The 25 Greatest Right Fielders in MLB History

The WAR number is a combination of B-Ref and Davenport, the best WAR that exists for historical comparison.  Additional numbers are OPS+, plate appearances, WAR/Plate appearance, and the number of Most Valuable Player Quality Seasons (8 WAR seasons - 8 WAR is an MVPQ, 10 WAR is an EMVPQ, 12 WAR an EEMVPQ, 14 WAR an EEEMVPQ)

I've got each position carried out to 32 slots for a project that I don't believe fits this space, so I'll just include the top 25 here.  I'll also include last player out.  For some players, it's hard to slot them at a particular position (where does King Kelly go, for example) so I just chose one (if you don't see a first baseman in the top 25 who you know should be there, maybe he's a third baseman instead).

Each player is only listed with one team - the team that is most representative of his MLB performance.  This is just merit, that's the only way I rank stuff - it's not social impact or the quality of their character.  It's performance.



1. Babe Ruth (1914-35, Yankees) WAR 177.55 OPS+206 ERA+ 122 PA 10623 IP 1221 (WAR/PA .0167) EEMVPQ: 23, EMVPQ: 21, 27, 20, 24, 26, 19, 16 MVPQ 31, 30, 28, 32, 17

2. Hank Aaron (1954-76, Braves) WAR 139.8 OPS+ 155 PA 13941  (.0100) MVPQ: 61, 63, 59, 67, 60,

3. Stan Musial (1941-63, Cardinals) WAR 124.25 OPS+ 159 PA 12718 (.0098) EMVPQ: 48, MVPQ: 43, 49, 51, 44, 46

4. Mel Ott (1926-47, Giants) WAR 106 OPS+ 155 PA 11348 (93) MVPQ: 38, 35, 32,

5. Frank Robinson (1956-76, Reds) WAR 105.3 OPS+ 154 PA 11742  (90) MVPQ: 66, 62,

6. Al Kaline (1953-74, Tigers) WAR 82.5 OPS+ 134 PA 11596 (71)

7. Roberto Clemente (1955-72, Pirates) WAR 80.2 OPS+130 PA 10211 (79)

8. Reggie Jackson (1967-87, A's) WAR 74.4 OPS+ 139 PA 11418 (65) MVPQ: 69,

9. Larry Walker (1989-2005, Rockies) WAR 65.2 OPS+ 141 PA 8030 (81)

10. Paul Waner (1926-45, Pirates) WAR 73.6 OPS+134 PA 10766 (68)

11. Dwight Evans (1972-91, Red Sox) WAR 73.2 OPS+ 127 PA 10569 (69)

12. Gary Sheffield (1988-09, Marlins) WAR 72.25 OPS+ 140 PA 10947 (66)

13. Harry Heilmann (1914-32, Tigers) WAR 63.25 OPS+ 148 PA 8964 (71) MVPQ: 23

14. Tony Gwynn (1982-2001, Padres) WAR 71.3 OPS+ 132 PA 10232 (70) MVPQ: 87

15. Joe Jackson (1908-20, White Sox) WAR 55.9 OPS+ 170 PA 5695 (98) MVPQ: 12, 11

16. Elmer Flick (1898-1910, Naps) WAR 56.35 OPS+ 149 PA 6414 (88)

17. Sam Crawford (1899-1917, Tigers) WAR 63.6 OPS+ 144 PA 10594 (60)

18. Vladimir Guerrero (1996-2011, Expos) WAR 61.05 OPS+ 140 PA 9059 (67)

19. Bobby Abreu (1996-14, Phillies) 64.7 OPS+ 128 PA 10081 (64)

20. Dave Winfield (1973-95, Padres) WAR 63.7 OPS+ 130 PA 12358 (52)

21. Brian Giles (1995-09, Padres) WAR 54.8 OPS+136 PA 7836 (70)

22. Bobby Bonds (1968-81, Giants) WAR 55.55 OPS+ 129 PA 8090 (69)

23. Jack Clark (1975-92, Giants) 54.3 OPS+ 137 PA 8230 (66)

24. Sammy Sosa (1989-07, Cubs) 60.85 OPS+ 128 PA 9896 (61) EMVPQ: 01,

25. Ichiro Suzuki (2001- Mariners) WAR 61.3 OPS+ 107 PA 10681 (57)

(last out - Jose Canseco) 

The 25 Greatest Center Fielders in MLB History

The WAR number is a combination of B-Ref and Davenport, the best WAR that exists for historical comparison.  Additional numbers are OPS+, plate appearances, WAR/Plate appearance, and the number of Most Valuable Player Quality Seasons (8 WAR seasons - 8 WAR is an MVPQ, 10 WAR is an EMVPQ, 12 WAR an EEMVPQ, 14 WAR an EEEMVPQ)

I've got each position carried out to 32 slots for a project that I don't believe fits this space, so I'll just include the top 25 here.  I'll also include last player out.  For some players, it's hard to slot them at a particular position (where does King Kelly go, for example) so I just chose one (if you don't see a first baseman in the top 25 who you know should be there, maybe he's a third baseman instead).

