As you would expect now that we are in the top 200, there will be many more Hall of Famers. This group has the most so far with 18. Out of the other seven players here, two are currently on the ballot, one is still active, and the other four have arguments that they should be inducted. We have four outstanding lefties, a couple of Triple Crown winners, a couple of .400 hitters, and the original stolen base king. Let's continue on our road through the Top 1,000 MLB players ever.
Be sure to check out the rest of our series: MLB 976-1,000 | 951-975 | 926-950 | 901-925 | 876-900 |850-875 | 826-850 | 801-825 | 776-800 | 751-775 | 726-750 | 701-725 | 676-700 | 651-675 | 626-650 | 601-625 | 576-600 | 551-575 | 526-550 | 501-525 | 476-500 | 451-475 | 426-450 | 401-425 | 376-400 | 351-375 | 326-350 | 301-325 | 276-300 | 251-276 | 226-250 | 201-225
#200 - Mickey Lolich - Left-Handed Pitcher - 1963-1976, 1978-1979
For 11 years in a row, Lolich threw 200 innings and won 14 games. Four times he tossed 300 and led the league with 376 in 1971, the first to eclipse 375 in 59 years which was only matched the following year by Wilbur Wood. He also led the league with 308 strikeouts and finished second in CYA voting. Lolich finished third the following season with 22 wins and a 2.50 ERA. In the 1968 World Series, he was 3-0 with three CG and was the WS MVP.
Lynn had an incredible rookie campaign. He was ROY, MVP, and led the league in doubles, runs, and OPS. From 1975-1980, he slashed .307/.381/.517 (139 OPS+) averaging 24 home runs and 102 RBIs. After a tough year in 1981, he rebounded in 1982 and until 1986 Lynn slashed .278/.360/.484 (132 OPS+) averaging 29 home runs and 96 RBIs per 162. In 1979, he led the league with a slash of .333/.423/.637. He had career highs in homers (39) and RBIs (122). Lynn was a nine-time All-Star and won four Gold Gloves.
#198 - Chase Utley - Second Base - 2003-2018
Utley is on the current Hall of Fame ballot. There are arguments on both sides, but there is no doubt that Utley's five-year stretch from 2005-2009 was one of the greatest ever by a second baseman after WWII. During that time, he slashed .301/.388/.535 (135 OPS+) averaging 42 doubles, 31 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases per 162. Utley led the league in runs with 131 in 2006 and led the league three times in HBP. Defensively, he was stellar despite never winning a Gold Glove. Utley led the league in putouts four times and assists twice.
#197 - Fred McGriff - First Base - 1986-2004
McGriff's consistency despite being well-traveled is a testament to him being such a good hitter. He hit 30 home runs 10 times with five different teams including seven years in a row from 1988 to 1994. He led the league in home runs with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989 and the San Diego Padres in 1992 becoming just the second player in the 20th century to do so. McGriff was a five-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022 by the Contemporary Era Committee.
#196 - Willie Randolph - Second Base - 1975-1992
Randolph did just about everything well except hit for power. He had 271 stolen bases, swiping 30 bags four times. He is 58th in walks with 1,243 and led the league with 119 in 1980. He is one of 11 players since WWII with 110 walks and fewer than 50 strikeouts in a season. Defensively, Randolph was excellent. He is third in TZR with 115 behind Bill Mazeroski and Frank White. He also sits 10th in assists at the keystone with 6,336. In the Yankees' franchise history, Randolph ranks fourth in stolen bases with 251 and sixth in walks with 1,005.
#195 - CC Sabathia - Left-Handed Pitcher - 2001-2019
Sabathia finished second in ROY voting in 2001 to Ichiro. He received two All-Star nods in 2003 and 2004. From 2006-2012, he won 122 games with a 3.14 ERA (140 ERA+) averaging 227 innings and 208 strikeouts per year. Sabathia won the CYA in 2007 and finished top 5 four more times. He is one of three left-handers with 3,000 career strikeouts. His run with Milwaukee in 2008 was legendary going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and seven complete games down the stretch. During the Yankees run in 2009, Sabathia went 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA while taking home the ALCS MVP. He will likely make the Hall of Fame this year.
