader with 511, and he finished his career with a 2.63 ERA and 2,803 strikeouts. Young won the Triple Crown in 1901 and the World Series in 1903. The Cy Young Award was named for him one year after his death.

Mickey Mantle was never really known for his defensive abilities. Mantle is considered to be the best switch hitter in MLB history and had a marvelous career at the plate. In his 18 year career, Mantle popped 536 home runs and drove in 1,509 RBIs, while collecting 2,415 hits and finishing with a lifetime batting average of .298. Mantle was a 20 time All Star, seven time World Series champion and three time AL MVP while with the Yankees.

Rogers Hornsby is one of the best pure hitters in baseball history. His .358 career batting average ranks him second all time behind Ty Cobb. Hornsby collected 2,930 hits, 301 home runs and 1,584 RBIs during his 22 year career. The Rajah was a two time NL MVP, two time Triple Crown winner, seven time batting champion and won the 1926 World Series as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.