Greatest Professional Baseball Players Ever.
While not the biggest baseball fan, I occasionally like watching baseball when the players hit the home run out of the baseball park or arena. To help me appreciate the game, I love reading about the greatest players ever by looking up their impressive resume and accolades. Therefore, I hope everyone enjoys reading my list, which inspire some who are passionate to PLAY BALL.
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Most of Babe Ruth's records have been broken. In 1961, not only did Roger Maris break The Babe's 34-year-old record for most home runs in a season with 61* (2001), but Maris' teammate on the '61 Yankees, pitcher Whitey Ford broke the Babe's 43-year-old record for most scoreless innings pitched in a World Series when the Yankees dispatched the Reds that year in the postseason. (When asked how it felt to have beat the Babe's "other" record, Whitey responded, "It was a bad year for the Babe".)
Though Barry Bonds now holds the record for most home runs in a season (73), most home runs in a career (762), highest slugging percentage, most intentional walks, etc., The Babe still must be considered the greatest player who ever graced the game. In addition to his record 12 home run titles, his 13 slugging titles, his six R.B.I. titles, and his solo batting title (.378 in 1924; The Babe placed in the top five hitters in terms of batting average eight times, including a career high of .393 in 1923, when Harry Heilmann hit .403), The Babe won 18, 23 and 24 games as a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1915, 1916 and 1917, and won the American League E.R.A. title in '16. He set his first home run title in 1918, another year the Sox won the World Series, as a part-time position player and part-time pitcher, notching up 11 homers and nine wins. George Herman Ruth likely will remain the sole player in major league baseball history to win batting, home run, R.B.I., slugging *and* E.R.A. titles, plus eat a dozen hot dogs and drink the better part of a keg of bootleg "needle" beer before suiting up for a game.
From 1914 to 1919, The Babe played for the Boston Red Sox, with whom he appeared on three World's Championship teams. Sold to the New York Yankees by Red Sox owner and theatrical impresario Harry Frazee, he led the-then no pennant American League franchise in Gotham to seven A.L. pennants and four World Series titles from 1920-1934. He played out his string with the Boston Braves in 1935; even a washed-up Babe was still able to pole three circuit clouts in one game before calling it quits after 28 games and six in that last season. The following year, he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Yes, the Babe was mighty, and he did prevail more often than naught except over one opponent: Father Time.
The Babe ended his 22 years in the Big Leagues with 2,873 hits good for a career batting average of .342, 714 home runs, 2,217 R.B.I.s, and 2,174 runs scored in 2,503 games. (From his debut in 1914 through the 1918 season, when he was making his transition to becoming a full time position player, Ruth only appeared in 261 ball games as he was considered the top left-handed pitcher in the American League.) In the record books, Ty Cobb scored more runs and Hank Aaron hit more homers and racked up more R.B.I.s (Interestingly, Hammerin' Hank and The Babe ended their careers with the exact same number of runs scored.), but they played in far more games than the The Babe, with 3,035 and 3,298 games, respectively. Among modern players, Rickey Henderson, who surpassed Cobb's record for runs after 25 years in The Show, played in 3,081 games, and Barry Bonds appeared in almost 3,000 games.
No player ever had the impact, both on and off the field, as did the charismatic Babe. When he died of cancer in 1948, the New York Times headline read, "Babe Ruth/Idol of Millions of Boys/Dead".Babe Ruth is widely considered one of the best baseball players of all time since he won a lot of championships and set a lot of records in baseball. The first player to hit 700 home runs throughout his career by ending up with 714 homers.Babe was also the first player to hit 60 home runs in a season, which paved the way McGwire, Sosa, Griffey, Aaron, and Bonds. His 60 home run record would last for 34 years until it was broke by Roger Maris in 1961. The Sultan Swat is the second all time captain in RBI at 2,213. The consistent player ended up with 2,873 hits. He is also tied with Hank Aaron with runs at 2174, which is among the all time top five list. What some do not know about this remarkable player that he was also an underrated pitcher; he won 23 games in a single twice as an outstanding pitcher. Therefore, he was equally capable in pitching and hitting. He was a 7 time World Series champion who also won the MVP award. This trailblazer also was inducted into MBL Hall of Fame. He is also a twelve time home run champion. While he was an amazing player, he had his flaws since he did not know how to act while playing. His bad behavior prevented him from achieving his dream of managing the Yankees once he retired. Therefore, he lived a controversial life due to alcoholism, womanizing, and giving charity toward children in hospitals, which might have been his greatest passion besides baseball. He was a noble citizen by serving his country in the military during World War II.- Actor
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Willie Mays was born on 6 May 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, USA. He is an actor, known for About Last Night (2014), Ironside (1967) and The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950). He was previously married to Mae Louise Allen and Margherite Wendell Chapman.He is 4th on the list with 660 home runs on his resume. Willie Mays is widely considered as the greatest all round baseball player of all time. In a poll on the top 100 baseballs ever, he was placed at number 2, after Babe Ruth, which meant he is viewed as the greatest living player. This well rounded place was one of the top ten players in career RBI at 1,903. In 1954, he won the World Series ring. He is also a two time winner of the MVP award. He also has 12 Golden Globe awards to his resume. At one time, he hit 4 home runs in a single game; he had battled 50 home runs in a single season two times during his career. He shares the record for most All Star appearances at 24. He is an elite player who is part of the 3,000 hit club by ending up with 3,283 hits. In 1973, he had a trip to the World Series during his final season, which is the way to retire near the top.- Actor