#194 - Joe Medwick - Left Field - 1932-1948
Despite losing his power stroke at the age of 30 (180 of 205 HRs in his 20s), Medwick was a force for a decade. From 1932-1941, he slashed .332/.370/.542 (142 OPS+) averaging 50 doubles, 12 triples, 21 home runs, and 125 RBIs per 162. Medwick led the league in doubles and RBIs for three consecutive years from 1936 to 1938. He was the MVP and won the Triple Crown in 1937 (.374, 31, 154). Medwick's 64 doubles in 1936 still stands as the NL record. From 1933-1939, he had 40 doubles each season. Wade Boggs is the only other player to do that for seven consecutive years. Medwick was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968 by the BBWAA.
#193 - Bill Terry - First Base - 1923-1936
While the AL boasted two of the best ever at first base in Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx in the late 20s to early 30s, the NL had Terry. From 1927-1932, he slashed .355/.404/.551 (145 OPS+) averaging 20 home runs and 124 RBIs per 162. In 1930, Terry batted .401 which is the last time a player batted .400 in the NL. His 254 hits in 1930 are also an NL record (tied with Lefty O'Doul). Terry is one of six players with a .340 batting average and 150 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954 by the BBWAA.
#192 - Larry Doby - Centerfield - 1942-1944, 1946-1959
Before becoming the first player to integrate the AL, Doby was the second baseman on the Newark Eagles and led the Negro League in hits (85), triples (10), and OPS (1.030). He helped them beat the great Kansas City Monarchs to capture the World Series. Doby had eight straight seasons of 20 home runs and led the league twice in 1952 and 1954. He also led the league with 126 RBIs in 1954 and finished second in MVP voting. He was a nine-time All-Star and had seven hits in six games to help the Cleveland Indians capture the World Series in 1948. Doby was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 by the Veteran's Committee.
#191 - Gabby Hartnett - Catcher - 1922-1941
When catching greats are discussed, Hartnett's name rarely gets thrown in the mix. However, he was the first power-hitting catcher and the best in the NL for a long time. In 1925, he became the first catcher to hit 20 home runs and in 1930, he blasted 37 which stood as a record for backstops until 1953. Hartnett was the NL catcher for the first six All-Star games and won the MVP in 1935. He is one of three catchers (min. 1,500 games) with 200 home runs and an .850 OPS (Bill Dickey, Mike Piazza). Hartnett was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1955 by the BBWAA.
#190 - Billy Williams - Left Field - 1959-1976
Williams hit 25 home runs with 86 RBIs in 1961 en route to a ROY award. That season also started a string of 13 straight years with 20 homers and 85 RBIs. From 1964-1972, he slashed .302/.367/.521 (141 OPS+) averaging 32 home runs and 103 RBIs per 162 while walking the same number of times as he struck out (579). From September 22, 1963, to September 2, 1970, Williams played in 1,117 consecutive games which was the NL record until Steve Garvey broke it in 1983. He finished runner-up twice in MVP voting and was a batting champ in 1972. The six-time All-Star was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987 by the BBWAA.
#189 - Mule Suttles - First Base/Left Field - 1924-1944
One of the greatest power hitters of the Negro Leagues, Suttles often hit home runs described as "Ruthian". His offensive prowess was unquestioned and in 1926, he won the Triple Crown (.425-32-130) putting up those numbers in just 89 games. From 1926-1936, Suttles slashed .352/.423/.673 (188 OPS+) averaging 99 extra-base hits (44-17-38), 19 stolen bases, and 176 RBIs per 162. He is one of three players with 150 home runs in the Negro Leagues (Josh Gibson, Turkey Stearnes). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 by the Negro League Committee.
