The Top Ten List: The Top Ten Baseball Positions

By Will-He-M


Well that just about concludes my examination of the best baseball players in history. The only thing left to do now is to compile them all into a Field of Dreams-style All-Star Series.

Imagine someone had built it ... and they had come ... come to play a five-game series that pitted the best players of all time against each other in a National League versus American League format, with the AL serving as hosts.

I'll use the following Top Ten Lists to collect the best possible teams of 25 players, and then fill out the line-up cards.

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1. Starting Pitchers
2. Catchers
3. First Basemen
4. Second Basemen
5. Third Basemen
6. Shortstops
7. Left Fielders
8. Center Fielders
9. Right Fielders
10. Relief Pitchers

Honourable mentions go out to the following lists, that missed the Top Ten due to not having their own assigned number:

Designated Hitters
Pinch Hitters
Utility Men
Managers


Thanks to everyone for following along. I had so much fun assembling these lists that I think I'll produce a few more before baseball season ends.

I have already produced a list of our fantasy league's Top Ten Draft Day Sleepers, as well as a trio of Lists detailing MLB's biggest Draft Busts, and a List of the Top Ten Rule 5 Selections. I'll think of a few more before football season gets underway, but then it'll be a solid month (or less) of football-related Lists before hockey season starts.

So drawing from my previous Lists, I present to you my All-Time All-Stars:

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National League


CF Willie Mays
SS Honus Wagner
LF Barry Bonds
RF Hank Aaron
3B Mike Schmidt
DH Duke Snider
C Johnny Bench
1B Cap Anson
2B Rogers Hornsby

Starting Rotation

1. Cy Young
2. Randy Johnson
3. Greg Maddux
4. Steve Carlton
5. Warren Spahn

Bullpen
CL Trevor Hoffman
SU Robb Nen
RP Billy Wagner
RP Rod Beck
RP Lee Smith

Dugout
Util Pete Rose
RF Roberto Clemente
2B Jackie Robinson
LF Lou Brock
C Roy Campanella
PH Lenny Harris

Manager: Joe Torre
Bench Coach: Sparky Anderson
Bullpen Coach: Bobby Cox
1B Coach: Walter Alston
3B Coach: John McGraw

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American League


CF Ty Cobb
LF Ted Williams
RF Babe Ruth
1B Lou Gehrig
DH Edgar Martinez
C Yogi Berra
3B Brooks Robinson
2B Nap Lajoie
SS Derek Jeter

Starting Rotation

1. Nolan Ryan
2. Walter Johnson
3. Roger Clemens
4. Bob Feller
5. Pedro Martinez

Bullpen
CL Mariano Rivera
SU Dennis Eckersley
RP Tom Henke
RP Francisco Rodriguez
RP John Wetteland

Dugout
1B Jimmy Foxx
3B George Brett
CF Ken Griffey Jr.
LF Rickey Henderson
C Ivan Rodriguez
2B Roberto Alomar

Manager: Joe McCarthy
Bench Coach: Tony La Russa
Bullpen Coach: Cito Gaston
1B Coach: Casey Stengel
3B Coach: Earl Weaver

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The Top Ten List: The Top Ten Relief Pitchers

By Will-He-M


My criteria for selecting the best relief pitchers included that he:

- must be dominant; not just consistent; and have the numbers to support that claim
- not necessarily possess the longevity demanded at other positions

Since Closers are a relatively new position, having only been around for 50 years in a game that's been around for 160, it's fairly simple to select the Top Ten of all time. It makes it easy to look deeper than just the Top Ten Saves leaders. ;-)

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10. John Wetteland (Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers 1989-2000)
618 GP, 48-45, 2.93 ERA, 330 SVS, 393 SVOPP, 84% SV5, 765.0 IP, 252 BB, 804 K

TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1996)
American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1996)
World Series MVP (1996)
World Series Champion (1996)
3x All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999)

