The Most Legendary Baseball Players in History

The most legendary baseball player in history may seem like an obvious choice for some. Yankee great Babe Ruth, in his 22-year career, had an impressive ERA as a starting pitcher and won seven World Series titles and many believe he is the greatest of all time. But he isn't the only legendary player who had an impressive career, both today and of yesteryear.

The game as it's played today is completely different than it was 100 years ago. The level of play is extraordinarily higher than it was even 25 years ago. Yet, even with these new parameters, certain players are beyond reproach. Whether they started playing in the 1890s or the 1990s, there's no denying that they're among the most legendary baseball players of all time.

Making a career out of playing professional baseball is one of the most difficult accomplishments in America today. According to the NCAA, only 7.3% of high school baseball players play college baseball, and only 0.5% of college players are drafted by an MLB team. Of those drafted, the odds of them reaching the status of players like Joe DiMaggio or Nolan Ryan are extremely slim.

The vast majority of professional baseball players are given a chance to prove themselves on the field and they manage to have an enduring career that extends past the ball field. To have a truly outstanding career is rare – out of the approximately 20,000 players who have ever buttoned up a Major League Baseball uniform, only 273 of them have performed on a level high enough to earn them a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For those who do earn that diamond – the pinnacle of a career not only well-played but recognized as outstanding – and make it into Cooperstown, they are solidified as legendary; one of the greatest in history. However, countless fans, statisticians, and other experts have debated for decades over who are truly the greatest baseball players in history. (If you prefer soccer, you can see some of the greats in the UEFA Euro 2024 where Spain battles France in the semi-final match.)

For today's purposes, we're factoring in all the unusual stats. These include home runs, lifetime batting average, Gold Gloves, RBIs, ERA, and achievements like no-hitters for pitchers. We're also considering each baseball player's influence on the game itself. If you're a baseball fan, then you already know that these players are up there with the greatest of all time. While many of them are no longer around, some of them are still relatively young and a few might even be the greatest baseball player from the year you were born.

American baseball player George Herman Ruth (1895 - 1948) known as 'Babe' Ruth. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

• Team (s) represented: Boston Red Sox; New York Yankees; Atlanta Braves
• Years Played: 1914-1935
• Position: Outfield

Widely regarded as the very best baseball player of all time, Babe Ruth didn't just play the game; His larger-than-life persona and on-field prowess revolutionized baseball by popularizing the sport and helping turn it into the National Pastime. His record of 714 home runs stood for nearly 40 years. This was in an era when far fewer home runs were hit than today.

Ruth's career batting average of .342 also proved that he could consistently make solid contact when not hitting it out of the park. He drove in 2,214 home runs during his career and was one of the greatest pitchers in the game early in his career, before transitioning to the outfield.

• Team (s) represented: New York/San Fransisco Giants, New York Mets
• Years Played: 1951-1973
• Position: Center Field

Over 22 seasons (20 of which he played with the Giants) the trailblazing Willie Mays established himself as a coveted "five-tool" player, which meant he could hit for average and power, run the bases with speed, be great at fielding and have a strong throwing arm. With a career batting average of .302, 660 home runs (fourth all-time when he retired), 3,283 hits, 12 Gold Glove Awards, and two MVP awards, he was truly a generational talent.

• Team (s) represented: Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (NL), Milwaukee Brewers
• Years Played: 1954-1976
• Position: Right Field

Best known for breaking Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs (he finished his career with 755), Aaron was also an incredible all-around player, winning three Gold Glove Awards for his defensive skills in the outfield. He was consistently good throughout his entire 23-year career, with over 3,000 hits and at least 20 home runs in 20 consecutive seasons, maintaining a career batting average of .302, and was also great at driving in runs (2,297 RBIs) and still holds records for the most career total bases (6,856) and the most consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits (17).

