40. Roger Maris
Many of the athletes on this list have set impressive sports records, and Roger Maris is another one to add to the group. In 1961, he impressed baseball fans across the globe when he set a new record for the most home runs in a single season - and he landed a whopping 61 home runs that year. Considering he retired with 275 home runs under his belt, that single year was incredible.
He also retired with a slugging percentage of .476, a batting average of .260, and 850 runs batted in. Because of this, he's still considered to be one of the best baseball players of all time.
39. Ernie Banks
Often called "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", fans loved Ernie Banks for his smile, his positive attitude, and the fact that he was a machine on the baseball field. He showed his talent as both a shortstop and a first baseman, and he remained dedicated to the Chicago Cubs throughout the entirety of his career. During that time, he racked up an impressive slugging percentage of .500 and a batting average of .274.
Although Ernie eventually retired from playing the sport in 1971, it wasn't long before he made his way back to the Cubs. In fact, he stayed on as the team's coach and was the first member of the Cubs to ever have his player number retired.
38. Richie Allen
Fans of the Phillies will know exactly who Richie "Dick" Allen is. This guy played for the Phillies for the majority of his career before heading to the Cardinals and then finishing at the Athletics. During this time, he amassed a slugging percentage of .534 - making him one of the MLB's top sluggers of the 1960s and 70s. For this reason, many fans can't believe that he hasn't been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame yet.
After all, he impressed fans with his other stats, too. He had a batting average of .292, nailed 351 home runs, and batted in 1,119 runs. So, he definitely deserves that Hall of Fame spot.
37. Greg Luzinski
When baseball fans first set eyes on Greg Luzinski, they weren't impressed. Much larger and stockier than other players in the Major League, he stuck out like a sore thumb - but the heavyweight player soon proved his worth on the field. He was quickly nicknamed "the Bull", and spent ten whole years showcasing his talents for the Philadelphia Phillies before transferring to the Chicago White Sox for his last four seasons.
With a slugging percentage of .478, Luzinski was a feared slugger who also had a batting average of .276 and retired with 307 home runs and 1,128 runs batted in.
36. Ted Kluszewski
From the 1940s until the early 1960s, Ted Kluszewski was one of the best players in Major League Baseball. He spent 11 out of 15 seasons playing with the Cincinnati Reds, and made a name for himself as one of the biggest hitters - largely thanks to his infamous arm muscles. As you can imagine, he also retired with some impressive stats under his belt, and upon retirement, he also had the sixth-best slugging percentage in Reds history.
During his time on the field, he also batted an average of .298 and hit a whopping 279 home runs. Thanks to his talent and his dedication to his team, he was also inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1962.
35. Chuck Klein
While most people know him as Chuck Klein, others remember him as the "Hoosier Hammer" - and he was certainly one of the best hitters in the game. Sure, this outfielder was all about the defensive, but there's no doubt about the fact that he could turn offensive as soon as he picked up the bat. And he put these talents to the test for numerous clubs, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs.
Although his slugging percentage of .534 is something to be proud of, Chuck also made waves when he became only the fourth player in history to hit four home runs in a single game.
34. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench will forever go down in history as one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball history. But while Bench showed off his talents as a catcher, he also won fans over with his hitting and outfielding skills. He could do anything he turned his attention to, and that's one of the main reasons why he became one of the Cincinnati Reds' greatest players. In fact, he even held the record for the most home runs hit by a catcher when he retired in 1983.
With a batting average of .267, 389 home runs, and 2,048 hits under his belt, it should probably come as no surprise to learn that Bench also won countless awards and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
33. Boog Powell
When it comes to hitters, nobody has done it quite like John "Boog" Powell. This first baseman and left fielder was the kind of athlete who could excel in any position and on any day, and this allowed him to become a driving force for teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and LA Dodgers. And while he played for the Orioles, he led his team to victory to win two World Series championships. His personal stats were impressive too.
Over the course of his career, Boog totaled up a .462 slugging percentage, .266 batting average, 339 home runs, and 1187 RBIs. So, you could say that he was a pretty big deal.
