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America’s favorite pastime has a rich history that weaves together triumph, heartbreak, perseverance, and unparalleled skill across generations. From the dusty diamonds of the early 20th century to the gleaming stadiums of today, the game has been graced by athletes whose names have become synonymous with greatness. The 25 greatest baseball players of all time represent more than just statistical achievements; they embody the spirit and evolution of the game. From 25 to 1, let’s count down the greatest to ever play.
25. Christy Mathewson
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Mathewson dominated baseball in the early 1900s with the New York Giants. Posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame as one of its “first five” inaugural members, Mathewson is the only pitcher to rank in the top 10 in career wins and ERA. Mathewson tallied 373 wins and posted a lifetime 2.13 ERA. A two-time World Series champion, Mathewson led the NL in wins four times, was a five-time ERA and strikeout leader, won two Triple Crowns, and pitched two no-hitters. In 1908, Mathewson recorded a ridiculous 37 wins, 259 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA.
24. Mookie Betts
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Mookie Betts is destined for the Hall of Fame. The generational star may be small in stature, but his presence is felt on a dramatic scale. With his mix of power, speed on the basepaths and elite fielding, Betts is one of baseball’s most gifted talents. Betts began his career in Boston where he won the 2018 AL MVP and World Series. The star was traded to the Dodgers ahead of the 2020 season and promptly led Los Angeles to a World Series triumph. Through the 2023 season, Betts owns seven All-Star selections, six Gold Gloves, six Silver Sluggers, one Batting Title and has three MVP runner-up finishes in addition to his win in ’18.
23. Albert Pujols
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The great slugger’s career came to an end following the 2022 season, and what a career it was. Pujols’ initial stint with the St. Louis Cardinals was one of the greatest runs for a player we’ve ever seen. In the first 11 years of his career, Pujols won three MVPs — was runner-up twice — and two World Series with the Cards. The icon saw his form drop after joining the Angels, but his overall numbers still compare to the game’s all-time greats. Pujols retired with 703 home runs (4th all-time), 3,384 hits, and a .296 BA.
22. Greg Maddux
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One of the craftiest pitchers ever, Maddux dominated with the Cubs and Braves for two decades. Maddux was the first pitcher to win four consecutive Cy Young Awards, going 75-29 with a 1.98 ERA in that span. Maddux won at least 15 games in 17 consecutive seasons and won an astounding 18 Gold Gloves. Known for his extraordinary control, Maddux is the only pitcher to record over 300 wins, over 3,000 strikeouts, and fewer than 1,000 walks. ‘Mad Dog’ has his number retired by the Cubs and Braves, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
21. Randy Johnson
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‘The Big Unit’ was the most frightening pitcher of all-time. A man who made a bird explode with a pitch, forced an All-Star to turn his helmet around and stand in the opposite side of the box and tormented the Twins and their teenage manager (Little Big League), Johnson was a monster. A near 7-footer, the lefty tormented the league with a dominant fastball and devastating slider. Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts, trailing only Nolan Ryan. Johnson won five Cy Young awards, was a nine-time strikeout leader, four-time ERA leader, and became the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter when he pitched a perfect game at 40.
20. Joe DiMaggio
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One of the better-known names in baseball, DiMaggio managed to put up excellent numbers in his 13 seasons. “The Yankee Clipper” hit .325 for the Yankees, while totaling 2,214 hits and 361 home runs. At the time of his retirement, DiMaggio ranked fifth in career home runs and sixth in career slugging percentage with a .579 mark. Oh, and he also posted a 56-game hit streak — which has yet to be broken.
19. Shohei Ohtani
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Shohei Ohtani is in a class of his own — he is the greatest two-way player in MLB history. Yes, he is a better talent than Babe Ruth. By the time his career comes to an end, Ohtani is likely going to be known as the GOAT. Ohtani is a superstar on the mound and at the plate. The former Angel won the American League MVP twice (2021, 2023) thanks to historic numbers. In ’21, Ohtani hit 46 HR, drove in 100 RBI, and stole 26 bases. On the mound that season, Ohtani went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA.
The following year, Ohtani was the runner-up for MVP and finished 4th for the Cy Young. In 2023, Ohtani won his second unanimous MVP after leading the AL in HR (44), OBP (.412), SLG (.654), and OPS (1.066) — all while winning 10 games as a pitcher. The superstar signed a historic 10-year/$700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 9, 2023.
18. Mike Trout
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At one point early in his career, it appeared as if Trout had a chance to go down as one of the five greatest players of all-time. Through nine seasons, Trout had a .305 batting average, 1,324 hits, 285 home runs, 752 RBI, a .419 on-base percentage, and 903 runs. During that stretch, he was a three-time AL MVP — with four runner-up finishes, as well — and a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. The star struggled to stay healthy between 2021-2023, but he remains one of the elite players in baseball and is a lock for Cooperstown.
