My rankings of the greatest baseball players ever, starting with number 1, in order.

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09/29/2002 - 10/06/2002 10/06/2002 - 10/13/2002 10/13/2002 - 10/20/2002 10/27/2002 - 11/03/2002 11/03/2002 - 11/10/2002 11/17/2002 - 11/24/2002 12/15/2002 - 12/22/2002 12/22/2002 - 12/29/2002 12/29/2002 - 01/05/2003 01/05/2003 - 01/12/2003 01/19/2003 - 01/26/2003 01/26/2003 - 02/02/2003 02/02/2003 - 02/09/2003 02/09/2003 - 02/16/2003 02/23/2003 - 03/02/2003 04/06/2003 - 04/13/2003 04/13/2003 - 04/20/2003 06/08/2003 - 06/15/2003 07/20/2003 - 07/27/2003 07/27/2003 - 08/03/2003 08/03/2003 - 08/10/2003 08/10/2003 - 08/17/2003 08/17/2003 - 08/24/2003 08/24/2003 - 08/31/2003 08/31/2003 - 09/07/2003 09/07/2003 - 09/14/2003 09/28/2003 - 10/05/2003 10/12/2003 - 10/19/2003 10/19/2003 - 10/26/2003 11/09/2003 - 11/16/2003 11/16/2003 - 11/23/2003 12/21/2003 - 12/28/2003 12/28/2003 - 01/04/2004 01/04/2004 - 01/11/2004 01/11/2004 - 01/18/2004 01/18/2004 - 01/25/2004 02/29/2004 - 03/07/2004 03/07/2004 - 03/14/2004 03/14/2004 - 03/21/2004 03/21/2004 - 03/28/2004 03/28/2004 - 04/04/2004 04/04/2004 - 04/11/2004 04/18/2004 - 04/25/2004 04/25/2004 - 05/02/2004 05/02/2004 - 05/09/2004 05/09/2004 - 05/16/2004 05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004 05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004 06/06/2004 - 06/13/2004 06/20/2004 - 06/27/2004 06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004 07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004 07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004 07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004 08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004 08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004 08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004 08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004 09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004 09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004 10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004 11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004 12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005 01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005 01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005 01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005 01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005 02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005 02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005 02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005 02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005 03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005 03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005 03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005 03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005 04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005 04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005 04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005 05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005 05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005 05/29/2005 - 06/05/2005 06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005 06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005 06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005 06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005 07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005 07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005 07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005 07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005 08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005 08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005 08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005 09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005 09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005 09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005 10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005 10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005 11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005 03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006 04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006 05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006 05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006 06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006 06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006 07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006 07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006 07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006 03/04/2007 - 03/11/2007 06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007 07/13/2008 - 07/20/2008 08/03/2008 - 08/10/2008 08/10/2008 - 08/17/2008 08/17/2008 - 08/24/2008 01/11/2009 - 01/18/2009

 

Number 54: Jeff Bagwell

This is the guy once traded for middle reliever Larry Andersen. He came a long way since then. Bagwell hit for average, power, draws walks, and played solid defense at first base. His huge year was 1994, with an end wiped out in a strike just after Bagwell was hurt and knocked from the season. He posted excellent numbers every single year, piling strong season after strong season onto his resume. His only black mark is a poor postseason record, with a .174 average in 14 games. He was the best hitter in the league only in 1994, but was in the top ten from 1993-2000. Bagwell hasn’t always gotten a lot of attention from that, as he is a relatively quiet sort, and the success of his team has been limited. Bagwell never played in a World Series, but he was an excellent player all along, with numbers held down at the beginning of his career by playing in the Astrodome. He led the league in times on base and runs scored three times.

Bagwell earned 267.68 ratings points.

Bagwell's stats: .297 average, 449 homers, 1529 RBI, 1517 runs, .408 OBA, .540 SLG.

posted by Shawn at 2:41 PM

 

Number 53: Alan Trammell

Trammell and Lou Whitaker came up through the Tigers' farm system together, and remained a twosome during their careers. Whitaker was the slow and steady type, while Trammell had peaks and valleys. Trammell debuted in 1977, playing 19 games and hitting .177. In 1978 he became the regular, and hit .268. Trammell played good defense, hit decently with a bit of power, and drew some walks. He hit .300 in 1980 at age 22.

In 1983, at age 25, he took a step forward. He batted .319 with 14 homers and also established a new high with 30 steals. His 1984 season was a big part of the Tigers' win in the World Series, and he won the WS MVP. That was also the end of his string of four Gold Gloves in five years. In 1985 he slumped, and improved a bit in 1986.

Then in 1987, Trammell had a season for the ages. He deserved the MVP, batting .343 with 28 HR and 105 RBI. The Tigers won the division again, but dropped the ALCS. It was Trammell's last postseason appearance, although he continued with the Tigers until 1996, playing his last couple of years as a part-time player. He could be a streaky hitter, but he was a key part of some fine teams.

Trammell earned 268.38 ratings points.

Trammell's stats: .285 average, 185 HR, 1003 RBI, 1231 runs, 236 SB, 2365 hits.

posted by Shawn at 7:18 AM

 

Number 52: Gary Carter

Carter broke in with Montreal in 1974, and had a good rookie season in 1975, but the Expos also had another talented young catcher in Barry Foote, and kept bouncing Carter to the outfield. Carter slumped in 1976, Dick Williams came in as manager, and stopped this nonsense by making Carter the regular and trading Foote. Carter stayed with Montreal through 1984, then went to the New York Mets where he had his most celebrated stint. He finished with the Giants, Dodgers, and a final year with the Expos. Carter never won an MVP, but finished 2nd in 1980 and in the top ten four times. He never batted .300 for a full season, but showed excellent power and was often used as a cleanup hitter on a number of good teams. His teams made the playoffs three times, and he was a key figure on the Mets' 1986 World Champions, his last excellent year.

Carter is not often ranked this high, but he was an exceptional defensive catcher as well as a top-notch hitter. He ranks with Bench as a hitter and just behind him defensively. He ranks ahead of Yogi Berra defensively, and ahead of Fisk as a hitter.

Carter earned 268.68 rating points.

Carter's stats: .262 average, 324 homers, 1225 RBI, 2092 hits, 3 Gold Gloves.

posted by Shawn at 1:42 PM

 

Number 51: Yogi Berra

Berra was a member of ten World Championship teams, more than anyone else ever. Being a Yankee during the heart of the dynasty had a lot to do with that, but Berra had a lot to do with the ten rings. He is arguably the greatest catcher ever, winning three MVP awards for his combination of strong hitting, solid defense, and a clutch reputation.

Berra played in 12 World Series, and hit 12 home runs with a .274 average. Berra had 259 WS at bats, like playing another half season. When he first came up, he was reportedly a poor defensive player, but worked hard and became a good catcher with a dangerous bat. Good defensive catchers with the ability to hit in the middle of the order are extraordinarily valuable. Berra is one of the best-hitting catchers ever.

He was notorious for swinging at, and hitting, balls pitched anywhere, sometimes nowhere near the strike zone. Berra walked with some frequency and rarely struck out. Berra looked somewhat cartoonish, but was a heady baseball player, capable manager, and an astute businessman who became quite wealthy between his good salary, sensible business decisions, and fairness dealing with people.

Berra won ten rings, three MVPs and two second-place finishes despite never leading the league in an offensive category.

Berra earned 268.71 ratings points.

Berra's stats: .285 average, 358 homers, 1430 RBI, 2150 hits.

posted by Shawn at 11:06 AM