10 Best Baseball Players Of All Time (Ranking of the best MLB players)

Baseball is a chic sport that originated from Britain and has earned recognition all over the world having garnered innumerable fans. Despite the game having great and recognized players, there are players who are ranked as the best MLB players as of 2024. These players have made a significant impact in the sport industry and won a number of games. So, who are the 10 best baseball players of all time?

Major League Baseball (MLB) stands as one of the most prominent yet antiquated leagues ever played globally. This league has fostered exceptional players from various teams and holds the title of the favorite sport among people in the United States. Among the myriad players from different teams, here is a breakdown of the top 10 baseball players of all time.

1. Babe Ruth

The late Babe Ruth was a renowned American baseball pitcher widely celebrated for his outstanding performance on the mound. He is best remembered for his extraordinary power in the game. Ruth played for the Atlanta Braves in 1935, the New York Yankees from 1920 to 1934, and the Boston Red Sox from 1914 to 1919.

Regarded as the greatest player in the history of baseball, he boasted a career pitching record of 94-46. Ruth commenced his professional career in 1914 and retired in 1935 due to the physical toll his body had endured. Throughout his illustrious career, Babe Ruth exclusively played as a left-handed pitcher.

2. Ty Cobb

The late Ty Cobb is a well-known American baseball player, revered as a legend in the sport. Highly acclaimed for his remarkable career, Cobb amassed an impressive 90 records throughout his time as a baseball player. Among these records are included bases taken by any MLB player, runs batted in, career batting average, and runs scored.

Cobb was characterized as a determined player who abhorred losing and found his motivation solely in winning every game he played. Notably, Cobb and Babe Ruth faced each other on the field, with Cobb considering Babe not only a threat to his career but also to his life. Cobb spent 22 seasons playing for the Detroit Tigers after joining the team in 1905. Subsequently, he played for the Philadelphia team for 2 seasons. Throughout his illustrious career, Cobb experienced significant success, clinching 12 batting titles from 1907 to 1919. He ultimately retired from professional baseball in 1928.

3. Hank Aaron

The late Hank Aaron remains a celebrated baseball icon, renowned for his unparalleled ability to hit numerous home runs, surpassing the achievements of any other player in history. Despite facing racism as a black athlete during his career, Aaron transcended these challenges, ultimately being hailed as the greatest MLB player of all time. He notably played for the Atlanta Braves from 1954 to 1974 and also spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975 to 1976.

Throughout his remarkable career, Aaron clinched three Gold Glove Awards and achieved the impressive feat of hitting 30 or more home runs on 15 separate occasions. The year 1957 stood out as particularly exceptional for Aaron, marked by a flurry of major hits. Following an illustrious tenure in baseball, Hank Aaron retired from the sport in 1976.

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4. Willie Mays

Willie Mays, a retired American baseball center fielder, stands as one of the most revered MLB players of all time. Throughout his illustrious career, Mays amassed an impressive record of 3,283 hits and notably led the league in home runs in 1955, 1962, and 1964-1965. Additionally, Mays secured the Golden Glove Award an unprecedented 12 times consecutively, spanning from 1957 to 1968.

These outstanding achievements solidified Mays’ reputation as a baseball legend and earned him All-Star recognition for 20 out of the 22 seasons he played. Mays began his professional baseball journey with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 before joining the San Francisco Giants from 1951 to 1952 and again from 1954 to 1972. He later played for the New York Mets from 1972 to 1973, transitioning into a coaching role with the Mets from 1974 to 1979. Willie Mays embarked on his baseball career in 1951 and concluded it with his retirement in 1973.

5. Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds is a prominent American professional baseball outfielder. He made a significant impact on the sport throughout his career, setting the major league home run record with 762 home runs and achieving a single-season record of 73 home runs in 2001.

After retiring from playing baseball, Bonds transitioned into a role as a special advisor to a CEO. Bonds is widely recognized as the player with the most home runs in MLB history. However, his career was not without controversy. He faced legal issues when he was arrested for using steroids, admitting to their use and claiming that his coach had misled him into taking them.

