100 Greatest Baseball Players

The Society for American Baseball Research, or SABR for short, is the most widely recognized authority on baseball history. Their research in every field of baseball has lead to more books and information found in books than any other group in history. Members of Society for American Baseball Research voted in 1999 on five different lists and these are the results of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players.

"If I'd just tried for them dinky singles I could've batted around .600." - Babe Ruth
100 Greatest Baseball Players

by SABR (1999)

Rank Name Rank Name

100

Joe Medwick

50

Mickey Cochrane

99

Addie Joss

49

Eddie Collins

98

Ryne Sandberg

48

Pete Rose

97

Rube Waddell

47

Roy Campanella

96

Fergie Jenkins

46

Charlie Gehringer

95

Kirby Puckett

45

Carl Yastrzemski

94

Eddie Plank

44

Nolan Ryan

93

Willie Stargell

43

Cal Ripken, Jr.

92

Carlton Fisk

42

Mel Ott

91

Harry Heilmann

41

Carl Hubbell

90

Sam Crawford

40

Greg Maddux

89

Ralph Kiner

39

Tony Gwynn

88

Luis Aparicio

38

Nap Lajoie

87

Johnny Mize

37

Joe Morgan

86

Luke Appling

36

Jackie Robinson

85

Ed Walsh

35

Hank Greenberg

84

Joe Cronin

34

Roger Clemens

83

Robin Roberts

33

Lefty Grove

82

Eddie Murray

32

Brooks Robinson

81

Paul Molitor

31

Eddie Mathews

80

Wade Boggs

30

Steve Carlton

79

Robin Yount

29

George Brett

78

Bill Terry

28

Tom Seaver

77

Hoyt Wilhelm

27

Ernie Banks

76

Rollie Fingers

26

Yogi Berra

75

Mordecai Brown

25

Grover Alexander

74

Dizzy Dean

24

Frank Robinson

73

Lou Brock

23

Tris Speaker

72

Frankie Frisch

22

Bob Feller

71

Paul Waner

21

Sandy Koufax

70

Pie Traynor

20

Roberto Clemente

69

Harmon Killebrew

19

Johnny Bench

68

Duke Snider

18

Cy Young

67

Reggie Jackson

17

Bob Gibson

66

Al Simmons

16

Mike Schmidt

65

Barry Bonds

15

Warren Spahn

64

Dennis Eckersley

14

Jimmie Foxx

63

Bill Dickey

13

Christy Mathewson

62

Willie McCovey

12

Mickey Mantle

61

Mark McGwire

11

Walter Johnson

60

Rickey Henderson

10

Honus Wagner

59

Al Kaline

9

Rogers Hornsby

58

Juan Marichal

8

Willie Mays

57

Jim Palmer

7

Ty Cobb

56

Ozzie Smith

6

Joe DiMaggio

55

George Sisler

5

Stan Musial

54

Whitey Ford

4

Hank Aaron

53

Ken Griffey, Jr.

3

Ted Williams

52

Joe Jackson

2

Lou Gehrig

51

Rod Carew

1

Babe Ruth

100 Greatest Players by SABR


Pie Traynor, listed at number seventy, was the first third baseman ever elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and he finished in the top ten for the National League Most Valuable Player Award six times.

Did you know that Addie Joss, the last placed pitcher (and ranked ninety-ninth overall), finished his Major League career with a lifetime earned run average of 1.89?

Compare their results to Sporting News and Total Baseball legendary lists for fun — would you have made different choices? Do you agree or disagree with these choices? Share your opinion on our message board.