Ken Griffey Jr. 5. OK, weve got your crazy right here. Bill Mazeroski became a baseball icon when he hit the first World Series winning walk off home run in history. He was the league leader in Total Zone Runs five times. "Mad Dog" dominated the Gold Glove Award for not one but two decades. Left field has been the position of some of baseball's greatest players, including Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski, and Frank Robinson, and was one of the primary positions on a . 25 Greatest Outfielders in Major League Baseball History Midfielder - Wikipedia He led all outfielders in putouts nine times, range factor per game ten times, and assists three times. -- Schoenfield, Charlie Hustle played at least 500 games games in five positions, but he was always best at the plate. He was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983 as a first ballot member. Ibanez leads all Mariners left fielders and ranks among the franchise's overall top 10 in games (1,110), hits (1,077), homers (156), doubles (216), extra-base hits (392), RBIs (612), runs (540), walks (367) and slugging percentage (.466). 5 greatest Brazilian midfielders of all-time - Sportskeeda This is a good formation. 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan. His #1 is retired by the St. Louis Cardinals and he's a Hall of Famer who helped win a World Series title in 1982. -- Lauber, A seven-time All-Star who stole 808 bases, Raines also played in the majors with his son, Tim Jr. How great does a career .228 hitter have to be to play regularly for 10 seasons? -- Tim Kurkjian, ESPN.com senior writer, For as much as we dwell on the video-arcade numbers from his final 10 seasons, sometimes we don't make enough of what he did in his first 12: .288/.408/.551, 374 HR, 417 SB, three NL MVP awards. Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) is another modern metric that considers multiple factors to determine how many runs the player saved through his direct defensive contributions. His pitching credentials are some of the greatest of his era with 355 career wins, a 3.16 career ERA, and 3,371 career strikeouts. He blew open Game 2 of the NL Championship Series with a late two-run homer, hit a key leadoff double in the eighth inning of World Series Game 5, then scored the go-ahead run in the Mets title-clinching 5-3 victory. Red Sox top 5 >, Key fact: Career 152 OPS+ ranks 27th all time, Though overshadowed somewhat on rosters packed with Hall of Fame talent, Keller was a feared slugger and solid fielder on three Yankees championship clubs (1939, 41 and 43), compiling an eye-popping career OPS+ of 152 that ranks 27th all-time. More so than any position I've reviewed so far, the right fielders are affected by the 1970 timeline cutoff. Seven-time MVP (1990, '92-93, 2001-04), 14-time All-Star ('90, '92-98, '00-04, '07), eight Gold Gloves ('90-94, '96-98), 12 Silver Sluggers ('90-94, '96-97, '00-04), Career stats Although not always earning the recognition of home run hitters or ace pitchers, excell. Over on Ranker, football fans have cast their votes to list the greatest defender of all-time, with over 135,000 votes cast. Greatest Catches in Baseball History | Stadium Talk 100 Greatest Center Fielders of All-Time - The Baseball Scholar For some, a great grab is when a fielder reaches over the wall or does an acrobatic move. Dave Kingman had two separate stints with the Mets, navigating the Shea Stadium grass from 1975-1977 and 1981-1983. And he pulled it off in only eight seasons as a regular. Ashburn has remained one of the best Phillies center fielders of all time and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995. He notched an impressive 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts in his career along with a career ERA of 3.45. The 25 best defensive midfielders in world football - ranked - 90min March 03, 2023 9:51 AM. He could have won two more Gold Gloves if they had been awarded, in which case he would rank second in American League history. He. The year after, he hit 40 homers with 120 RBIs, leading the NL. In ranking the top 25, many great players were left off the list including Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Jim Rice, Al Simmons, Duke Snider, Dave Winfield, Lou Brock and others. Quarterback Kirk Cousins and tight end Jordan Reed are dominating defenses.Their dominance keyed the 38-24 road win over the Philadelphia Eagles that . And time