2017-71
50. Donnie Baseball and Will the Thrill
Don Mattingly’s back problems took away his power after four great seasons and robbed him of his Hall of Fame ticket, but he was a legitimate #1 for a couple of years. In 1987 Jack Clark played only 131 games, but drew 136 walks and hit 35 homers. The Cardinal offense that year was Jack Clark and seven leadoff men—and it worked. No one else on the team hit more than 12 home runs, and only one player (Ozzie Smith) hit .300, but the Cardinals were second in the league in runs scored and won 95 games:
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1985
|
1
|
35
|
145
|
.324
|
.939
|
30.37
|
|
Keith
|
Hernandez
|
1985
|
2
|
10
|
91
|
.309
|
.814
|
28.14
|
|
Mike
|
Schmidt
|
1985
|
3
|
33
|
93
|
.277
|
.907
|
28.12
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1985
|
4
|
31
|
124
|
.297
|
.906
|
27.77
|
|
Jack
|
Clark
|
1985
|
5
|
22
|
87
|
.281
|
.895
|
22.50
|
|
Alvin
|
Davis
|
1985
|
6
|
18
|
78
|
.287
|
.822
|
20.72
|
|
Kent
|
Hrbek
|
1985
|
7
|
21
|
93
|
.278
|
.795
|
20.63
|
|
Leon
|
Durham
|
1985
|
8
|
21
|
75
|
.282
|
.822
|
19.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1986
|
1
|
31
|
113
|
.352
|
.967
|
31.88
|
|
Keith
|
Hernandez
|
1986
|
2
|
13
|
83
|
.310
|
.859
|
27.65
|
|
Von
|
Hayes
|
1986
|
3
|
19
|
98
|
.305
|
.859
|
23.58
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1986
|
4
|
17
|
84
|
.305
|
.859
|
23.56
|
|
Pete
|
O'Brien
|
1986
|
5
|
23
|
90
|
.290
|
.854
|
20.59
|
|
Glenn
|
Davis
|
1986
|
6
|
31
|
101
|
.265
|
.837
|
20.39
|
|
Alvin
|
Davis
|
1986
|
7
|
18
|
72
|
.271
|
.799
|
20.29
|
|
Kent
|
Hrbek
|
1986
|
8
|
29
|
91
|
.267
|
.831
|
20.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
|
Clark
|
1987
|
1
|
35
|
106
|
.286
|
1.055
|
29.93
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1987
|
2
|
30
|
115
|
.327
|
.937
|
29.33
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1987
|
3
|
35
|
91
|
.308
|
.951
|
27.27
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1987
|
4
|
49
|
118
|
.289
|
.987
|
26.37
|
|
Dwight
|
Evans
|
1987
|
5
|
34
|
123
|
.305
|
.986
|
24.57
|
|
Kent
|
Hrbek
|
1987
|
6
|
34
|
90
|
.285
|
.934
|
23.07
|
|
Wally
|
Joyner
|
1987
|
7
|
34
|
117
|
.285
|
.894
|
22.33
|
|
Von
|
Hayes
|
1987
|
8
|
21
|
84
|
.277
|
.877
|
22.16
|
Will Clark’s story is similar to Mattingly’s; he was a truly great player for a few years, but was stopped by injuries. I think the most serious problem was bone chips in the elbow. . .damaged the elbows, and he was never quite the same player afterward.
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1988
|
1
|
29
|
109
|
.282
|
.894
|
34.05
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1988
|
2
|
32
|
99
|
.260
|
.830
|
26.68
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1988
|
3
|
18
|
88
|
.311
|
.816
|
25.78
|
|
George
|
Brett
|
1988
|
4
|
24
|
103
|
.306
|
.898
|
23.77
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1988
|
5
|
34
|
82
|
.282
|
.928
|
23.13
|
|
Alvin
|
Davis
|
1988
|
6
|
18
|
69
|
.295
|
.875
|
22.07
|
|
Glenn
|
Davis
|
1988
|
7
|
30
|
99
|
.271
|
.818
|
21.98
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1988
|
8
|
28
|
84
|
.284
|
.836
|
21.84
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1989
|
1
|
23
|
111
|
.333
|
.953
|
37.84
|
|
Jack
|
Clark
|
1989
|
2
|
26
|
94
|
.242
|
.869
|
28.11
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1989
|
3
|
36
|
92
|
.269
|
.924
|
27.08
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1989
|
4
|
33
|
95
|
.231
|
.806
|
24.72
|
|
Pedro
|
Guerrero
|
1989
|
5
|
17
|
117
|
.311
|
.868
|
24.61
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1989
|
6
|
23
|
113
|
.303
|
.828
|
22.90
|
|
Alvin
|
Davis
|
1989
|
7
|
21
|
95
|
.305
|
.920
|
22.75
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1989
|
8
|
20
|
88
|
.247
|
.743
|
22.39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1990
|
1
|
19
|
95
|
.295
|
.805
|
31.75
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1990
|
2
|
35
|
88
|
.300
|
.930
|
27.07
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1990
|
3
|
39
|
108
|
.235
|
.859
|
25.56
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1990
|
4
|
26
|
95
|
.330
|
.934
|
25.56
|
|
Cecil
|
Fielder
|
1990
|
5
|
51
|
132
|
.277
|
.969
|
23.59
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1990
|
6
|
14
|
89
|
.319
|
.829
|
22.04
|
|
George
|
Brett
|
1990
|
7
|
14
|
87
|
.329
|
.902
|
21.90
|
|
Jack
|
Clark
|
1990
|
8
|
25
|
62
|
.266
|
.974
|
21.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1991
|
1
|
29
|
116
|
.301
|
.895
|
32.21
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1991
|
2
|
31
|
106
|
.278
|
.890
|
26.48
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1991
|
3
|
26
|
88
|
.322
|
.922
|
24.98
|
|
Cecil
|
Fielder
|
1991
|
4
|
44
|
133
|
.261
|
.860
|
23.39
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1991
|
5
|
22
|
75
|
.201
|
.714
|
22.17
|
|
John
|
Kruk
|
1991
|
6
|
21
|
92
|
.294
|
.851
|
22.04
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1991
|
7
|
15
|
82
|
.294
|
.824
|
21.27
|
|
Wally
|
Joyner
|
1991
|
8
|
21
|
96
|
.301
|
.848
|
20.28
|
Whereas Mattingly’s injuries clearly did cost him a Hall of Fame career, I kind of think that Will Clark may have done enough, before the injuries, that he should be elected. We’ll leave that argument for another time. Another point about Clark was that he may have had the greatest last two months of his career in baseball history. He closed his career with a 51-game stint for the Cardinals in which he hit .345 with a 1.081 OPS. Even David Ortiz didn’t play THAT well the last two months of his career. Clark was only 36 when he retired. I always thought that he quit because he was competing with players who were taking steroids and HGH and drugs that didn’t even have a name, and he didn’t want to take the drugs he would have to take to stay ahead of those guys.