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Baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron did more than hit home runs. Sure, Aaron led the National League (NL) four times, he also was a two-time batting champion and led the league in RBIs four times and runs scored three times. He won the NL's Most Valuable Player award in 1957 and has a lifetime batting average of .305. Aaron got his start playing for the Indianapolis Clowns, of the Negro Leagues before signing on with the Milwaukee Braves. He played at their minor league team in Eau Claire, Wis., one of the first black players there, and was brought up by the Braves in 1954. For the next 23 years, Aaron clobbered Major League pitchers. Never a charismatic player, Aaron often let his bat do the talking. He was the subject of intense media scrutiny in 1973-74 when he approached Babe Ruth's hallowed home run record. Aaron received more than 10,000 letters (most of them hate mail and even death threats) during the off-season claiming he should not break the record. Ever the ultimate professional and gentleman, he ignored the insults and slurs and went about the opening season in 1974. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Ruth's record and in doing so, received the undying support of the fans. He finished with 755 overall before retiring after the 1976 season. Aaron was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1982, and now works in the front office for the Atlanta Braves.After Jackie Robinson, there was Hank Aaron. Hank Aaron is second of all time list of home runs at 755 homers. The king of the swing (a nickname I personally gave him) is the all time leader in runs battled in at 2,297. He also starred in 24 All Star games, which is a record shared with Willie Mays and Stan Musical. He won the baseball MVP award in 1957 the same year he won the World Series with his team. He is one of the few players to have over 500 home runs and 3,000 hits to his resume. He is also on the top five all time list of most runs at 2174, which is tied with Babe Ruth. The man could do no wrong. This hall of famer hit 24 or more home runs every year from 1955 to 1973; this consistent player hit 30 or more home runs every season 15 times. This legendary player also places third in games played at 3,298. Successfully, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor award in 2002.- Barry Bonds was born on July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California. He is known for his outstanding abilities on the baseball diamond, where he has won the National League Most Valuable Player Award three times. While playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates he received a cameo appearance in the baseball film "Rookie of the Year". He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1986 to 1992 and San Francisco Giants, 1993 to 2007. He was one of the highest paid players in Major League Baseball.All time career leader in home runs at 762 homers to his name. BB is along the top leaders in runs battled in (RBI) at 1,996. He is also the record holder for 7 MVPs, which may not be broken anytime soon. He is one of the top leaders in career runs (2227) and (2935) hits. Finally, he hit 73 home runs in a single season in 2001, which is also an all time record. No matter what he did in life, Mr. Bonds ended up doing it big. While he had a great baseball career that most players dreamed of, he also led a controversial life by being involved in a huge steroid scandal in 2007. At first, he storied about using steroid, but then he later came clean by admitting his drug use while playing baseball.
- Jackie Robinson is an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he started at first base for the The Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. When the Dodgers signed Robinson, they heralded the end of racial segregation in professional baseball that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues since the 1880s. Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.While he is the first African American to break the color barrier, he paved the way for other prominent colored players to make their mark in baseball. If it was not for him, there would be no Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Bob Gibson, Willie Mays, and Reggie Jackson. He could do it all in baseball, such as run, hit, and steal, which was why Mr. Robinson was a special talent in the game of baseball. He led his team (Brookyln dodges) to 6 World Series appearance, while winning one in 1954. He also won the 1947 Rookie of the Year award, and he became the first African American to win the MVP award. While he had a great career, he abruptly retired to do other ventures. He became the first African American sport analysis and vice president. He built a National Freedom Bank, which was a African American financial business situated in Harlem, NY. While his baseball career was brief so was his life since he died at 53 years old. In honor of his legacy, he was honored the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian award. There will never be another player quite like Jackie Robinson who raised the bar high for future players.
- Ty Cobb was born on 18 December 1886 in Narrows, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for Somewhere in Georgia (1917), The Baseball Revue of 1917 (1917) and Ty Cobb and Grantland Rice Talk Things Over (1930). He was married to Frances Fairbairn Cass and Charlotte Lombard. He died on 17 July 1961 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.While this gifted player had a brilliant career, he was a highly controversial as a belligerent, temperamental, and racist individual. Despite his mean ways, a lot of people still loved the man because he knew how to play ball. He is a recipient of the MLB MVP award. He has the highest batting average at .367, which is a record that still stands. Ty Cobb is the career leader in games played at 3,035 games; he is also on the top five list of career runs at 2,245. He was one of the all time leaders in most RBI with 1,937. He has the second highest career in hits at 4,191, which is amazing since he was the first player to score 4,000 hits. At the time of his retirement, he set over 100 MLB records, which took decades for many of them to broken. When he was inducted into the hall of fame, he received 222 out of 226 votes, which is the highest number of voters. He probably would have been the first player to receive unanimous HOF voting had he got along with everyone on and off the field.