ran out on their season. He is the all-time leader in assists, double plays, and unassisted double plays by an outfielder. The four time All-Star has played his entire career with the Colorado Rockies where he has won two Gold Glove Awards and three Fielding Bible Awards. Robinson was also recognized as an 18-time All-Star and 16-time Gold Glove Award Winner. Hernandez also delivered the iconic Seinfeld line I am Keith Hernandez, perhaps making up for him missing out on Cooperstown. Who are the best MLB center fielders of all time? 1 left fielder for each club, as chosen by MLB.com's beat reporters. Magee ranks first among Modern Era Phillies left fielders in runs (898), doubles (337), triples (127), on-base percentage (.371) and stolen bases (.387); second in hits (1,647), RBIs (885) and batting average (.299); fourth in home runs (75) and OPS (.818) and eighth in slugging percentage (.447). Brock was at his best in October, hitting .391 -- second only to Pepper Martin (.418) in franchise history -- with 34 hits in 21 World Series games. Here are the ultimate left field rankings. One of the five greatest left-handed hitters in MLB history, "Stan the Man" helped the Cardinals to win World Series titles in 1942, 1944 and 1946. Try this great: second in career Defensive WAR, third in Total Zone Runs and third in Range Factor per nine innings on the all-time list. Ranking MLB's all-time best left fielders - sports.yahoo.com 4 jersey will be retired. His 27.4 bWAR is the most among all Indians left fielders and the 23rd highest in franchise history. To put it simply, Royals coach Rusty Kuntz said, he is the gold standard of left fielders in baseball. Royals top 5 >, Key facts: Four-time All-Star; led 1968 World Series champion Tigers in average, homers and OPS, This is the only position where the Tigers don't have a Hall of Famer to consider, and it makes for an interesting debate. No first baseman won more Gold Gloves (11) in his career. "The Say Hey Kid.". Career stats Top 15 Worst Defensive Players in Baseball Today - TheSportster His arm strength was a half-cut below Roberto Clemente and Rocky Colavito in his day, but it was plenty strong and accurate enough. Matthews, too, was primarily a good hitter. Williams ended his MLB career with 426 homers, 434 doubles, 2,711 hits and a .290/.361/.492 slash line. A weak hitter with a great glove (see Gregor Blanco) will not play left on the prototypical good team. Embed from Getty Images. Andy Flower, with Jonty Rhodes (left), steps aside from role of assistant coach with Punjab Kings. Age During 2022 Season: 34. A team can hide a poor defender here and he will do minimal damage to them. He is the all-time leader in defensive games and putouts among catchers. The unquestioned best leadoff hitter of all time. 2021 Statistics: . .344/.482 (all-time leader)/.634, OPS -- 1.116, Hits -- 2,654; HRs -- 521, RBIs -- 1,839, The player -- Schoenfield, Not only the all-time leader in stolen bases (and the single season record holder as well), Rickey also holds the record for most career runs (2,295). Midfielders may play an exclusively right back role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. Today we turn our attention to left fielders. Gold Glove Awards: 7 (1963, 1965, 1967-69, 1971, 1977). As opposed to the puss arm who couldnt throw out Sid Bream with the 1992 NLCS on the line. Richie Ashburn played the majority of his career before they awarded Gold Glove awards for elite fielders. Would you believe that hes the only shortstop among the top 10 in Range Factor per nine innings (sixth) and Total Zone Runs (seventh) in baseball history? Although he played only 1,027 games during his nine-year career, Greer ranks 10th in franchise history with 1,166 hits. Dont bet on it. Andruw Jones is one of the best defensive outfielders ever; so why The best left fielder of the millennium ranks behind only Barry Bonds and Carl Yastrzemski on the career Total Zone Runs list. Elite center fielders for the Cardinals - STLtoday.com Jim Edmonds Jim Edmonds poses for a picture at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, on February 25, 2005. Bobby Knoop and Bill Mazeroski are the only second basemen to lead the league in Total Zone Runs, Range Factor per nine innings and double plays turned as many as four times each. While Bobby Veach has a strong case as one of the Tigers' great run producers of the Dead Ball Era, Horton's legacy as a