#188 - Joe Sewell - Shortstop/Third Base - 1920-1933
Sewell's aversion to striking out is legendary. His 7.4 walk-to-strikeout rate is by far the best in history (min. 5,000 PA). While he wasn't a home run hitter, in 1932 he hit 11 bombs to just three strikeouts, the only season a player has had double-digit home runs while striking out fewer than five times. Sewell batted .312 with over 1,000 RBIs and was in the top 10 of MVP voting four times. Defensively, he led the league in assists at shortstop four times and fielding percentage three times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977 by the Veteran's Committee.
#187 - Kirby Puckett - Centerfield - 1984-1995
Puckett's catch off of Ron Gant and subsequent home run in Game Six of the 1991 World Series goes down in baseball lore. He led the league in hits four times and batting average once in 1989. He was a 10-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner. Puckett finished in the top 7 of MVP voting seven times including three top 3 finishes. Over his final 10 years in MLB, he slashed .324/.367/.500 (132 OPS+) averaging 40 doubles, 22 home runs, and 106 RBIs per 162. He retired with a .318 batting average which is the highest of any right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951. Puckett was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001 by the BBWAA.
#186 - Kevin Brown - Right-Handed Pitcher - 1986, 1988-2005
Brown was a good pitcher for a long time tossing 3,256.1 innings with a career 3.28 ERA (127 ERA+). During his five-year peak from 1996 to 2000, he was 82-41 with a 2.51 ERA (164 ERA+) averaging 242 innings and 212 strikeouts per year. He finished second in CYA voting in 1996, third in 1998 (he should've won that year), and sixth three other times. Brown led the league twice in ERA, twice in WHIP, and twice in HR/9. He was a six-time All-Star and led the AL in wins (21) and innings (265.2) in 1992.
#185 - Vladimir Guerrero - Right Field/Designated Hitter - 1996-2011
From 1998-2007, Vlad was one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Not just because he couldn't be pitched around, but because he slashed .327/.394/.586 (151 OPS+) averaging 38 home runs and 122 RBIs per 162. In 2002, Guerrero led the league with 206 hits and finished one homer shy of a 40/40 season. He was an eight-time Silver Slugger and nine-time All-Star. He was the AL MVP in 2004 and finished with votes in 11 other seasons. Guerrero was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 by the BBWAA.
#184 - Rube Waddell - Left-Handed Pitcher - 1897, 1899-1910
Waddell was one of the most dominant pitchers of the early 20th century. From 1902-1908, he won 150 games with a 1.96 ERA (144 ERA+) averaging 308 innings and 258 strikeouts per year. He led the league in strikeouts six years in a row and struck out 300 twice. To put that in perspective, during that stretch the league struck out approximately 10 percent of the time while Waddell had a 21.3 percent K rate. He struck out 349 batters in 1904 which stood as the AL record until Nolan Ryan broke it in 1973. He won the pitching Triple Crown in 1905 (27, 1.48, 287). When Waddell retired in 1910, he was third all-time in strikeouts with 2,316. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1946 by the Old Timer's Committee.
#183 - Jim Bunning - Right-Handed Pitcher - 1955-1971
Bunning was a workhorse with excellent control throughout his career. From 1957-1967, he won 184 games with a 3.00 ERA (126 ERA+) averaging 269 innings and 212 strikeouts to just 67 walks per year. He led the league three times in strikeouts and twice in K/BB rate. He was a nine-time All-Star and finished second in CYA voting in 1967 (he should've won). Bunning is one of seven pitchers with 2,500 strikeouts, 1,000 or fewer walks, and a sub-3.30 ERA. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996 by the Veteran's Committee.
