The Biggest And Most Prolific Sluggers In MLB History
One of the best ways to determine how well-rounded a batter is can be by looking at their slugging percentage. It's a measure that looks at the batting productivity of a hitter. Basically, it's calculated by taking someone's total bases and dividing by their total at-bats.
Of course, how long a player's career lasted and how many balls they buried into the stands define a slugger's legacy more than anything. In this article, we take a look at some of the hardest slugging MLB superstars in league history!
Babe Ruth
There are only six players in the history of the MLB who have a career slugging percentage over .600 and of course, Babe Ruth is one of them. In fact, he has the best SLG% in the history of the game.
He boasts a .6897, which is insane. He retired from the league in 1935 with the Boston Braves hitting a .342 batting average for his career, with 2,873 hits, 714 home runs, and 2,213 RBIs. He's a seven-time World Series Champion and 12-time AL home run leader.
Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig has the third-best career slugging percentage at .6324. He was nicknamed the "Iron Horse," playing his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees from 1923-1939.
He was a seven-time All-Star and a six-time World Series Champion that finished his career with a .340 batting average, 2,721 hits and 1,995 RBIs. Along with Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, Gehrig was named to the MLB All-Century Team and the MLB All-Time Team.
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby played 23 seasons in the major leagues with four different teams. He had a career slugging percentage of .5765 which puts him at number 10 on the list.
He had 2,930 hits and his .358 career batting average has him second all-time to Ty Cobb. In 1924 he was able to maintain a .424 batting average, which has not been matched since. He's a World Series champion, two-time NL MVP, and seven-time NL batting champion.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays spent nearly all of his 22 seasons in the MLB with the New York/ San Francisco Giants before finishing his career with the New York Mets. His career slugging percentage .5575 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Mays was a 22-time All-Star, four-time NL stolen base leader and a 12-time Gold Glove award winner. He was named to the MLB All-Century Team and MLB All-Time Team.
Jimmie Foxx
Jimmie Foxx played 20 seasons in the MLB for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, And Philadelphia Phillies and finished his career with a .6093 career slugging percentage.
While he was with the Athletics and the Red Sox he had 12 consecutive seasons hitting 30 home runs and 13 consecutive seasons with over 100 runs batted in. Foxx became the second player in MLB history to hit 500 career home runs after Babe Ruth.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds finished his incredible career with the fifth-best slugging percentage in MLB history at .6069. He won eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Slugger awards, and 14 All-Star selections.
He holds the record for most career home runs with 762, most home runs in a single season with 73, and most career walks. He finished his career with a batting average .298, 2,935 hits, and perhaps the most surprising stat is his 514 stolen bases.
Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956 with 85% of the vote. He had the sixth highest slugging percentage all-time at .6050.
He was a two-time World Series champion, two-time AL MVP, four-time AL RBI leader, and five-time All-Star. He was the first Jewish superstar to be on an American sports team and made national headlines when he refused to play baseball on Yom Kippur.
Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire is the first person on this list to have a career slugging percentage under .600 as he slides in at .5882. He was one of the most prolific home run hitters of all time as he crushed 583 during his career. During his rookie year, he hit 49 home runs, which set a single-season rookie record.
He was a 12-time All-Star, two-time World Series Champion, five-time MLB home run leader and has been named to the MLB All-Century Team.
Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez is a 12-time All-Star who currently holds the record for most postseason home runs in MLB history. His career slugging percentage is .5854 and his career batting average is .312, to go with his 2,574 hits and 555 career home runs. In 1999, while playing for the Cleveland Indians, he set the team's single-season RBI record with 165 during that season (Hack Wilson holds the league record with 191).
Ramirez is a two-time World Series champion, he was the 2004 World Series MVP and nine-time Silver Slugger award winner.
Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak, which is a record that still stands. He had a career slugging percentage of .5788 and was a three-time league MVP, and was an All-Star every single year he played (13 seasons).
He knocked 2,214 hits, 361 home runs, and 1,537 RBIs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 with almost 90% of the vote and was named to the MLB All-Century Team.
Ted Williams
Ted Williams played his entire 19-year MLB career in left field for the Boston Red Sox. His career slugging percentage is .6338 which puts him second all-time only to Babe Ruth.
His career batting average was .344 and he had an impressive career on-base percentage of .482 which is an MLB record. Williams was a 19-time All-Star, a two-time Triple Crown champion, and a six-time AL batting champion, just to name a few of his accolades.