- Theodore Samuel Williams was born in San Diego, California, on August 30, 1918. He signed a contract at the age of 18 in 1936 with the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He was assigned to their farm team in San Diego. In 1939 he made his Major League Baseball debut, where he set the record for most runs batted in by a rookie with 145. Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941, placing him with baseball's all-time elite. In 1942 Ted won the American League Triple Crown and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he would serve through 1945. In 1946, on his return to baseball, lead the Red Sox to the American League Pennant. The next year he won his 2nd Triple Crown. In 1957 he became the oldest player in history to win a batting crown. Ted retired as a player in 1960, amd hit a homerun in his last at bat. 6 years later he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He became the manager of the Washington Senators in 1969, and resigned three years later in 1972. He is considered by many to be the best hitter in baseball history.Hate him or love him, this controversial player knew how to entertain the fans with his talent. He was a wild card because people did not know what side of Ted Williams they would see. On one hand, he did not care about what people say, but on the other he was sensitive when people gave me negative feedback. Nonetheless, this interesting player won the MVP award twice due to being a consistent power hitter. Due to his hitting abilities, he hit 521 home runs throughout his career. Ted Williams .482 on base percentage is the highest of all time. He was the last player to average .400 in hits, which has not been done since 1941. He was a clutch player who made it to the World Series. While he had a great baseball career, he served in the marines as a pilot on two accounts, in 1941, 1952, and 1953. He appeared in 19 all star games. Due to his accolades, he would eventually be inducted into baseball hall of fame. Since he did charity by giving back to the community, he was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in 1991.
- Stan Musial was born on 21 November 1920 in Donora, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Lillian Labash. He died on 19 January 2013 in Ladue, Missouri, USA.This highly influential player is a three time World Series champ and three time MVP winner. He might have won another ring and MVP award had he not missed a year of baseball to serve his country in the Navy. He dominated the sport like no other since he was the all time leader in hits at 3,630, which is a record that stood for years until beaten by Pete Rose. He was very good power hitter by hitting 475 home runs throughout his career. He placed 6th of all time list with 1,951 RBIs. He was a durable player by playing in 3,026 games, which is one of MLB all time records. This dominant player is appeared in 24 all star games, which is a record shared with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. He was inducted into baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Fans, teammates, and opponents respected Stan Musial for his humble and professional attitude. Due to his legacy on and off the field, President Barack Obama awarded him with the President Medal of Freedom award, which is the highest honor given to a civilian.
- Mickey Charles Mantle was born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, on October 20, 1931, the son of a minor-league player who never made it to the big leagues and named him after Major Leaguer Mickey Cochrane. Mickey's father and grandfather -- who also never made it to the majors -- taught him how to play baseball, but more importantly also taught him how to be a switch-hitter.
Mickey grew up during the Great Depression, which hit Oklahoma especially hard. Times were so tough that the only way to play sports as a kid was to play with friends; there were no organized leagues around back then. It was while playing baseball with his friends that Mickey's astonishing talent for the game made itself evident. When he got into high school he played baseball, basketball and football and excelled at all three. Some thought that he would become a football player when he grew up, but Mickey had known what he wanted to be since the age of five: a baseball player, and nothing else. A devastating knee injury almost ruined his chances of getting into that -- or any other -- sport, and would be the beginning of the knee problems that would plague him throughout his career.
He was drafted into the minors at age 18, and while in the Yankee farm system his astounding talent was so obvious that he was jumped from the Class C division directly to the Yankee team itself. When he got there he was given #6, because Yankee management thought he would be the next "superstar" and in line with the other Yankee greats: Babe Ruth (#3), Lou Gehrig (#4), Joe DiMaggio (#5). Mick didn't do well, however, and was sent back down to the minors. After a couple of lackluster games he told his dad he was going to quit, but after giving it some thought he decided to stick with it and soon began to hit again. He was recalled back to the Yankee team (and given #7 this time), and that was when the Mickey Mantle of legend was born. He started in right field before DiMaggio left. During the 1951 World Series Mickey stepped into a water drain in the outfield, a serious injury that affected his playing from that point on.
