The Short Answer: Legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Willie Mays lead most greatest-ever debates, while modern stars like Barry Bonds, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani have rewritten the record books. Ranking the greatest baseball player across eras is nearly impossible, so this list names the best position player and pitcher from each decade instead.
Few things stir a crowd like a full count in a close game. Baseball has been the favorite pastime of the United States for more than a century, and all that history leaves fans circling back to one question: who are the best baseball players of all time, and who is the single greatest baseball player, or best baseball player, ever? Neither is simple, given the range of talent Major League Baseball has produced across every generation of the big leagues.
Rather than force different eras into one ranking, we recognize the standout talent from each decade, naming the best position player and pitcher with the numbers and honors that back each pick.
The Greatest Baseball Players of All Time
Before the decade breakdown, here are the names that anchor almost every greatest-ever debate. This short list is not a strict ranking, since comparing a dead-ball shortstop to a modern two-way star is nearly impossible. Instead, these are the legends whose impact, accomplishments, and influence helped define the game.
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Babe Ruth: The most transformative player in history, with 714 home runs and a .342 average after starting as an ace pitcher.
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Willie Mays: A five-tool center fielder with 660 home runs, elite defense, and a case as the best all-around player ever.
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Hank Aaron: 755 home runs and 2,297 RBIs, the model of sustained greatness across more than two decades.
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Ty Cobb: A .366 career average and 4,189 hits, long the standard for pure hitting.
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Ted Williams: The last man to hit .400 in a season and, to many, the greatest hitter who ever lived.
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Barry Bonds: The all-time home run leader with 762 and a record seven MVP awards.
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Lou Gehrig: The Iron Horse, whose power and 2,130-game streak defined durability.
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Mickey Mantle: A switch-hitting powerhouse and the face of the Yankees dynasty.
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Ken Griffey Jr.: A picture-perfect swing, 630 home runs, and the most graceful outfielder of his era.
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Mike Trout: The best all-around player of the 2010s and a three-time MVP.
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Shohei Ohtani: A two-way phenomenon reshaping what one player can be, with four MVP awards and back-to-back titles.
Best Baseball Player From Each Decade
1900s
Position Player: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Honus Wagner, "The Flying Dutchman," was a Hall of Fame shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He posted a .328 career batting average and 3,420 hits across more than 11,000 plate appearances. His eight batting titles rank him the greatest player of the game's first generation.
Pitcher: Christy Mathewson (New York Giants)
Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants recorded 373 wins, a 2.13 ERA, and 2,502 strikeouts. A complete game workhorse, his screwball made him one of the most dominant arms of his era.
1910s
Position Player: Ty Cobb (Detroit Tigers)
Ty Cobb, an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, has a claim as the greatest hitter of the dead-ball era. His .366 career average stood as the highest in MLB history until Negro Leagues statistics were folded into the record books in 2024 and Josh Gibson took the top spot. Cobb still piled up 4,189 hits and won a batting title a record 12 times. That placed him ahead of even second baseman Nap Lajoie among dead-ball hitters.
Pitcher: Walter Johnson (Washington Senators)
Walter Johnson, "The Big Train" of the Washington Senators, owned one of the most feared fastballs ever. He finished with 417 wins, a 2.17 ERA, and 3,509 strikeouts. He piled up complete game after complete game among the greatest pitchers ever.
1920s
Position Player: Babe Ruth (New York Yankees)
Babe Ruth, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, transformed baseball with the home run. He hit 714 home runs, batted .342, and drove in 2,214 RBIs, becoming one of the most legendary figures the sport has known.
Pitcher: Grover Cleveland Alexander (Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals)
Grover Cleveland Alexander split his prime between different teams in the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. His 373 wins, 2.56 ERA, and 2,198 strikeouts made him one of the finest pitchers of the era.
1930s
Position Player: Lou Gehrig (New York Yankees)
Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Horse" of the New York Yankees, paired durability with power. He batted .340, hit 493 home runs, and drove in 1,995 RBIs. His streak of 2,130 consecutive games stood as a record for decades.
Pitcher: Lefty Grove (Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox)
Lefty Grove, a dominant left-hander for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, recorded 300 wins, a 3.06 ERA, and 2,266 strikeouts. Sharp control and a fierce edge made him the standout pitcher of the 1930s.
1940s
Position Player: Ted Williams (Boston Red Sox)
Ted Williams, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, ranks among the greatest hitters ever. He carried a .344 average and reached base in nearly half of his plate appearances, with a .482 on-base percentage and 521 home runs. He won the Triple Crown twice and took a batting title six times. His .406 average in 1941 is still the last .400 season in baseball.
Pitcher: Bob Feller (Cleveland Indians)
Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians built his reputation on a blazing fastball, tallying 266 wins, a 3.25 ERA, and 2,581 strikeouts.
1950s
Position Player: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees)
Mickey Mantle, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, combined home run power and speed as a switch-hitter. He hit 536 home runs, batted .298, and drove in 1,509 RBIs. Three MVP awards and the Yankees' pursuit of a national title year after year make him a 1950s legend.
Pitcher: Warren Spahn (Milwaukee Braves)
Warren Spahn, a left-hander for the Milwaukee Braves, is the winningest southpaw in MLB history with 363 wins, a 3.09 ERA, and 2,583 strikeouts.
