MLB History: Top 100 Players In Baseball History (100-91)
With Opening Day fast approaching, and the promise of the new season, let us take start to look back at the 100 best players in MLB history, as we count down the greats over the next few weeks.
Over the history of what can truly be called major league baseball, there have been a total of 18,663 players to have been in what could be called a major league. Countless others have plied their trade either in the minors, foreign leagues or as semi-pro players, either hoping for a chance in the majors that never came, or simply playing for the love of the game and the ability to be out on the diamond.
Of those 18,663 players, there have been varying degrees of success. Some appeared only once, while others had careers that were eminently forgettable. There were players who showed signs of brilliance, only to have their careers stalled by injuries or an inability to adjust at the major league level. Players who were solid major legauers, perennial All-Stars and even those whose greatness was enough to be worthy of enshrinement in Cooperstown.
Of those, only a very select few can be considered as the greatest that have ever set foot on the diamond in the majors. From that list, of players who either made the Hall of Fame or those who were on the cusp, it is difficult to determine who the 100 best players in MLB history would be. Yet, that is where we are.
Today, let us begin to look back at the 100 Greatest Players in MLB History, as we begin our countdown of the true greats of the game. As with any list, this is fairly subjective, and subject to debate. Let us know if there is anyone you disagree with in the first ten, and enjoy as we begin our weekly countdown.
Next: A personal favorite
100. Old Hoss Radbourn
Brief note about myself – I grew up in Rhode Island, and became obsessed with the Providence Grays when I learned of their existence. After all, with Rhode Island being the smallest state in the Union, and one that people forget exists, the idea that major league baseball was played in Providence was enough to fuel my current fascination with 1880’s baseball.
During that era, there may have been no finer pitcher than Old Hoss Radbourn. While his career numbers are certainly solid, as he had a 309-196 record, 2.68 ERA and a 1.149 WHiP, striking out 1830 batters during a time when high contact rates were the norm.
Radbourn’s greatest season, and perhaps the best season ever in MLB history came during 1884. That year, he had a 59-12 record, completing all 73 of his starts, while recording saves in his other two appearances. He struck out 441 batters against 98 walks in 678.2 innings, while recording a 1.38 ERA and a 0.922 WHiP. That season culminated with the Grays winning the 1884 version of the World Series in three games, as Radbourn was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.500 WHiP, striking out 17 batters without a walk in 22 innings.
Radbourn was also an interesting character, as were quite a few players during that era. He lost an eye due to a gun accident after his career, and was known for his temper and womanizing ways. Radbourn may also be the first person ever photographed flipping off the camera, as can be seen here in the 1886 Boston Beaneaters team photograph.
These days, Radbourn may be best known for the Twitter account bearing his name, or his enjoyment of alcohol, women and violence. However, he was also an excellent pitcher, and the best of his time.
Next: The forgotten Dodgers ace
99. Don Drysdale
When one thinks of the Dodgers pitching during the late 1950’s into the middle part of the 1960’s, the first name that comes to mind is Sandy Koufax. However, his teammate, Don Drysdale, would likely have been the staff ace on any other squad.
Despite being overshadowed by his teammate, Drysdale still received a fair amount of recognition for his ability on the mound. He was an eight time All-Star, won a Cy Young award and finished fifth in the MVP vote twice. His career 209-166 record may not be impressive, but Drysdale’s 2.95 ERA, 1.148 WHiP and three strikeout titles show what type of pitcher he was.
Drysdale was also an intimidating figure when he toed the rubber. The inside part of the plate was his as well, and Drysdale did not worry about pitching inside or sending a message. In fact, Drysdale led the National League in hit batters five times, and finished second on four other occasions. His career 154 hit batters is 19th all time. As Orlando Cepeda once said of him, “The trick against Drysdale is to hit him before he hits you.”
He was also not just a pitcher. Drysdale was quite capable at the plate as well, slugging 29 career home runs and batting as high as sixth during his career. He was also used as a pinch hitter on occasion, and, in 1965, was the only regular in the starting lineup for Game One of the World Series that had batted .300 or better.
