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The 189 Best Baseball Players of All Time (Part 2)

Friday, December 16, 2022


If you want to know what all the numbers are, the methodology, check part 1 linked above.

100. TIM RAINES LF  SH  88.6
Expos/White Sox
1979-2002
WAR: 71.6
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: 3
OPS+ 123
.303/.396/.478

Had a .391 OBP in his rookie season and kept an OBP of at least .350 the next 17 seasons, over .400 5 times.  Even his second stint in Montreal, 47 games in 2001, his OBP was .433.  

99.  OZZIE SMITH  SS  SH  88.7
1978-96
Cards
WAR: 77.3
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: -2.6
OPS+ 87
.273/.350/.359

44 dWAR, per b-ref.

98. KEVIN BROWN  RHP  88.9
1986-2005
Rangers/Dodgers
WAR: 72.9
Per Gm: 22
Postseason: -1.3
ERA+ 127
242-167

Had a 1.89 ERA (215 ERA+) with the Marlins in '96, finished 2nd in the Cy Young to Smoltz who went 24-8, 2.94 (149 ERA+)  Smoltz threw 20 more innings, so that's largely a wash.  I don't know if that vote flip makes Brown a Hall of Famer, but it wouldn't hurt.

97. TONY GWYNN  RF  LH  89
1982-2001
Padres
WAR: 70.1
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: 4.9
OPS+ 132
.345/.397/.491

That's the highest translated BA we've seen so far, Gwynn's real BA was just 7 points less.  Gwynn led the NL in BA 8 times, 8 times led all of MLB and had similar postseason results, 27 games, hit .306.  

96. FRANKIE FRISCH  2B  SH  89.6
1919-37
Cards/Giants
WAR: 72.7
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: 2.9
OPS+ 110
.286/.348/.439

Frisch has most of his bat earlier in his career, 131 OPS+ when he was 25, 130 the next season (it was 101 the year he won the MVP, and that would be something to look up, worst bats for position player MVPs). Frisch slugged under .400 that year ('31) that feels like a tough vote to defend.

95. MANNY RAMIREZ  RH  LF/RF  90.2
1993-2011
Indians/Red Sox
WAR: 70.1
Per Gm: 14
Postsesason: 6.1
OPS+ 154
.298/.400/.584

And now - we have a 90 Total Value player.  Ramirez Hits the 3/4/5 slashline and just misses the translated BA mark.  Never had a full season OPS+ below 125.  29 career postseason homers.  

94. LOU WHITAKER   2B   LH  90.3
1977-95
Tigers
WAR: 74.9
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: .4
OPS+ 117
.283/.372/.468

Trammell's in the HoF, his double play partner is not - but it's Whitaker who ranks higher.  Bat improved as he aged - in his 20s, Whitaker's best OPS+ was 124 when he was 28, in his 8th full season.  From age 31 forward: 127, 133, 107, 141, 137, 122, 129.  

93. ED DELAHANTY  LF  RH  90.4
1888-1903
Phillies
WAR: 73.4
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: -
OPS+ 152
.314/.386/.564

Led the league in doubles 5 times, triples once, homers twice, RBI 3 times, steals once, batting average twice (he hit .400 3x) OBP twice, SLG five times, OPS five times, OPS+ 4 times.  Died during the 1903 season with a 147 OPS+, he was 35 - but just the season before here was his slash: .376/.453/.590.  Delahanty had a 188 OPS+; it seems likely there was more value left had he been able to stay out of Niagara Falls.

92. ROD CAREW  LH  1B/2B  91
1967-85
Twins/Angels
WAR: 77.5
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: -1.5
OPS+ 131
.334/.402/.465

Led in batting avg 6 times; in 1977 won the MVP with an MLB leading 178 OPS+. Carew had a 19 year career -- and was an All Star 18 times.  

