Top 10 Offensive Performers
TOP 10 ALL-TIME OFFENSIVE PERFORMERS
1. BABE RUTH: Ruth was the greatest player who ever lived. He was the best left-handed pitcher ever
in Boston Red Sox history. You might have a problem with the rest of my picks on this list, but I don't think anyone could argue against having Ruth at the top. He was simply the greatest slugger the game has ever known with
714 lifetime home runs, 2,211 RBI, and a .342 lifetime batting average. His slugging percentage was .847 in 1920 and he led the American League 13 times in slugging. Lifetime, his slugging percentage was an astounding .690.
2. LOU GEHRIG: Prior to Cal Ripken, Gehrig was the most durable and reliable player the game had ever seen. And, he was better than his teammate Ruth in certain instances at driving in runs as his record 23 grand slams will attest. With a .340 lifetime average, 493 career homers, and 1,990 RBI, I say Gehrig was the best slugger ever behind the Bambino.
3. TED WILLIAMS: Williams was the greatest pure hitter. He won two Triple Crowns in 1942 and '47. He also won two MVP awards - oddly enough in the years he didn't win the Triple Crown (in 1946 and '49). He was the last .400 hitter with a .406 average in 1941. How can you argue with this pick, a guy who hit a homer in the very last at-bat of his career?
4. JIMMIE FOXX: Foxx was the Mark McGwire of his day and his muscles didn't come from taking Andro; they were pure. A three-time MVP in 1932, '33, and '38, Foxx hit 534 lifetime homers and also had a .325 average with 1,921 RBI. For 12 straight seasons, he hit 30 or more home runs (1929 to 1940).
5. TY COBB: Fierce and a perfectionist, Cobb was the greastest competitor in the game. With 12 American League batting titles for the Detroit Tigers, Cobb's penchant for hits was undeniable. With 4,191 career hits and the highest lifetime batting average in history (.367), Cobb rounds out my top five.
6. WILLIE MAYS: I give Mays the edge over Mickey Mantle as being the greatest center fielder in history, only because his career lasted longer and he wasn't as prone to injury. Second in history behind Hank Aaron with 660 homers, Mays won two MVP awards with the Giants an amazing 11 years apart (in 1954 and '65).
7. MICKEY MANTLE: Mantle is one of my personal favorites. I believe he possessed more pure raw ability than any other player. It was just a shame that he couldn't stay healthy long enough to put up even more astronomical numbers. His durability hurts him in my rankings, but I still love him as do many others. He won three MVPs (1956, '57, and '62), a Triple Crown in 1956 and clouted 18 World Series home runs.
8. HANK AARON: Aaron was so steady and consistent for so many years, I tend to believe that he gets underrated at times because some people took his steady brilliance for granted. In fact, I probably have him underrated on this list! The all-time homer king with 755 dingers, Aaron also holds the record for most career RBI with 2,297.
9. STAN MUSIAL: Musial's accomplishments were awesome. He won seven National League batting titles with the St. Louis Cardinals and, with 3,630 career hits, he was the most prolific hitter in the NL before a guy named Rose came along. Great power, too, with 475 homers and 1,951 RBI. He was a three-time MVP (1943, '46, and '48).
10. FRANK ROBINSON: I used to overlook Robinson for some reason, but Frank Robby was truly an amazing player with a great mind for the game. One of the last Triple Crown winners in 1966 with the Baltimore Orioles, Robinson won two MVP awards in different leagues (1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and '66 with the O's). Just a solid player all the way around, Robinson rounds out my top 10 list of greatest all-time offensive threats.
2. LOU GEHRIG: Prior to Cal Ripken, Gehrig was the most durable and reliable player the game had ever seen. And, he was better than his teammate Ruth in certain instances at driving in runs as his record 23 grand slams will attest. With a .340 lifetime average, 493 career homers, and 1,990 RBI, I say Gehrig was the best slugger ever behind the Bambino.
3. TED WILLIAMS: Williams was the greatest pure hitter. He won two Triple Crowns in 1942 and '47. He also won two MVP awards - oddly enough in the years he didn't win the Triple Crown (in 1946 and '49). He was the last .400 hitter with a .406 average in 1941. How can you argue with this pick, a guy who hit a homer in the very last at-bat of his career?
4. JIMMIE FOXX: Foxx was the Mark McGwire of his day and his muscles didn't come from taking Andro; they were pure. A three-time MVP in 1932, '33, and '38, Foxx hit 534 lifetime homers and also had a .325 average with 1,921 RBI. For 12 straight seasons, he hit 30 or more home runs (1929 to 1940).
5. TY COBB: Fierce and a perfectionist, Cobb was the greastest competitor in the game. With 12 American League batting titles for the Detroit Tigers, Cobb's penchant for hits was undeniable. With 4,191 career hits and the highest lifetime batting average in history (.367), Cobb rounds out my top five.
6. WILLIE MAYS: I give Mays the edge over Mickey Mantle as being the greatest center fielder in history, only because his career lasted longer and he wasn't as prone to injury. Second in history behind Hank Aaron with 660 homers, Mays won two MVP awards with the Giants an amazing 11 years apart (in 1954 and '65).
7. MICKEY MANTLE: Mantle is one of my personal favorites. I believe he possessed more pure raw ability than any other player. It was just a shame that he couldn't stay healthy long enough to put up even more astronomical numbers. His durability hurts him in my rankings, but I still love him as do many others. He won three MVPs (1956, '57, and '62), a Triple Crown in 1956 and clouted 18 World Series home runs.
8. HANK AARON: Aaron was so steady and consistent for so many years, I tend to believe that he gets underrated at times because some people took his steady brilliance for granted. In fact, I probably have him underrated on this list! The all-time homer king with 755 dingers, Aaron also holds the record for most career RBI with 2,297.
9. STAN MUSIAL: Musial's accomplishments were awesome. He won seven National League batting titles with the St. Louis Cardinals and, with 3,630 career hits, he was the most prolific hitter in the NL before a guy named Rose came along. Great power, too, with 475 homers and 1,951 RBI. He was a three-time MVP (1943, '46, and '48).
10. FRANK ROBINSON: I used to overlook Robinson for some reason, but Frank Robby was truly an amazing player with a great mind for the game. One of the last Triple Crown winners in 1966 with the Baltimore Orioles, Robinson won two MVP awards in different leagues (1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and '66 with the O's). Just a solid player all the way around, Robinson rounds out my top 10 list of greatest all-time offensive threats.