32. Jim Rice
Many players who started their career with the Boston Red Sox stayed loyal to their team, and that's exactly what Jim Rice did. He spent his whole 16-year professional career playing for the reds - and it's fair to say that he made an impression. In 1987, he even stole the show as the first MLB player in almost two decades to hit 400 bases. Not only that, but he also racked up a slugging percentage of .502.
Although it was a sad day when Rice retired, he retired with impressive numbers under his belt - including a batting average of .298 and 382 home runs. So, he could retire a proud man.
31. George Foster
All of the athletes on this list have impressive slugging percentages under their belt, but you might already know that George Foster was one of the most impressive sluggers of his era. This right-handed slugger was a force to be reckoned with, with many competitors struggling to keep up with him. And he used this talent to his advantage when playing for the Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox.
By the time he retired in 1986, George Foster's stats were hard to beat. He had a batting average of .274, hit 348 home runs, and totaled 1,239 runs batted in.
30. Dave Winfield
Did you watch the 1992 World Series? Well, you'll probably remember Dave Winfield. He was the man behind the winning hit between the Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves - which is why it was such a surprise when he decided to retire just three seasons later. But Dave had achieved a huge amount over the course of his 22-year baseball career. He even secured 465 home runs and an average .475 slugging percentage.
But Dave didn't leave the world of baseball behind when he retired. Although he's now in his 70s, Dave still works within the sport as the special assistant to the executive director of the MLB.
29. Eddie Murray
Baltimore Orioles supporters will already know that Eddie Murray is a team (and sporting) legend. This former professional athlete moved clubs quite a few times over the course of his career, but he kept heading back to his home in Baltimore - and this is where his talent really shone. In fact, he still remains the fourth-best player in the team's history in terms of the number of games played and his hits. Plus, he retired with a slugging percentage of .476.
Not only that, but Murray is also one of just seven players in history to reach 3,000 hits and 500 homes at the same time, which definitely puts him in the league of legends.
28. Andre Dawson
Nicknamed "Awesome Dawson", Andre Dawson was definitely one of the most popular baseball players that the MLB has ever seen. This outfielder made huge waves across his 21-season career, spending the majority of his time with the Chicago Cubs and the Montreal Expos. During that time, he made history as one of only eight professional baseballers to have over 300 home runs and over 300 stolen bases to his name.
With a batting average of .279 and a 2,774 hits under his belt, Dawson eventually called it quits in 1996 when a series of knee injuries and surgeries forced him to step away from the field.
27. Carl Yastrzemski
Fans of the Boston Red Sox will definitely know who Carl Yastrzemski is. This baseball player stayed with the Red Sox for the entirety of his Major League Baseball career - but while he stuck with the same team, it's fair to say that he didn't stick with the same position. Although he was a talented left fielder, he also stole the show as a third baseman, first baseman, and designated hitter. As a result, he built up a slugging percentage of .462.
He retired with some other impressive accolades and achievements under his belt, too. Most notably, he was an 18-time All-Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. Plus, he landed 452 home runs.
26. Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy was the kind of Major League Baseball player who could turn his talent into anything. Sometimes he would play as an outfielder, other times he would play as a catcher, and sometimes he'd even be a first baseman. Perhaps his biggest claim to fame, however, is the fact that he won the Silver Slugger Award every single year between 1982 and 1985. As if that wasn't enough, he also won the Gold Glove Award from 1982 to 1986.
But what about his stats? Well, Dale ended his career with an impressive batting average of .265, a slugging percentage of .469, 398 home runs, and 1,266 runs batted in.
25. Fred McGriff
From the 1980s to the early 2000s, Fred McGriff was the man. He spent a fair portion of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays but also played for the likes of the Devil Rays, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The first basemen was celebrated for being a powerful hitter, and he hit 493 home runs throughout his tenure. In fact, he became the first player in decades to dominate both the American League and the National League in home runs.
Because of this, it might not surprise you to learn that McGriff was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award every single year between 1989 and 1994. And with a .509 slugging percentage, it makes total sense.
24. Ken Griffey Jr.
Baseball talent obviously runs in the family, as both Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. have made their mark on the MLB - and at the same time, no less. But while Ken Griffey Sr. was known for his defensive skills, there's no doubt about the fact that Ken Griffey Jr. was all about that offensive. Considered to be one of the most prolific hitters of all time, he racked up a whopping 630 home runs over the course of his 22 seasons.