91. PAUL WANER  RF  LH  91.3
1926-45
Pirates
WAR: 76.7
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: .6
OPS+ 134
.312/.393/.509

Led MLB in triples his rookie year.  Won the MVP his second year.  Hit .370 his third year.  100 RBI his 4th year.  Hit .368 in year 5.  2 years later led the league in doubles. 2nd in the MVP in his 9th season.  In year 11, hit .373.  In year 12, .354.  Waner played another 8 years, some were good, but from ages 23-34, dude raked.  

90. MIGUEL CABRERA  1B/3B   RH  91.6
2003-
Tigers/Marlins
WAR: 72.1
Per Gm: 13
Postseason: 6.5
OPS+ 142
.308/.389/.531

One more season for Cabrera, 50 some odd games at DH and he'll hit the 500 game mark.  Cabrera won back to back MVPs with the Tigers in '12-13, he led MLB in OPS both seasons.  2016 was the end of Cabrera's productive career, my guess is he drops back a little for his final ranking.

89. BILL DAHLEN  SS  RH  92.1
1891-1911
Colts/Superbas
WAR: 77.9
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: -.8
OPS+ 110
.248/.341/.429

Per b-ref, 28 career dWAR, never had a negative season with the glove. His bat years were early, 139 OPS+ in '92, 138 in '94, 156 in '96.  128 the next year, then 123. Dahlen plays another decade, his OPS+ never again hitting 120, and very often below 100.  

88. OSCAR CHARLESTON  CF   LF  92.3
1915-41
Crawfords/ABCs
WAR: 69.3
Per Gm: 23
Postseason: -
OPS+ 184
.298/.386/.557

Charleston hit .400 five times. led the Negro Leagues in OPS+ 4 times; won the Triple Crown 3 times.

87. LUKE APPLING   SS  RH  93
1930-50
White Sox
WAR: 78
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: 0
OPS+ 113
.302/.380/.422

Appling was the White Sox shortstop for 2 decades; in '36 he hit .388 with 128 RBI; in '43 he led the AL in both BA and OBP, then missed the next season for the War.  Appling came back the following year, when he was 38, and hit .300+ every season until his last, when he was 43.

86. ROBIN YOUNT  SS/CF  RH  93
1974-94
Brewers
WAR: 78.4
Per Gm: 13
Postseason: 1.3
OPS+ 115
.293/.354/.479

2 decades in Milwaukee for Yount. He led the big leagues in OPS in '82 as a shortstop. Led MLB in doubles twice, led the AL in triples twice. Won 2 MVP Awards, 7 years apart, the 2nd was '89 when he was 33 with a 152 OPS+.

85. BILL DICKEY  C  LH   93.2
1928-46
Yankees
WAR: 61.1
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: 6.6
OPS+ 127
.294/.359/.517

Dickey's got the least WAR of any non Negro Leaguer remaining; through 2022 I've got him as the 6th best catcher ever.  Hammered the ball mid career, OPS over .980 from '36-38.  Dickey had a 173 OPS+ when he was 36, playing a half season, then missed the next two years with the War and only played another 50+ games after returnign from the service.

84. BOBBY GRICH  2B  RH  93.2
1970-86
Angels/Orioles
WAR: 74.2
Per Gm: 18
Postseason: 1
OPS+ 125
.273/.381/.489

As a kid in the 80s, my entry point into advanced baseball analysis, into "hey, there's a way of thinking about this sport that I'm not getting from the NBC Game of the Week" was Bill James and the player whose performance seemed most at odds with my pre-existing conception was Grich.  In 1981, Grich led the AL in homers, led the AL in slugging, in OPS+, all while having a postive second base glove and finished 14th for MVP.  Per B-ref, he was 4th in WAR.  He had more than twice the WAR of Dave Winfield, who finished 7th.