Mike Trout
Mike Trout is the only player on this list that's still playing in the MLB. His career slugging percentage sits at .5729 right now, and with the new $426 million contract he just signed, there's certainly room for improvement.
He came into the league in 2011 and has since been a seven-time All-Star, two-time AL MVP, six-time Silver Slugger and was apart of the 30-30 club in 2012. He already has over 1,190 career hits and sports a career batting average of .307.
Larry Walker
Larry Walker is the only Canadian on this list. He had an MLB career that spanned over 17-seasons with three different teams. He was a five-time All-Star, while also capturing seven Gold-Gloves, three Silver Sluggers and was also a three-time NL batting champion.
Walker produced a .313 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and crushed 383 home runs. He managed to get over 2,000 hits and 1,311 RBIs which led him getting inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Albert Belle
Albert Belle was the first player to break the $10 million contract barrier in the MLB and was the first player, in 1995, to hit for 50 doubles and 50 home runs in the same season. His career slugging percentage was .5638 which puts him thirteenth on this list.
Belle was the king of consistency when he played. He was one of only six players in history to have nine consecutive seasons with 100-plus RBIs.
Johnny Mize
Johnny Mize played 15 seasons in the MLB, but lost three of them due to military service which makes him appearing on this list even more iconic. Mize's slugging percentage of .5620 puts him 14th on our list.
Mize was a ten-time All-Star who won five consecutive World Series championships with the New York Yankees. He finished his career with a .312 batting average, 2,011 hits, 359 home runs, and 1,337 RBIs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
Juan Gonzalez
Juan Gonzalez was one of the premier run producers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He hit over 40 home runs five different times in his career and at least 100 RBIs eight times. His career slugging percentage sat at .5607.
He was a three-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time AL MVP, and a two-time AL home run leader. He averaged 42 home runs and 135 RBI per 162 games with season-adjusted stats which puts him well within the top-ten all-time in those categories.
Stan Musial
Nicknamed "Stan The Man," Stan Musial spent 22 seasons in the MLB playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. He boasted a career slugging percentage of .5591 which lands him 16th on our list.
Musial batted .331 over his career and set National League records for career hits with 3,630, and RBIs with 1,951. His 475 career home runs at the time ranked second only behind Mel Ott's total of 511. His 6,134 total bases remained a major league record until he was surpassed by Hank Aaron.
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle played his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees. He's regarded as the best switch hitter to ever play in the league as he finished his career with a slugging percentage of .5568 and a career batting average just under .300. He had 2,415 hits and 536 home runs while adding 1,509 RBIs.
He was a 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion, Triple Crown winner in 1956 and a four-time AL home run leader.
Frank Thomas
Frank Thomas, or "The Big Hurt," was a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and ended his career with a .5549 slugging percentage. By the end of his career, Thomas was tied for eighth overall in home runs with 521, ninth for RBIs with 1,704 and sixth for walks with 1,667.
Even though he batted for power, he was able to maintain a batting average over .300 and had 2,468 hits. Thomas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Pete Rose
Even though Pete Rose retired with a career slugging percentage of only .375, we'd be doing an injustice not to include him on this list. Not known for his HR hitting prowess, he is, more importantly, the sports' all-time hits leader, hanging up his cleats with 4,256 of them.
Rose also rarely struck out. In his 24 year career, he punched out 1,143 times, an average of 52 times a season.
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron played 21 seasons in the MLB and had a career slugging percentage of .5545 which puts him twentieth on the list. He was a 25-time All-Star and a World Series champion. He was a four-time NL home run leader, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time RBI leader and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
He ended his career with 3,771 hits, 755 home runs, 2,297 RBIs and a .305 career batting average.
Alex Rodriguez
Known lovingly throughout his career as "A-Rod," Alex Rodriguez was one of the greatest hitters of his era. And when he retired, he was also won of the richest. Over the course of his illustrious and controversial career, Rodriguez earned over $500 million.
When he finally called it a career, Rodriguez had 696 homeruns and 2.086 runs batted in. Those numbers should be enough to get him into the Hall of Fame one day, but for now, his use of steroids has kept him out of Cooperstown.
Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols is the slugger that just keeps slugging. One of the most prolific hitters of the modern era, the sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer knocked in his 2,000th career RBI in 2019.
Starting his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pujols has played the back half in Anaheim with the Angels. Along the way he has proven to be the picture of stability and even has a chance to blast past 700 home runs before he retires.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Like father like son. Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the only players in MLB history to play professionally at the same time as his father. On the field, though, the two couldn't be more different.
