AaronGleeman.com

Not much else going on in baseball today and a very light schedule tonight.

Because of that, I thought I would give my own thoughts on a discussion that I saw on BaseballPrimer.

The thread was basically about Bonds and his place among the elite in the history of baseball.

It basically evolved into a "Who are the top players of all-time?" argument, among a couple of other topics.

So, I figured I would do a little "research" on Baseball-Reference.com (the greatest site ever made, besides this one of course) and try to come up with my own top 20 players of all time list.

First of all, I only ranked position players, no pitchers. This was mostly because it is very difficult to figure out where to rank pitchers in a list like this, at least for me. It is much easier to simply rank all the hitters in a list and rank all the pitchers in a list.

If I get enough positive response from this post, I will do a list of pitchers soon too.

Here are the basic things you need to know:

#1) I ranked players based on a combination of "Career" and "Peak."

#2) Defense is very significant in the rankings. Both what position they played and how well they played it.

If two players are complete equals offensively and one played shortstop and the other played left field, I am going to rank the shortstop higher.

Also, if two players are equals offensive and both played the same position, if one was a great defender and the other was a good defender, I am going to rank the great defensive player high. You get the point right?

#3) Although I would like to rank Negro League players and I have absolutely no doubt that they deserve to appear on any "Top 20 players of all-time list," possibly several times, I just do not know enough about them to rank them accurately enough. Sorry.

#4) I welcome comments on my list, but only if they are backed up by some sort of factual argument. Not just "Player A is way better than Player B, you moron!"

Here we go...

#1) George Herman "Babe" Ruth

Years Played: 1914-1935 (22 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Right Field (1,131 games) - Left Field (1,057) - Pitcher (163)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .342

On-Base % - .474

Slugging % - .690

RBI - 2,213

Runs - 2,174

Hits - 2,873

Home Runs - 714

Doubles - 506

Triples - 136

Walks - 2,062

Stolen Bases - 123

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 207

Average Per 162 Games: .342/.474/.690 - 46 HR - 33 2B - 9 3B - 143 RBI - 141 Runs - 133 BB

#2) Willie Howard Mays Jr.

Years Played: 1951-1952, 1954-1973 (22 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Center Field (2,827 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .302

On-Base % - .384

Slugging % - .557

RBI - 1,903

Runs - 2,062

Hits - 3,283

Home Runs - 660

Doubles - 523

Triples - 140

Walks - 1,464

Stolen Bases - 338

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 156

Average Per 162 Games: .302/.384/.557 - 36 HR - 28 2B - 8 3B - 103 RBI - 112 Runs - 79 BB

#3) John Peter "Honus" Wagner

Years Played: 1897-1917 (21 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Shortstop (1,887 games) - Right Field (272) - First Base (248) - Third Base (209)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .327

On-Base % - .391

Slugging % - .466

RBI - 1,732

Runs - 1,736

Hits - 3,415

Home Runs - 101

Doubles - 640

Triples - 252

Walks - 963

Stolen Bases - 722

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 150

Average Per 162 Games: .327/.391/.466 - 6 HR - 37 2B - 15 3B - 100 RBI - 101 Runs - 56 BB

#4) Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams

Years Played: 1939-1942, 1946-1960 (19 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Left Field (1,984 games) - Right Field (169)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .344

On-Base % - .482

Slugging % - .634

RBI - 1,839

Runs - 1,798

Hits - 2,654

Home Runs - 521

Doubles - 525

Triples - 71

Walks - 2,021

Stolen Bases - 24

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 190

Average Per 162 Games: .344/.482/.634 - 37 HR - 37 2B - 5 3B - 130 RBI - 127 Runs - 143 BB

#5) Barry Lamar Bonds

Years Played: 1986-current (17+ seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Left Field (2,177 games) - Center Field (171)

Career Stats (as of August 12th, 2002):

Batting Average - .294

On-Base % - .425

Slugging % - .592

RBI - 1,615

Runs - 1,796

Hits - 2,415

Home Runs - 600

Doubles - 506

Triples - 73

Walks - 1,858

Stolen Bases - 489

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 175

Average Per 162 Games: .294/.425/.592 - 41 HR - 34 2B - 5 3B - 109 RBI - 121 Runs - 126 BB