hometown hero and clutch performer in the Tigers' 1968 World Series have secured his place in franchise history. Yet its hard to deny Johnny Bench's combination of strength, athleticism, smarts and leadership behind the plate. He will be eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2017. Before he was the first baseman on the Giants pennant-winning teams of 1951 and 1954, Whitey Lockman was an outfielder, and a good one, too, but by 1951 Leo Durocher had him trade positions with Monte Irvin. Regarded as one of Italy's greatest ever midfielders, Tardelli was the cornerstone of Juventus' successful side of the late 70s and early 80s, winning five Scudettos during his time in Turin. Someday, Gordons No. Bench led the league in total zone runs as a catcher six times and caught stealing percentage three times. The Top Ten Left Fielders of All-Time | Pitcher List Part of the reason Rose would eventually break Ty Cobb's hit record was because of his incredible durability and longevity. Clementes defensive skills were virtually unparalleled, with Roberto earning 12 Golden Gloves and 15 All-Star appearances. 18-time All-Star ('63, '65-79, '82-83), All-Star Game MVP ('70), MVP (1967), Triple Crown ('67), seven Gold Gloves ('63, '65, '67-69, '71, '77), Hall of Fame ('89), Career stats He also had a .992 OPS over 29 postseason games with Houston. A few had better range. Note: All stats are through the 2019 MLB season. He won an NL batting title in 1918 en route to a career batting average of .317. But they still have some very meaningful football left to play on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefsand next week when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit FirstEnergy Stadium.If theTennessee Titanssomehow win their next two games, two losses by the Browns would secure them the No. He also retired with the highest career fielding percentage and once went 95 consecutive games without committing an error. 5 best Fielders of all time - Cricket Keeda Sports 1-ranked left fielder of all time. MLB: Ranking top 10 left fielders ever - ESPN.com His lifetime OPS was 1.116, which would be a career season for nearly any other player. Athletics top 5 >, Mariners: Raul Ibanez (1996-2000, '04-08, '13)Key fact: Ranks among Mariners' top 10 in games, hits, homers, RBIs and runsLeft field traditionally has been a revolving door for the Mariners, but Ibanez provided some stability during his three stints with the team. Don't think so. Ted Williams is one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and eleven total for his career. Indeed, he turned the double play into an art form, sort of like a Mikhail Baryshnikovski in cleats. Often the accounts of their plays were passed on in daily summaries of the games, while others were lost to the ages. Top-10 Pinch Hitters in MLB History - The Grueling Truth " It has been 56 since he last played; nobody has passed him yet (although Barry Bonds came close). White Sox top 5 >, Key fact: Only Angels player to record at least 2,000 hits with the club, With his smooth left-handed swing, Anderson set numerous club records during his time with the Angels, including the most hits (2,368), total bases (3,743), doubles (489), RBIs (1,292) and runs scored (1,024). Yelich had -6 defensive runs saved in his first season as a primary left fielder in 2020, though that's far from the biggest concern of the Brewers. Consistency, discipline, and work ethic are essential traits for a player to earn the coveted Gold Glove Award, awarded to elite fielders at the end of each season. Dodgers top 5 >, Key fact: He is Major League Baseballs all-time home run leader, with 762, After spending the first seven years of his career with the Pirates, Bonds signed with the Giants ahead of the 1993 season and sparked the revitalization of the franchise. Barry Bonds Bill Terry Gary Matthews Gregor Blanco Jo-Jo Moore John McGraw, Leo Durocher, Monte Irvin, Whitey Lockman. "The Curacao Kid" ranks second in Total Zone Runs (253) in baseball history. BOSTON (AP) Mikal Bridges was considered a defensive star and complementary offensive player in Phoenix before abruptly having his five-year run there ended when he was shipped to Brooklyn as . 