Who’s the Best Baseball Player of All Time?

It’s a question that has been debated for years, and there’s no clear answer. But we took a look at the numbers to see who comes out on top.

Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth was a professional baseball player who played for 22 seasons, from 1914 to 1935. He was one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

His stats

As a hitter, Ruth was endowed with exceptional power and was once said to have hit a baseball “500 feet” (152 m). He also had unusual strength and could hit for average. Ruth led his league in several offensive categories including home runs (10 times), slugging percentage (seven times), runs batted in (RBIs) (six times), bases on balls (12 times) – earning the nickname “The Sultan of Swat” – batting average (twice), on-base percentage (four times), and slugging percentage + on-base percentage (OPS) (nine times). These accomplishments landed him in the first tier of baseball’s greatest hitters ever.

Why he’s the best

Babe Ruth is considered by many to be the best baseball player of all time. Ruth was a dominant force both at the plate and on the mound, and his records have stood the test of time.

Ruth was an incredible hitter, posting a .342 batting average and hitting 714 home runs in his career. He also had a strong arm, and was one of the best pitchers in baseball early in his career. Ruth was a key member of the New York Yankees dynasty that won seven World Series titles.

There are many other great players in baseball history, but Babe Ruth’s exceptional skills and accomplishments make him the clear choice for the best player of all time.

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron was a professional baseball player who played for the Milwaukee Braves and the Atlanta Braves from 1954 to 1976. Hank Aaron is considered one of the best baseball players of all time. He was a 21-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner. Hank Aaron is also the all-time leader in RBIs and home runs.

His stats

Hank Aaron played Major League Baseball from 1954 through 1976. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In his 23-year career, Aaron compiled 3,771 hits, hit 755 home runs (a record that stood for 33 years), and batted .305. He was a 25-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove Awards.

Why he’s the best

Hank Aaron is widely considered to be the best baseball player of all time. A few factors contribute to his title as the best player ever. First, Hank Aaron is one of the most prolific hitters in baseball history. In his 21 seasons, he had 3,771 hits, 755 home runs, and 2,297 RBIs. He also won a batting title in 1956 and was a 25-time All-Star. Secondly, Hank Aaron is one of the most consistent players in baseball history. He had at least 150 hits in 16 of his 21 seasons, and hit over .300 15 times. Finally, Hank Aaron was an excellent defensive player. He won Gold Glove Awards in 1957 and 1958, and led the league in assists by a right fielder three times.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays was one of the best all-around baseball players of all time. He was an excellent hitter, fielder, and baserunner. He was also a great leader and a clutch player.

His stats

In 22 seasons, Mays hit 660 home runs (third most all time), recorded 3,283 hits (sixth most all time), and stole 338 bases (24th most all time). He also won a record-tying 12 Gold Glove Awards for his defense in center field. He is one of five players to have at least three hundred home runs and 300 stolen bases. Mays’ batting and throwing styles were co-opted by other players, including Ken Griffey Jr., Miguel Cabrera, and Albert Pujols. He played the majority of his career for the New York/San Francisco Giants (1951–1972), before finishing his career with the New York Mets (1972–1973).

Mays was born in 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, a small town near Birmingham. His father was a talented semiprofessional baseball player and worked a variety of industrial jobs to support his family. As a young boy growing up in the 1930s and 1940s, Mays played sandlot baseball with future Baseball Hall of Fame member Billy Williams. In 1950, he was signed by the Boston Braves for $4,000 ($48,707 today) and assigned to their Class B affiliate in Trenton, New Jersey.

Why he’s the best

There are many great players in baseball history, but Willie Mays is widely considered the best of all time. His exceptional batting and base-running abilities made him a five-tool player, meaning he excelled in all aspects of the game. In 22 seasons, Mays hit 660 home runs, won two MVP Awards, and was selected to 24 All-Star Games. He was also a key member of the New York Giants team that won the 1954 World Series.

Willie Mays’ career batting average was .302, but he is best remembered for his defense. He was an outstanding center fielder who had astonishing range and a knack for making spectacular catches. His ability to track down fly balls earned him the nickname “the Say Hey Kid.” Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 and his number 24 is retired by the San Francisco Giants.

Stan Musial

Stan Musial, nicknamed “Stan the Man”, was a Polish-American Major League Baseball (MLB) left fielder and first baseman. He spent 22 seasons playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1941 to 1963. A devoted family man, Musial was also a strong Christian who helped children and the needy throughout his life.

His stats

Musial’s .331/.417/.559 batting line is the stuff of dreams. He batted over .300 17 times, hit more than 30 homers eight times, and collected 200+ hits a stunning 10 times. He also was a defensive asset, playing mostly outfield early in his career before moving to first base later on. He won three World Series titles and was named National League MVP three times.

Why he’s the best

Musial was an extraordinary hitter who could hit for power and average. He was a master at getting on base, as evidenced by his career .379 on-base percentage. He had the ability to hit to all fields and was a nightmare for opposing pitchers. In his 22-year career, Musial compiled a .331 batting average, hit 475 home runs, and drove in 1,951 runs. He also accumulated 3,630 hits, which is good for seventh all-time.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He played for the Detroit Tigers from 1905 to 1928. During his career, he won a batting title twelve times, and was the first player to reach 3,000 hits. He also holds the record for the highest career batting average (.366).

His stats

Cobb played his first Major League game in 1905 and quickly established himself as one of the best players in baseball. He was a gifted hitter and an excellent fielder, leading the league in batting average four times and stealing more than 100 bases three times. His Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1907 and 1908, and Cobb was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1911.

In his 24-year career, Cobb amassed a remarkable 3,033 hits, 1,944 runs scored, and 4,189 total bases. He also stole 897 bases and won 12 batting titles. He retired after the 1928 season with a .366 lifetime batting average, which remains the highest in MLB history.

Why he’s the best

Cobb is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played for 24 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, from 1905 to 1928. In 1936, Cobb received the most votes of any player on the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, receiving 222 out of a possible 226 votes (98.2%). He was also selected as Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player in 1911, 1912, and 1915 – an unprecedented three times. In 1999, editors at Sporting News ranked Ty Cobb third on their list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players”.