40. Ken Griffey Jr
Ken Griffey Jr. was on pace to be one of the greatest players in baseball history before injuries limited his ability and hampered his career. Yet, even with those issues, he was still able to secure his place as one of the best players ever.
A phenom from the time he was drafted, Griffey was on pace to be a star from the moment he reached the majors as a 19 year old. He provided several memorable moments at the beginning of his career, such as playing with his father Ken Griffey Sr. and hitting a home run in the same game as Sr. did. He made 13 All-Star games, won the MVP award in 1997 and finished in the top five four other times.
A seven time Silver Slugger, Griffey finished his career with a .284/.370/.538 batting line, hitting 630 home runs with 1,836 RBI. He hit over 40 home runs six different times, and ranks sixth in MLB history. His 1,836 RBI are 15th, and he ranks in the top 20 in intentional walks, total bases and extra base hits.
Griffey was a stellar center fielder, winning the Gold Glove award literally every year throughout the 1990’s. Blessed with fabulous range and a great arm, Griffey ranks sixth with 5,147 putouts, eleventh with 141 assists and seventh with 41 double plays from center.
A true star with the Seattle Mariners, Griffey’s career was derailed by injuries upon his trade to the Cincinnati Reds, robbing him of his chance to chase history. Yet, even with the disappointment of those injuries, Griffey was still one of the true greats.
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