#6) Mickey Charles Mantle

Years Played: 1951-1968 (18 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Center Field (1,745 games) - First Base (262)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .298

On-Base % - .421

Slugging % - .557

RBI - 1,509

Runs - 1,677

Hits - 2,415

Home Runs - 536

Doubles - 344

Triples - 72

Walks - 1,733

Stolen Bases - 153

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 172

Average Per 162 Games: .298/.421/.557 - 36 HR - 23 2B - 5 3B - 102 RBI - 113 Runs - 117 BB

#7) Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb

Years Played: 1905-1928 (24 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Center Field (2,194 games) - Right Field (706)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .366

On-Base % - .433

Slugging % - .512

RBI - 1,937

Runs - 2,246

Hits - 4,189

Home Runs - 117

Doubles - 724

Triples - 295

Walks - 1,249

Stolen Bases - 892

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 167

Average Per 162 Games: .366/.433/.512 - 6 HR - 39 2B - 16 3B - 103 RBI - 120 Runs - 67 BB

#8) Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial

Years Played: 1941-1944, 1946-1963 (22 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: First Base (1,016 games) - Left Field (943) - Right Field (750) - Center Field (325)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .331

On-Base % - .417

Slugging % - .559

RBI - 1,951

Runs - 1,949

Hits - 3,630

Home Runs - 475

Doubles - 725

Triples - 177

Walks - 1,599

Stolen Bases - 78

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 159

Average Per 162 Games: .331/.417/.559 - 25 HR - 39 2B - 9 3B - 104 RBI - 104 Runs - 86 BB

#9) Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron

Years Played: 1954-1976 (23 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Right Field (2,184 games) - Left Field (313) - Center Field (293) - First Base (210) - Designated Hitter (202)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .305

On-Base % - .374

Slugging % - .555

RBI - 2,297

Runs - 2,174

Hits - 3,771

Home Runs - 755

Doubles - 624

Triples - 98

Walks - 1,402

Stolen Bases - 240

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 155

Average Per 162 Games: .305/.374/.555 - 37 HR - 31 2B - 5 3B - 113 RBI - 107 Runs - 69 BB

#10) Tristam E. "Tris" Speaker

Years Played: 1907-1928 (22 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Center Field (2,690 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .345

On-Base % - .428

Slugging % - .500

RBI - 1,529

Runs - 1,882

Hits - 3,514

Home Runs - 117

Doubles - 792

Triples - 222

Walks - 1,381

Stolen Bases - 432

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 158

Average Per 162 Games: .345/.428/.500 - 7 HR - 46 2B - 13 3B - 89 RBI - 109 Runs - 80 BB

#11) Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig

Years Played: 1923-1939 (17 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: First Base (2,137 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .340

On-Base % - .447

Slugging % - .632

RBI - 1,995

Runs - 1,888

Hits - 2,721

Home Runs - 493

Doubles - 534

Triples - 163

Walks - 1,508

Stolen Bases - 102

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 179

Average Per 162 Games: .340/.447/.632 - 37 HR - 40 2B - 12 3B - 149 RBI - 141 Runs - 113 BB

#12) Rickey Henley Henderson

Years Played: 1979-current (24+ seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Left Field (2,299 games) - Center Field (427)

Career Stats (as of August 12th, 2002):

Batting Average - .279

On-Base % - .402

Slugging % - .420

RBI - 1,108

Runs - 2,278

Hits - 3,034

Home Runs - 294

Doubles - 508

Triples - 66

Walks - 2,171

Stolen Bases - 1,402

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 127

Average Per 162 Games: .279/.402/.420 - 16 HR - 27 2B - 4 3B - 59 RBI - 122 Runs - 116 BB - 75 SB

#13) Joe Leonard Morgan

Years Played: 1963-1984 (22 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Second Base (2,527 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .271

On-Base % - .392

Slugging % - .427

RBI - 1,133

Runs - 1,650

Hits - 2,517

Home Runs - 268

Doubles - 449

Triples - 96

Walks - 1,865

Stolen Bases - 689

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 132

Average Per 162 Games: .271/.392/.427 - 16 HR - 27 2B - 6 3B - 69 RBI - 101 Runs - 114 BB - 42 SB

#14) Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio Jr.