51. May 27, 1968
You probably know, I am guessing, that the two 1994 Most Valuable Players, Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell, were born on the same day. They have similar profiles as hitters—right-handed first basemen with tremendous numbers of walks, high averages and power. Bagwell was much faster than Thomas; frankly many of you are much faster than Frank Thomas. Thomas was the greater player the first half of his career, probably Bagwell was the second half.
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1992
|
1
|
24
|
115
|
.323
|
.975
|
32.32
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1992
|
2
|
16
|
73
|
.300
|
.860
|
27.79
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1992
|
3
|
35
|
104
|
.286
|
.950
|
26.63
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1992
|
4
|
18
|
96
|
.273
|
.812
|
26.44
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1992
|
5
|
42
|
104
|
.268
|
.970
|
25.48
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1992
|
6
|
22
|
85
|
.268
|
.786
|
25.33
|
|
John
|
Kruk
|
1992
|
7
|
10
|
70
|
.323
|
.881
|
22.15
|
|
Cecil
|
Fielder
|
1992
|
8
|
35
|
124
|
.244
|
.783
|
20.71
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1993
|
1
|
41
|
128
|
.317
|
1.033
|
32.38
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1993
|
2
|
24
|
107
|
.363
|
1.072
|
29.61
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1993
|
3
|
37
|
105
|
.295
|
.926
|
27.28
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1993
|
4
|
20
|
88
|
.320
|
.903
|
26.45
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1993
|
5
|
37
|
101
|
.291
|
.924
|
24.84
|
|
Mickey
|
Tettleton
|
1993
|
6
|
32
|
110
|
.245
|
.864
|
23.38
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1993
|
7
|
14
|
73
|
.283
|
.799
|
22.00
|
|
Mark
|
Grace
|
1993
|
8
|
14
|
98
|
.325
|
.867
|
20.97
|
|
John
|
Kruk
|
1993
|
9
|
14
|
85
|
.316
|
.905
|
20.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1994
|
1
|
39
|
116
|
.367
|
1.201
|
32.00
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1994
|
2
|
38
|
101
|
.353
|
1.217
|
30.81
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1994
|
3
|
34
|
94
|
.318
|
1.012
|
24.54
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1994
|
4
|
23
|
76
|
.319
|
.942
|
24.05
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1994
|
5
|
13
|
80
|
.329
|
.932
|
21.31
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1994
|
6
|
26
|
82
|
.310
|
.984
|
21.24
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1994
|
7
|
12
|
67
|
.297
|
.869
|
19.73
|
|
Mark
|
Grace
|
1994
|
8
|
6
|
44
|
.298
|
.784
|
18.15
|
|
Andres
|
Galarraga
|
1994
|
9
|
31
|
85
|
.319
|
.949
|
17.58
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1995
|
1
|
40
|
111
|
.308
|
1.061
|
31.04
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1995
|
2
|
21
|
87
|
.290
|
.894
|
29.87
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1995
|
3
|
39
|
126
|
.300
|
.963
|
24.92
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1995
|
4
|
39
|
90
|
.274
|
1.125
|
24.03
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1995
|
5
|
39
|
104
|
.310
|
.963
|
23.86
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1995
|
6
|
27
|
93
|
.280
|
.850
|
21.27
|
|
Tino
|
Martinez
|
1995
|
7
|
31
|
111
|
.293
|
.920
|
20.93
|
|
Mark
|
Grace
|
1995
|
8
|
16
|
92
|
.326
|
.911
|
20.74
|
|
Eric
|
Karros
|
1995
|
9
|
32
|
105
|
.298
|
.905
|
19.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1996
|
1
|
31
|
120
|
.315
|
1.021
|
35.64
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1996
|
2
|
40
|
134
|
.349
|
1.085
|
31.43
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1996
|
3
|
52
|
113
|
.312
|
1.198
|
30.30
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1996
|
4
|
44
|
143
|
.326
|
1.003
|
26.75
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1996
|
5
|
39
|
142
|
.289
|
.927
|
25.57
|
|
Andres
|
Galarraga
|
1996
|
6
|
47
|
150
|
.304
|
.958
|
22.33
|
|
Tino
|
Martinez
|
1996
|
7
|
25
|
117
|
.292
|
.830
|
21.23
|
|
John
|
Jaha
|
1996
|
8
|
34
|
118
|
.300
|
.941
|
20.04
|
|
Jeff
|
King
|
1996
|
9
|
30
|
111
|
.271
|
.843
|
19.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1997
|
1
|
35
|
125
|
.347
|
1.067
|
33.69
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1997
|
2
|
43
|
135
|
.286
|
1.017
|
33.09
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1997
|
3
|
58
|
123
|
.274
|
1.039
|
30.05
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
1997
|
4
|
40
|
102
|
.286
|
1.001
|
26.69
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1997
|
5
|
22
|
102
|
.294
|
.889
|
24.94
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1997
|
6
|
35
|
96
|
.315
|
.980
|
24.85
|
|
Tino
|
Martinez
|
1997
|
7
|
44
|
141
|
.296
|
.948
|
23.65
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1997
|
8
|
38
|
110
|
.254
|
.815
|
22.61
|
|
Andres
|
Galarraga
|
1997
|
9
|
41
|
140
|
.318
|
.974
|
21.81
|
|
Tony
|
Clark
|
1997
|
10
|
32
|
117
|
.276
|
.876
|
20.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1998
|
1
|
70
|
147
|
.299
|
1.222
|
35.44
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1998
|
2
|
34
|
111
|
.304
|
.981
|
32.29
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1998
|
3
|
22
|
93
|
.354
|
.998
|
29.02
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
1998
|
4
|
27
|
110
|
.295
|
.873
|
24.80
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
1998
|
5
|
43
|
121
|
.296
|
.945
|
24.63
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
1998
|
6
|
30
|
85
|
.293
|
.997
|
24.28
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1998
|
7
|
40
|
115
|
.337
|
.993
|
24.05
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
1998
|
8
|
38
|
115
|
.292
|
.978
|
23.66
|
|
Andres
|
Galarraga
|
1998
|
9
|
44
|
121
|
.305
|
.991
|
23.48
|
|
Tino
|
Martinez
|
1998
|
10
|
28
|
123
|
.281
|
.860
|
21.48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1999
|
1
|
42
|
126
|
.304
|
1.045
|
32.98
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
1999
|
2
|
33
|
123
|
.315
|
.975
|
30.56
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1999
|
3
|
65
|
147
|
.278
|
1.120
|
30.41
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1999
|
4
|
19
|
96
|
.298
|
.890
|
26.48
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
1999
|
5
|
33
|
108
|
.277
|
.967
|
25.66
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
1999
|
6
|
44
|
134
|
.272
|
.948
|
24.63
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
1999
|
7
|
32
|
104
|
.310
|
.957
|
20.75
|
|
Mo
|
Vaughn
|
1999
|
8
|
33
|
108
|
.281
|
.866
|
20.62
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
1999
|
9
|
21
|
80
|
.297
|
.908
|
20.52
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
1999
|
10
|
35
|
113
|
.320
|
.981
|
20.45
|
Mark McGwire was 3 ½ years older than Bagwell and Thomas, but McGwire finally got healthy and had his fantastic three-year run after they had had their MVP seasons. He hit 193 homers in three seasons. 1999-2000 is the high water mark of the steroid era, before their use was widely condemned. Mark McGwire hit 65 homers and drove in 147 runs in 1999, and ranks as the #3 first baseman of the season. Mike Sweeney drove in 144 runs, and ranks 10th. The numbers from that era are just crazy.
