Famous Baseball Players
By Loot, MLB Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Babe Ruth: With a fat man’s body situated above pipe-cleaner legs, Ruth was one of the more unusual top athletes to ever play and also one of the best and most unique. The most-fearsome hitter of all-time hit more home runs than a lot of teams back then. He was putting up home run totals that looked like they were from the Juice Era back when home runs leaders used to lead the league with under 10 homers a year. The separation between Ruth and his peers was greater than perhaps any player from a team sport in history.
Not many great hitters can also say they were two-time 20-game winners as pitchers, but Ruth can. A lot of huge celebrity sports luminaries have their stars shine brighter as public figures than as actual athletes, but Ruth was an exception. Saying he was overrated is an argument that is doomed to fail. Sure, he played at a different time, but that wasn’t his fault. When compared to his contemporaries, he’s a man among boys.
Ty Cobb: He won’t win any good-guy awards. He stomped on a handicapped man in the stands for goodness sake. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t perhaps the best pure hitter this game has ever seen. The facts speak for themselves--4191 hits, 12 batting titles, and a .366 career batting average. Oh, and he stole 892 bases, including 54 steals of home. And he scored 2245 runs. The list can go on, but suffice to say that when the identity of the greatest-ever hitter is discussed, Cobb’s name is a necessary part of the conversation.
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Joe DiMaggio: When you’re a good enough baseball to marry Marilyn Monroe, that means you’re big-time. You’re not going to be Enos Slaughter and be pulling that off. DiMaggio was one of the best ever, with a repertoire of skills that can’t all be fathomed by mere numbers. He had incredible range as an outfielder, able to snag just about anything. Year after year, he would hit close to .400, while putting up big power number and RBI totals in the 150-range. DiMaggio occupies a special place among all-time baseball greats. Simply put, he was one of the best to ever play.
Willie Mays: Considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all-time, Mays’ feats still illicit awe many years after he last played. He could do it all. He fielded wonderfully, with a cannon arm that made no play out of range. He could run like a deer and his power-hitting (660 home runs) puts him right up there with the best home run hitters of all-time. The “Say-Hey Kid” led the league at one time or another in runs, hits, triples, home runs, RBI, and batting average. He won the Golden Glove virtually every year during his long prime. He wrapped all these assets into a stylish and classy package. Mays is one of the real gems in baseball history.
Mickey Mantle: The country bumpkin struggled at first in New York City, but when he found his bearings, he became a great player and one of the more-treasured players in Yankees history. For younger fans. it’s hard to remember, but Mantle was one of the fastest players to grace a baseball diamond, before injuries slowed him down. A fantastic hitter, Mantle emerged from the shadows of DiMaggio to forge one of the strongest legacies in MLB history. For many people, Mantle occupies a very special place in their hearts, attesting to his innate ability to make meaningful connections with people.
Hank Aaron: While not as charismatic as other stars in the game, Arron was perhaps the most consistent. His outfielding earned him multiple Golden Glove awards. But it was as a hitter that he will be remembered. His home run totals have been dubiously eclipsed, but as time passes, Aaron will likely remain the all-time home run king in the hearts of the people. His 755 home runs remains one of the more identifiable records in the sport. Year after year, it would play out the same way, as Aaron put up 40 home runs and provided immense run production. His 2297 RBI remains the gold standard all these years later. “Hammerin’ Hank” was one of the best ever.
Related: Famous Pitchers and Famous Major League Baseball Managers.
