Today we’re talking about the icons, the game-changers, and the absolute legends of baseball. That’s right, we’re diving into the world of Major League Baseball to explore ten of the most popular players to ever grace the diamond. So grab some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and let’s get started!
Photo by Jose Francisco Morales, free to use under the Unsplash license.
Babe Ruth
The Sultan of Swat needs no introduction. George Herman Ruth Jr., known affectionately as Babe Ruth, had an extraordinary career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Boston Braves.
With a batting average of .342, 714 home runs, and 2,213 RBIs, Ruth truly is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Besides his on-field prowess, Ruth was one of the first athletes to make product endorsements. He appeared in ads for everything from underwear to chewing tobacco.
Willie Mays
The “Say Hey Kid,” Willie Mays, is known for his all-around exceptional skills. A 24-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Mays hit 660 home runs and earned 12 Gold Gloves during his career with the Giants and Mets.
Mays served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He missed part of the 1952 season and the entire 1953 season but returned to baseball in 1954 and won his first MVP award.
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Hank Aaron
Hammerin’ Hank held the career home run record for 33 years. His impressive resume includes 755 home runs, a .305 lifetime average, and 25 All-Star selections during his time with the Braves and Brewers.
Aaron never hit more than 47 home runs in a single season, but his consistent power hitting is what ultimately led to his home run record.
Mickey Mantle
The Mick, a switch-hitting powerhouse, earned three MVPs, and his 536 career home runs helped the Yankees to 12 World Series during his 18-year career. Mantle’s powerful swing was the stuff of legend. His longest recorded home run traveled a whopping 565 feet!
Ted Williams
The last player to hit .400 in a season, Williams was a 19-time All-Star and two-time MVP. His .344 lifetime average and 521 home runs make him one of the game’s greatest hitters.
A decorated Marine pilot, Williams served in World War II and the Korean War, which caused him to miss several seasons in his prime.
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Ty Cobb
Nicknamed The Georgia Peach, Cobb had an impressive career batting average of .366 and held the record for most career hits until Pete Rose broke it in 1985. Cobb was an early investor in Coca-Cola and General Motors, making him a millionaire in his later years.
Barry Bonds
Despite controversy, Bonds’ accomplishments can’t be ignored. The 7-time MVP and 14-time All-Star holds the records for both career home runs (762) and most home runs in a single season (73). Bonds comes from a baseball family. His father, Bobby Bonds, was a three-time All-Star, and his godfather is none other than Willie Mays.
Jackie Robinson
Robinson made history in 1947 when he broke baseball’s color barrier. The six-time All-Star won the inaugural Rookie of the Year award and earned an MVP during his ten seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Apart from his baseball career, Robinson was a vocal civil rights activist. In 1952, he publicly called out the Yankees for still not having a black player.
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Lou Gehrig
The Iron Horse played 2,130 consecutive games for the Yankees, a record that stood for 56 years. Gehrig’s career included six World Series titles, two MVP awards, and a .340 lifetime average. Gehrig’s luck extended off the field; he reportedly won a state lottery not once but twice.
Roberto Clemente
The first Latin American player inducted into the Hall of Fame, Clemente was known for his powerful arm and hitting prowess. He won two World Series with the Pirates, earned 12 Gold Gloves, and finished with a .317 career batting average.
Clemente was not only a superb player but also a humanitarian. Sadly, he died in a plane crash while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
These giants of the game shaped baseball history, thrilling fans with their incredible skills and love for the sport. If you’re a baseball fanatic, these names are sure to ring a bell, resonating with the crack of a bat and the roar of the crowd.
Who do you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below and across social media.
NEXT: Shohei Ohtani Breaks 88-Year Old MLB Record Formerly Held By Babe Ruth