52. Grew Into Anabolic Monster By Injection
The phrase above isn’t mine. I used to do this thing, trying to figure out what player’s names stood for. The one above was invented by one of Rob Neyer’s friends.
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2000
|
1
|
43
|
137
|
.333
|
1.123
|
36.03
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2000
|
2
|
41
|
137
|
.344
|
1.134
|
29.96
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2000
|
3
|
47
|
132
|
.310
|
1.039
|
28.20
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2000
|
4
|
42
|
147
|
.372
|
1.162
|
25.94
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2000
|
5
|
37
|
106
|
.269
|
.929
|
24.63
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
2000
|
6
|
26
|
92
|
.283
|
.909
|
24.54
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
2000
|
7
|
39
|
120
|
.288
|
.954
|
24.19
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
2000
|
8
|
14
|
103
|
.285
|
.831
|
24.13
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
2000
|
9
|
32
|
73
|
.305
|
1.229
|
23.94
|
|
Mike
|
Sweeney
|
2000
|
10
|
29
|
144
|
.333
|
.930
|
21.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2001
|
1
|
38
|
120
|
.342
|
1.137
|
36.72
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2001
|
2
|
49
|
124
|
.291
|
1.040
|
29.73
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2001
|
3
|
39
|
130
|
.288
|
.966
|
27.91
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
2001
|
4
|
30
|
113
|
.286
|
.923
|
27.85
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2001
|
5
|
49
|
146
|
.336
|
1.116
|
27.02
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2001
|
6
|
39
|
102
|
.279
|
.948
|
26.59
|
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
2001
|
7
|
47
|
123
|
.273
|
.944
|
23.78
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
2001
|
8
|
21
|
95
|
.302
|
.873
|
22.37
|
|
Richie
|
Sexson
|
2001
|
9
|
45
|
125
|
.271
|
.889
|
21.70
|
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
2001
|
10
|
31
|
102
|
.306
|
.930
|
20.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2002
|
1
|
41
|
122
|
.314
|
1.034
|
33.28
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2002
|
2
|
52
|
118
|
.304
|
1.122
|
31.08
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2002
|
3
|
30
|
109
|
.329
|
1.006
|
28.84
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
2002
|
4
|
29
|
95
|
.300
|
.925
|
27.76
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2002
|
5
|
33
|
108
|
.277
|
.955
|
27.61
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2002
|
6
|
31
|
98
|
.291
|
.919
|
23.82
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
2002
|
7
|
22
|
102
|
.300
|
.893
|
22.84
|
|
Richie
|
Sexson
|
2002
|
8
|
29
|
102
|
.279
|
.867
|
21.54
|
|
Mike
|
Piazza
|
2002
|
9
|
33
|
98
|
.280
|
.903
|
20.91
|
|
Derrek
|
Lee
|
2002
|
10
|
27
|
86
|
.270
|
.872
|
20.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2003
|
1
|
33
|
117
|
.358
|
1.088
|
31.25
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2003
|
2
|
42
|
145
|
.302
|
1.019
|
28.31
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2003
|
3
|
47
|
131
|
.266
|
.958
|
28.24
|
|
EJason
|
Giambi
|
2003
|
4
|
41
|
107
|
.250
|
.939
|
28.05
|
|
Derrek
|
Lee
|
2003
|
5
|
31
|
92
|
.271
|
.888
|
23.82
|
|
Richie
|
Sexson
|
2003
|
6
|
45
|
124
|
.272
|
.927
|
22.02
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2003
|
7
|
39
|
100
|
.278
|
.897
|
22.00
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
2003
|
8
|
21
|
67
|
.252
|
.810
|
21.38
|
|
Kevin
|
Millar
|
2003
|
9
|
25
|
96
|
.276
|
.820
|
18.62
|
|
Mike
|
Sweeney
|
2003
|
10
|
16
|
83
|
.293
|
.858
|
18.39
|
53. El Hombre
Albert Pujols played third base in 2001, left field in 2002-2003. In 2004 he moved to the infield, and baseball had its first truly dominant first baseman since Stan Musial:
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2004
|
1
|
46
|
123
|
.331
|
1.072
|
37.58
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2004
|
2
|
32
|
96
|
.347
|
1.088
|
29.71
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2004
|
3
|
32
|
99
|
.269
|
.907
|
24.02
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2004
|
4
|
38
|
112
|
.281
|
.929
|
23.16
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2004
|
5
|
42
|
105
|
.274
|
.977
|
22.83
|
|
Derrek
|
Lee
|
2004
|
6
|
32
|
98
|
.278
|
.860
|
22.33
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2004
|
7
|
12
|
40
|
.208
|
.720
|
20.38
|
|
Sean
|
Casey
|
2004
|
8
|
24
|
99
|
.324
|
.915
|
19.67
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2004
|
9
|
27
|
89
|
.266
|
.842
|
19.58
|
|
Brad
|
Wilkerson
|
2004
|
10
|
32
|
67
|
.255
|
.872
|
18.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2005
|
1
|
41
|
117
|
.330
|
1.039
|
36.07
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2005
|
2
|
43
|
144
|
.301
|
.954
|
27.66
|
|
Derrek
|
Lee
|
2005
|
3
|
46
|
107
|
.335
|
1.080
|
27.55
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2005
|
4
|
20
|
79
|
.320
|
.979
|
26.88
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2005
|
5
|
33
|
115
|
.301
|
.981
|
26.28
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2005
|
6
|
24
|
82
|
.293
|
.934
|
25.57
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2005
|
7
|
32
|
87
|
.271
|
.975
|
22.68
|
|
Paul
|
Konerko
|
2005
|
8
|
40
|
100
|
.283
|
.909
|
21.02
|
|
Richie
|
Sexson
|
2005
|
9
|
39
|
121
|
.263
|
.910
|
20.91
|
|
Lyle
|
Overbay
|
2005
|
10
|
19
|
72
|
.276
|
.816
|
18.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2006
|
1
|
49
|
137
|
.331
|
1.102
|
36.85
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2006
|
2
|
45
|
136
|
.315
|
1.041
|
28.99
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2006
|
3
|
33
|
110
|
.282
|
.886
|
25.04
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2006
|
4
|
58
|
149
|
.313
|
1.084
|
25.02
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2006
|
5
|
15
|
81
|
.302
|
.880
|
23.02
|
|
Justin
|
Morneau
|
2006
|
6
|
34
|
130
|
.321
|
.934
|
22.93
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2006
|
7
|
38
|
114
|
.265
|
.909
|
22.65
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2006
|
8
|
13
|
72
|
.279
|
.810
|
20.56
|
|
Paul
|
Konerko
|
2006
|
9
|
35
|
113
|
.313
|
.932
|
20.41
|
|
Nick
|
Swisher
|
2006
|
10
|
35
|
95
|
.254
|
.864
|
19.06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2007
|
1
|
32
|
103
|
.327
|
.997
|
34.77
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2007