1960s
Position Player: Willie Mays (San Francisco Giants)
Willie Mays, a Gold Glove outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, could do it all. He hit 660 home runs, batted .302, and drove in 1,903 RBIs. His defense, speed, and home run power make him one of the greatest players ever and the best player of his generation.
Pitcher: Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers owned one of the most unhittable curveballs the game has seen. He finished with 165 wins, a 2.76 ERA, and 2,396 strikeouts. His dominant peak, capped by multiple Cy Young Awards and a National League pennant chase most years, sealed his legacy.
1970s
Position Player: Johnny Bench (Cincinnati Reds)
Johnny Bench, a catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, anchored the "Big Red Machine" teams that chased a national title every October and won two. He hit 389 home runs, drove in 1,376 RBIs, and won two MVP awards. A perennial Gold Glove winner, Bench is widely called the greatest player ever at his position.
Pitcher: Tom Seaver (New York Mets)
Tom Seaver, "Tom Terrific" of the New York Mets, recorded 311 wins, a 2.86 ERA, and 3,640 strikeouts. He was the best pitcher in the National League for much of the decade, winning three Cy Young Awards.
1980s
Position Player: Mike Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies)
Mike Schmidt, a third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, paired power with Gold Glove defense. He hit 548 home runs, drove in 1,595 RBIs, and won three MVP awards. A prolific home run hitter, he was the best position player of the 1980s.
Pitcher: Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros and Texas Rangers)
Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers pitched for a record 27 seasons. He won 324 games with a 3.19 ERA and 5,714 strikeouts, the most in MLB history.
1990s
Position Player: Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners)
Ken Griffey Jr., the first overall pick of the 1987 MLB Draft and an outfielder for the Seattle Mariners, blended athleticism with power. He hit 630 home runs, batted .284, and drove in 1,836 RBIs. A picture-perfect home run swing, elite defense, and easy charisma made him a fan favorite and the best position player of the 1990s. He later added chapters with the Cincinnati Reds and a brief stop with the Chicago White Sox.
Pitcher: Greg Maddux (Atlanta Braves)
Greg Maddux pitched for the Atlanta Braves and was known for pinpoint control. He won 355 games, posted a 3.16 ERA, and struck out 3,371 batters. From 1992 to 1995 he won four straight National League Cy Young Awards, making him the best pitcher of the decade.
2000s
Position Player: Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)
Albert Pujols, "The Machine," was the most dominant hitter of the 2000s. With the St. Louis Cardinals he hit 445 home runs, batted .334, and drove in 1,329 RBIs during the decade, a home run threat in every at-bat. He won three MVP awards and a World Series in 2006, towering over the league average in nearly every category.
Pitcher: Randy Johnson (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Randy Johnson, "The Big Unit" of the Arizona Diamondbacks, finished with 303 wins, a 3.29 ERA, and 4,875 strikeouts. Five Cy Young Awards make him one of the best pitchers of the 2000s.
2010s
Position Player: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels)
Mike Trout, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, the franchise once known as the California Angels, was the best player of the 2010s. He hit 306 home runs, batted .305, drove in 1,002 RBIs, and ranked among the league's home run leaders nearly every year. Many called him the greatest player of his time, and his all-around game earned three MVP awards.
Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Clayton Kershaw, a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, won 175 games in the decade with a 2.43 ERA and 2,493 strikeouts. He took home three Cy Young Awards and an MVP, the most decorated pitcher of the 2010s.
2020s
Position Player: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Shohei Ohtani, with the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2024, is redefining what one player can do. In 2024 he became the first player in MLB history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season, then followed it in 2025 with a 55 home run season, an MLB lead in total bases, and a return to the mound. He has won four MVP awards and helped lead the Dodgers to back-to-back World Series titles. It is a two-way run the game has never seen.
Pitcher: Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)
Tarik Skubal, the ace of the Detroit Tigers, has separated himself as the best pitcher in the big leagues this decade. He won the American League Cy Young Award in both 2024 and 2025, taking the honor in two straight years for the first time since Jacob deGrom, behind a 2025 line of a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts.
Addressing the Steroid Debate
The use of performance-enhancing drugs is one of the longest-running arguments in baseball. Critics say chemical enhancement created an unfair advantage that devalues records and tarnishes the game's integrity. Others contend that talent still had to show up, and that history should be understood rather than scrubbed.
The debate shapes how people talk about the greatest baseball players of all time, and it is one reason this list recognizes the best players by era. Judging each player against their own time avoids forcing unfair comparisons between figures like Shohei Ohtani and Barry Bonds, who played in very different conditions. The goal is to celebrate the heritage of the game and the milestones that fill Major League Baseball history.
Honorable Mentions and Time Greats
A trip through baseball history would not be complete without tipping a cap to the legends who do not appear in the decade breakdown. Rickey Henderson, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, and Joe DiMaggio all belong in any talk of the greatest hitter or best all-around baseball player. They miss the list only because of its decade-by-decade shape. DiMaggio, for example, lost several prime years to military service in the 1940s, so he never dominated one full decade end to end. Their legacies still hold a permanent place in the game.
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