83. ANDY PETTITTE  LHP  93.3
1995-2013
Yankees
WAR: 65.8
Per Gm: 20
Postseason: 12.4
ERA+ 117
251-208

Pettitte benefits from my new ranking system; by WAR, he's a marginal Hall of Famer, but add the per game value -- and then the postseason value.  Pettitte won 5 World Championships - he has 19 postseason wins and an ALCS MVP. Through 2022, I've got Pettitte as the 30th best pitcher in history.

82. FERGUSON JENKINS  RHP  93.3
1965-83
Cubs/Rangers
WAR: 80.2
Per Gm: 18
Postseason: 0
ERA+ 115
267-207, 7

Through 2022, the first 80 WAR player.  From '67-72, Jenkins won 20+ every year, two years later he led all MLB with 25. Jenkins led MLB in complete games 4 times, led MLB in least walks/9 4 times, led MLB in K/BB 5 times.  Walk limitation, that was the key for Jenkins (because he gave up a lot of bombs, 7 times the most homers given up in the league).

81. ROBIN ROBERTS  RHP  94
1948-66
Phillies
WAR: 81.6
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: .3
ERA+ 113
293-233, 26

The generation prior to Jenkins was Roberts, another 80 WAR winning RH, similar per game value, postseason value, ERA+.  Roberts led MLB in wins 4 straight years (and then led the league in losses the next 2). Roberts was a horse in his 20s - led all MLB in starts 6 straight seasons, in IP 5 straight seasons.  He gave up a ton of hits and homers (more than anyone in MLB 4 straight years).  But, just like Jenkins, he limited walks - leading MLB in BB/9 4 times and in K/BB 5 times.  Roberts and Jenkins, really, really similar career profiles.

80. PHIL NIEKRO  RHP  94.1
1964-87
Braves
WAR: 86.3
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: -3.2
ERA+ 115
323-261, 28

There's not really anything like Phil Neikro's workload.  He led MLB in IP 3 times....in his age 38,39,40 seasons.  Add his age 41 season and that's how many straight years he led MLB in starts.  In those same 4 years, he had more losses than anyone in the NL.  In 1979, a 40 year old Niekro led the NL in wins and losses. Gave up more homers and hit more batters than anyone in baseball.  And he finished 6th in the Cy Young voting.  There won't be someone with more WAR until the ranking reaches the 60s.

79. ADRIAN BELTRE  3B  RH  94.4
1998-2018
Rangers/Dodgers/Mariners
WAR: 80.2
Per Gm: 13
Postseason: 1.2
OPS+ 116
.285/.341/.488

Beltre's last year in LA was his best ever with the bat, led MLB in homers, topped 1.000 OPS for the only time in his career. Finished 2nd in the MVP, which would be his best ever. He didn't win his first Gold Glove until 2007. It was really in his 30s, starting in his one year in Boston, that Beltre found a consistent bat - other than that last year in LA, which was his best bat season - his 7 best OPS+ seasons start after age 30.

78. JOHNNY MIZE  1B  LH  94.6  
1936-53
Cards/Giants/Yankees
WAR: 69
Per Gm: 19
Postseason: 6.6
OPS+ 158
.299/.386/.634

Mize was a Cardinal the first 6 seasons of his career, leading the NL in OPS 3 straight seasons. In '42 he was dealt to the Giants, he led the league in slugging - and then missed his next 3 seasons for the War. In his first season back, he had his career best OPS+ (186) the next year, when he was 34, he led MLB in homers and RBI.  The next year - he led MLB in homers again.  Big Cat could hit.  

77. FRANK THOMAS  DH/1B  RH  95.7
1990-2008
White Sox
WAR: 79.2
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: .5
OPS+ 156
.299/.420/.591

Just like that, we're over 95 Total Value.  Thomas hit out the gate.  Rookie year, 177 OPS+.  2nd year led all of MLB in OPS+. Third year, led MLB in OPS -- and then Thomas won back to back MVPs in his next two seasons.  The next 3 years, OPS over 1.000.  Outside of '01, when Thomas played 20 games, he really won't approach a middling year with the bat until he was 40.  Big Hurt could hit. 