A lifelong Dodger, Don Drysdale passed back in 1993 in Montreal before broadcasting a game at the age of 56. Even though his life was cut short, the memory of his performances still live on amongst Dodgers faithful.
Next: The King of Triples
98. Sam Crawford
If the triple is the most exciting play in baseball, then Sam Crawford is the most exciting player in MLB history.
In a 19 year career that spanned from 1899 through 1917, Crawford was one of the biggest stars in the early days of the game. A player noted for his speed and his ability to drive the ball, Crawford led his league in triples six times, en route to a major league record 309 triples in his career.
Crawford was more than a triples hitter. In the dead ball era, he was also a noted power bat, leading the National League with 16 home runs in 1901, and ranked 11th all time with 97 when he retired. Crawford just missed the 3000 hit club, finishing his career with 2961 base knocks, and his 1535 RBI are 50th all time.
While he was primarily a right fielder, Crawford was also good enough defensively to play center on the Detroit Tigers, even with Ty Cobb on the roster. He possessed a strong arm and excellent speed, allowing him to chase down fly balls in the cavernous outfields of his era. Crawford was also solid with the glove, as he routinely finished amongst the top outfielders in fielding percentage.
Sam Crawford may now be overshadowed by other players from his era, but he was one of the biggest stars around the turn of the last century. He was also one of the true greats every to play the game.
Next: He deserved better from the BBWAA
97. Alan Trammell
Alan Trammell is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite actually having a higher career WAR (70.4) than Barry Larkin (70.2). Perhaps the difference is that Larkin won an MVP award, while Trammell finished second in 1987. Hopefully, that call to Cooperstown will come from the Veteran’s Committee, and provide a fitting capstone to an excellent career.
During his 19 year career, all of which was spent with the Detroit Tigers, Trammell was one of the premier shortstops in the American League. He produced a .285/.352/.415 batting line with 185 home runs and 412 doubles, driving in 1003 runs at a time when shortstops were not expected to provide much value on offense.
That is not to say that Trammell was deficient defensively. Instead, Trammell was a slick fielding shortstop, winning four Gold Glove awards. He is 11th all time with 81 runs saved at short, and ranks seventh in double plays. His .977 fielding percentage is 24th best among all shortstops in MLB history, and he is 34th all time in defensive WAR.
In addition to those Gold Glove awards, Trammell was a six time All-Star and won three Silver Slugger awards at short. During the Tigers championship season in 1984, Trammell was the World Series MVP, sporting a .450/.500/.800 batting line while hitting two home runs and driving in six during the five game series. Trammell finished in the top ten on the MVP award three times, proving how important he was to those Detroit teams in the 1980’s.
Perhaps at one point, Alan Trammell will get his due and be enshrined in Cooperstown. Even without that honor, he was still one of the best shortstops ever to play the game.
Next: A true original
96. Rube Waddell
If there were bonus points for eccentricity or possible insanity, Rube Waddell would be higher on this list. In fact, if Waddell had lived these days, one has to wonder if he would have even found his way on to the diamond.
Had he not been allowed near the field of play, baseball would have lost a true great. In his 13 year career, Waddell posted a 193-143 record, striking out 2316 batters in 2961.1 innings. He won six strikeout titles, and had set a record for most strikeouts in a season by a lefty when he notched 349 strikeouts in 1904.
As great as his exploits were on the pitching mound, Waddell was known for his antics. He would chase fire engines, disappear from the team to go fishing or to follow a travelling Western show, and would be found leading marching bands or playing marbles with kids. He would have his fielders sit down while he struck out the side. But Waddell also had another side, where he would help those fire departments put out fires, dive into freezing water to help save people or help organize efforts to save communities from flooding.
In fact, that desire to help contributed to his death. He helped Hickman, Kentucky handle severe flooding by piling sandbags, only to fall ill. Eventually, a couple of years later, Waddell died due to tuberculous at the age of 37 on April Fools Day in 1914.
