10 Best Baseball Players of All-Time Based on WAR
1. Babe Ruth (183.6 WAR)
The Great Bambino is widely considered the greatest baseball player of all-time.
Some argue thThe Great Bambino is widely considered the greatest baseball
player of all-time. Some argue that since his playing career didn't include players
from the Negro Leagues, he isn't the greatest.at since his playing career didn't
include players from the Negro Leagues, he isn't the greatest. But there's no
denying Ruth was one of the best hitters that ever lived. He was the single
season and career home run champion for many years.
Boston Red Sox fans still wonder why the team traded him away to the hated
New York Yankees. Fortunately, for them, the Curse of the Bambino is over.
2. Cy Young (168.4 WAR)
Cy Young debuted in 1890 at age 23. He played through 1911 and finished with
511 wins and a 2.63 ERA. In case you didn't know, he now has a coveted award
named after him.
3. Walter Johnson (165.6 WAR)
If Cy Young wasn't the best pitcher to ever live, perhaps Walter Johnson was.
From 1907-1927, Johnson won 417 games while posting a ridiculously low 2.17
ERA. He wasn't a high strikeout pitcher even with 3,509 K's (5,914 innings), but
he had pinpoint control. Greg Maddux, the top 1990's pitcher, was frequently
compared to Walter Johnson.
4. Barry Bonds (162.4 WAR *)
We put an asterisk on Bonds because of obvious reasons. The former 5-tool
player finished his playing days as the all-time home run leader (single season
and career). But, let's be honest here, performance enhancing drugs played a
major role in his success. However, Bonds was a superstar prior to when he
allegedly began using PED's. Once his head ballooned, he became almost
superhuman at the plate. Hmm...how did he do that?
5. Willie Mays (156.2 WAR)
Manning the outfield for the Giants from 1951-1972 was the legendary, all-
everything Willie Mays. Still to this day, when fans think of Giants history, they
think of Willie Mays. He was a power hitting outfielder that could hit for average
and track down any ball in his vicinity in the field. Mays hit 660 home runs, stole
338 bases, drove in 1,903 runs, won 2 MVP awards and 12 Gold Glove's.
Not a bad career at all for the "Say Hey" kid.
6. Ty Cobb (151.1 WAR)
Cobb is one of the best baseball players of all-time. He's also one of the biggest
scumbags to ever play the game. He was a legend on the field for his bat and off
the field for his racism and other character flaws.
Cobb is the all-time batting average leader (.366) and won 12 batting titles. He
surpassed the .400 batting average mark in 1911 and 1912.
He also stole 897 bases, including 96 in 1915. But his playing career will always
be overlooked by his mediocre character.
7. Hank Aaron
Hammerin' Hank Aaron left his mark on the game of baseball in a positive way.
Aaron was the most consistent power hitter of all-time.
And, up until Barry Bonds began using PED's, Hammerin' Hank was the career
home run leader. He finished with 755 home runs and 2,297 RBI's over the
course of 23 seasons.
Aaron also won the MVP in 1957 and 3 Gold Glove awards for the Milwaukee
Braves and Atlanta Braves, before finishing up his career back in Milwaukee with
the Brewers.
8. Rodger Clemens (140.3 WAR)*
Clemens, like Barry Bonds, received an asterisk because of his link to steroids.
With that said, steroids or not, Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers of
all-time. He won 7 Cy Young awards for 4 separate teams (Boston, Toronto,
New York Yankees, Houston). He finished his career in 2007 with 354 wins and
4,672 strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan). Despite his amazing career,
Clemens retired in shame and will be remembered mostly for his connection to
PED's.
9. Tris Speaker (133.6 WAR)
Tris Speaker began his career at the ripe age of 19 in 1907. He was a smooth
fielding centerfielder that always hit for a high average.
Speaker played most of his career in Boston and Cleveland, where he hit for a
.345 average and stole 436 bases. He also claimed the 1912 American League
MVP award.
10. Honus Wagner (131.0 WAR)
Honus Wagner wasn't only famous for having a face on the most expensive
baseball card of all-time. He was also an exceptional shortstop that could hit for a
high average. Wagner finished his career with a .328 batting average in 21
seasons between 1897 and 1917, most in Pittsburgh. Wagner also tallied up 723
stolen bases in his brilliant career.