76. CARLTON FISK  C  RH  95.8
1969-93
White Sox/Red Sox
WAR: 70.8
Per Gm: 12
Postseason: 2.3
OPS+ 117
.261/.340/.500

24 year career and just kept catching, Fisk caught over 2200 games, was still catching into his mid 40s.  In 1990, Fisk was 42, he caught over a hundred games and had a 134 OPS+.

75. TOM GLAVINE  LHP  96.1
1987-2008
Braves/Mets
WAR: 76.2
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: 8
ERA+ 118
300-279

Led MLB in wins 4 times, in starts 6 times.  2 Cy Youngs. Glavine in the World Series, 4-3, 2.16, 58 innings.  

74. CHIPPER JONES  3B  SH  96.1
1993-2012
Braves
WAR: 80.1
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: 1
OPS+ 141
.296/.392/.519

Longtime teammates Glavine and Chipper, dead even at 96.1 Total Value.  His best year with the bat by OPS+ came late, when he was 36.  And the year prior was his only season he led the NL in OPS+  Topped 1.000 OPS 5 times. 

73. PAUL MOLITOR  DH/3B  RH  96.7
1978-98
Brewers
WAR: 75.8
Per Gm: 12
Postseason: 8.9
OPS+ 122
.310/.376/.486

Molitor led the AL in hits when he was 39. In 29 postseason games Molitor hit .359 with a 1.026 OPS, he was 1993 World Series MVP for the Jays with a 1.452 OPS and 7 RBI.

72. JEFF BAGWELL   1B  RH  96.8
1991-2005
Astros
WAR: 79.4
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: .4
OPS+ 149
.292/.401/.554

Bagwell never had an OPS+ below 135 until he was 35. Slugged .750 in his MVP year of '94.  Just 21 seasons in history with a Slugging % that high. 10 of them were in the Negro Leagues.  7 of them were Bonds/Babe.  The other 4, Gehrig, Hornsby, McGwire and Bagwell in '94.

71. ZACK GREINKE  RHP  98.2
2004-
Royals
WAR: 78.4
Per Gm: 24
Postseason: 1
ERA+ 123
270-198, 1

Assuming he plays, 2023 will be Greinke's aged 39 season, he's still effective, but hasn't had an ERA+ better than 111 since 2019, so it's likely this rank won't hold.  Had an ERA+ over 200 twice. 

70. ARKY VAUGHAN  SS  LH  98.4
1932-48
Pirates
WAR: 77.6
Per Gm: 20
Postseason: .6
OPS+ 136
.306/.405/.515

Vaughan's got the translated 3/4/5 slashline as a +shortstop.  Led the NL in OBP 3 straight years -- lemme show you Vaughan's 1936.  .385 BA, led the league. .491 OBP, led all MLB.  .607 Slugging, led the league.  190 OPS+ led all MLB.  Vaughan led the NL in B-Ref WAR (9.8) but finished 3rd in the MVP.  Hartnett won with a 4.9 WAR (b-ref).  

69. BULLET ROGAN  RHP/CF  B-RH  98.7
1916-38
Monarchs
WAR: 59.9
Per Gm: 21/20
Postseason: .5
ERA+ 161
OPS+ 152
109-90, 34
.280/.358/.469

Rogan had a 223 ERA+ in 1921, his second full season, 4 years later, it was 302 while leading the Negro Leagues in complete games.  Meanwhile, he had an OPS above 1.000 4 times, he didn't have an OPS+ below 111 until he was 44.  