17. Sandy Koufax
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Pitching for the Dodgers, Koufax was a three-time Cy Young winner and the only pitcher to win the award three times when only one overall winner was named. All three awards were won unanimously, as Koufax also won the NL Triple Crown all three seasons by leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. Koufax pitched four no-hitters and a perfect game, becoming the first Major League pitcher to do so. He retired with 2,396 strikeouts and is one of only four pitchers to be in the Hall of Fame with more strikeouts than innings pitched.
Koufax won the NL MVP in 1963 after winning 25 games with a 1.88 ERA and 306 strikeouts. In the 1963 World Series, Koufax struck out 15 Yankees in Game 1 and led the Dodgers to a sweep by winning Game 4, 2-1, to clinch the World Series MVP. After only 12 seasons, Koufax retired a four-time World Series champion, MVP, two-time World Series MVP, three-time Triple Crown winner, three-time MLB wins leader, five-time NL ERA leader, and a four-time MLB strikeout leader.
16. Clayton Kershaw
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Kershaw and Koufax are the two best left-handed pitchers of all-time. The Dodger legend has won three Cy Youngs — is a two-time runner-up — and finished in the Top-5 from 2011-2017. In 2014, he became the first NL pitcher since Bob Gibson to win the MVP. That season, Kershaw went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 239 strikeouts. The great won the NL Triple Crown in 2011. Through the 2023 season, Kershaw has a lifetime 2.48 ERA, 2,944 strikeouts and a 210-92 record. A World Series champion in 2020, Kershaw will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest pitchers to ever put on spikes.
15. Honus Wagner
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The duration of his career was in the middle of the dead-ball era, but Wagner still produced absurd numbers. Wagner remains first in WAR among shortstops (130.8). The Pirates legend won eight batting titles, six of which came after turning 30. Blessed with a rocket of an arm and power that many think would translate extremely well to the modern game, Wagner is seen as one of the best all-around players in baseball history. A lifetime .328 hitter, Wagner finished with career totals of 3,420 hits, 101 HR, 1,732 RBI, and 723 SB. ‘The Flying Dutchman’ is also an elite nickname.
14. Ken Griffey Jr.
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If it weren’t for injuries that limited “The Kid” for four seasons in Cincinnati, Junior could have had a shot at Babe Ruth’s 714 home run tally. As it stands, Griffey’s 630 dingers rank as the seventh-most in MLB history. Griffey took home seven Silver Sluggers, two of which came in one of the most dominant two-year stretches the league has ever seen. In 1997 — 56 HR, 147 RBI, .304 BA, .646 SLG. In 1998 — 56 HR, 146 RBI, .284 BA, .611 SLG. But, Griffey was more than just a hitter. Junior’s incredible defense in center led to 10 Gold Glove nods, and helped “The Kid” earn an MVP as well.
13. Roger Clemens
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With a fastball in the upper 90s and a hard slider, Clemens struck out 4,672 batters while winning 354 games. The seven-time Cy Young winner was an 11-time All-Star, MVP, and two-time World Series champion. At the peak of his career, Clemens was a four-time MLB wins leader, seven-time ERA champion, five-time AL strikeout leader, and won the pitching Triple Crown twice. Clemens twice struck out 20 batters in nine innings while with the Red Sox, a record that has since been matched by only two players — Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer.
12. Stan Musial
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‘Stan the Man’ batted .331 over his career and set NL records for career hits (3,630), RBI (1,951), and doubles (725). Although most of his records have been surpassed, Musial is known to be one of the most consistent hitters of all-time. The 24-time All-Star and seven-time NL Batting Champion made a name for himself early in his career with his unique batting stance, but it was his production that garnered him immortality. Three World Series rings, three MVPs, and two Player of the Year victories…Musial was one of a kind.
11. Pedro Martinez
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One of the greatest players of the modern era, Martinez dominated from 1997-2003. He won three Cy Young awards and was the runner-up twice within those sevens, resulting in a record of 118-36 with a 2.20 ERA. Martinez was the runner-up for the AL MVP in 1999 when he captured the pitching Triple Crown while going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. He led MLB in ERA five times, led the AL in strikeouts three times, and was a member of the 2004 Red Sox who captured the World Series. Martinez retired with the lowest WHIP (1.054) of any live-ball era pitcher with at least 2,000 IP — Clayton Kershaw has a 1.004 mark through 2023 — and the third-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio in modern history.
10. Mickey Mantle
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Mantle, the greatest switch hitter of all-time, is known for his tremendous power and tape-measure home runs. Mantle was an above-average hitter (.298), and tallied 2,415 hits, 536 of which were home runs. Mantle’s hitting prowess helped lead Mick to three MVPs, a Triple Crown and 20 All-Star selections. Above all else, Mantle was a winner. The Hall of Famer won an impressive seven World Series with the Yankees.