Each player is only listed with one team - the team that is most representative of his MLB performance.  This is just merit, that's the only way I rank stuff - it's not social impact or the quality of their character.  It's performance.


1. Willie Mays (1951-73, Giants) WAR 149.55 OPS+156 PA 12496 (WAR/PA .0120) EMVPQ: 64, 65, 63 MVPQ: 54, 62, 58, 60, 55, 66, 61, 57,

2. Ty Cobb (1905-28, Tigers) WAR 135.4 OPS+ 168 PA 13084 (.0103) EMVPQ: 17, MVPQ: 11, 10, 09, 15, 12,

3. Tris Speaker (1907-28, Indians) WAR 119.8 OPS+157 PA 11995 (.0100) MVPQ: 12, 14, 23, 16, 13

4. Mickey Mantle (1951-68, Yankees) WAR 100.15 OPS+172 PA 9907 (101) EMVPQ: 57, 56 MVPQ: 61,

5. Joe DiMaggio (1936-51, Yankees) WAR 76.7 OPS+155 PA 7672 (100) MVPQ: 37, 41, 39,

6. Ken Griffey (1989-2010, Mariners) WAR 87.9 OPS+ 136 PA 11304 (78) MVPQ: 96, 97, 93

7. Jim Edmonds (1993-2010, Cardinals) WAR 64.9 OPS+132 PA 7980 (81)

8. Carlos Beltran (1998-17, Mets) WAR 73.7, OPS+119 PA 11031 (67) MVPQ: 06,

9. Mike Trout (2011- Angels) WAR 55 OPS+ 172 PA 4065 (135) EMVPQ: 12 MVPQ: 16, 13, 15, 14

10. Billy Hamilton (1888-1901, Phillies) WAR 61.65 OPS+ 141 PA 7608 (81) MVPQ: 94

11. Reggie Smith (1966-82, Red Sox) WAR 60.1 OPS+137 PA 8051 (75)

12. Duke Snider (1947-64, Dodgers) WAR 57.55 OPS+140 PA 8237 (70)

13. Jimmy Wynn (1963-77, Astros) WAR 58.15 OPS+129 PA 8011 (73) MVPQ: 65,

14. Chet Lemon (1975-90, Tigers) WAR 57 OPS+121 PA 7874 (72)

15. Richie Ashburn (1948-62, Phillies) WAR 64.65 OPS+ 111 PA 9736 (66) MVPQ: 58,

16. Andre Dawson (1976-96, Expos) WAR 63.75 OPS+119 PA 10769 (59) MVPQ: 81

17. Kirby Puckett (1984-95, Twins) WAR 53.7 OPS+124 PA 7831 (69)

18. Andruw Jones (1996-2012, Braves) WAR 58.7 OPS+111 PA 8664 (68)
.
19. Kenny Lofton (1991-2007, Indians) WAR 61.15 OPS+107 PA 9235 (66)

20. Fred Lynn (1974-90, Red Sox) 51.1 OPS+ 129 PA 7923 (64) MVPQ: 79

21. Bernie Williams (1991-06, Yankees) 58.15 OPS+ 125 9053 (64)

22. Cesar Cedeno (1970-86, Astros) WAR 50.05 OPS+123 PA 8133 (62)

23. Torii Hunter (1997-15, Twins) 53.7 OPS+ 110 PA 9692 (55)

24. Johnny Damon (1995-12, Royals) 54.5 OPS+ 104 PA 10917 (50)

25. Lenny Dykstra (1985-96, Phillies) 43.85 OPS+ 120 PA 5282 (83) MVPQ: 90

(last out - Andrew McCutchen)

2017 Athlete of the Year

December was here.

One last time, here are all the nominees for 2017 Athlete of the Year:

January - Deshaun Watson
February - Tom Brady
March - Russell Westbrook
April - A'ja Wilson
May - Stephen Curry
June- Kevin Durant
July - Roger Federer
August - Giancarlo Stanton
September - Sloane Stephens
October - Justin Verlander
November - George Springer
December - Aaron Donald

And your winner...the 2017 Athlete of the Year...

Tom Brady.  Brady won in 2007; he joins Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods (both of whom won 3 times), Barry Bonds and LeBron James as two time winners.  Coincidentally, his biggest competition this year was Federer - and he last won in 2006.  

I've been doing this my whole life really, maybe starting as long ago as '79; I have the full hard copy contemporaneous records since 1990 (someplace in the blog I posted each athlete of the month+runners-up for the years prior to publication).  Here is each winner of my Athlete of the Year Award since 1990.

1990: Joe Montana
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Mario Lemieux
1993: Michael Jordan
1994: George Foreman
1995: Hakeem Olajuwon
1996: Michael Jordan
1997: Tiger Woods
1998: Mark McGwire
1999: Tiger Woods
2000: Tiger Woods
2001: Barry Bonds
2002: Barry Bonds
2003: Lance Armstrong
2004: Peyton Manning
2005: Reggie Bush
2006: Roger Federer
2007: Tom Brady
2008: Usain Bolt
2009: Manny Pacquiao
2010: Maya Moore
2011: Aaron Rodgers
2012: LeBron James
2013: LeBron James
2014: Madison Bumgarner
2015: Serena Williams
2016: Michael Phelps
2017: Tom Brady

December, 2017 Athlete of the Month

November was here.