|
2
|
30
|
105
|
.306
|
.963
|
27.02
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2007
|
3
|
47
|
136
|
.268
|
.976
|
26.18
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2007
|
4
|
34
|
102
|
.278
|
.896
|
25.94
|
|
Carlos
|
Pena
|
2007
|
5
|
46
|
121
|
.282
|
1.037
|
24.56
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2007
|
6
|
50
|
119
|
.288
|
1.013
|
24.23
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2007
|
7
|
30
|
100
|
.282
|
.849
|
22.93
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2007
|
8
|
16
|
83
|
.288
|
.843
|
22.72
|
|
Justin
|
Morneau
|
2007
|
9
|
31
|
111
|
.271
|
.834
|
22.43
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2007
|
10
|
17
|
91
|
.320
|
.928
|
21.43
|
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2008
|
1
|
37
|
116
|
.357
|
1.114
|
35.70
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2008
|
2
|
29
|
106
|
.312
|
.986
|
29.28
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2008
|
3
|
33
|
121
|
.308
|
.962
|
27.01
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2008
|
4
|
29
|
115
|
.312
|
.958
|
26.87
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2008
|
5
|
36
|
119
|
.279
|
.871
|
26.18
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2008
|
6
|
34
|
102
|
.276
|
.879
|
25.46
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2008
|
7
|
48
|
146
|
.251
|
.881
|
25.16
|
|
Justin
|
Morneau
|
2008
|
8
|
23
|
129
|
.300
|
.873
|
25.06
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2008
|
9
|
37
|
127
|
.292
|
.887
|
24.52
|
|
Carlos
|
Pena
|
2008
|
10
|
31
|
102
|
.247
|
.871
|
21.12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2009
|
1
|
47
|
135
|
.327
|
1.101
|
35.94
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2009
|
2
|
40
|
99
|
.277
|
.958
|
31.33
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2009
|
3
|
46
|
141
|
.299
|
1.014
|
30.76
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2009
|
4
|
27
|
94
|
.305
|
.961
|
27.74
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2009
|
5
|
34
|
103
|
.324
|
.942
|
26.74
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2009
|
6
|
25
|
84
|
.322
|
.981
|
26.46
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2009
|
7
|
39
|
122
|
.292
|
.948
|
26.20
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2009
|
8
|
45
|
141
|
.279
|
.931
|
24.76
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2009
|
9
|
25
|
80
|
.274
|
.907
|
23.15
|
|
Justin
|
Morneau
|
2009
|
10
|
30
|
100
|
.274
|
.878
|
21.85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2010
|
1
|
42
|
118
|
.312
|
1.011
|
32.38
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2010
|
2
|
31
|
101
|
.298
|
.903
|
31.87
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2010
|
3
|
37
|
113
|
.324
|
1.024
|
31.52
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2010
|
4
|
38
|
126
|
.328
|
1.042
|
30.48
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2010
|
5
|
32
|
83
|
.261
|
.871
|
27.23
|
|
Paul
|
Konerko
|
2010
|
6
|
39
|
111
|
.312
|
.977
|
24.80
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2010
|
7
|
33
|
108
|
.256
|
.846
|
24.25
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2010
|
8
|
19
|
62
|
.307
|
.975
|
23.84
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2010
|
9
|
31
|
108
|
.276
|
.859
|
21.78
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2010
|
10
|
14
|
58
|
.248
|
.781
|
20.10
|
Ryan Howard drove in 572 runs in four years—143 runs per season—but could never get past Pujols to rank as the #1 first baseman in the game. By 2010 the steroid era was over, and batting statistics had more or less returned to historic norms.
54. Joey Votto
I have to say that I had totally and absolutely forgotten that Joey Votto won the Most Valuable Player Award in 2010:
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2011
|
1
|
30
|
105
|
.344
|
1.033
|
34.94
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2011
|
2
|
29
|
103
|
.309
|
.947
|
32.42
|
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2011
|
3
|
38
|
120
|
.299
|
.981
|
29.35
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2011
|
4
|
27
|
117
|
.338
|
.957
|
28.42
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2011
|
5
|
37
|
99
|
.299
|
.906
|
27.91
|
|
|
Paul
|
Konerko
|
2011
|
6
|
31
|
105
|
.300
|
.906
|
22.73
|
|
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2011
|
7
|
39
|
111
|
.248
|
.835
|
21.56
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Santana
|
2011
|
8
|
27
|
79
|
.239
|
.808
|
20.76
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Howard
|
2011
|
9
|
33
|
116
|
.253
|
.835
|
19.98
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2011
|
10
|
21
|
76
|
.282
|
.795
|
18.02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2012
|
1
|
14
|
56
|
.337
|
1.041
|
31.19
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2012
|
2
|
18
|
108
|
.299
|
.806
|
25.85
|
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2012
|
3
|
30
|
108
|
.313
|
.940
|
24.97
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2012
|
4
|
30
|
105
|
.285
|
.859
|
24.13
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Santana
|
2012
|
5
|
18
|
76
|
.252
|
.785
|
22.60
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2012
|
6
|
23
|
94
|
.259
|
.796
|
21.99
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2012
|
7
|
20
|
82
|
.286
|
.850
|
20.12
|
|
|
Allen
|
Craig
|
2012
|
8
|
22
|
92
|
.307
|
.876
|
19.83
|
|
|
Chris
|
Davis
|
2012
|
9
|
33
|
85
|
.270
|
.827
|
19.53
|
|
|
Adam
|
LaRoche
|
2012
|
10
|
33
|
100
|
.271
|
.853
|
18.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2013
|
1
|
23
|
109
|
.319
|
.897
|
29.94
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2013
|
2
|
36
|
125
|
.302
|
.951
|
29.80
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2013
|
3
|
24
|
73
|
.305
|
.926
|
28.80
|
|
|
Chris
|
Davis
|
2013
|
4
|
53
|
138
|
.286
|
1.004
|
26.44
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2013
|
5
|
22
|
100
|
.293
|
.803
|
24.75
|
|
|
Edwin
|
Encarnacion
|
2013
|
6
|
36
|
104
|
.272
|
.904
|
23.92
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Santana
|
2013
|
7
|
20
|
74
|
.268
|
.832
|
23.85
|
|
|
Allen
|
Craig
|
2013
|
8
|
13
|
97
|
.315
|
.830
|
22.83
|
|
|
Brandon
|
Belt
|
2013
|
9
|
17
|
67
|
.289
|
.841
|
20.57
|
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2013
|
10
|
25
|
106
|
.279
|
.819
|
20.10
|
|
|
Note: Miguel Cabrera was playing third base in 2012-2013.
