The Top MLB Superstar of Your Birth Year

Baseball has its share of top players. Baseball legends like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto, Justin Verlander, and Gerrit Cole reign the diamond today. It is a sport that still dominates the American landscape. Once known as "America's Favorite Pastime," baseball was once the sport that many Americans watched fervently.

Children aspired to be like their favorite players. Fans would flock to stadiums and huddle around black and white TVs to watch icons like Willie Mays and Lou Gehrig play ball. Everyone may have their favorite team, but there is no denying that certain players stand out above everyone else. In each season, only one player stood out as the very best in the league.

To determine the baseball legend who ruled the field the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the players with the highest wins above replacement each season since the Integration Era began in 1947, using data from Baseball-Reference. All positions except for catcher are represented on this list.

Some of the players on this list are now hailed as some of the greatest in history. Others had promise but after one great season, didn't hold up to the hype. Pitchers are more likely than any other players to rank as the greatest player in a given year, followed by center fielders.

With incredible careers, several players were likely to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but inappropriate behavior ranging from gambling to cheating allegations to sports-enhancing substances have kept them out of Cooperstown, many with lifetime bans. (These are scandals that rocked the sports world.)

1947

Player: Ted Williams
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Left field
Statistics: .343 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 32 home runs

1948

Player: Stan Musial
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Right field
Statistics: .376 batting avg., 131 RBIs, 39 home runs

1949

Player: Jackie Robinson
Team: Brooklyn Dodgers
Position: Second base
Statistics: .342 batting avg., 124 RBIs, 16 home runs

1950

Player: Eddie Stanky
Team: New York Giants
Position: Second base
Statistics: .300 batting avg., 51 RBIs, 8 home runs

1951

Player: Jackie Robinson
Team: Brooklyn Dodgers
Position: Second base
Statistics: .338 batting avg., 88 RBIs, 19 home runs

1952

Player: Bobby Shantz
Team: Philadelphia Athletics
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.48 ERA, 24-7 record, 152 strikeouts

1953

Player: Al Rosen
Team: Cleveland Indians
Position: Third base
Statistics: .336 batting avg., 145 RBIs, 43 home runs

1954

Player: Willie Mays
Team: New York Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .345 batting avg., 110 RBIs, 41 home runs

1955

Player: Mickey Mantle
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Center field
Statistics: .306 batting avg., 99 RBIs, 37 home runs

1956

Player: Mickey Mantle
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Center field
Statistics: .353 batting avg., 130 RBIs, 52 home runs

1957

Player: Mickey Mantle
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Center field
Statistics: .365 batting avg., 94 RBIs, 34 home runs

1958

Player: Willie Mays
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .347 batting avg., 96 RBIs, 29 home runs

1959

Player: Ernie Banks
Team: Chicago Cubs
Position: Shortstop
Statistics: .304 batting avg., 143 RBIs, 45 home runs

1960

Player: Willie Mays
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .319 batting avg., 103 RBIs, 29 home runs

1961

Player: Mickey Mantle
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Center field
Statistics: .317 batting avg., 128 RBIs, 54 home runs

1962

Player: Willie Mays
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .304 batting avg., 141 RBIs, 49 home runs

1963

Player: Sandy Koufax
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.88 ERA, 25-5 record, 306 strikeouts

1964

Player: Willie Mays
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .296 batting avg., 111 RBIs, 47 home runs

1965

Player: Willie Mays
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Center field
Statistics: .317 batting avg., 112 RBIs, 52 home runs

1966

Player: Sandy Koufax
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.73 ERA, 27-9 record, 317 strikeouts

1967

Player: Carl Yastrzemski
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Left field
Statistics: .326 batting avg., 121 RBIs, 44 home runs

1968

Player: Bob Gibson
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.12 ERA, 22-9 record, 268 strikeouts

1969

Player: Bob Gibson
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.18 ERA, 20-13 record, 269 strikeouts

1970

Player: Carl Yastrzemski
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: First base
Statistics: .329 batting avg., 102 RBIs, 40 home runs

1971

Player: Wilbur Wood
Team: Chicago White Sox
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.91 ERA, 22-13 record, 210 strikeouts

1972

Player: Steve Carlton
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.98 ERA, 27-10 record, 310 strikeouts

1973

Player: Tom Seaver
Team: New York Mets
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.08 ERA, 19-10 record, 251 strikeouts

1974

Player: Mike Schmidt
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Third base
Statistics: .282 batting avg., 116 RBIs, 36 home runs

1975

Player: Joe Morgan
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Position: Second base
Statistics: .327 batting avg., 94 RBIs, 17 home runs

1976

Player: Mark Fidrych
Team: Detroit Tigers
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.34 ERA, 19-9 record, 97 strikeouts

1977

Player: Rod Carew
Team: Minnesota Twins
Position: First base
Statistics: .388 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 14 home runs

1978

Player: Phil Niekro
Team: Atlanta Braves
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.88 ERA, 19-18 record, 248 strikeouts