In his 18-year career he set (and broke) numerous records and, as he himself has said, if he had taken better care of himself -- most of his home runs were hit while he was injured -- he would have broken every record in the book. Even his injuries and his penchant for hard drinking were no match for his mind-boggling talent -- he once hit a home run with one arm, and has admitted that many of his homers were hit while he was not only injured but drunk and / or hung over. In his later years he came to regret the chances he had and missed because of his drinking and partying. He even made a public service message to the kids who idolized him, recounting the kinds of things he had done and the mistakes he had made, and telling them, "Don't be like me." It's doubtful if there ever can be anyone like him; someone like Mickey Mantle comes along only once in a lifetime. He died August 13, 1995 at the age of 64.This superb player is thought of as the greatest switch player of all time, and one of the all time greats in baseball. He helped his team make 12 trips to the World Series where he won them 7 rings. His legendary accolade includes him hitting 536 home runs throughout his career. His resume also includes him winning the MVP award three times as well as the Golden Globe title. Before Reggie Jackson or Derek Jeter, Mr. Mantle was a clutch player since he has the record for most home runs during the World Series at 18. He was also Mr. Clutch since he is the all time leader (tied with Jim Thome) in walkoff home runs with 13 (12 during regular season and 1 for postseason). While he was a incredible player, he admitted to suffer from alcoholism, which caused him to briefly lost respect from his fans. However, he gave their trust back when he gave a speech by asking forgiveness for his drinking problem. In fact, he said "while I am a role model, don't be like me." At the end of the day, MM was inducted into baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 due to his contributions to baseball. - Lou Gehrig is remembered as baseball's "Iron Horse" and used to own the major league record for the 2,130 consecutive games that he played for the New York Yankees between 1925 and 1939, where he had a .340 career batting average, making him one of the greatest hitters of all time. Henry Louis Gehrig was born in the Yorkville section of Manhattan, New York City on June 19, 1903. His parents, Heinrich and Christina Gehrig, were German immigrants. Of their four children, Lou was the only one who survived to adulthood. Growing up as a mama's boy, Lou lived with his parents until he married at the age of 30. Lou attended New York public schools, including the High School of Commerce, where he excelled in baseball, football and swimming. In his senior year, Lou's school won New York's public school baseball championship. They played Chicago's best high school team at Wrigley Field in 1920. The game was a portrait of what was to come: with the bases loaded and two outs in the 9th inning, Lou crushed a 3-2 pitch over the right field to win the game. To fulfill his parents' dream, Lou enrolled at New York's Columbia University in 1922. Because he had briefly played for a professional baseball club the preceding summer, Lou was barred from athletic competitions at Columbia for a year. After sitting out the year, Lou started on the college's baseball and football squads, earning him the nickname "Columbia Lou." When his father lost his job and his mother fell ill, Lou decided to leave college for a professional baseball career. In June 1923, the New York Yankees signed him to a minor league contract. He was assigned to the team's Hartford, Connecticut, farm club where he played for two seasons. Lou was then inserted into the Yankee lineup on June 1, 1925 substituting for their regular first baseman, Wally Pipp. For the next 14 years, Lou did not miss a single game. Even though Lou made an immediate impression in the majors, leading the American League with 20 triples in his second season, it was in 1927 that this six-foot, 210-pound left-hander blossomed as a slugger. He challenged teammate Babe Ruth for the league's home run title. By the end of the season, Lou had hit 47 home runs to Babe Ruth's 60, earning second place. That year, Lou hit .373 and set a major league record by racking up 175 RBIs. Not surprisingly, Lou was voted the league's Most Valuable Player. He also helped the Yankees to win the 1927 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. True to his form, Lou had almost decided to sit out the entire series to stay by his ill mother's side. For the next 13 consecutive seasons, Lou knocked more than 100 home runs, and slugged 46 home runs with 184 RBIs in 1931. On June 3, 1932, Lou hit four home runs in one game against the Philadelphia Athletics, setting another major league record. In 1933, Lou married Eleanor Twitchell, who helped him withstand the rigors of professional baseball. On the eve of his 2,000th consecutive game in 1938, Eleanor suggested that Lou was getting compulsive about the streak and advised him to end his career at 1,999 games. Despite his wife's good intentions, Lou would not be deterred and appeared there and at 130 more games. During 1939 spring training Lou began to experience weakness and problems with coordination. On May 2, 1939, Lou's consecutive game streak finally ended when he removed himself from the team. Suspecting something more than his training was making him feel worn out, Lou entered the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for health tests and on June 19, 1939, his 36th birthday, Lou was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare incurable muscular disorder which causes the muscular motor functions to degenerate, resulting in atrophying muscles, which in turn can lead to paralysis and ultimately death. New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named Lou the city's parole commissioner upon his retirement from baseball in 1939, a job he held until his declining health confided him to his bed in early 1941. Lou Gehrig finally passed away from ALS on June 2, 1941 at the age of 37. His universal renown was so great that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis later became known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.Lou Gehris was nicknamed the Iron House due to his durability by playing 17 seasons without missing a lot of games. More importantly, he won the World Series 6 times, has 493 career home runs, and won the MVP twice. Mr. durable was 3rd in career RBI at 1,995. He has the honor of being the first player to have his uniform retired. He was inducted into the Baseball HOF in 1939. He is considered the greatest first baseman of all time. In addition, this gifted player hit 4 home runs in one game in 1932. Unfortunately, he had to retire early at the age of 36 due to suffering from ALS, which is a painful condition commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease. His ALS was so severe that he died prematurely at the sensitive age of 38. While he is no longer with us, his legacy will leave on forever.
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Joe DiMaggio was simply the greatest all-around baseball player of his era. As a New York baseball legend, "The Yankee Clipper" succeeded superstars Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and preceded Mickey Mantle. In his 13 year career from 1936 to 1951 (which was interrupted by three years spent in the Army during World War Two from 1943-45), DiMaggio won three Most Valuable Player awards and was named to the All-Star team thirteen times.
