By Ben Harris, MLB Asst. Director of Player Personnel
Aug 30, 2022

August 30, 2022 marks 104 years since Ted Williams’ birthday, so it’s a great time to look at the top 5 greatest MLB hitters of all time with him highlighting the list.



Baseball is America’s pastime. The game has seen so many players enter the league and do amazing things, but the ones that become remembered most are the legends who change the game in a way unlike any other. Since the game began, the players that hit the long ball are the ones who fans tend to love. There is truly nothing more admirable for a fan than when they watch their favorite player send a baseball 500 feet into the atmosphere.

The world’s best hitters have the ability to change any game with one swing of the bat. Baseball’s biggest sluggers are expected to perform at the highest level in high-pressure situations. Since Major League Baseball first began in 1876, the world has been privileged enough to see so many talented hitters take the diamond and do amazing things on the field.

The game has come a long way from the motto of “hit it where they ain’t” with the long ball having more prominence than ever. Getting on base and drilling dingers have become the most important aspects to generating runs and the guys who made this list did it better than anyone.

The greatest MLB hitters of all time have made their mark on the game, writing their names all over the record books and bringing home countless awards and championships. This article showcases some of the greatest to do it, all throughout different eras, but each one made a huge impact on the game and will live on in baseball history forever. Honorable mention includes: Ken Griffey Jr., Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, and Ty Cobb.

Here are the top 5 greatest MLB hitters of all time. Create your own rankings below! 


PSO Rankings

1
RF/P BABE RUTH

BABE RUTH’S FACTS:

– 7x WS Champ | 2x All-Star | 12x AL HR Leader | 1923 MVP

– MLB leader in OPS (1.164), SLG (.690), & Season Runs (177)

– Most seasons (10) with 130+ RBI ever | 1st to 500 HR

 

The Babe, The Sultan of Swat, The Colossus of Clout, The Great Bambino. Not often does an athlete have this many nicknames, but when they are on the level of Babe Ruth, they have earned every single one. Babe Ruth was a generational talent for the New York Yankees and with his numerous accolades, was revolutionary to the sport of baseball.

2
LF BARRY BONDS

BARRY BONDS’ FACTS:

– 7x NL MVP | 12x Silver Slugger | 14x All-Star | 7x OBP leader

– MLB leader in HR (762), MVP (7), & Silver Sluggers (12)

– Most HR (73) & 2 Highest OBP (.609 & .582) in 1 season

 

There have been few hitters in MLB history who could swing it like Barry Bonds. During the 1990s and early 2000s Bonds terrorized opposing pitchers with his beautiful lefty swing and genius approach. His all-time HR record and single-season HR records cement his spot as one of the all-time greats.

3
CF WILLIE MAYS

WILLIE MAYS’ FACTS:

– 24x All-Star | 12x Gold Glove | 2x MVP | 4x NL HR Leader

– 1954 WS Champ | 1951 NL ROY | 1954 NL Batting Champ

– Most All-Star GS (18) ever | 1st with 200+ HR & 200+ SB

 

Willie Mays was an incredible baseball player and it shows through his accomplishments. He was the first MLB player with 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases in his career. Throughout his time playing, he used his incredible speed and great bat to change the game and become a staple of the game for many years to come.

4
RF HANK AARON

HANK AARON’S FACTS:

– 25x All-Star (most ever) | 1957 MVP & World Series Champ

– MLB leader in career RBI (2,297), TB (6,856), & XBH (1,477)

– 1st with 3,000+ hits & 500+ HR | MLB All-Century Team

 

Hank Aaron is truly a player of caliber fans don’t see often. His name is all over the MLB record books as he’s the all-time leader in RBI, TB, and XBH. Hank was so good, that he had his number retired by not one, but two franchises. Hammerin’ Hank was an all-time player and even better hitter.

5
LF TED WILLIAMS

TED WILLIAMS’ FACTS:

– 19x All-Star | 2x AL MVP | 2x Triple Crown | 10x OBP leader

– 2x MLB Batting Title & HR leader | MLB OBP (.482) leader

– 4x AL Batting Champ | Most recent .400 season AVG (.406)

 

Teddy Ballgame will forever be a legend in Boston and the game of baseball as a whole. He played all 19 of his MLB seasons in Beantown and has an incredible legacy for what he did on the field. Ted Williams would always find a way to get the job done and is one of the premier players in the game’s history.

My Rankings

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