The 13-time All-Star mostly made his mark with the Cincinnati Reds and the Seattle Mariners, and his offensive ability even broke records. In fact, both he, Don Mattingly, and Dale Long share the record for the most consecutive games with a home run.
23. Alex Rodriguez
Whether you know him as Alex Rodriguez or "A-Rod," this guy is pretty famous. Not only is he considered to be one of the best baseball players of all time, but he also made a name for himself in popular culture thanks to his marriage to Jennifer Lopez. Because of this, he's got a pretty impressive net worth to his name. In terms of his baseball, though, Alex Rodriguez has also got some impressive numbers under his belt.
Known for his hitting talent, Alex managed to bag 696 home runs over the course of his career, and he retired with an average slugger percentage of .5502. Because of this, he's a ten-time Silver Slugger Awards winner.
22. Frank Thomas
Most baseball players are given a nickname, and Frank Thomas will forever be known as "The Big Hurt." The designated hitter and first baseman played for many teams over the years, but he made the biggest impression with the Chicago White Sox. And it's safe to say that this sports star was a huge asset to the team thanks to his impressive .5549 slugging average and his .301 batting average.
That's not all, though. Frank also hit 521 home runs over the course of his career and won the Silver Slugger Award four times. In 2014, he was finally honored with an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
21. Mickey Mantle
No matter which team you support, you probably don't need us to tell you that the New York Yankees are one of the biggest teams in Major League Baseball. Because of this, many up-and-coming athletes dream of playing for them - and Mickey Mantle had the pleasure of playing for them for the entirety of his career. By the end of this career, he had racked up a slugging percentage of .5568.
As if that wasn't enough, the center fielder also had a batting average of .298 and he hit a whopping 536 home runs during his time on the field. After retirement, the switch hitter then made his way into the commentary box instead.
20. Juan Gonzalez
Puerto Rican athlete Juan Gonzalez first made his MLB debut in 1989 for the Texas Rangers, and for the next 16 seasons, he flitted between the Rangers to the Detroit Tigers, the Cleveland Indians, and the Kansas City Royals. But it was during this time that he also acquired his impressive statistics, which included a slugging percentage of .5607, 434 home runs, a .295 batting average, and 1,404 runs batted in.
With all this in mind, it should probably come as no surprise to learn that he was also a three-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger award winner and that he was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.
19. Johnny Mize
Like many of the other MLB athletes on this list, Johnny Mize had to take a break in his baseball career to take part in military service - but that didn't affect his position within the sport. Often called "Big Jawn" or "the Big Cat", this baseball player ended his career with a .5620 slugging percentage, a .312 batting average, and a whopping 359 home runs under his belt. Plus, he was a 10-time baseball All-Star player.
During this impressive career, Johnny played for the New York Giants, the Yankees, and the St. Louis Cardinals. And in 1981, his efforts paid off when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
18. Albert Belle
This outfielder, often known as Joey Belle, certainly made an impression on the baseball field. Although those who knew him were able to see his humor and loving personality, his fans only saw him as the stern, intimidating player on the field. However, this seemed to work in his favor as Albert Belle broke numerous records over the course of his career - especially with the Cleveland Indians. He even became the first person in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles in a single season.
He ended his impressive career with a .5638 slugging percentage, but he also had the pleasure of retiring with nine consecutive seasons with RBIs over 100 - and that's definitely something to be proud of.
17. Larry Walker
Hailing from Canada, Larry Walker became a major figure within the MLB. He took his talents to teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, the Montreal Expos, and even the Colorado Rockies - and it's fair to say that he made his mark. His overall slugging percentage came in at .565 at the time of his retirement, but there was one year when he became the first and only baseball player to grab a .700 slugging percentage and 30 stolen bases in the same year. Because of this, everyone wanted a piece of him.
If you're not impressed just yet, however, you might be when you learn that Larry also bagged a .313 batting average and 383 home runs over the course of his Major League Baseball career. Today, he coaches the Canadian national team.