20+ Best Midfielders of All Time in the Soccer World - Mental Hiking Ivan Pudge Rodriguez is the epitome of the defensive catcher. (Bonds routinely sat in on the pitchers pre-game meeting where they discussed how they were going to pitch to that days opponents.) Brooks was a two time World Series Champion and was named World Series MVP in 1970. Willie Mays was involved in perhaps the most iconic play in baseball history which has been dubbed The Catch, when he ran down a Vic Wertz blast in the 1954 World Series. Yaz had better range than many center fielders and a stronger arm than some right fielders. Teams: Baltimore Orioles (1964-76), New York Yankees (1977-80), Cincinnati Reds (1979). Before Barry Bonds became a controversial, divisive figure, before he was conserving energy in left field, he was a tremendously talented five-tool player. His defensive skills were so highly regarded that his glove was known as the place where triples go to die. The three-time World Series champion was named MVP in 1912 and won the batting title in 1916. Honus Wagner is known as one of the greatest players of all time, but unfortunately he played in an era before advanced defensive statistics. Bob Johnson, 1933-42 But at his peak, he was excellent, a guy who could get on base, would play wherever his team needed him (he was a regular second base, left field, right field, third base and first base) and rarely missed a game. Cubs top 5 >, Key fact: Is only player ever to have at least a share of the league lead in home runs seven years in a row, Simply put, Kiner is one of the greatest sluggers in the Pirates long history. Teams: Chicago White Sox (2000-11), Miami Marlins (2012), Toronto Blue Jays (2013-15). It's been a rollercoaster couple of years for N'Golo Kante at Chelsea, but there's no disputing that he's back to his very . 5. The best outfielder of the 1980s decade combined excellent range and a bazooka arm that rivaled the best ever (read: Roberto Clemente). We'll run you through the top 50 below, with the likes of Javier . The Best Defensive Left Fielders | Elysian Fielders -- Caple, Teams His pitching credentials are some of the greatest of his era with 355 career wins, a 3.16 career ERA, and 3,371 career strikeouts. "The Cat" was nearly as quick as he was strong no catcher had a higher caught stealing percentage in MLB history and his ability to call games and handle pitchers was widely known. Seven-time All-Star ('64-66, '71-73, '78), World Series MVP (1979), MVP ('79), Hall of Fame ('88), Championships A five-time All-Star, "King Kong" Keller completed his Yankees career with a slash line of .286/.410/.518, slugging 184 homers with 723 RBIs in 1,066 games. The ten time All-Star, eight time Gold Glove, led all second basemen in double plays turned for eight consecutive years from 1960 to 1967. No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on each player's career with that franchise. His great first step, speed and knowledge of the tendencies of his own teams pitchers and opposing hitters allowed him to get to everything hit his way. In 1982 when he was the second oldest player in the Major Leagues, he won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Cleveland Indians (1993-2000), Boston Red Sox ('01-08), Los Angeles Dodgers ('08-10), Chicago White Sox ('10), Tampa Bay Rays ('11), Honors 9 in 1983, and a sculpture of Minoso was unveiled at Guaranteed Rate Field in 2004. He led all left fielders in range factor per game five times, assists six times, and is the all-time leader in putouts by a left fielder. The two-time Most Valuable Player was a natural, the first catcher to be awarded a Gold Glove in his rookie season. WSVX News - Shelby County Post Thats right more than Ozzie Smith even. -- Caple, Still judged for his inclusion in the Black Sox scandal, and still condemned for it. Houston Astros All-Time Rankings: Left Field Nine AL Silver Sluggers (1995, '99-06), 12-time AL All-Star ('95, '98-08), World Series MVP (2004), Career stats -- Scott Lauber, ESPN.com Red Sox reporter, A star on the World Series-winning 1929 and '30 Philadelphia A's, they called him "Bucketfoot Al" because of his batting stance. Now heres the stat that you never hear: Over 12 seasons, Maz played 1,722 complete games (86 percent), the kind of durability (overuse?) Ty Cobb 4. Their consistency over baseballs grueling calendar has allowed them to be included among the greatest defensive players of all time. Arozarena and Meadows split left field duties almost evenly in 2021 and that duo should take on the majority of starts there again this season. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. A career .300 hitter with over 2,700 hits, he matches his prowess at the plate with solid defensive play in the middle infield. Do you want big names? .312/.411/.585, OPS -- .996, Hits -- 2,574, HRs -- 555, RBIs -- 1,831, Charlie Manuel often says that to know Manny is to understand him. They are without question among the greatest baseball players of all time, contributing to their respective teams while carving out their own Major League Baseball legacy. Best left fielders in A's history - mlb.com Mike Schmidt is one of the best hitting and fielding third basemen of the modern era. He led the American League in fielding percentage as a second basemen four times, assists twice, and committed the fewest errors as a second baseman twice. Photo credit (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 10. Long Peak = WAR in Best 7 Seasons. We believe our rankings are the most comprehensive, fair, and accurate. He also stole a record 14 bases in three World Series. Defense is why he flew into the Hall with ease on his first try (91.7%). .303/.375/.409, OPS -- .784, Hits -- 4,256 (all-time leader), HRs - 160, RBIs -- 1,314, Games -- 3,562 (all-time leader), At-bats -- 14,053 (all-time leader), The epitome of a hustler, on the field and off. He won one MVP award and probably should have won three. 10-time AL All-Star (1980, '82-88, '90-91), AL Gold Glove ('81), three AL Silver Sluggers ('81, '85, '90), AL MVP ('90), Hall of Fame (2009), Championships And Bill White almost certainly would have one more (1956) if the award had been in existence. He played nearly 1,500 games in the field with nine different teams. 9. Padres top 5 >, Rockies: Matt Holliday (2004-08, 18)Key fact: Led NL in average (.340), RBIs (137), hits (216) and total bases (386) in 2007Rockies fans will argue until the end of time that Holliday's 2007 performance -- a .340/.405/.607 slash line with 46 home runs and league-leading totals in hits (216), doubles (50) and total bases (386) -- should have netted him the NL MVP Award. The adequate fielding was a bonus. Ill tell you, hes one of the great hitters Ive ever seen, said Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker. Kante is a winner / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages. Nets overcome NBA season-high 28-point deficit to stun Celtics The Man of Steal swiped an astonishing 130 bags in 1982, which remains a single-season record in the Modern Era (since 1900), and became MLB's all-time stolen-base king in '91. Overall, Holliday had a .319 average with 130 homers over six seasons with the Rockies. Gordons 98 outfield assists are tied for the most in MLB since 2010. Is there a more fundamentally correct baseball player out there? Tigers top 5 >, Key fact: His 132 wRC+ is the highest among primary left fielders in club history, In five seasons with the Twins, Mack provided an effective and consistent combination of power, average, on-base ability and speed while playing all three outfield spots, good for a .309/.375/.479 slash line with 67 homers, 119 doubles, 24 triples and 71 stolen bases and a 17.9 fWAR in Minnesota. Phillies top 5 >, Key facts: Won the 2007 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2011 NL MVP Award, From a statistical standpoint, only two players have generated more value to the Brewers than Braun, and both (Robin Yount and Paul Molitor) are in the Hall of Fame. "Charlie Hustle" was durable and one of baseball's greatest hitters. Who is the best left fielder in MLB? 297/.355/.536 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, 30 walks, .892 OPS, 137 OPS+, three defensive runs saved, zero outs above average and a 3.0 fWAR. The MLB now awards the Roberto Clemente Award annually to the player with outstanding baseball skills combined with personal involvement in community work. -- Kahrl, Teams In baseballs rich history there have been many players that have excelled in the defensive aspects of the game. Browns vs. Chiefs: What's the Game Plan for Cleveland He is also the all-time career leader in assists as a shortstop and total zone runs. Known for his intensity, he won two batting titles while hitting .334 in his career and drove in 100-plus runs his first 11 seasons. The calmness with. Big numbers? Top 6 Best MLB Center Fielders of All Time - rookieroad.com Teams: Chicago Cubs (1986-1990, 2004-06), Atlanta Braves (1993-2003), Los Angeles Dodgers (2006, 2008), San Diego Padres (2007-08), Gold