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

Another nice team-specific site is at
Twinsgeek

The online sports almanac by fans and for fans is
Fanbase

All Baseball Teams deals with baseball history, stats, players and stadiums
All Baseball Teams

Want to weigh in yourself? Write me at the address below, or surf to rankings on just about everything at
RateItAll

Feedback
e-mail

Archives


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 11/21/2010 - 11/28/2010 02/20/2011 - 02/27/2011 07/10/2011 - 07/17/2011 07/24/2011 - 07/31/2011 09/04/2011 - 09/11/2011 01/20/2013 - 01/27/2013 01/27/2013 - 02/03/2013 02/03/2013 - 02/10/2013 02/10/2013 - 02/17/2013 02/17/2013 - 02/24/2013 02/24/2013 - 03/03/2013 03/03/2013 - 03/10/2013 03/17/2013 - 03/24/2013 03/24/2013 - 03/31/2013 04/07/2013 - 04/14/2013 04/14/2013 - 04/21/2013 04/21/2013 - 04/28/2013 06/09/2013 - 06/16/2013 06/23/2013 - 06/30/2013 07/14/2013 - 07/21/2013 07/28/2013 - 08/04/2013 08/04/2013 - 08/11/2013 08/11/2013 - 08/18/2013 02/02/2014 - 02/09/2014 05/18/2014 - 05/25/2014 05/25/2014 - 06/01/2014 08/03/2014 - 08/10/2014 08/10/2014 - 08/17/2014 02/01/2015 - 02/08/2015 02/08/2015 - 02/15/2015 02/22/2015 - 03/01/2015 08/28/2016 - 09/04/2016 04/01/2018 - 04/08/2018 09/09/2018 - 09/16/2018 10/14/2018 - 10/21/2018 08/04/2019 - 08/11/2019 08/18/2019 - 08/25/2019 12/15/2019 - 12/22/2019 08/09/2020 - 08/16/2020 08/16/2020 - 08/23/2020 10/04/2020 - 10/11/2020 10/18/2020 - 10/25/2020 04/04/2021 - 04/11/2021 04/25/2021 - 05/02/2021 09/25/2022 - 10/02/2022 03/19/2023 - 03/26/2023 04/07/2024 - 04/14/2024

 

Number 223: Carlos Beltran.

The 1995 second-round pick from Puerto Rico came up through the Royals system at a time when the Kansas City club was fading from relevance. He hit the big leagues with loads of talent in a place where no one much was watching. He put together several impressive seasons, then in 2004 was ready to test the free agent market when the Astros dealt for him to give them a boost to the postseason.

The plan worked, as Beltran was just fair during the season but exploded during the postseason, carrying the team through the Division Series and nearly through the NLCS, but his .417 average and 4 HR in the seven games weren't quite enough.

Boosted by his playoff showing, Beltran signed a big contract with the Mets. He continued to play well for the Mets, including the 2006 postseason run, but took some of the blame though the team around him was falling short rather than him. In recent years, injuries have begun to slow him.

Beltran has earned 135.89 ratings points through 2010.

Beltran's stats (through 2010): .282 average, 292 HR, 292 steals.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 9:59 AM

 

Number 222: George Foster.

For seven seasons, 1975-81, the Alabama native was the top slugger in baseball. He won the 1977 MVP and his season of .320 with 52 HR and 149 RBI was a shock to baseball fans still in the middle of an offensive low point. Those were Babe Ruth or Hank Greenberg numbers, rarely seen in the 1970s. Foster led the league in RBI three times and HR twice, making five All-Star teams. He was also a competent outfielder. His reputation suffers because he was signed to a big free-agent contract in his mid-30s and his stats collapsed at the same time. Judged by what he did, Foster was a terrific player. He is now employed by the Reds to work with inner-city kids. Foster was always a fine man that way.

Foster earned 135.96 ratings points.

Foster's stats: .274 average, 348 HR, 1925 hits, 1239 RBI.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 1:27 PM

 

Number 221: Max Carey.

The Indiana native born Maximillian Carnarius had his name shortened early in his career. He came to Pittsburgh as a shortstop but Honus Wagner was already there so the fleet youngster became first a left fielder and then a center fielder. He would lead the NL in stolen bases ten times during a 20-year career, mostly with the Pirates but ending with the Dodgers.

He arrived just too late for the 1909 championship, but was part of the 1925 World Champions and hit .458 in the World Series. Shortly after, he was bumped from his job by Lloyd Waner, another long-time Pirate of similar talents.

Carey earned 136.26 ratings points.

Carey's stats: .285 average, 2665 hits, 1545 runs, 738 steals.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 1:21 PM

 

Number 220: Joe Kelley.

The 1890s Orioles got famous on their scheme of bunts, chop hits, steals, and harassing umpires, but every team needs a power source. For the Orioles, that was Kelley.

Kelley was the fulcrum of those great teams with power, speed, and strong defense from left field. He didn't have many league-leading totals, just stolen bases in 1896. He drove in 100 runs five times, scored 100 runs six times, and got a chance to manage later in his career. His leadership was valued.

Kelley earned 136.43 ratings points.

Kelley's stats: .317 average, .402 on-base, 2220 hits.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 1:19 PM

 

Update now done through Number 200, and a little extra. New content will begin appearing soon.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 8:08 AM