16. Mike Trout
Although every other athlete on this list has retired, Mike Trout takes the cake as the only athlete on this list to still be playing Major League Baseball. Not only that, but he's also still playing with the team he debuted with in 2011 - the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. During his career, Mike has impressed fans with his dedication and his talent, and his .587 slugging percentage might even change the more his career progresses.
After all, Mike won't be going anywhere anytime soon. In 2019, he broke records when he signed the fourth-richest contract in the history of North American Sports, a 12-year contract with the Angels for $426 million.
15. Joe DiMaggio
Some baseball players slip under the radar and only remain famous in the sporting world, but Joe DiMaggio wasn't one of those baseball players. He became a major figure in popular culture, largely due to his marriage to Marilyn Monroe - but that didn't take away the fact that he was also a very talented athlete. The "Yankee Clipper" spent his whole 13-season career with the New York Yankees, and during that time he obtained a slugging percentage of .5788.
Over the course of his career, he also made a name for himself thanks to his 56-game streak (a record which still stands today), his home run record of 361, and his constant All-Star status.
14. Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez is a Dominican-American athlete who will forever be remembered as one of the best Major League Baseball players of all time. Having played for the Dodgers, White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and more, there's no doubt about the fact that he's moved around a lot - but that's because he was in high demand. He's considered to be one of the best (and strongest) batters in history, and he hit a whopping 555 home runs before he retired.
As if that wasn't enough, he's also a nine-time Silver Slugger winner and 12-time All-Star, so it's fair to say that he has some impressive accolades under his belt. It's just a shame he retired in 2011.
13. Mark McGwire
Although many fans have struggled to come to terms with Mark McGwire's involvement in the infamous steroids scandal, there's no doubt about the fact that his statistics stack up. Over the course of his impressive career, this athlete brought a huge amount of talent to the Major League Baseball stage and helped to take Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals to new heights. In fact, he had hit a whopping 583 home runs by the time he had retired.
With a slugging percentage of .5882, he's not as high as some of the other baseball players on this list, but his home run numbers make up for it. He even holds the record for the most home runs in a rookie year.
12. Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds definitely made his mark as a talented left fielder. He used his talents to help the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants to victory, but there's no doubt about the fact that he also won his own personal achievements. In fact, he holds countless Major League Baseball records - including the most home runs in one season and the most home runs across a whole career (which stands at 763).
With a slugging percentage of .6069 and a batting average of .298, Barry Bonds certainly ended his career on a high. But many fans also know him for his stolen bases, which stood at 514 when he retired.
11. Hank Greenberg
Over the course of his career, Hank Greenberg adopted the nicknames "Hammerin' Hank", "Hankus Pankus", and "the Hebrew Hammer" - and there was good reason for this. For starters, Hank became the first Jewish sports star to play for the MLB, and he also became the first Jewish sports star to refuse opportunities and refuse to play in certain games because they went against his faith. This didn't affect his impressive stats, however.
By the time Hank retired in 1947, he had racked up a slugging percentage of .6050, a batting average of .313, and 331 home runs. He was also a two-time winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
10. Jimmie Foxx
Whether you knew him as Jimmie Fox, 'Double X", or "the Beast," it's fair to say that this athlete is considered to be one of the best baseball players in history. Playing for major teams like the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs over the course of his impressive career, Jimmie achieved a .6093 slugging average that puts him in the realm of baseball legends. And that's before we look at his other stats.
One of Jimmie's major claims to fame is that he held the record as the youngest Major League Baseball player to hit 500 home runs for a whopping 67 years, and he hit an impressive 534 home runs in total.
9. Lou Gehrig
A New York legend, Lou Gehrig spent his entire career playing for the New York Yankees - and it's fair to say that the first basemen helped the team become as famous as it is today. After all, his numbers are pretty impressive. By the time he retired in 1939, he had a .632 slugging average under his belt, with a batting average of .340 and a .447 on-base average. As if that wasn't enough, he also hit 493 home runs over the course of his career.
Lou Gehrig's impact on baseball and sports as a whole was so impressive that he even became the very first Major League baseball player to have his uniform number retired by a sports team.