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9. Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez (Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets 2002-present)
456 GP, 25-19, 2.35 ERA, 232 SVS, 269 SVOPP, 86% SV5, 500.2 IP, 225 BB, 637 K

Holds MLB record for Saves in a season with 62 (2008)
2x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (2006, 2008)
2x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (2006, 2008)
World Series Champion (2002)
4x All-Star (2004, 2007-2009)
2x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (August 2006, June 2008)

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8. Lee Smith (Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos 1980-1997)
1022 GP, 71-92, 3.03 ERA, 478 SVS, 581 SVOPP, 82% SV%, 1289.1 IP, 486 BB, 1251 K

3x TSN National League Reliever of the Year (1983, 1991, 1992)
TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1994)
2x National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1991, 1992)
American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1994)
7x All-Star (1983, 1987, 1991-1995)

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7. Rod "Shooter" Beck (San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres 1991-2004)
704 GP, 38-45, 3.30 ERA, 286 SVS, 341 SVOPP, 84% SV%, 768.0 IP, 191 BB, 644 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1994)
3x All-Star (1993, 1994, 1997)

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6. Tom "The Terminator" Henke (Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals 1982-1995)

647 GP, 41-42, 2.67 ERA, 311 SVS, 366 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 789.2 IP, 255 BB, 861 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1995)
World Series Champion (1992)
2x All-Star (1987, 1995)

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5. William "Billy The Kid" Wagner (Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets 1995-present)
765 GP, 39-37, 2.40 ERA, 385 SVS, 447 SVOPP, 86% SV%, 818.0 IP, 270 BB, 1066 K

National League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1999)
6x All-Star (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
DHL Delivery Man of the Month (June 2007)

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4. Robert "Robb" Nen (Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants 1993-2002)
643 GP, 45-42, 2.98 ERA, 314 SVS, 368 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 715.0 IP, 260 BB, 793 K

TSN National League Reliever of the Year (2001)
World Series Champion (1997)
3x All-Star (1998, 1999, 2002)

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3. Dennis "Eck" Eckersley (Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals 1975-1998)
1071 GP, 197-171, 3.50 ERA, 390 SVS, 461 SVOPP, 85% SV%, 3285.2 IP, 738 BB, 2401 K

American League MVP (1992)
American League Cy Young Award winner (1992)
TSN American League Pitcher of the Year (1992)
3x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1988, 1991, 1992)
2x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (1988, 1992)
ALCS MVP (1988)
World Series Champion (1989)
6x All-Star (1977, 1982, 1988, 1990-1992)
Hall of Fame (2004)

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2. Trevor Hoffman (Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers 1993-present)
963 GP, 57-67, 2.75 ERA, 578 Saves*, 648 SVOPP, 89% SV%, 1020.0 IP, 284 K, 1080 K

Holds MLB record for career Saves (578)
3x TSN National League Reliever of the Year (1996, 1998, 2006)
2x National League Rolaids Relif Man of the Year (1998, 2006)
7x All-Star (1998-2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009)
4x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (May 2005, September 2006, May 2007, May 2009)

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1. Mariano "The Sandman" Rivera (New York Yankees 1995-present)
895 GP, 69-51, 2.27 ERA, 512 SVS, 574 SVOPP, 89% SV%, 1068.1 IP, 250 BB, 984 K

5x TSN American League Reliever of the Year (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
4x American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award winner (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)
World Series MVP (1999)
Babe Ruth Award (1999)
ALCS MVP (2003)
4x World Series Champion (1996, 1998-2000)
10x All-Star (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2008, 2009)
2x DHL Delivery Man of the Month (April 2008, July 2009)

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That was the twelfth list in the series. To see the other installments, click here:

Catchers
First Basemen
Second Basemen
Third Basemen
Shortstops
Left Fielders
Center Fielders
Right Fielders
Designated Hitters
Utility Men
Pinch Hitters

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