• Team (s) represented: Boston Red Sox
• Years Played: 1939-1960
• Position: Outfield

Even with a career interrupted to serve in World War II and Korea, losing nearly five years of his prime, Williams had one of the greatest careers in baseball history. He achieved a monumental lifetime batting average of .344, 19 All-Star Game appearances, 521 home runs, and 1,839 RBIs, and had a legendary eye for the strike zone and incredible plate discipline that allowed him to earn a remarkable number of walks. His .482 On-Base percentage remains the highest in MLB history.

• Team (s) represented: Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants
• Years Played: 1986-2007
• Position: Outfield

There's no denying that Barry Bonds is one of the greatest baseball players, despite controversies around his alleged steroid use. He displayed an incredible combination of hitting prowess and power, as well as speed and defensive skills (especially early in his career). A five-tool player, he holds some truly impressive records: most home runs all-time (762), most MVP Awards (seven, in 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004), Career On-Base Percentage (.444) and Career Slugging Percentage (.607). He also scored 2,227 runs and drove in 1,996 RBIs over his career.

• Team (s) represented: St. Louis Cardinals
• Years Played: 1941-1963
• Position: Outfield and First Base

Revered for his extremely high level of play as well as his sportsmanship and humility, Stan "The Man" Musial is a true baseball legend who was remarkably consistent throughout his 22-year career. He was selected to the All-Star team an incredible 20 times and recorded 17 seasons with a batting average over .300. Throughout his career, he amassed 3,630 hits, ranking him fourth on the all-time hits list at the time of his retirement. He was also an extra-base hit machine, with 725 doubles, 177 triples, and 475 home runs over his career.

• Team (s) represented: Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Athletics
• Years Played: 1905-1928
• Position: Outfield

A consummate competitor, Cobb holds the highest career batting average in MLB history at .366. The 4,189 hits he amassed over his 24-year career was the most of all time until it was surpassed by Pete Rose. He led the league in stolen bases six times, scored 2,246 runs, and won an unprecedented 12 batting titles.

• Team (s) represented: Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox
• Years Played: 1989-2010
• Position: Outfield

One of the most popular and recognizable sluggers of his era, Ken Griffey, Jr. was a certified superstar and a true five-tool player. A 13-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover during his 21-year career he made some of the most gracefully athletic and jaw-dropping catches of all-time in the outfield. With 630 home runs, he ranks seventh on the all-time list, and he also won seven Silver Slugger Awards.

• Team (s) represented: Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Houston Astros
• Years Played: 1984-2007
• Position: Pitcher

Even though his legacy is tarnished by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, Clemens is still easily one of the most dominant pitchers of all time. During his lengthy career, he amassed 354 career wins, which ranks him ninth all-time, and he also ranks third all-time in strikeouts with 4,672. Clemens won a record seven Cy Young Awards, was an 11-time All-Star, and won the pitching Triple Crown (leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average) twice.

• Team (s) represented: New York Yankees
• Years Played: 1951-1968
• Position: Center Field

One of the most charismatic and iconic players to ever play the game, "The Mick" was the Yankees' breakout star during his career with the team, which lasted from 1951 to 1968. Mantle helped lead the team to seven World Series Championships during this era, in which he racked up 536 home runs, 1,509 RBIs, and 20 All-Star Game appearances. He was also super speedy on the basepaths and a Gold Glover in center field. In 1956 he won the American League Triple Crown, leading the league in batting average (.353), home runs (52), and RBIs (130).

• Team (s) represented: New York Yankees
• Years Played: 1923-1939
• Position: First Base

Lou Gehrig earned the nickname "The Iron Horse" for his incredible durability and a tireless streak of 2,130 consecutive games played (the record held until Cal Ripken broke it in 1995). He was renowned for his discipline at the plate and his ability to make quality contact, with 193 home runs, 1,888 runs scored, and 1,995 RBIs during his 17 seasons. A two-time MVP, he helped the Yanks to six World Series championships and maintained a lifetime batting average of .340 until ALS tragically cut short his career (and life).