Bonds played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and later joined the San Francisco Giants from 1993 to 2007. Additionally, he served as a coach for the Miami Marlins in 2016. Bonds’s remarkable career included seven NL MVP awards, highlighting his immense talent and contribution to the sport. He officially retired from professional baseball in 2007.

6. Lou Gehrig

The late Lou Gehrig, a renowned professional American baseball first baseman, earned widespread acclaim as one of the greatest hitters of his time. Tragically, he passed away in 1941 due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Throughout his illustrious career, Gehrig achieved remarkable feats that solidified his global recognition. He amassed 493 home runs and held the record for numerous grand slams throughout his 23 seasons in the game. Gehrig also earned eight rings in the World Series, a testament to his exceptional talent and contributions to the sport. Notably, he spent his entire career playing for the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1939.

7. Ted Williams

The late Ted Williams, a renowned American baseball player and manager, is revered for his exceptional abilities as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport. He achieved a record that remains unbroken to this day: hitting over 400 in a single season. Williams enjoyed a highly successful career, earning recognition as an eight-time Golden Glove winner, a three-time Most Valuable Player recipient, and a two-time Triple Crown winner.

 Additionally, he claimed six American League batting championships. Williams played for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1960. He also served as the manager for the Texas Rangers from 1969 to 1972. Following his illustrious playing career, Williams retired from baseball in 1960.

8. Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle, a celebrated American baseball center fielder, passed away on August 13, 1995. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Mantle earned numerous accolades during his illustrious career. Notably, he won a Gold Glove Award in 1962, was a key member of multiple World Series-winning Yankees teams, and participated in an impressive 20 All-Star Games. Mantle’s prowess on the field was exemplified by his record-setting 18 home runs in just 12 World Series appearances, solidifying his status as a legendary player.

Mantle played his entire career for the New York Yankees, spanning from 1951 to 1968. Throughout his tenure, he amassed impressive statistics, including 2,415 hits, 536 home runs, 1,509 runs batted in, and a batting average of .298. Following his retirement from baseball in 1969, Mantle’s legacy endured, and he was rightfully honored with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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9. Stan Musial

The late Stan Musial, a celebrated American baseball outfielder, passed away on January 19, 2013. He was renowned for his exceptional talent, holding the record for the most consecutive hits in baseball history. Throughout his illustrious career, Musial played for the St. Louis Cardinals, initially from 1941 to 1944 and later from 1946 to 1963.

Musial’s remarkable achievements were recognized with numerous awards, including the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1943, 1946, and 1948. Additionally, he was honored as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 1957 and received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1957. He retired from playing baseball in 1963.

10. Walter Johnson

The late Walter Johnson was a prominent American baseball player and manager, renowned as the fastest pitcher of the Dead Ball era. A right-handed pitcher, he played for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927, and later managed the Senators from 1929 to 1932, and the Cleveland Indians from 1933 to 1935. Throughout his illustrious career, Johnson garnered numerous accolades, including a World Series Championship in 1924 and induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He retired from playing baseball in 1927, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the sport.

List of top 50 baseball players of all time (Create a table)

Fast facts about best baseball players of all time

Who is the best baseball player of all time?

In baseball there are a number of best players. Babe Ruth is regarded as one of the best baseball players of all time.

Who is the greatest pitcher of all time? Walter Johnson is recognized as the greatest pitcher of all time.

Who has the most home runs in baseball? Barry Bonds is regarded as a player with the most home runs recorded at 762.

Many of the best MLB players have passed away, but their legacies endure, passed down from generation to generation. Players like Barry Bonds have set records for the most home runs in baseball history, while others like Hank Aaron have left an indelible mark on the sport. These players continue to serve as inspirations for emerging stars who aspire to succeed in baseball. Their achievements and contributions serve as motivation for future generations of players striving to make their mark in the sport.

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