Figuring out one of the best first baseman of all time will not be as simple because it appears to be like. There have been numerous legendary gamers to man first base throughout a number of generations.
Among the finest first basemen in MLB historical past have been excellent energy hitters, some have been sensible defensive gamers, and a few have been a mix of each. However who was one of the best first baseman of all time?
Counting right down to one of the best first baseman of all time
To reply that query, we determined to place collectively an inventory of the 15 best 1B of all time. That made it a little bit simpler to separate one of the best from one of the best.
In fact, even protecting our record to the 15 finest first basemen in MLB historical past wasn’t simple. Nonetheless, right here is the record we got here up with on our technique to naming one of the best first baseman of all time.
15. Roger Connor
Earlier than Babe Ruth, Roger Connor was the all-time residence run king in baseball. That’s sufficient to think about him among the many finest first basemen of all time.
Between 1880 and 1897, Connor hit 138 residence runs, which was loads for that period, whereas batting .317 throughout his profession. Whereas not a lot is understood about his profession, Connor was an enormous deal in his period and was finally put within the Corridor of Fame in 1976
14. Johnny Mize
Johnny Mize is maybe essentially the most neglected Yankee legend. He was part of their 5 straight championships from 1949 to 1953, and that was after he missed three seasons through the center of his profession whereas serving within the navy throughout World Conflict II.
Mize really made the All-Star Staff 5 instances earlier than his navy service and 5 instances after it. He gained a batting title and led the American League in homers 4 instances on his technique to 359 profession homers. Mize additionally hit .312 throughout his profession, though the Corridor of Famer might have had much more spectacular numbers if he hadn’t missed these years throughout World Conflict II.
13. Jim Thome
Regardless of beginning his profession as a 3rd baseman and ending it as a DH, Jim Thome was an awesome first baseman throughout his prime.
In additional than 20 years within the majors, he hit at the very least 30 homers 12 instances, reaching 40 homers on six events. Outdoors of hitting for energy, Thome didn’t convey loads to the desk. However hits 612 homers and over 2,300 hits converse volumes.
12. Frank Thomas
Defensively, Frank Thomas was by no means among the many finest first basemen within the league. He additionally spent a little bit greater than half of his profession as a DH, largely due to foot accidents, which hurts his standing among the many finest first basemen of all time.
That being mentioned, the Massive Harm was undoubtedly one of many nice hitters of his period, particularly since he was one of many few who was by no means related with PEDs through the steroid period. The man was simply naturally sturdy, mashing over 500 profession residence runs whereas additionally batting over .300 in his profession. Thomas took residence MVP honors in 1993 and 1994 and later gained a batting title in 1997. He might need been a bat-first participant, however what a bat it was.
11. Keith Hernandez
It’s an utter travesty that Keith Hernandez isn’t within the Corridor of Fame. Defensively, he revolutionized the best way first base was performed by masking much more floor than most first basemen might ever dream of doing.
We’re speaking about somebody who gained 11 straight Gold Gloves, creating a powerful argument for him being one of the best defensive first baseman of all time. Hernandez additionally gained two Silver Slugger awards and took residence the 1979 batting title, which was the identical 12 months he gained MVP honors. How is that not the resume of a Corridor of Famer, particularly for such an influential first baseman?
10. Harmon Killebrew
Even for a participant in his period, Harmon Killebrew can be thought-about a little bit undersized. However he was additionally probably the greatest energy hitters to ever play the sport.
He led the American League in residence runs on six events, together with the 1969 season when he took residence MVP honors. He would have been an awesome energy hitter in any period, as he was each sturdy and affected person. Killebrew nonetheless ranks among the many prime 20 gamers all-time in each residence runs and walks. He additionally amassed over 2,000 hits along with his 573 profession residence runs.
Sadly, we have now to dock him a little bit as a result of he performed a number of different positions and never first base, though he spent extra time at first base than he did at every other place.
9. Jeff Bagwell
Even after stepping into the Corridor of Fame on the seventh poll, Jeff Bagwell nonetheless stays considerably underrated within the grand scheme of issues.