9. Walter Johnson
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In 21 years, Johnson won 417 games — good for second all-time — became the first player to strikeout 3,000 hitters, and set numerous records that still stand today. Johnson remains the all-time career leader in shutouts with 110 and is fourth in complete games with 531. Johnson was a two-time AL MVP, three-time Triple Crown winner, six-time AL wins leader, five-time AL ERA leader, and 12-time strikeout leader. Johnson was also decent with the bat, ending his career with 23 home runs and a .235 average. In 1913, Johnson held a 1.14 ERA. From 1910-1919, Johnson averaged 26 wins per season with an overall ERA of 1.59.
8. Lou Gehrig
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Gehrig was known for his durability and hitting prowess, garnering the nickname “The Iron Horse.” The first player to ever have his uniform number retired by a team, Gehrig was forced into an early retirement. However, despite his career being cut short, he managed to post legendary numbers with a .340 batting average, 2,721 hits, 493 homers, and 1,995 RBI.
7. Alex Rodriguez
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Rodriguez is one of the best hitters in MLB history, compiling a .295 BA with 3,115 hits, 696 HR, and 2,086 RBI. A-Rod ranks fifth all-time in homers and fourth in RBI. After a blistering start to his career in Seattle — as a 20-year-old, A-Rod hit .358 with 36 HR and 123 RBI, finishing second in MVP voting — Rodriguez dominated with the Rangers and Yankees. A three-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 10-time Silver Slugger, and World Series champion, Rodriguez excelled everywhere he went.
He had three seasons with 50+ homers and eight years of 40+. While not the best defender, Rodriguez still won two Gold Gloves. It is unlikely Rodriguez will make the Hall of Fame given the current climate in the game, but Rodriguez should also be remembered as being one of the best.
6. Ty Cobb
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Cobb, one of the greatest players to ever grace the diamond, can make an argument for the greatest hitter of all-time. Cobb holds the record for highest career batting average (.367), and held the all-time hits lead with 4,191 for nearly 50 years. While his power numbers aren’t amongst the greats, Cobb’s ability to get on base has separated him from almost all of the game’s great players. Cobb’s greatness is clear when considering his 12 Batting Titles, Triple Crown, and MVP trophy.
5. Hank Aaron
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The one-time Home Run King, Aaron is still regarded by many as the true home run leader. Aaron’s illustrious career was punctuated by surpassing Ruth’s vaunted home run record. Aaron’s record of 755 HR held up for 33 years before Barry Bonds broke his mark. In addition to hitting more homers than all but one man, Aaron holds the lifetime RBI record with 2,297 runs batted in. A 25-time All-Star, MVP, three-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Batting Champion, Aaron is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats.
4. Ted Williams
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Generally regarded as “The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived,” Williams’ tremendous numbers would have been even more astounding had he not served three years in the US Navy in the middle of his career. The last player to hit over .400 in a season, Williams ended his career with a .344 batting average, 2,654 hits, 521 home runs, and 1,839 RBI. Williams earned two MVPs, 19 All-Star selections and claimed six Batting Titles.
3. Willie Mays
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The “Say Hey Kid” is regarded by many as the greatest five-tool player ever, and his numbers do more than back up that claim. Mays ended his illustrious career with a .302 batting average, 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, 339 stolen bases and 1,903 RBI. Mays is one of five NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons. Defensively, the icon won 12 Gold Gloves and is famous for making some of the greatest plays in the outfield the world has ever seen.
2. Babe Ruth
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The ‘Sultan of Swat’ is the most famous player in baseball history due to his notorious power. After beginning his career as a pitcher, Ruth became the most feared hitter of his time. The seven-time World Champion led the American League in home runs 12 times while setting the record for homers in a career with 714 — a record which stood until Hank Aaron surpassed him. Ruth posted a career .342 batting average while amassing 2,873 hits and 2,213 RBI.
1. Barry Bonds
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Although Bonds’ legacy continues to be hampered by steroid allegations, there is no denying he is one of the greatest all-around players to ever step on the field. Whether it’s hitting for average, power, or just getting on base, Bonds is a step ahead of the pack. His 762 home runs seem to be out of reach for the foreseeable future. His 73 HR year (2001) is also seemingly untouchable. Bonds is one-of-eight players to hit 300 HR and steal 300 bases…and he is the only member of the 400/400 and 500/500 clubs — he finished with 514 SB.
One of the more incredible statistics when looking at Bonds’ legacy — 2,558 walks. Imagine what his numbers would look like if he didn’t have nearly 400 more walks than any player in history. From 2001-2004 Bonds was walked 755 times, including 249 intentional walks. No batter has ever been feared more than Bonds. A 14-time All-Star, 12-time Silver Slugger, seven-time MVP, eight-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Batting Champ, there was nothing Bonds couldn’t do on the diamond.
