One of baseball’s most inspirational stories: success despite being born without a right hand. Jumped from college to the majors and pitched there for a decade (1989-96, ’98-99). Won 18 games in 1991; threw no-hitter in 1993. Developed unique way to field his position. Even had two regular-season base hits.
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There’s still a place in the game for men of shorter stature. This 5-foot-6 Venezuelan has three batting titles in his first nine big-league seasons (2011-19). AL MVP for the Houston Astros in 2017 as the franchise won its first World Series – later the subject of sign-stealing controversy.
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Catcher for Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s, which won four NL pennants and two World Series. Possessed a rare combination of power and defensive skill. Two-time NL MVP made 14 All-Star teams. Universally acknowledged as one of the best ever at his position.
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One of the better pitchers in the NL in the late ’60s and early ’70s, this righty became the most notorious example of sudden and mysterious inability to find the plate. In fact, such loss of control became known as “Steve Blass Disease.”
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A relentless line-drive, spray hitter, the seemingly indefensible Boggs won five batting titles in his first six full seasons (1983-1988), collected 200+ hits seven straight years, and led league in OBP six times with Red Sox. A stout defensive 3B, Boggs batted .328 with 3,010 hits and .415 OBP in career.
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One of the most polarizing players in history, Bonds was a five-tool player, who won two MVPs with Pirates. Signed with Giants, captured five more MVP awards and set MLB records for most home runs in season (73) and career (762) while shrouded in PED allegations.
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Brett played his entire 21-year Hall of Fame career with Royals (1973-1993), leading club to its first World Series title (1985). He captured three batting titles, flirted with .400 in 1980, finishing with .390 mark and was named MVP. Lifetime .305 batting average with 3,154 hits. Pine tar, anyone?
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Solid professional contact hitter whose career spanned four decades (1969-90). Remembered most for his critical error at first base that allowed the winning run to score in Game Six of the 1986 World Series, but proved remarkably gracious about it. Noted for toughness and grit.
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One of the most prolific hitters of his generation, Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012 with Tigers. The two-time AL MVP captured four batting titles in five seasons and collected 100+ RBIs in 11 straight seasons (2004-2014). With 477 home runs and 2,815 hits, he’s nearing historic milestones.
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Deft Panamanian spray hitter won seven AL batting titles and hit .328 over 19 years (1967-85), joining the 3,000-hit club. Reached a career-best .388 in 1977. Only Tony Gwynn (.394 in strike-shortened 1994) and George Brett (.390 in 1980) have done better since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.
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Imposing lefty known for silence toward the media and a grueling fitness regimen. Used a biting slider to win 329 games in 24 years (1965-88). Notched over 4,000 strikeouts and won four Cy Young Awards. Carlton’s 27 wins in 1972 have been matched only once since then.
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Among the best catchers of the 1970s and ’80s and arguably in the top ten ever. Outstanding defender with a strong arm who did everything else a receiver should, combined with a powerful bat and a gung-ho competitive spirit. A broad grin and pumping fist were The Kid’s visual trademarks.
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One of the most dominant, yet controversial pitchers in baseball history, Clemens has been tainted by PED allegations. He won 354 games in 24-year career (1984-2007), a record seven Cy Young Awards, the last at age 41 with Astros in 2004, and two World Series titles with Yankees (1999-2000).
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“The Bird” – nicknamed for Sesame Street’s Big Bird – was the talk of baseball in 1976 for his pitching and exuberant mound antics. He went 19-9 and was AL Rookie of the Year. Sad to say, Fidrych won just 10 more games and was finished in the majors after 1980.
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Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017, this hyper-intense competitor’s approach to baseball was formed on the gridiron. Leg injuries kept him from attaining greater stardom, but a hobbled Gibson supplied one of the most dramatic World Series moments ever with his game-ending pinch-hit homer in 1988.
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Junior’s smile and unbridled enthusiasm made him a national star as a 19-year-old rookie with the Mariners in 1989. With a sweet swing he won four home run titles and was considered the best center fielder in baseball. Plagued by injuries in second half of career, the Hall of Famer clubbed 630 home runs.
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One of the most exciting players of his generation, the five-tool Dominican would swing at anything, yet was difficult to strike out and produced staggering results. In 16-year career (1996-2011), notably with Expos and Angels, Vlad the Impaler whacked 449 home runs, batted .318, and was the 2004 AL MVP.