He gained Rookie of the 12 months in 1991 and MVP in 1994, and even after that, he continued to have a formidable profession. His protection was vastly neglected with Bagwell solely successful one Gold Glove. He’s additionally the one first baseman in baseball historical past with over 400 residence runs and 200 stolen bases. For his profession, Bagwell hit .297 with 449 residence runs, which is not any small feat.
8. Cap Anson
As an individual, Cap Anson had a problematic historical past of serving to to ascertain and perpetrate segregation in baseball. However as a participant between 1871 and 1897, Anson was a real star of his time.
His profession was so way back that we don’t have dependable stats on him. Nonetheless, he was possible the primary participant to surpass 3,000 profession hits. He gained two batting titles and led the Nationwide League in RBIs eight instances. Anson spent most of his profession with the group that’s now the Cubs and holds a number of franchise information. He was additionally inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1939 and must be thought-about among the many finest first basemen of all time.
7. Willie McCovey
They don’t identify coves in San Francisco after simply anyone. For practically 20 years, most of which was spent with the Giants, Willie McCovey was among the many elite first basemen in baseball.
With 521 profession residence runs, he’s nonetheless remembered as probably the greatest energy hitters in baseball historical past, main the Nationwide League in homers 3 times. He might make contact and hit line drives with one of the best of them. As a dead-pull hitter, some groups even tried to make use of a shift in opposition to him. McCovey additionally gained Rookie of the 12 months honors throughout his first season in 1959 and MVP honors a decade later. With six all-star choices to go together with over 2,200 profession hits, McCovey was additionally a first-ballot Corridor of Famer.
6. Hank Greenberg
In baseball historical past, Hank Greenberg is a generally forgotten or neglected trailblazer as one of many first Jewish stars in American sports activities. He was additionally an awesome first baseman, taking part in virtually his whole profession with the Tigers.
Throughout his profession, Greenberg gained MVP honors twice whereas main the American League in residence runs and RBIs 4 instances every. He was additionally a five-time all-star and helped the Tigers win two World Collection titles. In fact, his profession numbers, together with 331 residence runs might have been much better if Greenberg had saved taking part in baseball relatively than serving within the navy throughout World Conflict II. He put his nation first, becoming a member of the Military in 1941, and didn’t return to the majors till the summer season of 1945, making him an awesome participant and an American icon.
5. Miguel Cabrera
In his prime, there was no higher hitter through the first a part of the century than Miguel Cabrera. The man simply raked 12 months after 12 months.
Whereas he moved round to numerous positions and spent a whole lot of time at DH late in his profession, hurting his standing on this record, Cabrera did play over 10,000 innings at first base, which is loads.
Defensively, he by no means did a lot to face out. Nonetheless, Cabrera did hit over .300 11 instances, together with a run of eight consecutive seasons. That’s how he gained back-to-back MVP honors in 2012 and 2013 whereas additionally successful the Triple Crown in 2012.
He did win seven Silver Slugger awards, though solely three got here as a primary baseman. Nonetheless, Cabrera’s longevity helped him to eclipse 3,000 hits and 500 homers whereas additionally batting over .300 in his profession, numbers that may absolutely give him a one-way ticket to Cooperstown sooner or later. Even when he didn’t do all of it as a primary baseman, Cabrera’s accomplishments are an excessive amount of to disregard.
4. Eddie Murray
It’s virtually unimaginable to discover a better switch-hitter in baseball history than Eddie Murray. He’s additionally greater than deserving of a spot as probably the greatest first basemen of all time.
Murray gained Rookie of the 12 months in 1977 and performed one other 20 seasons after that, incomes eight all-star choices.
These two-plus a long time have been sufficient to get Murray to 504 residence runs and over 3,200 hits in his profession. He additionally deserves credit score for successful three Silver Slugger awards and three straight Gold Gloves from 1982 to 1984. In actual fact, he twice gained the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in the identical season, showcasing simply how particular of a participant he was.
3. Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx is the basic instance of what a primary baseman must be each throughout his period and in in the present day’s sport. With 534 profession residence runs over 20 years, he was one of many nice residence run hitters of his day.
When Foxx retired, solely Babe Ruth surpassed him in profession residence runs. In 12 straight seasons, Foxx hit at the very least 30 homers, and in 13 straight seasons, he had at the very least 100 RBIs.
Groups all through baseball historical past would kill for that sort of manufacturing. Throughout his 20-year profession, Foxx was an all-star in 9 consecutive seasons and gained MVP 3 times, together with back-to-back years in 1932 and 1933. His Triple Crown and first of two batting titles got here through the 1933 season, which got here after he helped the Philadelphia Athletics win back-to-back championships in 1929 and 1930.
When all was mentioned and achieved, Foxx was within the 500 residence run membership and a .325 profession hitter, making him probably the greatest all-around hitters of his day.
2. Lou Gehrig
Historical past principally remembers Lou Gehrig as baseball’s unique Iron Man and because the sufferer of a horrible illness that now bears his identify. However earlier than sickness compelled him to stroll away from the sport because the “luckiest man on the face of the earth,” Gehrig was probably the greatest first basemen the sport has ever identified.
Whereas taking part in just about each sport throughout his 17 seasons, Gehrig helped the Yankees win six world championships. He additionally gained MVP honors twice, but one way or the other didn’t win MVP in 1934 when he gained the Triple Crown.
That season was his solely batting title however one among three years he led the AL in homers and one among 5 years he led the league in RBIs. Gehrig can also be on the shortlist of gamers who’ve hit 4 residence runs in a sport – regardless of falling seven homers shy of the five hundred mark – and served as captain of the Yankees, which he did over the last 5 seasons of his profession. Given all of that, it’s shocking and a little bit tough to not rank him as the highest first baseman of all time.
1. Albert Pujols
Debates within the twenty first century have been based mostly on Cabrera vs Pujols. However these debates are pointless as a result of there must be little question that Albert Pujols is one of the best first baseman of all time.
Even when he closed his profession primarily taking part in at DH, he put collectively probably the most spectacular careers of any participant in baseball historical past. Consider Pujols started his profession with arguably the greatest rookie season of all time.
He proceeded to make 11 All-Star Groups, win MVP 3 times, and assist the Cardinals to 2 World Collection titles. To prime it off, Pujols gained two Gold Gloves as a primary baseman and 6 Silver Sluggers.
Even within the final of his 22 seasons within the majors, Pujols was producing, which is why he was in a position to end his profession with 703 residence runs. He additionally acquired to over 3,300 hits with a profession common of .296. His swing was near excellent and his manufacturing was virtually mind-blowingly constant. There have been a couple of first basemen virtually pretty much as good as Pujols, however he absolutely deserves a spot on the prime.
Who’s the best defensive first baseman of all-time?
Keith Hernandez is usually regarded as the best defensive first baseman of all-time. Hernandez gained 11 Gold Gloves and is broadly considered probably the greatest defensive gamers no matter place. Don Mattingly and Paul Goldschmidt would possible spherical out of the rostrum.
Which first baseman has essentially the most Gold Gloves?
Keith Hernandez has essentially the most Gold Gloves as a primary baseman with 11. Don Mattingly is in second place with 9.
Is first baseman a superb place?
Sure, first baseman is an efficient place. Just about each infield play includes the primary baseman. They may not be essentially the most athletic gamers on the sphere, however first basemen have a key position to play. A few of baseball’s best ever gamers have primarily performed first base.
How tall ought to a primary baseman be?
First basemen are sometimes over 6’2. With attain being essential to increase from the primary base bag, and with mobility not significantly essential, taller gamers will usually discover themselves at first base.
Why are lefties higher at first base?
Lefties have their glove on the appropriate hand, that means it’s nearer to the opposite infielders and offers a greater angle for scooping balls within the grime. It’s the solely infield place the place it’s preferable being left-handed.
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