The term “best” and “greatest” are often confused within sport. We see this debate constantly when people discuss the GOAT in basketball and football. Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, but is Patrick Mahomes the best we’ve ever seen? On this section of the list we will see a player that some may consider to be one of the best to ever play the game. Players 80-71 have a combined 7 MVP awards between them.
Let’s jump into it with a refresher on players 90-81.
90. ROBINSON CANO
89. ANDRE DAWSON
88. JACKIE ROBINSON
87. JOEY VOTTO
86. JIM THOME
85. CARLOS BELTRAN
84. ROBERTO ALOMAR
83. ROBIN YOUNT
82. TOM GLAVINE
81. PHIL NIEKRO
80. SANDY KOUFAX
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 22
ESPN’s Rank: 32
JAWS SP Rank: 96
If you were to have a conversation about the best pitchers of all time, this man is in the inner circle of that conversation. Unfortunately, Koufax had to retire after only 12 seasons due to severe arthritis in his left elbow, but wow did he go out on top. In his last 4 seasons (1963-1966), Koufax won 3 Cy Young Awards and an MVP, going 97-27. He struck out over 1200 batters to the tune of a 1.86 ERA with over 1192.2 innings pitched during that stretch. Koufax has the only two seasons in MLB history with an ERA less than 2.00 with 300+ innings and 300+ strikeouts. This stretch is perhaps the best in baseball history by any pitcher at any time. In his short career, he won 3 pitching triple crowns and 4 World Series. There’s no telling how high he’d be on the list if he had been able to continue his career for another 5-10 years. ESPN’s rank of 32 is understandable because of how unbelievably good Koufax was but unfortunately, this is the list of the 100 GREATEST players in MLB history, which lands him here at #80.
79. CARL HUBBELL
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 21
ESPN’s Rank: N/A
JAWS SP Rank: 38
Carl Hubbell pitched in the age before the Cy Young award but was so dominant on the mound that he was able to earn 2 MVP awards. Nicknamed “King Carl” and “The Meal Ticket”, Hubbell thrived on the mound during one of baseball’s most prolific offensive era’s. At one point between 1936 and ‘37, Hubbell won 24 consecutive games on the mound. During the ‘34 All Star game, Hubbell struck out 5 future Hall of Famers in a row (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Joe Cronin); all players who found their way onto this list. In ‘36, Hubbell became the first ever unanimous MVP in National League History.
78. FERGIE JENKINS
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 20
ESPN’s Rank: N/A
JAWS SP Rank: 24
Jenkins was best remembered for his tenure with the Cubs in which he won 20 games in 6 straight seasons from 1967-1972. He won his lone Cy Young award in ‘71 and notched second place finishes in ‘67 and ‘74. Jenkins was dominant due to his ability to limit walks whilst also striking hitters out. He was the first pitcher in baseball history to end his career with over 3000 strikeouts and less than 1000 walks. He led the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio five times en route to his induction to the Hall of Fame in 1991.
77. AL SIMMONS
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 7
ESPN’s Rank: N/A
JAWS LF Rank: 7
Perhaps a player that casual baseball fans are unaware of. Al Simmons is one of the greatest left fielders in baseball history. During his career, he notched 11 consecutive seasons of a .300+ batting average and 100+ RBIs. Best known for his strange batting stance in which he strived toward third base, Simmons finished his 20 year career with a .334 batting average, 2927 hits and over 300 home runs. Simmons holds the record for multi-hit games in a single season at 85 and most hits in a single season by a right handed hitter at 253. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1953.
76. DUKE SNIDER
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 8
ESPN’s Rank: 95
JAWS CF Rank: 8
In the era where New York baseball had three teams, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays represented the Yankees and Giants, and Brooklyn baseball was led by Duke Snider. Snider was one of the best players of his generation, leading baseball in home runs and RBIs during the 1950’s. Perhaps the greatest Brooklyn Dodger of all time, Snyder hit the last home run at Ebbets Field before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. He hit 40 home runs in 5 consecutive seasons between 1953 and 1957, becoming only the third player to do so at the time. Snyder was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.
75. PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT
Hall of Fame: N/A (active)
Positional Rank: T-8
ESPN’s Rank: N/A
JAWS 1B Rank: 17
A model of consistency throughout his career, Goldschmidt has not had a season so far in his career that finished with an OPS lower than .800 (he will likely not have an .800 OPS this season). In 14 years, Goldschmidt has reached 2000 hits and over 350 home runs. His MVP win in the ‘22 season helped to cement his place as one of the best players of his generation. A high quality defender at first base, Goldschmidt has been awarded with 4 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Sluggers. Health permitting, Goldschmidt may have the opportunity to crack the 500 HomeRun club in the later years of his career.
74. MIKE PIAZZA
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: T-2
ESPN’s Rank: 81
JAWS C Rank: 5
Regarded as perhaps the greatest offensive catcher of all time, Piazza smashed his way into 10 Silver Sluggers and the Hall of Fame. Piazza is the all time leader in oWAR as a catcher, as well as in home runs, and he is second in SLG and OPS, only behind Josh Gibson. Piazza finished second in the MVP voting in back to back years in ‘96 and ‘97. Piazza became a New York icon with his go ahead home run against the Braves in the Mets return to baseball following the 9/11 attacks. That home run is not only one of the most iconic moments in baseball history, but in all professional sports.
73. JOHNNY MIZE
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: T-8
ESPN’s Rank: N/A
JAWS 1B Rank: 9
A 10 time All Star and a Hall of Famer, it sounds strange to say that Mize’s career could’ve been even better than this. Mize missed three seasons of his prime between 1943-1945 due to military service. Mize ranks 5th all time in WAR7 by a first baseman, proving that his prime was one of the greatest of all time. Mize is the only player in MLB history to have a season with 50 home runs while striking out less than 50 times. His rate stats are some of the most exceptional ever at his position and, had he had those 3 extra seasons in his prime, Mize could be in an entirely different conversation when it comes to baseball’s all time greats.
72. BARRY LARKIN
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: T-4
ESPN’s Rank: 100
JAWS SS Rank: 12
Somehow, Barry Larkin finished 12th in the NL MVP voting in 1996 in a season where he hit 30+ doubles, 30+ home runs, stole 30+ bases and had a .977 OPS. But, he won MVP the year before with 3 less doubles, 18 less home runs, 15 more stolen bases and an .886 OPS. That’s 90’s baseball for ya! Granted he played 20 less games in 1995 but you get the point. Larkin is one of the most well rounded shortstop’s of all time, winning 9 Silver Sluggers and 3 Gold Gloves. Larkin had 7 seasons with an OPS+ over 130 during his 19 year career and cemented himself with his Hall of Fame induction in 2012.
71. HANK GREENBERG
Hall of Fame: YES
Positional Rank: 7
ESPN’s Rank: 79
JAWS 1B Rank: 19
Like Johnny Mize, Greenberg missed more than 3 full seasons of his career due to military service. Greenberg’s baseball reference says he played 13 seasons but, by games played, it's really more like 9.5. In Greenberg’s case, they are 9.5 of the most dominant offensive seasons in baseball history. Greenberg’s career OPS is over 1.000, and at one time or another, he led the AL in runs, doubles, home runs, RBI’s, walks, SLG, OPS, and Total Bases. He drove in 184 runs in 1937, which is the third most ever in a single season. Despite his short career, Greenberg was so dominant that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.
