Top 50 First Basemen of All-Time | The Baseball Page.com

Ranking the First Basemen

What are the odds that the three best first basemen of all-time played at the same time, in the same league? But that's the case according to our exclusive rankings. A trio of 1930s American League sluggers, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg, are head and shoulders above the rest at first base, even after all these years.

♦  Most controversial and underrated, Allen ⇒
♦  Best bunter and baserunner, Carew ⇒
♦  Most likely to climb these charts, Pujols ⇒

1.   Lou Gehrig
2.   Jimmie Foxx
3.   Hank Greenberg
4.   Eddie Murray
5.   Dan Brouthers
6.   Buck Leonard
7.   Ernie Banks
8.   Willie McCovey
9.   Roger Connor
10.   Harmon Killebrew
11.   Dick Allen
12.   George Sisler
13.   Frank Chance
14.   Johnny Mize
15.   Tony Perez
16.   Gil Hodges
17.   Rod Carew
18.   Jeff Bagwell
19.   Jim Thome
20.   Don Mattingly
21.   Todd Helton
22.   Cap Anson
23.   Orlando Cepeda
24.   Steve Garvey
25.   Albert Pujols
26.   Will Clark
27.   Carlos Delgado
28.   Mark McGwire
29.   George Scott
30.   Keith Hernandez
31.   Norm Cash
32.   Rafael Palmeiro
33.   Jim Bottomley
34.   Boog Powell
35.   Bill Terry
36.   Mickey Vernon
37.   Fred McGriff
38.   Dolf Camilli
39.   Tino Martinez
40.   Cecil Cooper
41.   Jack Fournier
42.   Jake Daubert
43.   Kent Hrbek
44.   Ted Kluszewski
45.   Joe Adcock
46.   Hal Trosky
47.   Mark Grace
48.   Jason Giambi
49.   Lee May
50.   Rudy York

Negro Leaguers
Buck Leonard is the greatest first baseman from the Negro leagues. Other great NL first sackers include Ben Taylor and Mule Suttles, both of whom were elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.

*Player/manager

Best of the Unranked
Joe Judge
Bill White
Bob Watson
Wally Joyner
Andres Galarraga
Roy Sievers
Vic Power
Pedro Guerrero
Cecil Fielder

Best Managers
Frank Chance*
Walter Alston
Charlie Grimm*
Mike Hargrove
Cap Anson*
Tom Kelly
Bill Terry
Terry Francona
Gil Hodges

Best with the Glove
Keith Hernandez
Vic Power
Wes Parker
J.T. Snow
Don Mattingly
Mickey Vernon
Hal Chase
Earl Sheely
George Scott

If you're looking for Frank Thomas, he's ranked at DH... Roger Connor hit the first grand slam in history, in 1881... Norm Cash's 118-point drop in batting average from 1961 to 1962 (.361 to .243) is the largest by a batting champ in history. After his career, Cash admitted he corked his bat in '61.

Most Popular, Reviled, and Overrated
Steve Garvey won a MVP Award, was elected to the All-Star Game by write-in vote, and helped the Dodgers to the World Series four times. But his squeeky-clean image was dirtied late in his career. A classic high average, low-OBP hitter, with no range at first, he ranks 24th on our all-time list at 1B.
Steve Garvey's page ⇒

"Chance was a born fighter, a determined, able, and magnetic leader of men, who could always inspire his men with extraordinary enthusiasm, get the best work out of them, and always hold their good will. As a field leader it is doubtful if his superior ever lived� he combined all the qualities of an ideal baseball general."
Frank Chance's page ⇒

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