Definition of WAR -
The Great Bambino is widely considered the greatest baseball player of all-time.
Some argue thThe Great Bambino is widely considered the greatest baseball
player of all-time. Some argue that since his playing career didn't include players
from the Negro Leagues, he isn't the greatest.at since his playing career didn't
include players from the Negro Leagues, he isn't the greatest. But there's no
denying Ruth was one of the best hitters that ever lived. He was the single
season and career home run champion for many years.
Boston Red Sox fans still wonder why the team traded him away to the hated
New York Yankees. Fortunately, for them, the Curse of the Bambino is over.
2. Cy Young (168.4 WAR)
Cy Young debuted in 1890 at age 23. He played through 1911 and finished with
511 wins and a 2.63 ERA. In case you didn't know, he now has a coveted award
named after him.
3. Walter Johnson (165.6 WAR)
If Cy Young wasn't the best pitcher to ever live, perhaps Walter Johnson was.
From 1907-1927, Johnson won 417 games while posting a ridiculously low 2.17
ERA. He wasn't a high strikeout pitcher even with 3,509 K's (5,914 innings), but
he had pinpoint control. Greg Maddux, the top 1990's pitcher, was frequently
compared to Walter Johnson.
4. Barry Bonds (162.4 WAR *)
We put an asterisk on Bonds because of obvious reasons. The former 5-tool
player finished his playing days as the all-time home run leader (single season
and career). But, let's be honest here, performance enhancing drugs played a
major role in his success. However, Bonds was a superstar prior to when he
allegedly began using PED's. Once his head ballooned, he became almost
superhuman at the plate. Hmm...how did he do that?
5. Willie Mays (156.2 WAR)
Manning the outfield for the Giants from 1951-1972 was the legendary, all-
everything Willie Mays. Still to this day, when fans think of Giants history, they
think of Willie Mays. He was a power hitting outfielder that could hit for average
and track down any ball in his vicinity in the field. Mays hit 660 home runs, stole
338 bases, drove in 1,903 runs, won 2 MVP awards and 12 Gold Glove's.
Not a bad career at all for the "Say Hey" kid.
6. Ty Cobb (151.1 WAR)
Cobb is one of the best baseball players of all-time. He's also one of the biggest
scumbags to ever play the game. He was a legend on the field for his bat and off
the field for his racism and other character flaws.
Cobb is the all-time batting average leader (.366) and won 12 batting titles. He
surpassed the .400 batting average mark in 1911 and 1912.
He also stole 897 bases, including 96 in 1915. But his playing career will always
be overlooked by his mediocre character.
7. Hank Aaron
Hammerin' Hank Aaron left his mark on the game of baseball in a positive way.
Aaron was the most consistent power hitter of all-time.
And, up until Barry Bonds began using PED's, Hammerin' Hank was the career
home run leader. He finished with 755 home runs and 2,297 RBI's over the
course of 23 seasons.
Aaron also won the MVP in 1957 and 3 Gold Glove awards for the Milwaukee
Braves and Atlanta Braves, before finishing up his career back in Milwaukee with
the Brewers.
8. Rodger Clemens (140.3 WAR)*
Clemens, like Barry Bonds, received an asterisk because of his link to steroids.
With that said, steroids or not, Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers of
all-time. He won 7 Cy Young awards for 4 separate teams (Boston, Toronto,
New York Yankees, Houston). He finished his career in 2007 with 354 wins and
4,672 strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan). Despite his amazing career,
Clemens retired in shame and will be remembered mostly for his connection to
PED's.
9. Tris Speaker (133.6 WAR)
Tris Speaker began his career at the ripe age of 19 in 1907. He was a smooth
fielding centerfielder that always hit for a high average.
Speaker played most of his career in Boston and Cleveland, where he hit for a
.345 average and stole 436 bases. He also claimed the 1912 American League
MVP award.
10. Honus Wagner (131.0 WAR)
Honus Wagner wasn't only famous for having a face on the most expensive
baseball card of all-time. He was also an exceptional shortstop that could hit for a
high average. Wagner finished his career with a .328 batting average in 21
seasons between 1897 and 1917, most in Pittsburgh. Wagner also tallied up 723
stolen bases in his brilliant career.
Definition of WAR -
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