|
|
| |
| |
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OPS
|
Value
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2014
|
1
|
25
|
109
|
.313
|
.895
|
30.36
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2014
|
2
|
18
|
78
|
.288
|
.847
|
28.37
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2014
|
3
|
19
|
69
|
.300
|
.938
|
28.10
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2014
|
4
|
32
|
78
|
.286
|
.913
|
26.70
|
|
|
Jose
|
Abreu
|
2014
|
5
|
36
|
107
|
.317
|
.964
|
25.65
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2014
|
6
|
27
|
116
|
.276
|
.817
|
24.65
|
|
|
Edwin
|
Encarnacion
|
2014
|
7
|
34
|
98
|
.268
|
.901
|
23.20
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2014
|
8
|
6
|
23
|
.255
|
.799
|
23.15
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Santana
|
2014
|
9
|
27
|
85
|
.231
|
.792
|
21.49
|
|
|
Lucas
|
Duda
|
2014
|
10
|
30
|
92
|
.253
|
.830
|
21.09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2015
|
1
|
33
|
110
|
.321
|
1.004
|
31.61
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2015
|
2
|
29
|
80
|
.314
|
1.000
|
30.52
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2015
|
3
|
31
|
101
|
.278
|
.899
|
29.34
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2015
|
4
|
18
|
76
|
.338
|
.974
|
27.99
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2015
|
5
|
18
|
66
|
.276
|
.841
|
27.67
|
|
|
Jose
|
Abreu
|
2015
|
6
|
30
|
101
|
.290
|
.850
|
25.46
|
|
|
Chris
|
Davis
|
2015
|
7
|
47
|
117
|
.262
|
.923
|
22.52
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2015
|
8
|
28
|
90
|
.275
|
.830
|
21.79
|
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2015
|
9
|
23
|
98
|
.305
|
.841
|
21.04
|
|
|
Eric
|
Hosmer
|
2015
|
10
|
18
|
93
|
.297
|
.822
|
20.70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2016
|
1
|
29
|
97
|
.326
|
.985
|
30.68
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2016
|
2
|
32
|
109
|
.292
|
.928
|
28.19
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2016
|
3
|
24
|
95
|
.297
|
.899
|
26.74
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2016
|
4
|
34
|
91
|
.302
|
.968
|
26.39
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2016
|
5
|
38
|
108
|
.316
|
.956
|
22.48
|
|
|
Jose
|
Abreu
|
2016
|
6
|
25
|
100
|
.293
|
.820
|
22.29
|
|
|
Brandon
|
Belt
|
2016
|
7
|
17
|
82
|
.275
|
.868
|
20.83
|
|
|
Eric
|
Hosmer
|
2016
|
8
|
25
|
104
|
.266
|
.761
|
19.53
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2016
|
9
|
18
|
90
|
.285
|
.784
|
18.42
|
|
|
Wil
|
Myers
|
2016
|
10
|
28
|
94
|
.259
|
.797
|
17.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2017
|
1
|
36
|
100
|
.320
|
1.032
|
28.82
|
|
|
Eric
|
Hosmer
|
2017
|
2
|
25
|
94
|
.318
|
.882
|
26.20
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2017
|
3
|
36
|
120
|
.297
|
.966
|
25.47
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2017
|
4
|
32
|
109
|
.273
|
.899
|
23.40
|
|
|
Marwin
|
Gonzalez
|
2017
|
5
|
23
|
90
|
.303
|
.907
|
23.38
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2017
|
6
|
28
|
71
|
.307
|
.989
|
21.20
|
|
|
Jose
|
Abreu
|
2017
|
7
|
33
|
102
|
.304
|
.906
|
21.07
|
|
|
Cody
|
Bellinger
|
2017
|
8
|
39
|
97
|
.267
|
.933
|
20.73
|
|
|
Justin
|
Smoak
|
2017
|
9
|
38
|
90
|
.270
|
.883
|
20.16
|
|
|
Matt
|
Carpenter
|
2017
|
10
|
23
|
69
|
.241
|
.835
|
18.94
|
|
55. The Greatest First Basemen Ever
The greatest first basemen of all time, in terms of dominating the position, are as follows; the chart below indicates that Jimmie Foxx had two seasons as the #1 first baseman in baseball, nine seasons as the #2, and one season each as #3, #4, and #5:
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
YOPDI
|
From
|
To
|
|
1
|
Stan
|
Musial
|
1958
|
15
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
154
|
1941
|
1963
|
|
2
|
Lou
|
Gehrig
|
1937
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
117
|
1923
|
1939
|
|
3
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2017
|
7
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
113
|
2001
|
2017
|
|
4
|
Jimmie
|
Foxx
|
1941
|
2
|
9
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
90
|
1925
|
1945
|
|
5
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2016
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
89
|
2003
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
2004
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
88
|
1991
|
2005
|
|
7
|
Dick
|
Allen
|
1974
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
87
|
1963
|
1977
|
|
8
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1995
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
84
|
1977
|
1997
|
|
9
|
Johnny
|
Mize
|
1949
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
83
|
1936
|
1953
|
|
10
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2012
|
0
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
76
|
1991
|
2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Keith
|
Hernandez
|
1986
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
75
|
1974
|
1990
|
|
12
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
2000
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
70
|
1986
|
2001
|
|
13
|
Gil
|
Hodges
|
1958
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
69
|
1943
|
1963
|
|
14
|
George
|
Sisler
|
1922
|
6
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
67
|
1915
|
1930
|
|
15
|
Willie
|
McCovey
|
1974
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
66
|
1959
|
1980
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
Harmon
|
Killebrew
|
1971
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
65
|
1954
|
1975
|
|
16
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2017
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
65
|
2007
|
2017
|
|
18
|
Orlando
|
Cepeda
|
1973
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
63
|
1958
|
1974
|
|
19
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2013
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
62
|
1999
|
2013
|
|
19
|
Frank
|
Chance
|
1908
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
62
|
1898
|
1914
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1994
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
60
|
1986
|
2000
|
|
22
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2007
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
57
|
1995
|
2014
|
|
23
|