His 1936 Yankees team won the World Series his freshman year, as it did in 1937, '38 and '39. The four straight wins was a record that would be surpassed by the Yankees team of 1949-53, of which "Joltin' Joe was a member for their first three World Championships, retiring after the 1951 season due to incredible pain that he had stoically endured. Ultimately, he played in 10 World Series, of which the Yankees won an incredible nine. (Only Yogi Berra, his teammate from 1946-51, appeared on more world champions, winning 10 rings in 14 World Series.)
DiMaggio is the possessor of what many consider the one batting record that will never be breached: consecutive games hitting. From May 15 to July 17, 1941, he hit in 56 straight games. DiMaggio beat out the great Ted Williams of the Red Sox for the MVP award that year, even though Ted hit .406. DiMaggio also beat Williams for the MVP in 1947, when "The Slendid Splinter" won his second Triple Crown the year after he had led the Red Sox to their first World Series since Babe Ruth was a pitcher and utility outfielder for the BoSox in 1918. It was the tightest MVP contest in history not ending in a tie: DiMaggio racked up 202 points with eight first place votes while "Teddy Ballgame" collected 201 points with three first place votes. Such was the respect for DiMaggio, whose team won the pennant and the World Series, that he won over a Triple Crown winner! DiMaggio was a flawless outfielder, and considered the major cog that made the Yankees winners. He was the consummate team player in an era (the Depression and World War II) in which cooperation was emphasized to beat the economic doldrums and global fascism. Williams, in contrast, was fabled as a non-conformist and individualist derided for "playing for himself", playing to boost his statistics rather than "taking one for the team". He would not shake the negative associations of not being a "team player" and not winning a World Series until after the Youth Revolution of the 1960s made conformity passé and nonconformity the norm.
In the 1940s, he was easily the most popular man in what was then justifiably called "America's National Pastime". His popularity was so great that the U.S. Army would not let him go overseas during the war, lest he be killed or captured, and thus damage American morale. In 1949, DiMaggio signed with the first six-figure contract in the history of Major League Baseball, when the Yankees signed him for $100,000 per year. That year he was hampered by the bone spurs that would end his career prematurely. Despite excruciating pain, an injured DiMaggio came back from the disabled list to face the Red Sox, who had nearly won the pennant the year previously (losing in a one-game playoff to the Cleveland Indians) and were up by one game with two games left to play against the Yankees.
His injuries would limit him to 76 games that year, but he came back for the series. The torrid hitting of DiMaggio led the Yankees over the BoSox in both games, capturing the pennant (and the first of a record five straight World Series titles) for rookie Yankees manager Casey Stengel. In an era of genuine heroes, DiMaggio was the epitome of the genre. Such was his unique status that he retired after a mediocre 1951 season, in which he hit only .263 with 12 homers and 71 RBIs in 113 games (after hitting .301 with 32 homers and 122 RBIs in 139 games the previous year). Joe DiMaggio did not want to become an average player, playing out his string. He wanted to go out a champion, and he did.
DiMaggio played his entire career in Yankee Stadium, the "House that Ruth Built", so called not only due to the Babe's great popularity, but also because the park was tailored to his left-handed power. DiMaggio was a right-handed hitter in a park that was death to righties: left-center field at Yankee Stadium in 1937 was 457 feet deep (whereas now, it is 399 feet deep). As DiMaggio and Ted Williams aged, it became dogma that while Williams was the better hitter, DiMaggio was the better all-around player. However, it is interesting to note that outside of their home ballparks, DiMaggio out-hit Williams.
In 1969, a poll conducted to coincide with the centennial of major league baseball ranked him as baseball's greatest living player. The great Joe DiMaggio, whom many believe was the most perfect and most complete ballplayer of all time, would continue to be legendary, even if he had not married Marilyn Monroe.Before Willie Mayes, Mr. DiMaggio was considered the most well rounded player in baseball who could do it all. This total package player is the all time leader in 56 game hitting streak, which is a record that still stands many years later. His accolades also includes being a 3 time MVP winner as well as a the recipient to 9 World Series rings. Finally, he was a good batter by hitting 361 home runs throughout his career.- Pete Rose was born on 14 April 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for Babe Ruth (1991), WrestleMania XIV (1998) and Arli$$ (1996). He was previously married to Carol Woliung and Karolyn Rose.Pete Rose first made his mark by winning Rookie of the Year award. Famous for his 44 hit streak and his unparalleled 4,256 career hit record. In addition, this talented switch hitter won 3 World Series ring, 1975 MVP award, and won 1973 World Series MVP. He was also the first player to appeared in all star games on 5 different teams. PR is also the all time leader in games played at 3,562. He appeared in 17 all star games. It is a shame that his legacy might be tarnished due to him gambling on a baseball game, which will prevent him for being inducted in HOF.
- Sandy Koufax was born on 30 December 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Michael Shayne (1960) and Shotgun Slade (1959). He has been married to Jane Purucker Clarke since 2008. He was previously married to Kimberly Francis and Anne Heath Widmark.This legendary baseball player is a legendary 4 time World Series champion who is also a two time World Series MVP. He is also one of the rare players to pitch a perfect game. He was also a great player throughout the season by winning the MVP. While he had a successful career, it was cut short when he suffered from arthritis in his arrow, which prevented him from dominating the sport even more. He had to retire at the premature age of 30. However, despite his relatively short career, he is widely celebrated as one of the greatest players ever.
