Most Famous MLB Players of All Time

Major League Baseball has witnessed, throughout its history, hundreds of exemplary players who emerged on the playing field. These include legendary hitters and great pitchers, most of whom have left their mark on the game. This exclusive group consists of:

1. Babe Ruth

He is referred to as the Sultan of Swat. He is a legendary power hitter. He began his career as a pitcher and was once the most feared batter of his age. The seven-time World Champion, he broke not only the record for most career home runs but led the American League in home runs twelve times.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1927: The first player to hit 60 home runs in a single season. His power-hitting transformed the game and set a record that lasted for thirty-four years.
• 1934: The first player to hit most career home runs. Ruth fixed his reputation as a power hitter by becoming the first player in history to hit 700 home runs.
• 1974: He topped the league in home runs for 38 years. Hank Aaron, however, broke his record.
• Ruth's victory as the 1923 American League MVP demonstrated his supremacy on the field.
• Icon of American sports culture: Ruth went above numbers to become a national representation of American baseball and is often given credit for bringing the game to people around the world.

2. Willie Mays

He was the greatest all-around player baseball has ever seen. He also showed fielding skill along with raw power and scorching speed. This player has the ability to alter the game's momentum with a single bat swing or striking defensive play.

Key Career Highlights:

• He twice was National League MVP after taking the Giants to a World Series victory. He proved he was still an excellent player in his 30s.
• He was picked for 24 All-Star teams—more than any player in history.
• He earned 12 gold gloves for his great defensive work.
• The fans of the team still talk of the grab he made during the 1954 World Series. Mays caught a fly ball over his shoulder while running to the deep centre field, then threw a perfect throw to the infield to turn around the game.

3. Barry Bonds

Bonds was one of the best players ever, but his legacy is scarred by steroid charges. Bonds are a class apart when hitting for average, power, or just getting on base.

Key Career Highlights:

• Won seven National League Most Valuable Player honours.
• He was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star team fourteen times.
• He also won Gold Glove Awards eight times.
• He served as a hitting instructor in 2016 for the Miami Marlins and in 2020 for the San Francisco Giants.

4. Ted Williams

He is considered the greatest pure hitter who ever lived. Also known as Teddy Ballgam or The Splendid Splinter.  Though he missed nearly five full seasons of his prime to military service, his lifetime on-base percentage is the highest, and he ranks in the top 20 in total runs scored and home runs.

Key Career Highlights:

• He was named MVP twice.
• 17-time All-Star.
• 1972: He managed the Texas Rangers.
• 1969-1971: He managed the Washington Senators.
• He worked with multiple teams as a hitting instructor.
• Author of "The Science of Hitting" book. He also contributed to several nonprofits that promoted education and youth baseball.

5. Hank Aaron

He is considered one of the greatest players ever by many baseball experts and fans. Nonetheless, American professional baseball player Hank Aaron, whose real name is Henry Louis Aaron, is being seen by many as the legitimate Home Run leader.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1974: He broke Babe Ruth's record for most home runs in a career.
• 1957: He won the Milwaukee Braves World Series Championship.
• 1957 and 1963: MVP Award winners.
• 25-time All-Star in MLB.
• He won three Gold Glove Awards.
• He held the Atlanta Braves executive vice president position, focusing on youth development and education while supporting a range of nonprofit organisations.
• He wrote the book Moving Forward and I Had a Hammer.

6. Walter Johnson

Popularly known as The Big Train, he was a great American professional baseball player. He was a generational talent who defined dominant pitching for decades. Johnson became the first player to strike out 3,000 batters in 21 years and won 417 games, which is excellent for second place all-time, and set several milestones that still hold today.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1907 to 1927: The Washington Senators played 21 seasons
• 1913 and 1924: Won 2-time MVP.
• 11-time AL win leader.
• Coached several teams.
• He wrote a book named How to Pitch.

7. Ty Cobb

Also known as The Georgia PPeach, he is among the best players and may be argued to be the all-time greatest batter. He doesn't have the most hitting figures in the game, but he stands apart from nearly all of the best hitters because of his ability to get on base.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1905 to 1926: With the Detroit Tigers, he played 22 seasons.
• 1927 to 1928: With the Philadelphia Athletics, he played 2 seasons.
• One-time MVP in 1911.
• 1914: He helped establish the Players' League.
• 1901: He helped establish the American League.
• He wrote Busting 'Em and Other Big League Stories.

8. Stan Musial

Stan the Man, who is arguably the greatest individual on this list, was both a historically good player and an ideal citizen. The beloved St. Louis icon played his entire 22-season career with the city’s Cardinals franchise and is as inextricably linked with his town as an athlete ever has been.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1941 and 1963: Played with the St. Louis Cardinals for 22 seasons.
• Three-time MVP
• Three-time World Series champion.
• 24-time All-Star
• A seven-time champion in NL batting.
• 2011: Winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

9. Honus Wagner

American professional baseball player Johannes Peter Wagner, also referred to as "Honus" Wagner, was a renowned player and Hall of Fame shortstop. Honus Wagner is most likely best known to many contemporary baseball fans as the subject of the rare (1909–11) American Tobacco Company T206 Wagner card, which is currently the most valuable baseball card in history.

Key Career Highlights:

• 1897 and 1917: Played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 21 seasons.
• NL Batting Champion eight times.
• NL Stolen Base Leader five times.
• One-time MVP.
• Coached the Pittsburgh Pirates and various other teams. taught young players the fundamentals of baseball.
• Represented baseball at several occasions and gatherings.

10. Roger Clemens

He is also known as The Rocket, is a Hall of Famer, and a great American professional baseball player. Regarded as one of the best pitchers in MLB history

Key Career Highlights:

• 1986: He was one of the few starting pitchers to win the league MVP title after leading the Boston Red.
• Excelled with a fastball that reached 95 mph and a crisp curveball.
• 5-time league leader in innings pitched.