#182 - George Sisler - First Base - 1915-1922, 1924-1930
If not for a sinus infection which cost him a whole season and affected his vision, Sisler was a shoo-in for 3,000 hits finishing with 2,812. Before the illness from 1917-1922, he slashed .377/.420/.541 (162 OPS+) averaging 247 hits and 47 stolen bases per 162. He led the league and batted over .400 twice joining Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby as the only players to do it multiple times after 1900. In 1920 Sisler had 257 hits, a mark lasting 84 years. He led the league four times in stolen bases and twice in triples. In 1922 he became just the second player to have 220 hits, 15 triples, 50 steals, and a .350 average. Sisler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939 by the BBWAA.
#181 - Billy Hamilton - Outfield - 1888-1901
Hamilton's 914 stolen bases are third all-time. He stole over 100 four times and led the league five times. With his speed, he was a run-scoring machine. From 1891-1898, Hamilton slashed .364/.474/.461 (151 OPS+) averaging 193 runs and 101 stolen bases per 162. He led the league five times in walks, four times in runs, and twice in average. In 1894, Hamilton had a ridiculous season. In 132 games, he scored 198 runs and stole 100 bases with a .403 average and .521 OBP. Hamilton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961 by the Veteran's Committee.
#180 - Todd Helton - First Base - 1997-2013
Helton was Mr. Rockie as he spent his entire 17-year career in Colorado. From 2000-2005, he was one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. He slashed .344/.449/.626 (158 OPS+) averaging 51 doubles, 36 home runs, and 121 RBIs per 162. In 2000, Helton led the league with a slash of .372/.463/.698, 59 doubles, 216 hits, and 147 RBIs. He had 405 total bases that season and 402 the following year making him only the second NL player to have back-to-back seasons with 400 total bases (Chuck Klein). Helton is one of 11 players with a slash of .300/.400/.500 and 350 home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 by the BBWAA.
#179 - Don Sutton - Right-Handed Pitcher - 1966-1988
Sutton was a workhorse and one of the most consistent pitchers ever. He tossed 200 innings 20 times, more than any pitcher in history. He also struck out 150 batters 14 times, only four pitchers have done it more. From 1971-1982, Sutton won 192 games with a 2.89 ERA (120 ERA+) averaging 243 innings per year. He finished in the top 5 of CYA voting five times and was a four-time All-Star. Sutton led the league in ERA in 1980 and led in WHIP four times. He is one of 10 pitchers with 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. Sutton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 by the BBWAA.
#178 - Nolan Arenado - Third Base - 2013-present
Arenado is one of the best defensive third basemen ever. With 10 Gold Gloves, he led the league in double plays each year from 2015-2022 as well as leading in assists five times and putouts five times. Offensively, he led the league in home runs three times and RBIs twice. During that same stretch, he slashed .291/.353/.553 (129 OPS+) averaging 39 home runs and 122 RBIs. Arenado has been in the top 8 of MVP voting six times and is a six-time Platinum Glove winner. He already has over 1,800 hits and 341 homers. Cooperstown is certainly in his future.
#177 - Lou Boudreau - Shortstop - 1938-1952
Boudreau is another great defensive shortstop that doesn't often get mentioned. He led the league in fielding percentage eight times and double plays five times in the 1940s. Offensively, he led the league in batting in 1944 and doubles three times each with a total of 45. Boudreau was a seven-time All-Star who won the 1948 MVP with career highs in HRs (18), RBIs (106), and average (.355). That season he walked 98 times compared to just nine strikeouts. It was only the second season that a player had a .350 average with 15 home runs and fewer than 10 strikeouts. Boudreau was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970 by the BBWAA.
#176 - Whitey Ford - Left-Handed Pitcher - 1950, 1953-1967
Since 1900 only Clayton Kershaw has a better winning percentage than Ford (min. 300 decisions). He didn't just win because he was a Yankee during their dynasty years, he won because he was a great pitcher. He had a 2.75 ERA in his career (133 ERA+). He led the league twice in ERA and twice in innings pitched. Ford was a 10-time All-Star and won the CYA in 1961 while also taking home the World Series MVP shutting out the Reds for 14 innings. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974 by the BBWAA.
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