Years Played: 1936-1942, 1946-1951 (13 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Center Field (1,638 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .325

On-Base % - .398

Slugging % - .579

RBI - 1,537

Runs - 1,390

Hits - 2,214

Home Runs - 361

Doubles - 389

Triples - 131

Walks - 790

Stolen Bases - 30

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 155

Average Per 162 Games: .325/.398/.579 - 34 HR - 36 2B - 12 3B - 143 RBI - 130 Runs - 74 BB

#15) Rogers Hornsby

Years Played: 1915-1937 (23 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Second Base (1,561 games) - Shortstop (356) - Third Base (192)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .358

On-Base % - .434

Slugging % - .577

RBI - 1,584

Runs - 1,579

Hits - 2,930

Home Runs - 301

Doubles - 541

Triples - 169

Walks - 1,038

Stolen Bases - 135

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 175

Average Per 162 Games: .358/.434/.577 - 22 HR - 39 2B - 12 3B - 114 RBI - 113 Runs - 74 BB

#16) Michael Jack "Mike" Schmidt

Years Played: 1972-1989 (18 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Third Base (2,212 games) - First Base (157)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .267

On-Base % - .380

Slugging % - .527

RBI - 1,595

Runs - 1,506

Hits - 2,234

Home Runs - 548

Doubles - 408

Triples - 59

Walks - 1,507

Stolen Bases - 174

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 147

Average Per 162 Games: .267/.380/.527 - 37 HR - 27 2B - 4 3B - 107 RBI - 101 Runs - 102 BB

#17) Edward Trowbridge "Eddie" Collins

Years Played: 1906-1930 (25 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Second Base (2,650 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .333

On-Base % - .424

Slugging % - .429

RBI - 1,300

Runs - 1,821

Hits - 3,315

Home Runs - 47

Doubles - 438

Triples - 187

Walks - 1,499

Stolen Bases - 744

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 141

Average Per 162 Games: .333/.424/.429 - 3 HR - 25 2B - 11 3B - 75 RBI - 104 Runs - 86 BB - 43 SB

#18) James Emory "Jimmie" Foxx

Years Played: 1925-1945 (20 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: First Base (1,919 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .325

On-Base % - .428

Slugging % - .609

RBI - 1,922

Runs - 1,751

Hits - 2,646

Home Runs - 534

Doubles - 458

Triples - 125

Walks - 1,452

Stolen Bases - 87

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 163

Average Per 162 Games: .325/.428/.609 - 37 HR - 32 2B - 9 3B - 134 RBI - 122 Runs - 102 BB

#19) Frank Robinson

Years Played: 1956-1976 (21 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: Right Field (1,281 games) - Left Field (820) - Designated Hitter (321) - First Base (305)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .294

On-Base % - .389

Slugging % - .537

RBI - 1,812

Runs - 1,829

Hits - 2,943

Home Runs - 586

Doubles - 528

Triples - 72

Walks - 1,420

Stolen Bases - 204

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 154

Average Per 162 Games: .294/.389/.537 - 34 HR - 30 2B - 4 3B - 105 RBI - 106 Runs - 82 BB

#20) Mark David McGwire

Years Played: 1986-2001 (16 seasons)

Main Position(s) Played: First Base (1,763 games)

Career Stats:

Batting Average - .263

On-Base % - .394

Slugging % - .588

RBI - 1,414

Runs - 1,167

Hits - 1,626

Home Runs - 583

Doubles - 252

Triples - 6

Walks - 1,317

Stolen Bases - 12

Adjusted On-Base% + Slugging % - 163

Average Per 162 Games: .263/.394/.588 - 50 HR - 22 2B - 1 3B - 122 RBI - 101 Runs - 114 BB