• Team (s) represented: Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers
• Years Played: 1986-2008
• Position: Pitcher

A dominant force on the mound, Greg Maddux is the only pitcher in MLB history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons. Maddux spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years (1992–1995). Maddux also won a record 18 Gold Glove Awards for his defensive prowess. During his 23-year career, he racked up 355 career wins (eighth all-time) and 3,371 strikeouts, with a career ERA of 3.16.

• Team (s) represented: Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Cleveland Indians
• Years Played: 1956-1976
• Position: Outfield

A force to be reckoned with on the field, Frank Robinson accomplished the rare feat of winning the Triple Crown in 1966 while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. He led the American League in batting average (.316), home runs (49) and runs batted in (122). A two-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, he played a crucial role in leading the Orioles to World Series victories in 1966 and 1970.

Robinson retired with 586 home runs, holding the record for 10th all-time. After retiring as a player, he became the first African American manager in Major League Baseball history.

• Team (s) represented: New York Yankees
• Years Played: 1936-1951
• Position: Center Field

One of the most consistently reliable hitters of all time, "Joltin'" Joe DiMaggio maintained a career batting average of .325 during his 13-year career but his greatest feat may be his storied 56-game hitting streak in 1941. It remains one of the most iconic achievements in baseball history and a record that still stands. He scored 1,390 runs and drove in 1,537 RBIs over his career, but he also had extraordinary defensive skills, winning the Gold Glove in 1957 and 1958.

• Team (s) represented: Washington Senators
• Years Played: 1907-1927
• Position: Pitcher

One of the most dominant pitchers of all time, "The Big Train" Walter Johnson holds the record for the most career shutouts with 110, and ranks second all-time in wins with 417 during his 20-year career. His overpowering fastball reached speeds that were essentially unheard of during the time, leading the league in strikeouts 12 times and retiring with a total of 3,509 strikeouts, which was a record at the time. His career ERA of 2.17 is one of the greatest in history.

• Team (s) represented: Pittsburgh Pirates
• Years Played: 1897-1917
• Position: Shortstop

Nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" for his speed and agility on the field, and as an homage to his German heritage, Honus Wagner was renowned for his hitting, baserunning, and defensive abilities, as well as his leadership skills. He finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .328 and also amassed 3,420 hits, scored 1,739 runs, and stole 722 bases.

• Team (s) represented: Philadelphia Phillies
• Years Played: 1972-1989
• Position: Third Base

Schmidt served as team captain for the Phillies for much of his career and was a key component behind their first World Series championship in 1980. He was one of the greatest power hitters of his era, with a career batting average of .267 and 2,234 hits, that included 408 doubles, 59 triples, and 548 career home runs, which ranks 16th all-time. He was also one of the best third basemen of all time, winning an astonishing 10 Gold Glove Awards.

• Team (s) represented: New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox
• Years Played: 1967-1986
• Position: Pitcher

One of only a handful of pitchers with 300 career wins, "Tom Terrific" Tom Seaver played a crucial role in leading the Mets (where he spent the first 10 years of his career) to their first World Series victory in 1969. The recipient of three Cy Young Awards, he ranks sixth all-time with 3,640 strikeouts, led the league in ERA three times over his career, and is a 12-time All-Star.

• Team (s) represented: Los Angeles Angels
• Years Played: 2011-Present
• Position: Center Field

Mike Trout is widely regarded to be the greatest player of his generation. He leads all active major league players in career slugging percentage, on-base percentage, on-base plus slugging, and is also third in stolen base percentage. He is an 11-time All-Star, three-time American League Most Valuable Player, and nine-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award.

• Team (s) represented: New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers
• Years Played: 1966-1993
• Position: Pitcher

Nolan Ryan established himself as quite possibly the greatest pitcher of all time over his record 12-year pitching career. He holds the record for most career strikeouts with 5,714, and also led the league in strikeouts 11 times throughout his career. Ryan maintained an electric fastball throughout his time in the MLB and an extremely high level of performance into his mid-40s, and threw an unprecedented seven no-hitters, one of the longest-standing unbroken records in sports history.