8. Pete Rose
In the grand scheme of things, Pete Rose's slugging percentage wasn't as impressive as most of the other Major League Baseball players on this list. In fact, his slugging percentage was just .375 - but he excelled elsewhere on the pitch. This switch hitter is instead famous for hitting more than most of the other athletes on this list. Over the course of his career, he put an impressive 4,256 hits under his belt.
Thanks to this, he won three World Series and won countless awards on his own merit. Because of this, it seemed only natural that he would then switch to being a manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
7. Albert Pujols
It was a sad day when Dominican-American baseball player Albert Pujols decided to retire in 2022. After all, fans could see that he was still going strong - and he was still maintaining his status as one of the best hitters that Major League Baseball has ever seen. Over the course of his career, Albert was given the nickname "the Machine," thanks to his impressive batting skills. All in all, he hit just over 700 home runs.
This six-time Silver Slugger winner also retired with some other status under his belt, including a .296 batting average, 3,384 hits, and 2,218 runs batted in. He will always be a St. Louis Cardinals legend.
6. Willie Mays
In 1950, Willie Mays' life changed forever when he was signed to the New York Giants straight out of high school. He stayed with his beloved team until his final season when he said goodbye to Major League Baseball with the New York Mets. During this time, he certainly made his mark on the sporting world. This particular athlete reined supreme as a center fielder, achieving a slugging percentage of .5575 by the time he retired.
As if that wasn't enough, Willie is only the second person in history to become a 24-time All-Star, and he ended his career with an impressive batting average of .302. And the world won't forget that.
5. Stan Musial
Anyone familiar with Stan Musial will know exactly why he was called "Stan the Man." This pro baseball player had a huge career within the MLB, specifically with the St. Louis Cardinals, for a whopping 22 seasons. During this time, he flitted between serving as an outfielder and first baseman and ultimately retired with a slugging percentage of .5591, which puts him into the realm of Major League Baseball legends.
Stan also boasted a whopping 475 career home runs and 3.630 career hits. In fact, he held the record for the total number of bases until his 6,134 total was eventually overtaken by Hank Aaron.
4. Hank Aaron
Although some of the baseball players on this list served impressive seasons with their teams, none have been quite as impressive as Hank Aaron. This Major League Baseball player played a whopping 23 seasons of pro baseball - all of them with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. During this time, he made a name for himself as one of the most talented athletes in the game, bagging a slugging percentage of .5545. But his talent didn't end there.
By the time he retired in 1976, he had racked up a .305 batting average, 755 home runs, and 3,771 hits to boot. In fact, at one point he even held the MLB record for career home runs.
3. Rogers Hornsby
While some of the baseball players on this list stuck with the same baseball team for their entire careers, Rogers Hornsby was a little different. Over the course of his Major League Baseball experience, he played for the New York Giants, St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and more. He was even a two-time World Series player, too. And it was this experience that allowed him to work up a .5765 sugging average.
Over his 23 seasons in Major League Baseball, he also had a .358 batting average and hit 301 home runs. So, it's no surprise that he's still one of the most famous baseball players of all time.
2. Ted Williams
Fans of the Boston Red Sox will definitely be familiar with Ted Williams. After all, he played with this team for the entirety of his almost two-decade career. In fact, this left fielder only took a break from his life in Boston to fight during World War II and the Korean War - and even then, it didn't affect his game. To this day, Williams still holds the record as the last Major League Baseball player to hit over .400 in a single season. Plus, he also holds the record for the highest on-base percentage ever.
His achievements don't stop there, though. With a slugging percentage of .6338, he's considered to be the second-greatest baseball hitter the world has ever seen - with only Babe Ruth standing in his way.
1. Babe Ruth
Even those who aren't familiar with Babe Ruth are familiar with Babe Ruth. Often called "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", Babe made a name for himself as one of the most impressive hitters of all time over the course of his career. He is still one of just six baseball players to have amassed a slugging percentage over .600, and his .6897 percentage is something up-and-coming Major League baseball players aspire to beat.
Although his personal reputation left a lot to be desired, his performances on the baseball field were hard to ignore. Upon his retirement in 1935, he had become a 12-time American League home run leader, and he'd helped his team win the World Series seven times.