Aaron Donald.  Runners-up:  Baker Mayfield, Antonio Brown, LeBron James

That ends the year.  12 monthts down.  Coming tomorrow - the 2017 Athlete of the Year.  Hear are the nominees.

January - Deshaun Watson
February - Tom Brady
March - Russell Westbrook
April - A'ja Wilson
May - Stephen Curry
June- Kevin Durant
July - Roger Federer
August - Giancarlo Stanton
September - Sloane Stephens
October - Justin Verlander
November - George Springer
December - Aaron Donald

The 25 Greatest Left Fielders in MLB History

The WAR number is a combination of B-Ref and Davenport, the best WAR that exists for historical comparison.  Additional numbers are OPS+, plate appearances, WAR/Plate appearance, and the number of Most Valuable Player Quality Seasons (8 WAR seasons - 8 WAR is an MVPQ, 10 WAR is an EMVPQ, 12 WAR an EEMVPQ, 14 WAR an EEEMVPQ)

I've got each position carried out to 32 slots for a project that I don't believe fits this space, so I'll just include the top 25 here.  I'll also include last player out.  For some players, it's hard to slot them at a particular position (where does King Kelly go, for example) so I just chose one (if you don't see a first baseman in the top 25 who you know should be there, maybe he's a third baseman instead).

Each player is only listed with one team - the team that is most representative of his MLB performance.  This is just merit, that's the only way I rank stuff - it's not social impact or the quality of their character.  It's performance.

1. Barry Bonds (1986-2007, Giants) WAR 167.8 OPS+ 182 PA 12606 (WAR/PA .0133) EEMVPQ: 01 EMVPQ: 02, 04, 93 MVPQ: 92, 03, 98, 96, 90, 91, 95, 97

2. Ted Williams (1939-60, Red Sox) WAR 117.55 OPS+190 PA 9788 (.0120) EMVPQ: 46, 41, 42, MVPQ: 47, 49, 57,

3. Rickey Henderson (1979-03, A's) WAR 120.8 OPS+127 PA 13346 (.0091) EMVPQ: 90 MVPQ: 85,

4. Manny Ramirez (1993-2011, Red Sox) WAR 78.65 OPS+154 PA 9774 (80)

5. Carl Yastrzemski (1961-83, Red Sox) WAR 86.4 OPS+ 130 PA 13992 (62) EMVPQ: 67, MVPQ: 68, 70,

6. Tim Raines (1979-2002, Expos) WAR 75.05 OPS+123 PA 10359 (72) MVPQ: 85

7. Pete Rose (1963-86, Reds) WAR 78.35 OPS+ 118 PA 15890 (49)

8. Ed Delahanty (1888-1903, Phillies) WAR 69.9 OPS+152 PA 8400 (83) MVPQ: 93,

9. Lance Berkman (1999-2013, Astros) WAR 57.45 OPS+144 PA 7814 (74)

10. Willie Stargell (1962-82, Pirates) WAR 55.6 OPS+147 PA 9027 (62)

11. Ducky Medwick (1932-48, Cardinals) WAR 54.8 OPS+ 134 PA 8143 (67)

12. Fred Clarke (1894-1915, Pirates) WAR 64.15 OPS+ 133 PA 9838 (65)

13. Bob Johnson (1933-45, Athletics) WAR 53.65 OPS+ 139 PA 8050 (67)

14. Billy Williams (1959-76, Cubs) WAR 60.4 OPS+133 PA 10519 (57)

15. Ryan Braun (2007-,Brewers) WAR 50.85 OPS+ 139 PA 6244 (81) MVPQ: 11,

16. Albert Belle (1989-00, Indians) 50.05 OPS+ 144 PA 6676 (75) MVPQ: 95, 98

17. Al Simmons (1924-44, Athletics) WAR 58.95 OPS+ 133 PA 9518 (62)

18. Matt Holliday (2004 - Cardinals) WAR 50.95 OPS+ 132 PA 7916 (64)

19. Jose Cruz (1970-88, Astros) WAR 56.7 OPS+120 PA 8931 (63)

20. Jesse Burkett (1890-1905, Spiders) WAR 55.85 OPS+ 140 PA 9620 (58)

21. Luis Gonzalez  (1990-08, Diamondbacks) WAR 58.5 OPS+ 119 PA 10531 (56) MVPQ: 01

22. Jim O'Rourke (1872-1904, Giants) WAR 54.75 OPS+133 PA 9052 (60)

23. Sherry Magee (1904-19, Phillies) WAR 49.9 OPS+ 137 PA 8541 (58)

24. Goose Goslin(1921-38, Senators) WAR 55.5 OPS+ 128 PA 9829 (56)

25. Zack Wheat (1909-27, Dodgers) 54.5 OPS+ 129 PA 10000 (55)

(last out - Charlie Keller)