Rafael
|
Palmeiro
|
2003
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
52
|
1986
|
2005
|
|
23
|
Tony
|
Perez
|
1975
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
52
|
1964
|
1986
|
|
25
|
Norm
|
Cash
|
1971
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
50
|
1958
|
1974
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
Harry
|
Davis
|
1908
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
50
|
1895
|
1917
|
|
27
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2007
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
49
|
1997
|
2013
|
|
27
|
Fred
|
McGriff
|
2001
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
49
|
1986
|
2004
|
|
29
|
Hal
|
Chase
|
1917
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
48
|
1905
|
1919
|
|
29
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2016
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
48
|
2004
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
Pedro
|
Guerrero
|
1989
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
48
|
1978
|
1992
|
|
32
|
Jacques
|
Fournier
|
1925
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
45
|
1912
|
1927
|
|
33
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2006
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
44
|
1993
|
2009
|
|
34
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1989
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
43
|
1982
|
1995
|
|
35
|
Mark
|
Teixeira
|
2011
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
42
|
2003
|
2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2017
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
41
|
2011
|
2017
|
|
36
|
Hank
|
Greenberg
|
1946
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
41
|
1930
|
1947
|
|
38
|
Steve
|
Garvey
|
1981
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
39
|
1969
|
1987
|
|
39
|
Cecil
|
Cooper
|
1983
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
38
|
1971
|
1987
|
|
39
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2017
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
38
|
2010
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2016
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
36
|
2005
|
2016
|
|
41
|
Bob
|
Watson
|
1977
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
36
|
1966
|
1984
|
|
43
|
Jim
|
Bottomley
|
1929
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
34
|
1922
|
1937
|
|
44
|
Ted
|
Kluszewski
|
1956
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
32
|
1947
|
1961
|
|
45
|
Ed
|
Konetchy
|
1916
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
31
|
1907
|
1921
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45
|
John
|
Olerud
|
2002
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
31
|
1989
|
2005
|
|
45
|
Boog
|
Powell
|
1971
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
31
|
1961
|
1977
|
|
48
|
Mickey
|
Vernon
|
1955
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
30
|
1939
|
1960
|
|
49
|
Bill
|
Terry
|
1934
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
2
|
0
|
28
|
1923
|
1936
|
|
50
|
Aubrey
|
Huff
|
2010
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
27
|
2000
|
2012
|
|
50
|
Wally
|
Pipp
|
1922
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
27
|
1913
|
1928
|
|
50
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2017
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
27
|
2011
|
2017
|
As a general rule we could say that the Hall of Fame line is drawn at about 60 points of position dominance. The connection between position dominance at first base and Hall of Fame selection could be closer than it is, and with regard to that we have a large number of points. . ..
1) Albert Pujols. The chart above could short Pujols by a few points. These charts give the player credit for dominant seasons at other positions; in other words, Stan Musial doesn’t have 15 seasons as the #1 first baseman in baseball, Stan Musial (a) is considered more of a first baseman than anything else, and (b) has 15 seasons as the #1 player at whatever position he was playing. Cabrera’s seasons as the #1 third baseman in baseball count for him on this list. Pujols could be shorted a few points because he may have a couple of top seasons as a DH. Designated Hitters need special rules, and I understand what those are in my head but I haven’t implemented them yet, so Pujols doesn’t get any points as a DH, which may short him a few. And possibly some other players as well, but I don’t see that it matters, because nobody is going to make their decision as to whether Albert Pujols ranks ahead of or behind Lou Gehrig based on the YOPDI score alone, I don’t think.
2) Several active and recent players high on the first base list. . . Pujols, Cabrera, Thome, Votto. The pattern will be much clearer once those players finish their careers and are or are not elected to the Hall of Fame.
3) Did not consider Carew to be a career first baseman; will list him at second base.
4) Other than the active players, the main thing which complicates the rankings here is the uneven distribution of great first basemen over time. In other words, if Jimmie Foxx was a 1950s player, rather than a 1930s player, this chart would quite significantly different. Greenberg and Bill Terry would move way up the list, because they would no longer be competing with Foxx AND Gehrig every year, while Gil Hodges and Stan Musial would lose points because they would be competing with Jimmie Foxx, rather than just competing with each other. The concentration of great first basemen in the 1930s, and the relative weakness of the first basemen of the 1950s, queers the YOPDI scores to a certain extent.
5) Two Hall of Famers, George Kelly and Jake Beckley, don’t make the list above.
6) Paul Goldschmidt has compiled 41 points already although he, also, is competing in a pretty tough field, with Votto and Rizzo and others.
7) Lance Berkman is just an odd case. He always was. Berkman was always really a first baseman, but he had to play the outfield for more than half of his career because Bagwell had First Dibs. I think that Berkman was a legitimately great player, but somehow he just never made the List of Superstars in the public’s mind. He’s kind of like Al Oliver, who had to play the outfield for several years because Willie Stargell had to go to first, but Berkman was a much better player than Oliver.
