Creating a list of the Top 10 greatest Baseball players of all time is not an easy task but it is worth mentioning some Baseball heroes still.
A vendor pulls a cart loaded with various rattan chairs for sale on a street in Shanghai.ReutersBarry Bonds (1986-2007) became a legend when he hit his 71st home run which broke Mark McGwire’s single season record. He ended his career with 762 home runs and a batting average of .298. Bonds has a record-setting seven MVP awards, including four consecutive MVPs. He is a 14-time All-Star and 8-time Gold Glove-winner.REUTERS/Stephen LamJoe DiMaggio (1936-1951) was named the "Greatest Living Player" in the game at Baseball’s Centennial Celebration in 1969. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 was unbeaten during his dominance. He had a batting average of .325 with 321 homers. The Yankee won three AL MVP awards. Fans consider the Yankee Clipper’s 56-game hitting streak will probably never be broken. During the 1941 season, the Centerfielder led the American League with 30 homers, 43 doubles, 11 triplets and 125 RBIs, and he only struck just 13 times that year. DiMaggio, however, was denied the batting title that year by Ted Williams who had an even better performance that season.REUTERS/Ho NewWillie Mays (1951-1973) will perhaps be always known for his over-the-shoulder catch which robbed Vic Wertz of Cleveland Indians of an extra base hit in the first game of the 1954 World Series. Mays was selected 24 times for the All-Star Game. The Centerfielder won 12 Gold Gloves and was a two-time NL MVP with 660 home runs in his career. He was once considered a threat to Babe Ruth’s 714 dingers. Mays always finished no lower than sixth in the NL MVP voting in every season from 1957 to 1966 and became the first player to achieve 500 homers and 3,000 hits.REUTERS/Mike BlakeNolan Ryan (1966-1993) was one of the most dangerous pitchers in the MLS history. He had heat that neared speeds of almost 100mph. In his 27-year career, Ryan achieved 5,714 strikeouts which rank first in baseball history by a significant margin. He also had seven no-hitters and 324 victories. During his season with the California Angels he fanned 383 batters.REUTERS/Hans DerykHank Aaron (1954-1976) broke Babe Ruth’s record with his 715th homer on April 8, 1974. He had career best of 755 homers. The National League's MVP in 1957 was a 24-time All-Star, and won three Gold Golf awards. Aaron was the last Negro American League Player to also play in MLB.REUTERS/Tami ChappellBabe Ruth (1914-1935) was the first to hit a home run in the Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923. Ruth, also known as the Sultan of Swat, was the game’s first slugger and the most celebrated athlete during his stint. He won 89 games in six seasons with the Boston Red Sox which helped the team to win the 1915, 1916 and 1918 World Championships. The memorable part of his career began when he was sold to the Yankees whom Ruth led to seven AL titles and four World Series crowns. Ruth hit 714 home runs in his career, which was later overcome by Hank Aaron.REUTERS/Mike SegarStan Musial (1941-1963) got his 3,000th hit against the Chicago Cubs on May 13, 1958. He played for 22 years with the Cardinals in St.Louis and finished 17 of those seasons with a batting average which was over .300. Musial was on top of the charts in batting in the NL seven times. He was chosen as the league’s MVP in 1943, 1946 and 1948 and was a 24 time All-Star. The Cardinals originally signed him as a pitcher.REUTERS/John Sommers IIMickey Mantle (1951-1968) was a big time-player in the regular season and won three MVPs in 1956, 1957 and 1962. His famous 565-foot home run at the Griffith Stadium in Washington on April 17, 1953 was a spectacle. Mantle, considered as the greatest switch hitter in history, replaced DiMaggio in Centerfield for the Yanks and helped them to 12 AL titles and seven World Series achievements.REUTERS/Blake SellReggie Jackson (1967-1987) hit three first-pitch home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. He had 563 career homers and was one of the most creative home run hitters in the history of the game. Jackson earned three World Series Championship rings in a rowwith the A’s from 1972 to 1974 and two back-to-back with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978.REUTERS/Mike Segar