- Bob Gibson was born on 9 November 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. He was married to Wendy Nelson and Charline Johnson. He died on 2 October 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.This successful player was a two time World Series winner as well as two time World Series MVP. Bob dominated the game like it was nobody business since he won 251 games, which is among the best in MLB history. He was a recipient of a MVP award in 1968. In a nutshell, he dominated the sport in the mid to late 60s. He is the second player to join the 3,000 strike out club with Walter Johnson in the 1974. He was a versatile athlete who briefly joined the Harlem Globetrotters while playing baseball simultaneously.
- Rogers Hornsby was born on 27 April 1896 in Winters, Texas, USA. He was married to Marjorie Bernice Frederick, Jeanette Pennington Hine and Sarah Martin. He died on 5 January 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.This dominant player was the winner of two MVP awards; he was also the champion on a winning World Series team. Throughout his legendary career, he hit 301 home runs, and had the second highest batting average at .358. He was just shy of joining the 3,000 hit club since he batted 2,930 hits. He remains the only player to hit 40 home runs while having a batting average of .400. His batting average of .424 for the season is the highest hitting average in MLB history. While he was a great baseball player, he had a reputation for causing commotion with his teammates due to his quarrelsome nature. However, he lived a highly structured live by not drinking, smoking, or even attending the movie theater.
- Cy Young was born on 29 March 1867 in Gilmore, Ohio, USA. He was married to Robba Miller. He died on 4 November 1955 in Newcomerstown, Ohio, USA.Cy Young is the all time leader in having the most game victories in baseball history at 511. In 1903, he won the World Series. The talented pitched ended up pitching a perfect game in 1904, which is a huge deal since it is rare for pitchers to do. The legendary player also holds record for games started at 815, fourth on list in shutout at 74, innings pitch at 7,355, and most games completed at 749.
- Walter Johnson was born on 13 November 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He died on 30 June 1999 in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, USA.Walter Johnson has the second most game victories in MLB history at 417 game winnings. His dominance was also demonstrated by being the first player to join the 3,000 strike out club, which was a record that stood for over 50 years. The Big Train (his nickname) is also the career leader by having 110 shutouts to his name. He was just all about big numbers either as he won the World Series in 1924 against the Yankees. Finally, he was likeable player noted for his good sportsmanship by being cool, calm, and collected on the field.
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Extremely likable and popular, Ernie Banks is probably the most popular baseball player to ever put on a Chicago Cubs uniform. He started playing for the Cubs in 1953 and from the moment he hit his first home run, the city of Chicago fell in love with him. Banks started his career as a shortstop before moving to first base. He had four straight seasons of 40 or more home runs and was the National League's Most Valuable Player two consecutive seasons. Banks ended up with a career total of 512 home runs and was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.He is considered one of the best players ever since he hit 512 home runs. He was also a two time MVP winner who also won the Golden Glove award. Due to his sunny disposition, he was a likeable player who was described as one of the nicest people on and off the field. He recently died on January 23, 2015 at the age of 83. Rest In Peace to the baseball legend and hall of famer.- Reggie Jackson is a baseball Hall of Famer nicknamed "Mr. October" because of his great World Series status. He hit 3 homeruns in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, the most homeruns ever by one player in a World Series game. He currently works for the New York YankeesHe was called Mr. October for his clutching abilities whenever his team entered the playoffs or World Series. He is a five time World Series champion as well as a two time World Series MVP. Successfully, he became the best player in the league by winning the MVP award. He was a brilliant batter by hitting up to 563 home runs in his illustrious career. He is best remember for hitting 3 consecutive home runs during the 1977 World Series. Therefore, he is regarded as one of the most successful, consistent, and greatest ball player of all time.
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Derek Jeter was born on 26 June 1974 in Pequannock, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Other Guys (2010), Anger Management (2003) and History's Greatest Warriors. He has been married to Hannah Jeter since 9 July 2016. They have four children.He is one of the most celebrated and decorated players of all time. Check out his impressive resume. Straight out of high school, he had won the Rookie of the Year since he helped his team win the World Series. (He is the baseball version of Magic Johnson since he is also a five time champion who won the championship during his rookie season). He is a 5 time World Series champion who was named World Series MVP in 2000. Due to his five World Series rings, he was nicknamed Mr. Clutch or Mr. November for playing at a high level under pressure. He is the all time Yankee leader in hits (3465), games played (2747), and much more. This superstar made 14 All star appearances by winning the All star MVP award once. He is one of the elite players to win World Series MVP and All star MVP. While he did not win MLB MVP, he did finish third during his 1998 season with the Yankees. He is regarded as a true professional player who treated his teammates and opponents with respect whether he won or lost.- Producer
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Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez was born on July 27, 1975 in Manhattan, New York City, New York and raised in Miami, Florida to Lourdes Nelly Navarro & Victor Rodríguez Castillo. He played 7 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, 3 seasons with the Texas Rangers & 12 seasons with the New York Yankees. He's now the chairman & CEO of A-Rod Corp as well as the chairman of Presidente beer.This controversial star is widely considered one of the best baseball players of all time. In 1996, he finished 2nd in MVP voting at the age of 21; had he won MVP in 96, he might have been the youngest player to do so. However, he is the recipient of 3 MVP awards as well as being a World Series champion in 2009. He is 5th on the all time in home runs by having 654 to his name. He is not too far behind from joining the 3,000 club by having 2,939 hits. Moreover, he is fourth in all time RBI at 1,969. A Rod is the youngest player to hit 500 and 600 home runs, which he did in 2007 and 2010. He gained controversy for being part of the steroid scandal, which caused him to miss out on the 2013 and 2014 seasons. If he was involved with steroids, his status would have been far greater; he might have hit 700 career home runs and 3,000 career hits by now.- Jimmie Foxx was born on 22 October 1907 in Sudlersville, Maryland, USA. He was married to Dorothy Anderson Yard and Helen M Heite. He died on 21 July 1967 in Miami, Florida, USA.This three time MVP award winner hit a career total of 534 home runs. JF was 8th in RBI category with 1,922. He was the second player after Babe Ruth to hit 500 or homers; he was also the youngest player to reach 500 home runs, which lasted for 68 years until it was eclipsed by A Rod in 2007. He is also a two World Series champion.