Griffey Jr. was known early in his career for his power and speed. If injuries hadn't hurt the end of his career, there's a good chance he would be MLB's home run king instead of Barry Bonds. Still, retiring with 630 career bombs puts him in elite territory.
Fred McGriff
At the young age of 22, Fred McGriff finally burst into the big leagues on May 17, 1986, playing for the Toronto Blue Jays. He would play from '86 all the way through 2004 where he ended his career with the Devil Rays. In his last year, he hit two homers. His final home run number was 493.
"The bottom line is I enjoy winning. Losing is no fun. As long as you step out on to that field and you've got a fighting chance to win, that's all you can ask for," McGriff said in 1998.
Dale Murphy
This is Dale Murphy. The slugger was born on March 12, 1956, in Portland Oregon. It wouldn't be until his 20th year of living that he would make his way into the majors for the Atlanta Braves. He managed to crank 398 homers during his career.
"Nolan Ryan said: 'I can't imagine Joe DiMaggio was a better all-around player than Dale Murphy.' Hank Aaron added: 'Dale is probably the best all-around player in either league, probably the most valuable commodity in baseball right now,'" author Jack Wilkinson outlined in his Game of My Life Atlanta Braves: Memorable Stories of Braves Baseball.
Carl Yastrzemski
Born on August 22, 1939, in Southampton, New York, Carl Yastrzemski was quite the slugger. He made it to the big leagues the year he became legal and that probably was the best year of his life. His first season he hit 11 out the park and the most he managed to belt out was 44 in one year. He ended with 452 overall.
"You don't always make an out. Sometimes the pitcher gets you out." - Carl Yastrzemski in The Gigantic Book of Baseball Quotations.
Andre Dawson
"Determination made Andre Dawson a great player – determination to come back after more than a dozen knee operations, determination to show baseball how overlooked he was during his first 11 years playing north of the border, determination to become one of the most well-rounded players in the game's history," Baseball Researcher Dan D'Addona wrote.
That's sure one great endorsement and something that makes you want to know more about Dawson. Usually, after maybe two knee surgeries, athletes pack up their bags and call it a career. Dawson managed to hit 438 home runs even with all the bad knee issues.
Eddie Murray
With 504 home runs to his name and 21 years of playing, Eddie Murray was as good as they come. He entered the professional realm when he was 21, so he practically played the sport he loved his whole adult life.
"Eddie (Murray) was a huge part of the success of the Orioles for a lot of years. He was a great player and a great teammate. He went out and did his job every day." - Cal Ripken, Jr. in Sports Illustrated.
Dave Winfield
"Last year (1978) I became a lot more patient. I learned the strike zone a lot better and I realized that sometimes it's better to take a walk than make an out on a bad pitch." - Dave Winfield in The Sporting News.
Not everyone develops a mentality like that. That's what separates players who aren't featured on this list with those who are. Winfield played for 22 years and hit 465 home runs during that span. He had a total of 3,110 hits overall.
George Foster
On September 10, 1969, George Foster made his entrance into the big leagues. Born in '48, Foster started his career with the San Francisco Giants. He tallied 1,925 total hits to go with 348 home runs. That's not too bad over 18 years.
"If (George) Foster would have been playing with the Dodgers in the '50's they wouldn't have had to tear down Ebbets Field. George would have demolished it with shots off his bat." - Sparky Anderson in Baseball Digest.
Jim Rice
In 16 years, Jim Rice did more at bat than those who played for 20 or more years. That's saying a lot. He accumulated 2,452 hits total with 382 of them being home runs. He also played his whole career with Red Socks if that's worth anything.
Ted Williams seems to think that Rice didn't get that much opportunity. If that's the case then we wonder how much better he could have been at this sport.
Boog Powell
"If Boog Powell held out his arm, he'd be a railroad crossing." - Broadcaster Joe Garagiola in Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball.
It looks like Garagiola thinks that Powell is basically one of the hardest hitters to hit. He played for 17 years and had 339 home runs during that span. His final season with the Dodgers didn't go as planned as he only had 41 at-bats but granted he only played 50 games.
Chuck Klein
"It was unfortunate that it took the Hall of Fame until 1980, well after his (Chuck Klein) death on March 28, 1958, to recognize his greatness. But no longer does he go unnoticed for his greatness, and the plaque in Cooperstown is testament to that." - Author Michael Francis Mann in Baseball's Rare Triple Crown.
Klein had to wait until he was 23 before playing for the pros. Klein played for 17 years and amassed 300 home runs and 2,076 total hits.