Rube Waddell was one of the first ‘larger than life’ figures in the history of baseball, an eccentric being whose exploits straddled the border between truth and myth. He was a comet streaking across the sky, burning out before the very eyes of the public that adored him.
Next: A charging Ryno
95. Ryne Sandberg
Middle infielders during the 1980’s were generally expected to be fast and to have an excellent glove. Anything else that was provided on offense was relatively unexpected and an added bonus. Ryne Sandberg helped change that.
Acquired by the Chicago Cubs in one of the more lopsided trades in baseball history, Sandberg quickly became a Chicago icon. Two years after finishing sixth in the Rookie of the Year ballot, the Cubs surprised the baseball world as they won the NL East, and Sandberg was a key part of that revival. In winning the MVP that season, Sandberg posted a .314/.367/.520 batting line, leading the National League in runs (114) and triples (19) while hitting 19 home runs and stealing 32 bases.
When he retired for the second and final time following the 1997 season, Sandberg had cemented himself among the best second basemen in MLB history. He produced an overall .285/.344/.452 batting line, hitting 282 home runs and stealing 344 bases. Sandberg made nine All-Star Games, finished in the top five in the MVP balloting three times and won seven Silver Slugger awards.
Sandberg was more than just an excellent bat; he was also among the greatest defensive second basemen ever to play the game. He won the Gold Glove award every season from 1983 through 1991, and set what was then a record of 123 consecutive games without an error. When his career ended, Sandberg ranked ninth all time in fielding percentage at second (.989), ninth in assists (6363) and 17th in total runs saved at second (57).
A true all around player, Ryne Sandberg helped usher in a new era of second basemen, proving that they could be far more than just an excellent glove. They could be a viable part of the lineup as well.
Next: It was just a 'hard slider'
94. Gaylord Perry
The spitball may have been illegal since 1920, and it may have been illegal to doctor the baseball, but that certainly did not stop Gaylord Perry from having a Hall of Fame caliber career.
Armed with what he termed a ‘hard slider,’ Perry engaged in quite the elaborate ritual on the mound, touching his face and various parts of his uniform and hat to help provide the illusion that he threw the spitter. Of course, it did not help his reputation as someone who threw the greaseball when he wrote “Me and the Spitter” in 1974, right in the midst of his playing career. Yet, despite his literary confession and penchant for deception, he was only caught doctoring the ball once in his career.
In a career that spanned 22 years and eight teams, Perry was one of the better pitchers of his time. Despite shuttling between the bullpen and the rotation until he was 27 years old, Perry posted a 314-265 record with a 3.11 ERA and a 1.181 WHiP. A workhorse throughout most of his career, Perry had 17 seasons with over 200 innings, including six years where he threw over 300 frames. He ranks 17th in wins, 16th with 53 shutouts and eighth in MLB history with 3534 strikeouts.
A five time All-Star, Perry was the first pitcher to win a Cy Young award in both leagues, doing so with the Cleveland Indians in 1972 and the San Diego Padres in 1978. He twice finished in the top ten in the MVP ballot, finishing as high as fourth in 1974. Perhaps due to his reputation as a spitballer, Perry had to wait three years to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, finally being inducted in 1991.
Gaylord Perry may not have thrown his spitter nearly as much as one would have believed, but just the threat of the pitch made him a fearsome opponent on the mound. Although some may claim that his numbers are tainted due to the spitter, and that he was a compiler as opposed to a dominant pitcher, Perry’s place amongst the greats of the game cannot be questioned.
Next: The greatest Brown
93. George Sisler
As great as George Sisler’s career was, one still has to wonder what might have been if he stayed healthy.
During the first half of his career, it appeared as though Sisler was destined to be one of the all time greats in MLB history. He set what was then the record for hits in a season with 257 in 1920, and had two years of batting over .400. In 1922, he had one of the best seasons in the history of baseball, producing a .420/.467/.594 batting line with 246 hits, 134 runs scored, 18 triples and 51 stolen bases. Through age 29, his .361/.404/.510 slash line was on par with the true legends of baseball.