Glove Awards: 18 (1990-2002, 2004-08). Minosos 41.4 bWAR sits No. He was a 16-time Gold Glove winner and was a three time All-Star. And none led the league in Total Zone Runs more times (eight). The six-time All-Star led the NL in homers every year from 1946-52, and he hit 35 or more homers every season from 47-53. He was Brooklyns starting left fielder for 17 years, succeeding in both the Dead Ball and Live Ball eras. Remember, kids, head up and glove down. Pingback: Elysian Fielders The Best Defensive Right Fielders, (c) Copyright 2013-15 ElysianFielders.com, This Day in Giants History: September 25, 1986, Elysian Fielders The Best Defensive Right Fielders, This Day in Giants History, February 27, 1962: Saran Wrap for Candlestick Park. His untimely death while on a humanitarian aid trip to Nicaragua came after a baseball career during which his feats on the baseball diamond matched up to his generosity off of it. PRIME = WAR in 5 Best Consecutive Seasons. Who are the best center fielders of all time? A ranked list Montreal Expos (1979-90, 2001), Chicago White Sox ('91-95), New York Yankees ('96-98), Oakland A's ('99), Baltimore Orioles ('01), Florida Marlins ('02), Honors Check out Gil's full list here! Garvey was as an All-Star for the NL in eight straight seasons and while with the Dodgers would win four pennants and a World Series in 1981. At 35, Alex Gordon is a good bet to rank second when all is said and done. He won eleven Gold Glove Awards and was named 1979 NL MVP. (2:29), All-Time #MLBRank: The 10 greatest left fielders, The greatest lineups ever? (Insider), Teams .298/.444/.607, OPS -- 1.051, Hits -- 2,935; HRs -- 762 (all-time leader), RBIs -- 1,996; BBs -- 2,558 (all-time leader); IBBs -- 688 (all-time leader), He is, after Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, the greatest hitter ever. Not only was Mays the best center fielder, he might have been the best all-around player to play the game. The criteria were a combination of Gold Glove Awards (since 1957) and metrics such as Defensive Wins Above Replacement (dWAR), Total Zone Runs (an estimate of runs saved in the field) and Range Factor per nine innings with an assist from YouTube on occasion. Just three Marlins left-handed hitters have topped 30 home runs in a season -- Floyd in 2001, Carlos Delgado in '05 (33) and Mike Jacobs in '08 (32). Winner of the World Cup, UEFA Champions League, multiple Serie A titles and domestic cups, Andrea Pirlo is one of the most decorated midfielders in European football history. Yelich had -6 defensive runs saved in his first season as a primary left fielder in 2020, though that's far from the biggest concern of the Brewers. Mickey Mantle 3. He also ranks among the top 100 in career Total Zone Runs at second base (28th), shortstop (99th) and all positions (100th). Add to that his limitless joy in playing anywhere that would play him at the end. 2x All-Star (1980, 1985) 2x Silver-Slugger (1983 . Even if only half of the 18 were based on merit he ranked first in Total Zone Runs 13 times and fielding percentage three times the result would be difficult to ignore. Teams: Cleveland Indians (1972-78), Texas Rangers (1979-85, 1989), Cincinnati Reds (1985-88), Houston Astros (1988). That three of the first four names on this list are . The differences seen in baseball across different eras are significant, and television and radio were not always available to document the miraculous plays of major leaguers on a daily basis. He made up for a relatively weak throwing arm with a very quick release and a patented spin move down the left field line to hold runners to a single. The Phillies Jimmy Rollins took that home, but the Rockies vanquished the Phils in the NL Division Series -- and Holliday went on to earn NLCS MVP honors. 1. In the 2017 season, this valuable moveable piece was among the Total Zone Runs leaders at second base and left field. During an era with a plethora of talent at the shortstop position, Omar Vizquel was the best defensive player of them all. He has led all shortstops in double plays turned three times and is the active leader among shortstops in range factor, fielding percentage, and total zone runs. He earned two of the best nicknames in baseball history because of his prowess with the glove, the Human Vacuum Cleaner and Mr. 2022 Positional Power Rankings: Left Field | FanGraphs Baseball COLUMBUS - Scoring lulls hindered Shelbyville all season.