One of the great things about baseball is that the sport has not changed much since its creation nearly 200 years ago. This makes it extremely easy and fun to compare the game’s greatest players, which is often a difficult task in other sports. These are the six best baseball players of all-time.
- Ty Cobb
It is impossible to condone some of Ty Cobb’s antics on and off the field, but his baseball skills still deserve a lot of praise. His career .366 batting average will likely never be topped. He also ranks in the top five on the all-time triples and stolen base list.
- Ted Williams
Ted Williams is undeniably the best pure hitter in baseball history. He lacked the raw power of some of the other all-time greats but still hit 521 home runs in his career. Williams’ overall stats would be even more impressive if he did not take three years off to join the military.
- Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds’ career has been somewhat tainted due to his steroid use, but there is no denying he is one of the best players to ever step on the field. He remains the only player in history to amass more than 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases. His seven MVP awards are also a record. Nobody else has won more than three.
- Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron was never the most athletic person on the field, but that did not stop him from being an excellent baseball player. Consistency and longevity were keys to Aaron’s game. He was an elite hitter throughout his entire 23-year career, which helped him become the all-time leader in RBIs and total bases.
- Willie Mays
Willie Mays was the first player in baseball history that excelled at hitting, defense and base running. In addition to hitting 660 home runs and stealing 338 bases, Mays is also widely considered to be the best defensive outfielder of all-time.
- Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was a premier power hitter at a time when nobody was hitting the ball out of the park. While there are arguably better hitters than the former home run leader, none of those players spent time on the pitching mound. This elite versatility secures the top spot for Ruth.