68. REGGIE JACKSON  RF/DH  LH  99.6
1967-87
A's/Angels/Yankees
WAR: 75.4
Per Gm: 13
Postseason: 11.2
OPS+ 139
.267/.362/.560

Reginald Martinez Jackson.  Led the AL in homers 4 times, OPS+ 4 times, Slugging 3 times.  Had a 130 OPS+ as a 39 year old Angel.  Won 5 titles.  Here's his World Series record: 27 games, 116 plate appearances, .357/.457/.755 -- that's a .755 World Series Slugging Percentage.  10 homers, 24 RBI.  World Series MVP in '73 and '77.  

67. AL KALINE  RF  RH  99.6
1953-74
Tigers
WAR: 82.3
Per Gm: 14
Postseason: 3.3
OPS+ 134
.296/.372/.503

Broke in at 18, 3rd in Rookie of the Year at 19, hit .340 when he was 20, 3rd in the MVP when he was 21. Led the AL in OPS when he was 24. From '55 forward he hit below 107 OPS+ once, 96 when he was 38.

66. YOGI BERRA  C  RH  100.7
1946-65
Yankees
WAR: 64.3
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: 12.2
OPS+ 125
.280/.337/.523

And we cross 100 Total Value.  3 time MVP.  10 Time World Series Champion.  Yogi played in 72 World Series games, hit a dozen homers, walked nearly twice as much as struck out.  4 times in World Series had an OPS over 1.000.  

65. NOLAN RYAN  RHP  101.6
1966-93
Astros/Angels/Mets/Rangers
WAR: 91.3
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: -.4
ERA+ 112
337-260, 1

And we cross 90 WAR.  Through 2022, career leader in Ks, walks, and fewest hits/9.  Led the league in Ks 11 times.  Led all of MLB in fewest hits/9 11 times. Led all MLB in K/9 10 times. Never won the Cy Young, finished 5th the year he led the league in ERA+.  Threw over 200 innings 4 straight years in his 40s.  

64. CHARLIE GEHRINGER  2B  LH  101.7
1924-42
Tigers
WAR: 80
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: 5.7
OPS+ 125
.288/.368/.482

Through 2022, Gehringer is the 5th greatest second baseman ever.  He suffers in the translated slash, his real BA is .320, real OBP .404. In 20 World Series games he hit .321.  

63. EDDIE PLANK  LHP  102
1901-17
Athletics
WAR: 84
Per Gm: 19
Postseason: 4.4
ERA+ 122
259-153, 28

In his year in the Federal League, Plank gave up 1 homer in 268 innings pitched.  3 time World Series Champion, 1.32 ERA in 54 World Series innings.  

62. GAYLORD PERRY  RHP  102.1
1962-83
Giants
WAR: 92.2
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: -1.7
ERA+ 117
311-236, 10

Through 2022, the 22nd greatest pitcher ever.  Had an ERA+ at 106 or better every year from '66-'80. Kept pitching - threw over 200 innings when he was 43.  Won 20+ five times.

61. KEN GRIFFEY, JR.  CF  LH  102.4
1989-2010
Mariners/Reds
WAR: 83.1
Per GM: 15
Postseason: 4.3
OPS+ 136
.277/.363/.551

3rd in Rookie of the Year at 19.  Had an OPS+ of at least 97 every full season of his career. Led the league in homers 4 times. Most of who you think this guy was happened in his 20s, all of his top 10 MVP finishes were in his 20s, all of his Gold Gloves.  Played until he was 40.

60. MAX SCHERZER  RHP  102.5
2008-
Nationals/Tigers
WAR: 74.7
Per Gm: 28
Postseason: 5.2
ERA+ 135
247-149

2023 will be his age 38 season, he hasn't let up, with ERA+ in the 160s the prior 2 years.  3 time Cy Young Winner.  Led the league in WHIP 5 times.  In K/BB ratio 4 times.  Has only been below 108 ERA+ once.  

59. IVAN RODRIGUEZ  C  102.5
1991-2011
Rangers/Tigers
WAR: 75
Per Gm: 15
Postseason: 3.2
OPS+ 106
.289/.328/.466

Through 2022, the 3rd greatest catcher of all time.  Caught over 2400 games. 29.6 dWAR per b-ref.  13 Gold Gloves.  Didn't have an OPS+ that reached 100 after the age of 32 and played until he was 39.