Johnny Bench
Not only was Johnny Bench a great hitter but he was also an awesome outfielder. Bench hit for 389 home runs in 17 years as well as 2,048 hits overall. When you calculate that with what he did on defense, he's one of the best to do it.
"Trained by his father Ted to throw 254 feet - twice the distance from home plate to second base - from a crouch, (Johnny) Bench boasted that he could, 'throw out any runner alive.'" - Nick Acocella.
Ted Kluszewski
"How hard is hitting? You ever walk into a pitch-black room full of furniture that you've never been in before and try to walk through it without bumping into anything? Well, it's harder than that." - Ted Kluszewski
That's a pretty good description of how hitting is for those who only watch and have never attempted it. It's really one of the toughest things to do in sports but this man was able to 1,766 total hits in his 15-year career.
Greg Luzinski
"At 225 pounds he (Greg Luzinski) is a doorway and a half. They could hold the Winter Olympics on his shoulders, balance Rhode Island on his knees, and plug up leaky dams with his feet." - Phil Elderkin of The Christian Science Monitor.
That is quite the description for Luzinski. At such a heavyweight, you would think it would be harder for him to crank out 307 total home runs and 1,795 total hits.
Richie Allen
"Now I know why they boo Richie all the time. When he hits a home run, there's no souvenir." - Willie Stargell (after Allen's home run cleared the left-center field roof of Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium) in Baseball Digest.
Allen knocked out 351 balls during his 15-year career. He was on the Phillies the majority of the time before going to the Cardinals in 1970 and then ending his career with the Athletics in 1977.
Roger Maris
"When he (Roger Maris) hit it (home run #61 in 1961), he came into the dugout and they were all applauding. I mean, this is something that's only happened once in baseball, right? And the people were all applauding. - Mickey Mantle in The Ultimate Yankee Book.
Wow, 61 home runs in a single season is quite incredible. Maris only played for 12 years too so that makes this accomplishment even more special. He ended his career with 275 total homers.
Ernie Banks
"It's a shame that a lot of GREAT ballplayers never even got a chance to play in the World Series. Players like Ernie Banks. I heard him say once that he'll always have an open feeling in his heart because of not playing in a World Series." - Pitcher Rich Gossage.
Ernie Banks was indeed a great ballplayer. He hit 512 home runs and had 2,583 hits total. It would have been great to see what he could have done on the biggest stage possible. He for sure would have given some fans a souvenir.
Hack Wilson
Born on April 26, 1900, in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Hack Wilson would grow up to become one of the best hitters there is. He became a professional during his 23rd year of living, playing for the New York Giants.
He only played for 12 years, but boy could he hit. During his eighth year, he managed to plow 56 homers! The year before he hit 39. Wilson would end his playing days with a grand total of 244 home runs.
Dave Kingman
With a nickname like "King Kong," the 6' 6" Dave Kingman deserves to be included among the greatest sluggers in MLB history. Kingman was born in Oregon in 1948 before moving to Denver with his family. Kingman was a multisport athlete in high school. He played forward in basketball, was a safety on the school's football team, and was an elite pitcher in varsity baseball.
Kingman played for eight MLB clubs in his 15-year career. The three-time All-Star hit 442 home runs, 1,210 RBI, and twice won the National League home run title in the 1979 and 1982 seasons. Kingman led the NL in homers with 48 in '79.
Duke Snider
Nicknamed Duke by his father at age five, Duke Snider grew up into one of the most elite hitters in MLB history. Snider's destiny was clear after reportedly having the ability to throw a football 70 yards or more in high school. In 1943, he was signed to a minor league professional contract with the Montreal Royals of the International League.
Snider spent 15 of his 17-year career playing for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He won two World Series, was selected to the All-Star team eight times, led the NL in RBi in 1955, and home runs in 1956.
Rocky Colavito
After trading fan favorite Rocky Colavito to Detroit, "What's all the fuss about? All I did was trade hamburger for steak." was the infamous quote by Cleveland GM Frank Lane. Lane developed a reputation for trading away good players. Colavito was traded two days before opening day in 1960.
That hamburger he traded away was a nine-time MLB All-Star, 1959 American League home run leader, the 1965 RBI leader, hit four homers in a game, had 11 straight 20-home run seasons, and averaged 33 homer runs for over the first decade of his storied baseball career. After his playing days, Colavito was a baseball commentator and then a coach.