- Sammy Sosa, who grew up in the slums of the Dominican Republic, has quickly emerged as one of the most beloved athletes in baseball. During the 1998 season, Sosa was right behind Mark McGwire for the record owned by Roger Maris of 61 home runs. Unfortunately, Sosa only led in home runs for just about two hours all season. Prior to his final home game of the season, the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois declared the day as Sammy Sosa Day.Sammy Sosa received recognition for batting Mark McGwire in chasing Roger Maris' home run record (61) in 1998. In the end, McGwire finished with 70 homers while Sosa ended with 66, which was a close race. While McGwire won the home run battle, he did not win the home run war; Sosa ended up with 609 homers while McGwire finished with 583. He is the only player to hit 60 or more home runs in a single season three times. He won the MVP award in 1998.
- Nolan Ryan was born on 31 January 1947 in Refugio, Texas, USA. He is a producer, known for Facing Nolan (2022), Ryan's Hope (1975) and 1969 National League Championship Series (1969). He has been married to Ruth Ryan since 26 June 1967. They have three children.This dominating player holds the record for most strikes at 5,714 who also won the World Series in 1990. On top of that, he was a durable player by having the longest career ever by playing professional baseball for 27 years. If that is not enough, he was one of the fast pitchers ever since he threw fast balls at 100 mph, which were even recorded into his 40s.
- Greg Maddux was born on 14 April 1966 in San Angelo, Texas, USA. He is an actor, known for Bored Games (2024), 2001 National League Championship Series (2001) and 1993 National League Championship Series (1993). He has been married to Kathy Ronnow since 7 January 1989. They have two children.This highly successful joins an elite group of players to pitch 3,000 strike outs while winning over 300 games in his career. He was a consistent player who won over 355 games, which is 8th on the list of most games won. His dominance was evident since he won 18 Golden Globe award, which is an all time record. The Mad Dog or Professor is the first player to win four consecutive Cy Young awards. Greg Maddux won the World Series in 1995. Best of all, he was inducted into baseball HOF on his first year of eligibility in January of 2014.
- Rickey Henderson was born on 25 December 1958 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for 1999 National League Championship Series (1999), 1992 American League Championship Series (1992) and MC Hammer: 2 Legit 2 Quit (1991). He has been married to Pam Palmer since 1983. They have three children.The Man of Steel, Rickey's nickname, is deemed as the greatest baserunner and leadoff hitter ever. He is the all time leader in career runs at 2295. Get a load of this. He has the distinct honor of breaking Ty Cobb 2245 career run record, which stood untouched for a number of years. He was a good hit who hit 297 home runs. This decorated player also has 3,055 hits to his resume. He is the recipient of 2 World Series rings, and MVP award, Golden Globe award. Perhaps, his proudest moment is being inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 2009, which was also the same year Michael Jordan was inducted into NBA HOF.
- Ken Griffey Jr. is considered by many experts to be the best player in baseball. He hit 49 homeruns in '96 and he missed quite a few games due to injury. He is not currently working on anything, except for his part ownership in the All-Star Cafe.Ken Griffey Jr is one of the best players ever since he hit 630 home runs, which is the sixth most HR in baseball players. While he was respected by fans, his legendary status is occasionally overshadowed by his hostile demeanor. Nonetheless, he won the MVP award in 1997. He also ties the record for most consecutive games in hitting a home run at 8. While he was a prolific batter, he was also a skillful defender by winning 10 Golden Globe awards. He was marketable athlete who helped sport regained its popularity after the controversial labor strike in 1994.
