Baseball remains one of the top sports to follow. While there are some very good leagues around the globe to keep an eye on, the MLB ranks as the sport’s premier competition. This is easy to understand when you see the action it offers and the star players who call it home.
The MLB is also popular because it is a great competition to bet on. Wagering on who might win a game or who could take home the World Series after all is lots of fun. If you find the best sportsbook app to bet with online, you can even get involved via your mobile device from anywhere! When you combine the fun betting brings to MLB games with the exciting action baseball offers to fans, it is no wonder the MLB is so popular.
Over the years, this is a league which has included some awesome players who patrolled the outfield defensively. But who are the best 10 MLB outfielders ever?
10 – Joe DiMaggio
Joltin’ Joe fully was a decent player defensively and not only won nine World Series titles but also became a 13-time All-Star. When you add in his record of 361 homers, you can see why he has such a great reputation.
9 – Hank Aaron
Named on 21 All-Star teams, Aaron is also an MLB Hall of Famer and enjoyed World Series success. As well as having been a powerful hitter, he had great defensive abilities in the field and won three Golden Glove awards to prove this.
8 – Rickey Henderson
Key to Oakland winning a pair of World Series titles, Henderson was a real terror for both catchers and pitchers in his prime. Known for his agility on the field, he finished with a .401 on-base percentage and stole 100 or more bases in three separate seasons.
7 – Roberto Clemente
Clemente made a big impact as an outfielder – both for his baseball skills and also as a pioneer for Latin American players. He became the first Latin American player to win an MVP award and the first to be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame. His 12 Golden Glove awards show what an intense presence he had in the outfield and 240 home runs demonstrate what a force he was with a bat in hand.
6 – Ted Williams
Also known as ‘The Splendid Splinter’, Williams was one of the purest hitters in MLB history and a legendary name for Red Sox fans. As an outfielder, he was an agile figure and also had great catching abilities. When at the plate, his knack for spraying the ball to all parts of the field made him a nightmare to play against.
5 – Mickey Mantle
Mantle won an impressive seven World Series titles with the Yankees plus three MVP awards and one Golden Glove trophy. He was also a very effective switch-hitter. He finished his career with 2,415 hits. In terms of defensive play, he was one of the most effective center fielders of his generation.
4 – Ty Cobb
With 897 stolen bases and over 4,000 hits, it is easy to see why Cobb is so fondly remembered by MLB fans. Playing mainly for the Detroit Tigers, with one year at the Philadelphia Athletics from 1927 to 1928, Cobb played at center field defensively and was always a speedy presence there for his team.
3 – Barry Bonds
This is still something of a controversial choice for many due to Bond’s links to the MLB steroid scandal. There is no doubt that Bonds was one of the top outfielders ever though and the facts prove this. Finishing his career with a colossal 762 home runs and eight Golden Glove awards, there is no questioning his tremendous power as a player.
2 – Willie Mays
Widely regarded as an MLB great, Mays played for an impressive 22 seasons. A nimble figure on the field, his catching skills were also infamous – as his over the shoulder catch facing away from home plate showed. With a bat in hand, he was simply awesome and known for powerful slugging.
1 – Babe Ruth
When you are called the ‘Sultan of Swat’, you know that you have hitting skills which people fear. When you combine these slugging talents with accurate throws from outfield, you can see why Babe Ruth is so well remembered. With 714 home runs and 2,214 RBIs to his name, there has never been a better outfielder.
Top MLB outfielders of all-time
As the above shows, there have been some top players who can make claims to being among the 10 best outfielders in MLB history. While there might be some familiar names who have not made the cut, the outfielders we have looked at more than merit a mention.
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