Willie Stargell
After moving to be with his mother in California, Willie Stargell signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959. Stargell played for six teams in the minors. After contemplating quitting the sport of baseball due to his mistreatment by other players and fans, baseball scout Bob Zuk encouraged him through the letters he wrote to Stargell.
Stargell overcame his early struggles to be a seven-time MLB All-Star, two-time World Series champion, NL MVP in 1979, led the NL in home runs twice, and was the 1973 NL leader in RBI. In 1988, Stargell was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa is a former MLB player from the Dominican Republic. Sosa was a notorious power slugger nicknamed "Mickey" by his grandmother after a character on a popular soap opera. Sosa made his MLB debut in 1989 and hit his first home run of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens.
Sosa retired with eye-popping numbers. He became the fifth player to hit 600 home runs, was a seven-time All-Star, won six Silver Slugger titles, and twice led the NL in homers and RBI. In 1998, Sosa won the Hank Aaron Award, given to the top hitters in each league, and took away the Roberto Clemente Award for best exemplifying sportsmanship and community involvement.
Mel Ott
Former MLB slugger Mel Ott, nicknamed "Master Melvin," was born in the suburbs of New Orleans in 1909. Despite being doubted for his average size, Ott played semi-pro baseball for a team three to four days a week while attending high school. To Ott's disappointment, his hometown, New Orleans Pelicans, refused to pick him up due to his apparent average-sized stature.
Ott would prove all his skeptics wrong by having a Hall of Fame career, which he was inducted into in 1951. Ott was a 12-time All-Star, won the 1933 World Series, led the NL in homers six times, and was the 1934 NL leader in RBI.
Frank Howard
Nicknamed "Hondo," Frank Howard was a dominant MLB slugger and accomplished baseball manager. Howard was a dual sport athlete in college and was an All-American while playing baseball and basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The NBA Philadelphia Warriors drafted Howard, and he chose to play baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers instead.
Howard won a World Series and was selected to the MLB All-Star game four times, twice led the AL in home runs, and was the leader in RBI for the AL in 1970. Howard demonstrated his love for baseball by playing, coaching, and managing several teams.
Eddie Matthews
Eddie Matthews earned a unique claim to fame by being the first player ever to play for the Braves in the three cities the team existed in. The Texas native blazed a trail of baseball glory while soaring through the ranks in the minors. Matthews' moment of truth came after he was called up by the Braves ahead of the 1952 season.
Matthews played 17 seasons in MLB and continued his slugging production as a professional. He was a 12-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, led the NL in homers twice, had his number retired by the Braves organization, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson had an esteemed and long career in MLB as a player, coach, and manager. Robinson spent over three decades in the sport he loved and grew up playing. Robinson was born in Texas and was the youngest of his mother's ten children. While attending high school in Oakland, California, Robinson befriended NBA Hall of Fame legend Bill Russell.
Robinson was selected as an All-Star 14 times as a player, won two World Series, an MVP award for the AL and NL, and won the elusive baseball Triple Crown, an award given to the player who leads the league in the categories of home runs, batting average, and RBI.
Ralph Kiner
Former MLB left fielder Ralph Kiner was called by baseball writer Marty Noble "one of baseball's genuine and most charming gentlemen." Injuries forced Kiner to retire before playing ten seasons, but he accomplished plenty during his career. After his father passed away while he was young, Kiner moved to California with his mother and attended high school. He enlisted in the United States Navy as a pilot in WWII.
Once his military service was completed, Kiner debuted in MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had a remarkable rookie season, hitting 23 home runs. He also took his lumps that year after striking out 109 times. Kiner retired as a six-time All-Star and a seven-time NL home run leader. It took 13 tries, but Kiner was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.
Jose Canseco
Power. Jose Canseco was raw, pure, and uncut strength and showed it every time he stepped into the batters' box. Along with his equally powerful slugging teammate Mark McGuire, the duo would be known as the "Bash Brothers." The Cuban-born Canseco, nicknamed "The Cuban Cannon," fled Cuba with his family to the United States before his first birthday. Canseco made his high school baseball team in his second year after failing in his first and was the team's MVP.
Canseco's career numbers were as impressive as his physical might. He earned a spot six times in the MLB All-Star Game, won two World Series with McGuire with the Oakland A's, was the 1989 MVP in the AL, took home four Silver Slugger Awards, led the entire league in homer runs twice, and RBI once.
Willie McCovey
Willie "Stretch" McCovey was a prolific MLB slugger during his baseball career that spanned over two decades, mostly (17) with the San Francisco Giants. McCovey, the seventh of ten children, was born in Alabama. By the time he was 12, McCovey was working and dropped out of high school to work full-time. He debuted in the pros for the Giants after being called up from their farm team in Texas.