And this chart summarizes the leading first basemen by peak value seasons. Just for variety I will highlight the MVPs, rather than the Hall of Famers. This chart includes non-first basemen if they were playing first base in the relevant season, but does not include first basemen playing some other position for the season:
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
G
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
SB
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Peak
|
|
|
Stan
|
Musial
|
1946
|
156
|
624
|
124
|
228
|
50
|
20
|
16
|
103
|
73
|
7
|
.365
|
.434
|
.587
|
39.69
|
|
|
Lou
|
Gehrig
|
1928
|
154
|
562
|
139
|
210
|
47
|
13
|
27
|
142
|
95
|
4
|
.374
|
.467
|
.648
|
39.38
|
|
|
Will
|
Clark
|
1989
|
159
|
588
|
104
|
196
|
38
|
9
|
23
|
111
|
74
|
8
|
.333
|
.407
|
.546
|
37.84
|
|
|
Albert
|
Pujols
|
2003
|
157
|
591
|
137
|
212
|
51
|
1
|
43
|
124
|
79
|
5
|
.359
|
.439
|
.667
|
37.82
|
|
|
Jimmie
|
Foxx
|
1933
|
149
|
573
|
125
|
204
|
37
|
9
|
48
|
163
|
96
|
2
|
.356
|
.449
|
.703
|
37.62
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason
|
Giambi
|
2001
|
154
|
520
|
109
|
178
|
47
|
2
|
38
|
120
|
129
|
2
|
.342
|
.477
|
.660
|
36.72
|
|
|
Willie
|
McCovey
|
1969
|
149
|
491
|
101
|
157
|
26
|
2
|
45
|
126
|
121
|
0
|
.320
|
.453
|
.656
|
36.06
|
|
|
Jeff
|
Bagwell
|
1996
|
162
|
568
|
111
|
179
|
48
|
2
|
31
|
120
|
135
|
21
|
.315
|
.451
|
.570
|
35.64
|
|
|
Mark
|
McGwire
|
1998
|
155
|
509
|
130
|
152
|
21
|
0
|
70
|
147
|
162
|
1
|
.299
|
.470
|
.752
|
35.44
|
|
|
Miguel
|
Cabrera
|
2011
|
161
|
572
|
111
|
197
|
48
|
0
|
30
|
105
|
108
|
2
|
.344
|
.448
|
.586
|
34.94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dick
|
Allen
|
1972
|
148
|
506
|
90
|
156
|
28
|
5
|
37
|
113
|
99
|
19
|
.308
|
.420
|
.603
|
34.33
|
|
|
Norm
|
Cash
|
1961
|
159
|
535
|
119
|
193
|
22
|
8
|
41
|
132
|
124
|
11
|
.361
|
.487
|
.662
|
33.79
|
|
|
Frank
|
Thomas
|
1997
|
146
|
530
|
110
|
184
|
35
|
0
|
35
|
125
|
109
|
1
|
.347
|
.456
|
.611
|
33.69
|
|
|
Frank
|
Chance
|
1906
|
136
|
474
|
103
|
151
|
24
|
10
|
3
|
71
|
70
|
57
|
.319
|
.419
|
.430
|
32.69
|
|
|
Harmon
|
Killebrew
|
1967
|
163
|
547
|
105
|
147
|
24
|
1
|
44
|
113
|
131
|
1
|
.269
|
.408
|
.558
|
32.63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joey
|
Votto
|
2011
|
161
|
599
|
101
|
185
|
40
|
3
|
29
|
103
|
110
|
8
|
.309
|
.416
|
.531
|
32.42
|
|
|
Rod
|
Carew
|
1977
|
155
|
616
|
128
|
239
|
38
|
16
|
14
|
100
|
69
|
23
|
.388
|
.449
|
.570
|
32.25
|
|
|
Johnny
|
Mize
|
1939
|
153
|
564
|
104
|
197
|
44
|
14
|
28
|
108
|
92
|
0
|
.349
|
.444
|
.626
|
32.12
|
|
|
Don
|
Mattingly
|
1986
|
162
|
677
|
117
|
238
|
53
|
2
|
31
|
113
|
53
|
0
|
.352
|
.394
|
.573
|
31.88
|
|
|
Adrian
|
Gonzalez
|
2010
|
160
|
591
|
87
|
176
|
33
|
0
|
31
|
101
|
93
|
0
|
.298
|
.392
|
.511
|
31.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul
|
Goldschmidt
|
2015
|
159
|
567
|
103
|
182
|
38
|
2
|
33
|
110
|
118
|
21
|
.321
|
.435
|
.570
|
31.61
|
|
|
Hank
|
Aaron
|
1971
|
139
|
495
|
95
|
162
|
22
|
3
|
47
|
118
|
71
|
1
|
.327
|
.410
|
.669
|
31.49
|
|
|
Carl
|
Yastrzemski
|
1970
|
161
|
566
|
125
|
186
|
29
|
0
|
40
|
102
|
128
|
23
|
.329
|
.452
|
.592
|
31.29
|
|
|
Todd
|
Helton
|
2003
|
160
|
583
|
135
|
209
|
49
|
5
|
33
|
117
|
111
|
0
|
.358
|
.458
|
.630
|
31.25
|
|
|
Jim
|
Thome
|
2002
|
147
|
480
|
101
|
146
|
19
|
2
|
52
|
118
|
122
|
1
|
.304
|
.445
|
.677
|
31.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eddie
|
Murray
|
1983
|
156
|
582
|
115
|
178
|
30
|
3
|
33
|
111
|
86
|
5
|
.306
|
.393
|
.538
|
30.96
|
|
|
Willie
|
Stargell
|
1972
|
138
|
495
|
75
|
145
|
28
|
2
|
33
|
112
|
65
|
1
|
.293
|
.373
|
.558
|
30.90
|
|
|
Hank
|
Greenberg
|
1938
|
155
|
556
|
144
|
175
|
23
|
4
|
58
|
146
|
119
|
7
|
.315
|
.438
|
.683
|
30.86
|
|
|
Prince
|
Fielder
|
2009
|
162
|
591
|
103
|
177
|
35
|
3
|
46
|
141
|
110
|
2
|
.299
|
.412
|
.602
|
30.76
|
|
|
George
|
Sisler
|
1920
|
154
|
631
|
137
|
257
|
49
|
18
|
19
|
122
|
46
|
42
|
.407
|
.449
|
.632
|
30.34
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keith
|
Hernandez
|
1984
|
154
|
550
|
83
|
171
|
31
|
0
|
15
|
94
|
97
|
2
|
.311
|
.409
|
.449
|
30.00
|
|
|
Carlos
|
Delgado
|
2000
|
162
|
569
|
115
|
196
|
57
|
1
|
41
|
137
|
123
|
0
|
.344
|
.470
|
.664
|
29.96
|
|
|
Bill
|
Terry
|
1932
|
154
|
643
|
124
|
225
|
42
|
11
|
28
|
117
|
32
|
4
|
.350
|
.382
|
.580
|
29.95
|
|
|
Freddie
|
Freeman
|
2013
|
147
|
551
|
89
|
176
|
27
|
2
|
23
|
109
|
66
|
1
|
.319
|
.396
|
.501
|
29.94
|
|
|
Jack
|
Clark
|
1987
|
131
|
419
|
93
|
120
|
23
|
1
|
35
|
106
|
136
|
1
|
.286
|
.459
|
.597
|
29.93
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
|
Olerud
|
1993
|
158
|
551
|
109
|
200
|
54
|
2
|
24
|
107
|
114
|
0
|
.363
|
.473
|
.599
|
29.61
|
|
|
Jack
|
Fournier
|
1924
|
154
|
563
|
93
|
188
|
25
|
4
|
27
|
116
|
83
|
7
|
.334
|
.428
|
.536
|
29.44
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Rizzo
|
2015
|
160
|
586
|
94
|
163
|
38
|
3
|
31
|
101
|
78
|
17
|
.278
|
.387
|
.512
|
29.34
|
|
|
Lance
|
Berkman
|
2008
|
159
|
554
|
114
|
173
|
46
|
4
|
29
|
106
|
99
|
18
|
.312
|
.420
|
.567
|
29.28
|
|
|
Ed
|
Delahanty
|
1900
|
131
|
539
|
82
|
174
|
32
|
10
|
2
|
109
|
41
|
16
|
.323
|
.378
|
.430
|
29.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Augie
|
Galan
|
1945
|
152
|
576
|
114
|
177
|
36
|
7
|
9
|
92
|
114
|
13
|
.307
|
.423
|
.441
|
28.92
|
|
|
Ted
|
Kluszewski
|
1954
|
149
|
573
|
104
|
187
|
28
|
3
|
49
|
141
|
78
|
0
|
.326
|
.407
|
.642
|
28.86
|
|
Harry
|
Davis
|
1906
|
145
|