58. STEVE CARLTON  LHP  102.7
1965-88
Phillies/Cards
WAR: 90.3
Per Gm: 17
Postseason: .8
ERA+ 115
310-256, 2

4 Cy Youngs.  Led the league in innings pitched 5 times, including the ages of 35,37,38.  In 1982 Carlton was 37, led the MLB in wins, complete games, shutouts, Ks and FIP.  The next year, led all of MLB in Ks and K/9.  Still threw 150+ innings when he was 42.  Didn't have an ERA+ below 97 until he was 41.  

57. PETE ROSE  SH  1B/LF/3B/2B/RF  103.1
1963-86
Reds/Phillies
WAR: 78.5
Per Gm: 10
Postseason: 14.6
OPS+ 118
.305/.380/.448

MLB career leader in games, plate appearances, at bats, hits.  Led MLB in hits 7 times, the last, when he was 40.  Led MLB in doubles 5 times, all between the ages of 33 and 39.  Rose's best ever season in OBP was when he was 38.  Hit .321 in 67 postseason games.  MVP in the '75 Series.  

56. GARY CARTER  C  RH 103.2
1974-92
Expos/Mets
WAR: 71.9
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: 5.9
OPS+ 115
.263/.340/.490

Through 2022, the second best catcher ever.  The best player I ever met.  26.1 dWAR.  2 time All Star MVP.  Caught over 2000 games.  

55. ROBERTO CLEMENTE  RF   RH  103.3
1955-72
Pirates
WAR: 81.7
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: 5.6
OPS+ 130
.324/.370/.520

4 batting titles, double digit triples 5 straight years, the last was '69 when he was 34 and led all MLB.  Gold Gloves in each of his final 12 seasons.  OPS+ of 114 and up each of his last 13 seasons.  Didn't have an OPS+ below 136 the last decade of his career.  

54. GEORGE DAVIS  SH  SS/3B  103.4
1890-1909
Giants/White Sox
WAR: 84
Per Gm: 16
Postseason: 3.4
OPS+ 121
.282/.356/.466

Through 2022, the 4th best shortstop in history.  24 dWAR, played 18 full seasons in MLB, had an OPS+ below 111 three times. 619 career stolen bases.  

53. CURT SCHILLING  RHP  103.5
1988-2007
Phillies
WAR: 72.8
Per Gm: 22
Postseason: 14.1
ERA+ 127
245-175, 18

Led all MLB in wins at ages 34 and 37, Led MLB in innings pitched at 34.  In his final 7 seasons he led the league in K/BB 5 times.  Led MLB in BB/9 when he was 39.  By ERA+, his best year was age 36.  From aged 34-37 had 3 2nd place Cy Young finishes.  And really why he gets here is the postseason record; 11-2, 2.23 in 133 innings.  3 time World Champion, World Series MVP, NLCS MVP.

52. CARL YASTRZEMSKI LH  LF/1B  104.2
1961-1983
Red Sox
WAR: 89.5
Per Gm: 13
Postseason: 1.7
OPS+ 130
.281/.376/.484

Led the league in OPS+ 4 times.  In his MVP season, led all MLB in homers, RBI, OBP, slugging, OPS, OPS+, total bases and won a Gold Glove. 18 time All Star.  In a 23 year career, he had 2 seasons with an OPS+ below 108, his rookie year and when he was 41.  

51. KID NICHOLS  RHP  104.3
1890-1906
Beaneaters
WAR: 91.8
Per Gm: 18
Postseason: -
ERA+ 139
235-141, 13

In Kid Nichols first 9 seasons, his smallest win total was 27. He threw over 400 innings his first 5 seasons.  Over 300 the next 5.  







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