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Mr. Padre played his entire 20-year Hall of Fame career in San Diego (1982-2001), he where established a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in baseball history. He captured eight batting titles, including a .394 mark in 1994, collected 3,141 hits, and retired with highest BA (.338) since Ted Williams.
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Arguably the greatest leadoff hitter in history, Henderson transformed the sport with his daring baserunning. He set records for most stolen bases in a career (1,406) and single season (130), and most times leading league (12). With a .401 lifetime OBP, Henderson also holds the record for most runs scored (2,295) and is one of just four players with 2,000+ walks.
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The only major-league All-Star/NFL Pro Bowler. Gifted with power, speed, and cannon arm. Classed by earwitness Buck O’Neil with only Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson for the sound their bats made meeting the ball. Alas, a hip injury sustained as a running back in January 1991 curtailed Bo’s sporting career.
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Self-styled “Straw That Stirs the Drink” backed up his big ego with big accomplishments. Hit 563 homers in 21 years (1967-87). “Mr. October” played on five World Series winners: the Oakland dynasty of 1972-74 and the Yankees champs of 1977-78. His three-homer game in the 1977 Series was especially memorable.
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The face and soul of the Yankees throughout his 20-year career (1995-2014), the cerebral shortstop led the club back to prominence and five World Series titles after a two-decade postseason drought. A model of consistency, Jeter collected 200+ hits eight times and his 3,465 rank sixth most in MLB history.
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His name is perhaps the most dreaded for pitchers and managers in baseball since Dr. Frank Jobe performed his groundbreaking surgery in 1974. Proving that pitchers could return from a once career-ending, reconstructive ligament operation, John won 164 games after the procedure and 288 in his 26-year career.
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The 6-foot-10 Big Unit overcame control problems and emerged in his 30s as baseball’s most dominant left-hander. He won 5 Cy Young Awards, including four straight with the Diamondbacks, whom he helped to a World Series title in 2001. Won 303 games and fanned 4,875, including 300+ six times in 22-year career (1988-2009).
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Jones helped the Braves to their first World Series title in Atlanta as a rookie in 1995 and emerged as one of the best third basemen in history. The NL MVP in 1999, the Braves lifer finished with a .303 batting average, .401 OBP, and .529 slugging percentage in his 19-year Hall of Fame career.
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Drawing comparison to another famous Dodgers southpaw in Sandy Koufax, Kershaw mesmerized batters with his knee-buckling 12-6 curveball and vicious slider to win three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 NL MVP award, the first by an NL pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1968. He led the league in ERA five times, wins and strikeouts three times, and has a career 157 ERA+.
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Known for painting the corners with his pinpoint control, the Professor won four straight NL Cy Young Awards (1992-1995) and helped Braves to their first World Series title in Atlanta in 1995. The Hall of Famer notched 15+ wins in 17 straight seasons (1988-2004), en route to 355 career victories, eighth-most in MLB history. Also won a record 18 Gold Glove Awards.
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Wiry Dominican righty was generously listed at 5-feet-11 and 170 pounds. Yet he coupled an electric fastball with a devastating circle change to become one of the most dominant pitchers of his era (1992-2009). Won three Cy Young Awards and led his league in ERA five times.
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Hulking 6-foot-5 slugger first struck fear into opposing pitchers with the powerful late ’80s/early ’90s Oakland teams. Smashed 583 homers, with a record-breaking 70 in 1998 and 65 more in 1999 for St. Louis, helping reinvigorate baseball’s fan base (though steroid use, which he later admitted, clouds his performance).
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Messersmith and McNally were both 20-game winners and among the top hurlers of the late 1960s and ’70s, but their importance transcends the diamond. Messersmith and McNally challenged the reserve clause by playing the 1975 season without signing a contract. McNally’s season ended early due to injury, but the pitching duo’s courage led to Peter Seitz’s ground-breaking decision to overturn the reserve clause, thereby ushering in free agency. Baseball has never been the same.
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The “Little General” was the heart and soul of the Big Red Machine of the 1970s, winning consecutive MVP awards in 1975-76. The Hall of Fame second baseman was the era’s biggest disrupter, altering games with his bat and speed and leading the NL in offensive WAR six straight seasons (1972-77).
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Aptly nicknamed Steady Eddie, the switch-hitting Murray never put up gaudy numbers, but was a model of consistency in his 21-year career (1977-1997). He was the third player to reach 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, and played in a record 2,413 games at first base. Rookie of Year with Orioles; led them to title in 1983.