1979

Player: Fred Lynn
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Center field
Statistics: .333 batting avg., 122 RBIs, 39 home runs

1980

Player: Steve Carlton
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.34 ERA, 24-9 record, 286 strikeouts

1981

Player: Mike Schmidt
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Third base
Statistics: .316 batting avg., 91 RBIs, 31 home runs

1982

Player: Robin Yount
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Shortstop
Statistics: .331 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 29 home runs

1983

Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Position: Shortstop
Statistics: .318 batting avg., 102 RBIs, 27 home runs

1984

Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Position: Shortstop
Statistics: .304 batting avg., 86 RBIs, 27 home runs

1985

Player: Dwight Gooden
Team: New York Mets
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.53 ERA, 24-4 record, 268 strikeouts

1986

Player: Teddy Higuera
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.79 ERA, 20-11 record, 207 strikeouts

1987

Player: Roger Clemens
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.97 ERA, 20-9 record, 256 strikeouts

1988

Player: Wade Boggs
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Third base
Statistics: .366 batting avg., 58 RBIs, 5 home runs

1989

Player: Bret Saberhagen
Team: Kansas City Royals
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.16 ERA, 23-6 record, 193 strikeouts

1990

Player: Roger Clemens
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.93 ERA, 21-6 record, 209 strikeouts

1991

Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Position: Shortstop
Statistics: .323 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 34 home runs

1992

Player: Greg Maddux
Team: Chicago Cubs
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.18 ERA, 20-11 record, 199 strikeouts

1993

Player: Barry Bonds
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Left field
Statistics: .336 batting avg., 123 RBIs, 46 home runs

1994

Player: Greg Maddux
Team: Atlanta Braves
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.56 ERA, 16-6 record, 156 strikeouts

1995

Player: Greg Maddux
Team: Atlanta Braves
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.63 ERA, 19-2 record, 181 strikeouts

1996

Player: Ken Griffey Jr.
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position: Center field
Statistics: .303 batting avg., 140 RBIs, 49 home runs

1997

Player: Roger Clemens
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.05 ERA, 21-7 record, 292 strikeouts

1998

Player: Kevin Brown
Team: San Diego Padres
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.38 ERA, 18-7 record, 257 strikeouts

1999

Player: Pedro Martinez
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.07 ERA, 23-4 record, 313 strikeouts

2000

Player: Pedro Martinez
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 1.74 ERA, 18-6 record, 284 strikeouts

2001

Player: Barry Bonds
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Left field
Statistics: .328 batting avg., 137 RBIs, 73 home runs

2002

Player: Barry Bonds
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Left field
Statistics: .370 batting avg., 110 RBIs, 46 home runs

2003

Player: Barry Bonds
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Left field
Statistics: .341 batting avg., 90 RBIs, 45 home runs

2004

Player: Barry Bonds
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Left field
Statistics: .362 batting avg., 101 RBIs, 45 home runs

2005

Player: Alex Rodriguez
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Third base
Statistics: .321 batting avg., 130 RBIs, 48 home runs

2006

Player: Albert Pujols
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: First base
Statistics: .331 batting avg., 137 RBIs, 49 home runs

2007

Player: Alex Rodriguez
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Third base
Statistics: .314 batting avg., 156 RBIs, 54 home runs

2008

Player: Albert Pujols
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: First base
Statistics: .357 batting avg., 116 RBIs, 37 home runs

2009

Player: Zack Greinke
Team: Kansas City Royals
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.16 ERA, 16-8 record, 242 strikeouts

2010

Player: Josh Hamilton
Team: Texas Rangers
Position: Left field
Statistics: .359 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 32 home runs

2011

Player: Roy Halladay
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.35 ERA, 19-6 record, 220 strikeouts

2012

Player: Mike Trout
Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Position: Center field
Statistics: .326 batting avg., 83 RBIs, 30 home runs

2013

Player: Mike Trout
Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Position: Center field
Statistics: .323 batting avg., 97 RBIs, 27 home runs

2014

Player: Corey Kluber
Team: Cleveland Indians
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.44 ERA, 18-9 record, 269 strikeouts

2015

Player: Bryce Harper
Team: Washington Nationals
Position: Right field
Statistics: .330 batting avg., 99 RBIs, 42 home runs

2016

Player: Mike Trout
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Position: Center field
Statistics: .315 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 29 home runs

2017

Player: Joey Votto
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Position: First base
Statistics: .320 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 36 home runs

2018

Player: Mookie Betts
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Right field
Statistics: .346 batting avg., 80 RBIs, 32 home runs

2019

Player: Alex Bregman
Team: Houston Astros
Position: Third base
Statistics: .296 batting avg., 112 RBIs, 41 home runs

2020

Player: Mookie Betts
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Right field
Statistics: .292 batting avg., 39 RBIs, 16 home runs

2021

Player: Zack Wheeler
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Pitcher
Statistics: 2.78 ERA, 14-10 record, 247 strikeouts