551
|
94
|
161
|
40
|
8
|
12
|
96
|
49
|
23
|
.292
|
.355
|
.459
|
28.79
|
|
|
Orlando
|
Cepeda
|
1961
|
152
|
585
|
105
|
182
|
28
|
4
|
46
|
142
|
39
|
12
|
.311
|
.362
|
.609
|
28.32
|
|
|
Tony
|
Perez
|
1973
|
151
|
564
|
73
|
177
|
33
|
3
|
27
|
101
|
74
|
3
|
.314
|
.393
|
.527
|
28.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike
|
Schmidt
|
1985
|
158
|
549
|
89
|
152
|
31
|
5
|
33
|
93
|
87
|
1
|
.277
|
.375
|
.532
|
28.12
|
|
|
Ryan
|
Klesko
|
2001
|
146
|
538
|
105
|
154
|
34
|
6
|
30
|
113
|
88
|
23
|
.286
|
.384
|
.539
|
27.85
|
|
|
Phil
|
Cavarretta
|
1945
|
132
|
498
|
94
|
177
|
34
|
10
|
6
|
97
|
81
|
5
|
.355
|
.449
|
.500
|
27.79
|
|
|
Kevin
|
Youkilis
|
2009
|
136
|
491
|
99
|
150
|
36
|
1
|
27
|
94
|
77
|
7
|
.305
|
.413
|
.548
|
27.74
|
|
|
Boog
|
Powell
|
1970
|
154
|
526
|
82
|
156
|
28
|
0
|
35
|
114
|
104
|
1
|
.297
|
.412
|
.549
|
27.74
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One can say in general terms with some lack of precision that the best first baseman in baseball was Harry Davis, then Frank Chance, then Ed Konetchy, then George Sisler, then Jacques Fournier, then Lou Gehrig, then Jimmie Foxx, then Johnny Mize, then Stan Musial or Gil Hodges, then Orlando Cepeda, then Willie McCovey, then Tony Perez, then Rod Carew, then Eddie Murray, then Don Mattingly, then Will Clark, then Frank Thomas or Jeff Bagwell, then Jason Giambi, then Albert Pujols, and then Joey Votto.
56. The Top Second Basemen of 19th Century Baseball
With some trepidation about accidentally kicking off a Cooperstown Campaign that I wouldn’t necessarily support, the top two second basemen of the 19th century are both not in the Hall of Fame:
|
Rank
|
From
|
To
|
First
|
Last
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
YOPDI
|
|
1
|
1888
|
1901
|
Cupid
|
Childs
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
81
|
|
2
|
1879
|
1892
|
Hardy
|
Richardson
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
62
|
|
3
|
1880
|
1891
|
Fred
|
Dunlap
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
61
|
|
4
|
1882
|
1899
|
Bid
|
McPhee
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
44
|
|
5
|
1876
|
1891
|
Jack
|
Burdock
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
38
|
|
6
|
1876
|
1884
|
Bob
|
Ferguson
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
32
|
|
7
|
1882
|
1892
|
Yank
|
Robinson
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
31
|
|
8
|
1890
|
1907
|
Bobby
|
Lowe
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
28
|
|
9
|
1879
|
1889
|
Jack
|
Farrell
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
27
|
|
9
|
1896
|
1916
|
Nap
|
Lajoie
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
27
|
Cupid Childs, the top second baseman of the 1890s, had a career .416 on base percentage and scored huge numbers of runs. As a rookie in 1890, he led the American Association in slugging and OPS. Childs was the second baseman for the Spiders for most of the decade. Many people probably assume that the Spiders were a bad team, because the only thing people will remember is the famous 1899 Spiders team than went 20-134, but (a) Childs was not on the team that year, and (b) the Spiders for the rest of the decade were actually a very, very good team, often 20 or 30 games over .500. Childs was on contending teams almost all of his career.
Hardy Richardson. . . .This is kind of a tangent. Did you ever watch the TV series Boardwalk Empire? There is a lot of baseball in the background; also lots of nudity. Nucky Thompson, the lead character, is based on a real-life politician named Nucky Johnson, although Nucky Thompson is also a gangster who will have his goons put a bullet in you if he takes a notion, and there is no evidence that the real-life Nucky Johnson ever had anybody killed.
Anyway, in one scene Nucky Thompson is "reminiscing" about having had a Hardy Richardson model baseball glove when he was a little kid. "Reminiscing" is in quotes because reminiscing sounds cheerful, and it’s actually a bitter, acidic memory. On the one hand, I absolutely love the fact that a mainstream TV show would use an obscure baseball player like Hardy Richardson as a reference point. On the other hand, Hardy Richardson’s best years are 1886 to 1890, and I’m not aware that the business of putting an athlete’s name on fielding gloves or bats or shoes or any other equipment actually started that soon. My impression was that that stuff started about 1910 to 1915. Anybody know? I’m sure there is somebody in the audience who knows more about that kind of history than I do.
When I watch a movie or a TV series which is half-history and half-fiction, I always try to tease apart what is true and what is made up. That series, Boardwalk Empire, is the greatest ever for doing that kind of thing. There are dozens of characters who are either (a) real people using real names, or (b) slightly disguised characters who are obviously based on real people. Arnold Rothstein is a continuing character. In one episode Nucky Thompson loans Rothstein the money to fix the 1919 World Series or something like that; I forget the details. I think it great television, in large part because there is deep, deep research into the lives of these famous and slightly-famous somewhat-corrupt people from that era. The show "explains" or interprets the history around the Teapot Dome Scandal, the election of Warren G. Harding, prohibition, Women’s Suffrage, and dozens of other real-life historical events.
Only Hall of Famers on the list above are Bid McPhee and Nap Lajoie.