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 241: Harry Hooper.

A California native, Hooper went to St. Mary's College of California to study engineering and began playing baseball there. His play caught the attention of the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a contract and brought him east. He soon became the right fielder in one of the greatest outfields in history, with Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis. The Red Sox were putting together a powerhouse in the 1910s, and Hooper would play in four World Series for Boston, earning a reputation as a top-notch fielder and clutch hitter.

When the Red Sox dismantled that club, Hooper went to the White Sox, decimated by the Black Sox scandal. He finished his career in Chicago, playing a total of 17 years in the majors, then a few more in the free minors, as was common at the time.

Hooper earned 133.37 ratings points.

Hooper's stats: .281 average, 2466 hits, 1136 walks, 375 steals.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 7:50 AM

 

Number 240: Early Wynn.

He won 300 games, though he had to hang on awhile to do it. Wynn was 43 when he hung them up, but had a 2.28 ERA in that last year. He began in the majors with the Washington Senators in 1939, and a 5.75 ERA. He got a chance to try again in 1941, and did much better. He spent 1945 in the service, then returned to the Senators. He was up and down in Washington, then after the 1948 season was traded along with Mickey Vernon to the Indians. It was in Cleveland he enjoyed his greatest success. In 9 seasons with Cleveland he won 20 games in a season four times. That was one of the great staffs of all time, featuring Wynn, Bob Lemon, and Mike Garcia.

After the 1957 season, Wynn and Al Smith were traded to Chicago for Minnie Minoso. Wynn struggled in 1958 as he had in 1957, but in 1959 he had a great year, winning the Cy Young Award and helping push the White Sox to a surprise pennant. He started 3 World Series games, going 1-1. He stayed with Chicago through 1962, then returned to Cleveland for that last year. Wynn said at the time he would be the last 300-game winner. That hasn't proven true, but he was an effective and durable pitcher, for several good teams.

Wynn earned 133.66 ratings points.

Wynn's stats: 300-244 record, 3.54 ERA, 2334 K, 290 CG.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 7:02 AM

 

Number 239: Tony Lazzeri.

"Poosh-em-up Tony" was a power-hitting second baseman who starred for twelve years with the Yankees as part of "Murderer's Row." He wasn't a great defensive second baseman, but he wasn't bad, and he was a solid part of the lineup. He only ever led the league in one offensive category, strikeouts in his rookie year of 1926. However, he got as high as third in MVP voting (1928), was on seven pennant-winning teams (including the Cubs in 1938) and was part of five World Series winners.

Lazzeri earned 134.08 ratings points.

Lazzeri's stats: .292 average, 178 HR, 1191 RBI.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 6:21 AM

 

Number 238: Luis Tiant.

"El Tiante" was a Cuban whose father was a famous pitcher in his home country, when the color line kept him out of American baseball. The younger man left the country after Castro came to power, and was playing in Mexico when signed by Cleveland in 1962. He made the majors in 1964 at age 23, posting a 10-4 record in 19 games. He was a solid starter for the Indians through the 1960s, especially 1968 when he went 21-9 with a 1.60 ERA in "The Year of the Pitcher."

In 1969 he struggled a bit, going 9-20 although his ERA was still about league average. Tiant was traded to the Twins after the season, went 7-3 in 18 games, then was released at the end of Spring Training in 1971. He signed with the Braves but never pitched in a game before being released again. The Red Sox picked him up and let him rehab and get back into shape, suffering through his 1-7 in 1971.

Then in 1972, Tiant was back. He went 15-6 as the Sox battled for the division, then won 20 or more in three of the next four seasons. He was the Bosox' ace through most of the 1970s as they contended for division titles and won the 1975 pennant. In that World Series, the Sox took the Big Red Machine of Cincinnati to 7 games, but the three they won were all started by Tiant.

Tiant left Boston after 1978, spent two seasons with the Yankees and one each in Pittsburgh and California. He developed a reputation as an ace and a money pitcher.

Tiant earned 134.15 ratings points.

Tiant's stats: 229-172 record, 3.30 ERA, 2416 K, 49 shutouts.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 4:21 PM

 

Number 237: Hughie Jennings.

A 19th century shortstop and early 20th century manager, he was Ty Cobb's manager for the first half of Cobb's career, 1907-20. The Tigers won pennants the first three years of that string, but nothing afterwards, and spent most of that time in the second division in spite of the presence of a great player.

As a player, Jennings played 100 games or more in just seven seasons, and in one of those seasons hit just .222. Oh, but those other seasons. From late 1893 through 1898 Jennings was the shortstop of the Baltimore Orioles, possibly the roughest, toughest group of ballplayers the world has ever seen. And during that streak, perhaps their best player was the hard-hitting shortstop. He certainly was the best in 1896, the best in the whole league, hitting .401 with 121 RBI and 125 runs scored, 209 hits and 70 steals, and terrific defense too.

Jennings is a player with a short actual career (he made a habit of putting himself in for a game or two occasionally while managing, the same when he coached) but a very high peak. His peak is so high, he gets placed high on this list.

Jennings earned 134.16 ratings points.

Jennings' stats: .311 average, 287 HBP (most all-time) 1527 hits, 359 steals.

posted by Shawn Weaver at 4:20 PM