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Darryl Strawberry was born on 12 March 1962 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Gen. Sex (2024), The Game 365 (2006) and 1996 American League Championship Series (1996). He has been married to Tracy Boulware since 1 October 2006. He was previously married to Charisse Strawberry and Lisa Andrews.Before he found Jesus as an ordained minister, he dominated the field as a four time World Series champion. The 6' 6" giant was also a fierce battler who hit 335 home runs throughout his career. Finally, this talented player had won Rookie of the Year.- Jim Thome was born on 27 August 1970 in Peoria, Illinois, USA. He has been married to Andrea Pacione since 7 November 1998. They have two children.Jim Thome is one of the best players ever since he hit 612 home runs throughout his career, which mean he was a great power hitter. His abilities as a power hitter paid over since he lead his team to two World Series appearances in the mid 90s. This consistent player hit 40 or more home runs in 6 different seasons; at one point, he lead the league in home runs with 47 home runs. He also shares the record with walkoff home runs with 13, which means he got the job done as a clutch player. While he is a great player, he is also a great individual who got all with everybody due to his outgoing personality.
- Mark McGwire was born on 1 October 1963 in Pomona, California, USA. He is an actor, known for Mad About You (1992), 1992 American League Championship Series (1992) and The Simpsons (1989). He has been married to Stephanie Slemer since 20 April 2002. They have five children. He was previously married to Kathlene Hughes.Mark McGwire is one of the greatest batters of all time. He was the first rookie to hit 49 home runs in a season. First player to have 70 home runs in a season, but surprisingly he didn't win rookie of the year. He hit 583 home runs throughout his career. McGwire is also a 2 time World Series champion.
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Deion Sanders is an American former professional football and baseball player who is a sports analyst.
He played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, The Washington Redskins, and the Baltimore Ravens. He had a part-time career in baseball as an outfielder for nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), where he played professionally for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants. Sanders won two Super Bowl titles and made one World Series appearance in 1992, making him the only individual to appear in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.While he may be noted more for his football career, the multitalented Sanders ended having a decent baseball career as well. He remains the only player to play in a Super Bowl and World Series event, which means he was a one in a million athlete who could do it all. He is a one of a kind athlete who hit a home run, and scored a touchdown during the single week in 1989.- Bo Jackson was born on Nov. 30, 1962, in Bessemer, Alabama He was a 6' 1", 222 pounds tailback. He graduated from McAdory High School in McCalla, Ala., and attended Auburn from 1982-85. He went on to play football for the Los Angeles Raiders and baseball for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox, and the California Angels. Jackson made a name for himself as a two sport star. A serious hip injury in early 90s ended his football career. Jackson managed to return to baseball until his retirement.He is the first athlete to be named All star in two different sports, which were football and baseball. According to ESPN, he was voted as the greatest athlete due to his athletic ability. In the NFL, he rushed for more than 2,700 yards while hitting 141 home runs during his baseball career.
- Known for his hitting prowess on offense and his strong, accurate throwing arm on defense, Roberto Clemente carved out a Hall of Fame career over his 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, compiling a .317 lifetime batting average and collecting an even 3,000 hits. He was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1966 and was voted MVP of the 1971 World Series in which the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles. He was killed in a mission-of-mercy plane crash while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake-stricken Nicaragua. Clemente was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1973, only the second player to have had the required five-year waiting period before being eligible waived.This extraordinary player won the World Series ring twice, the MVP, and World Series MVP. He was a special talent since he was the first Puerto Rican and Caribbean to dominated the game long before A Rod and Sammy Sosa made their marks. He became the first Hispanic player to join the 3,000 club when he scored his 3,000th hit. He was a great defender by winning the Golden Glove award twelve times. While he was an above average player, he was also a charitable person who donated a lot of his time giving food to homeless people. In fact, he love giving back to the community so much that he died in a plane crash on News Eve in 1972 during an earthquake. Due to his heroic efforts on and off the field, he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame, which changed the five year eligibility rule to six months instead.
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Josh Gibson is known for Weddings Away: Cayman Islands (2006), Bloodline (2004) and 5 Takes: Pacific Rim (2006).Before Jackie Robinson, there was Josh Gibson. This underrated player did not play in the Major League Baseball since he was African American. However, he did not led the color of his skin stopped him from performing at a high level in other baseball leagues. He played in the Negro Baseball league where people called him the "Black Babe Ruth" since he was the best player in the league for several years. According to Negro League statics, Josh supposedly hit 800 home runs, 84 home runs in a season, and his hitting average was greater than .400. He had a slugging percentage average that exceeded .1000. Since he was a tremendous power hit, he frequently hit balls that measured at 575 feet. Sadly, he had died at 35 in 1947, which was 90 days when Jackie Robinson made history as the first African American to play professional baseball. Had he lived longer, Gibson might have followed Robinson's foot step as the second colored player to play pro ball. While he was the greatest player to never play pro ball, he may very well be the greatest player in Negro League history.- Thurman Munson was born on 7 June 1947 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was married to Diane Dominick. He died on 2 August 1979 in Canton, Ohio, USA.This dominating figure changed the game of baseball by becoming the first and only Yankee to win Rookie of the Year and MVP award. He lead his team to three straight World Series appearances, while winning the last two. He was viewed as "the heart and soul" of the Yankees who became the first captain since Lou Gehrig. Alas, his career and life was cut short, when he died in a plane crash. While he is in earth, his memories as a versatile player will live in the fan's heart for years to came.