"Stretch" made the All-Star team six times, was the NL Most Valuable Player, led the NL in home runs three times, and RBI twice. McCovey's jersey had his number retired by the Giants, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.
Mike Schmidt
A former teammate of Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, once said, "To have his (Schmidt) body, I'd trade him mine and my wife's, and I'd throw in some cash." That was some high praise from a player who is among the greatest in MLB history in Rose. Rose's admiration for who many consider the Philadelphia Phillies' greatest players to wear a uniform ever was not unfounded.
Schmidt spent his entire 18-season career playing for the Phillies. The long laundry list of his accomplishments and awards is almost too many to name. Schmidt was selected to the MLB All-Star Game 12 times, won a World Series in 1980, was the 1980 World Series MVP, was the MVP of the NL three times, took home ten Gold Glove Awards, and six Silver Sluggers.
Cecil Fielder
Besides his prolific power and size, former MLB player Cecil Fielder was also an efficient slugger. Fielder did not always have things go his way early in his baseball career. He was called up from the minors by the Toronto Blue Jays for most of three seasons before falling off and joining Japan's Central League. Fielder made his mark in MLB once he returned and earned his place as one of history's best sluggers.
Fielder won a World Series with the New York Yankees, took home two Silver Slugger Awards, twice led the American League in home runs, and was the RBI king three times in the AL. Fielder and his son Prince were the only father-and-son duo to hit 50 home runs until Vlademir Guerrero Jr. joined his father, Vladdy Sr., in the 50-homer club.
Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson, also known as "Gibby," was destined to be an MLB player growing up in Omaha, Nebraska. Gibson was the youngest of his parents' seven children. His father passed away days before he was born, and was named Pack after him in honor of his late dad.
The former nine-time All-Star won two World Series titles, the 1968 NL award as MVP, two Cy Young Awards (awarded to the best pitchers of the AL and NL,) earned World Series MVP in both of his appearances in the big dance, won an incredible nine Gold Glove Awards, pitched a no-hitter in 1971, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
Harmon Killebrew
"Hammerin" Harmon Killebrew was the son of an athletic and multi-talented father. His dad was a painter and sheriff. His dad played college football for an undefeated team before finding his way to baseball. Growing up the youngest of four children in Idaho, Killebrew started playing baseball and gaining his athletic prowess working as a farm hand. The former All-American high school QB turned down a scholarship offer for football to pursue his baseball dream.
The 13-time All-Star was an MVP, AL home run leader six times, and the AL leader in RBI three times. Killebrew was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson did not give himself the title of "Mr. October." The highly prolific and efficient former MLB slugger earned the moniker with his on-field hitting and clutch performances in the playoffs, typically in October. The Pennsylvania native dominated basketball, football, and baseball in high school.
Jackson settled for baseball and was an MLB All-Star 14 times, won five World Series, the MVP of the AL in 1973, two World Series MVPs, two Silver Slugger Awards, led the AL in home runs four times, and was the AL RBI leader one season. Jackson had his number retired by the New York Yankees and Oakland A's. He received his Baseball Hall of Fame induction in 1993.
Ty Cobb
Born Tyrus Raymond, Ty Cobb would grow to become one of the game's most prolific sluggers ever. Cobb was born in 1886, the eldest of three kids, and his father was a United States Senator. Cobb became enamored with baseball almost from birth, and his dad was greatly opposed to letting Ty play for anyone. Once his dad let him, Cobb traveled with and represented several teams before leaping MLB.
Cobb won a Triple Crown in 1909, was the MVP for the AL in 1911, the AL batting champion amazingly 12 times, AL home run leader once, four-time AL leader in RBI, and still holds the MLB record with a .366 career batting average. Cobb entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936 with almost 100% of the votes on his first ballot.
Jim Thome
As the youngest of five children, former MLB slugger Jim Thome showed his resiliency before winning an award for returning to the league after being traded to the Chicago White Sox to be near his aging father. Growing up in Illinois, Thome was part of an athletic family. His grandfather played softball, his dad played slow-pitch, his two brothers played high school baseball, and an aunt in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame.
Thome did his best to continue his family's athletic bloodlines. In 22 MLB seasons, Thome played for six teams, made five All-Star teams, won a Silver Slugger Award, the Roberto Clemente Award in 2002, and was the 2003 NL leader in home runs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