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Baseball hasn’t seen a player like Ohtani in a century. With his slugging and pitching feats during his first season in MLB, the Japanese-born Ohtani created a media frenzy and drew comparisons to Babe Ruth en route to the AL Rookie of the Year Award with Angels in 2018. Arm injuries have limited his time on the mound since then, but he’s still a legitimate offensive threat when healthy.
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“Big Papi” was the heart of the Boston club as the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years in 2004 and two more in 2007 and 2013. Dominican power threat came up as a first baseman but mainly played DH. Retired after 2016 with 541 homers.
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Master mound psychologist won 314 games in the majors (1962-1983), with Cy Young Awards in both the AL (1972, Cleveland) and NL (1978, San Diego). After learning the spitball early in his career, preyed on batters’ minds with the mere notion of the wet one.
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With his trademark smile, Puckett was a hitting machine whose 12-year (1984-95) career prematurely ended due to an eye disease. He led Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, punctuated by a dramatic walk-off, extra-inning home run in Game Six in ’91. Led AL in hits four times; .318 career BA.
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A three-time MVP, the Machine won the NL Triple Crown for the decade of 2000s and helped the Cardinals to two World Series championships. After 19 seasons, Pujols ranks sixth in HRs (656), fourth in RBIs (2,075), and 15th in hits (3,202) despite myriad injuries and devastating shifts.
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Ripken’s record of 2,632 consecutive games seems unbreakable. An Orioles lifer, Ripken was the 1982 AL Rookie of the Year, two-time MVP, and led the club to 1983 World Series title. A stellar defensive shortstop, he belted 431 home runs and collected 3,184 hits, transforming the offensive expectations for the position.
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The first player to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame, Rivera set the standard for relievers by saving a record 652 games. He saved his best for the post-season, helping the Yankees to five World Series titles, and posting a 0.70 ERA in 96 games and 141 innings.
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His image was tarnished after being banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games as a manager. Yet “Charlie Hustle” – as Rose was known for his all-out play – is the all-time Hit King of the majors with 4,256. Frequently shifted positions to help his teams.
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In his early years, Ryan had little control over his exceptional fastball – but he harnessed his talent and lasted a record 27 years as a big-league pitcher (1966; 1968-93), winning 324 games. What’s more, he utilized power until the end. His signal accomplishments: 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters.
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One of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and ’80s. Led the NL in homers nine times on his way to a total of 548, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. Also a superior defender and possibly the best all-around third baseman in baseball history.
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Cerebral power pitcher known as “Tom Terrific” was at the center of the New York Mets’ rise from expansion laughingstock to “Amazin’” 1969 World Series champs. Made an effective transition to finesse pitching and finished with 311 career wins over 20 years (1967-86).
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Acrobatic shortstop known for his back flips as he took the field. Smith always had extraordinary range, but after joining the St. Louis Cardinals, his “small ball” offensive skills developed. He hit just 28 homers in the majors (1978-96) but was more than a great glove man.
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Immensely powerful slugger known for long-distance blasts. Spent his entire career (1962-82) with the Pittsburgh Pirates and became the club’s inspiring leader, playing through chronic knee pain and leading the 1979 World Series champs known as the “Fam-a-lee.” Retired at age 42 with 475 big-league homers.
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Came to the U.S. at age 27 after nine seasons in Japan and amassed 4,367 hits in a 28-year career – 3,089 in the majors, including a single-season record 262 in 2004. All-around game included superb bat control, speed, and outstanding outfield play with a remarkably powerful arm.
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Touted as one of the greatest players in baseball history after just eight full seasons, Trout has won three AL MVP awards and finished runner-up four times. He has led the AL in offensive WAR seven times, owns a lifetime .305 BA, .419 OBP, and .581 slugging percentage, and is a highlight reel in center field.
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Stocky Mexican lefty fueled “Fernandomania” with Los Angeles in 1981. Fired five shutouts in winning first eight starts en route to the Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, and a World Series ring in strike-shortened season. Featured a screwball and unusual windup with eyes rolling skyward.
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A five-tool athletic marvel, Winfield went from college straight to the majors, debuting with Padres in 1973. In his 22-year Hall of Fame career, his sweeping swing terrorized pitchers for 465 home runs, collected 3,110 hits with 1,833 RBIs. Was a seven-time Gold Glove right-fielder; later DH, helping Blue Jays to title in 1992.
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Face of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise for two decades. Came up as an 18-year-old in 1974, jumping all the way from Class A. After 11 seasons as a shortstop, made a successful switch to center field and played nine years there. Retired after the 1993 season with 3,142 hits.
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