The Great Debate! Who Are the 5 Best Baseball Players of All Time?

January 14, 2020

Care to take a swing at naming the best baseball players of all time?

There are so many players that have covered all the bases of what makes a great athlete. The debate could go on forever, but this article will narrow it down to five professional baseball players that really knocked it out of the park during their careers.

Whether it’s batting average, the number of home runs, or just being able to lift their team to championships, here are 5 of the greatest MLB players of all time, in no particular order…

1. Ted Williams

This iconic player led in many ways – for one, he still holds the highest single-season batting average (.406) in the modern era. He also has the highest on-base percentage (an amazing .482).

That on-base percentage wasn’t just about the number of times he hit his way to bases. He also had a sharp eye and took a lot of walks during his career, more than 2,000 to be more precise.

2. Babe Ruth

This name is synonymous with professional baseball. He set the bar for home runs to a new level in the 1920 season, smashing 54 balls out of the park, a number that was unheard of at the time.

He consistently led or tied the league in home runs, but he also hit for average – ending his career at a very impressive .342.

While Ruth is well-known for his ability at the plate, some may not know he also shone on the mound. He had an amazing 2.28 ERA as a pitcher during 1916/1917.

3. Willie Mays

This is another name that almost always comes up when discussing the best of the best. Mays was a triple threat of power hitting, getting on base, and impressive performance as a centerfielder.

Mays sits in the top 10 of sluggers with 660 career home runs, while still maintaining a career batting average over .300.

He is also known for a famous over-the-shoulder catch that helped his team during the World Series.

4. Barry Bonds

Retiring a lot more recently (2007) than the other players mentioned so far, Bonds left a mark on the league that won’t soon be forgotten.

He smashed Hank Aaron’s home run record in 2001 by knocking 73 balls over the fence. He ended his career with the most home runs of any player at 762. Because he was so feared by pitchers, he would often get intentionally walked by pitchers.

Bonds also added his speed to the mix, with more than 500 steals in his career. He also earned multiple Golden Glove awards for his ability in the outfield.

5. Hank Aaron

Second, in all-time home runs with 755, he also managed to finish his storied career with a batting average over .300.

He is also known for his consistency, never dropping below 24 home runs in a season between 1955 to 1973. It shows you what you can achieve when you learn the proper batting stance.