Then came the health issues. Sisler, just one year from his greatest season, had to miss the 1923 campaign due to a severe bout of sinusitis, which caused him to see double. He came back in time for the 1924 season, and while he was still a solid hitter, was not quite the same offensive weapon. Yet, his .320/.354/.426 batting line resulted in a 188 OPS+ during those subsequent seven years.
The 1922 MVP, Sisler ended his career with a .340/.379/.468 batting line with 2812 hits and 375 stolen bases. His .340 batting average is the 16th highest in baseball history, and his 2812 hits are 49th all time. While Sisler may not have been known as a great defensive first baseman, he still ranks fifteenth in putouts at first (18,837) and seventh in assists (1529) in his career.
George Sisler could well have been among the true greats of the game had he remained healthy. As it was, his career was good enough to warrant enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.
Next: A truly interesting career
92. Dennis Eckersley
Even though Dennis Eckersley is best remembered for his time as the closer of the Oakland A’s, he was a fairly solid starting pitcher before becoming a Hall of Fame caliber reliever.
As a starting pitcher, Eckersley was a relatively solid pitcher, performing at a level that was a bit above league average. He made two All-Star Games, and won twenty games in 1978 when he finished fourth in the Cy Young vote. Eckersley even pitched the 200th no-hitter in MLB history on May 30, 1977. All told, as a starter, Eckersley posted a 149-130 record with 3.71 ERA and a 1.214 WHiP, striking out 1609 batters against 612 walks in 2478.1 innings.
However, when Tony LaRussa converted him into the bullpen in 1987, Eckersley’s career truly took off. He became a dominant force in the bullpen, finishing second in the 1988 CY Young vote before finally capturing the award, and winning the MVP, in 1992. Yet, his greatest season may well have come in 1990, when he allowed just 45 baserunners while recording 48 saves. His 0.61 ERA and 0.614 WHiP still rank among the best of any pitcher with 50+ innings in a season.
As a reliever, Eckersley recorded 390 saves with a 2.85 ERA and a 0.995 WHiP, striking out 792 batters against 126 walks. His control became legendary, as he issued a total of 16 walks in 207 innings from 1990 through 1992. In fact, Eckersley may well have started the modern closer, as his saves rarely lasted more than one inning.
Dennis Eckersley would have been the answer to a trivia question, and likely nothing more, had he not been traded to Oakland and LaRussa made him a closer. With that one move, he became one of the greats at his position.
Next: A forgotten man
91. Tim Raines
Typically, being the second best in your era results in enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. For Tim Raines, the second best leadoff hitter in his era, that has not been the case yet, although his time may be coming soon.
Perhaps part of why Raines was overlooked is because his career peaked at such an early age. From 1981, when Raines first became a regular, through 1987, Raines was one of the top players in the National League, making the All-Star game each season, leading the league in steals four times and runs twice while posting a .310/.396/.448 batting line with 504 steals and 719 runs. He appeared set to be one of the great leadoff men in history.
Then, injuries happened. While Raines was able to play until 2002, becoming one of the rare players to appear in four different decades, he just was not the same player. While he still had some flashes of his past speed, stealing 51 bases in 1991, he never again made an All-Star team or captured a stolen base title. His career numbers, a .294/.385/.425 batting line with 808 stolen bases, show the sudden decline he had during the middle to the latter part of his career.
These days, Raines may be remembered for two different moments. He was one of the players victimized by collusion in 1987, when after a dominant 1986 season, the only free agent offer he received involved a minimal raise from the Expos. Then, in 2001, Raines made history by being the second person to play in a game with his son, Tim Raines Jr., during a brief stint with the Baltimore Orioles.
Next: The mystery of Chick Stahl's suicide
Tim Raines career was certainly solid enough, but he had the misfortune of playing in the same era with one of the greatest leadoff hitters of all time. One has to wonder how he would be remembered if he had either remained healthy or had played at a different time.