A five time American League batting champion, including a .426 average in 1901 which still stands as the all-time record for highest batting average in a single season by an American League player.
From the Cleveland Indians, second baseman Napoléon Lajoie
His .366 batting average still stands as the highest career batting average of all-time. He also held numerous other career records for years including hits, at-bats, stolen bases, and runs scored.
He was the crown jewel in the Connie Mack's $100,000 infield of the early 1910's, helping to lead the team to three World Series titles, before being sold to the Chicago White Sox, where he won another Championship in 1917.
From the Philadelphia Athletics, second baseman Eddie Collins
-- Edited by pmoehrin on Tuesday 14th of July 2009 06:27:00 PM
Although he hasn't played a game since 1928, many still regard this man as the greatest defensive center fielder of all-time. Plus he could hit, as his 3514 hits rank him fifth all-time.
He was considered to be the greatest right handed hitter of his era, and with a .358 batting average a good case can be made that he is the greatest right handed hitter of all-time.
From the St. Louis Cardinals, second baseman Rogers Hornsby
Before Roberto Clemente came along, there was no debate as to who was the greatest outfielder in Pittsburgh Pirate history, twice leading the National League in home runs despite playing at spacious Forbes Field, and three times he led the National League in hitting.
From the Pittsburgh Pirates, outfielder Paul Waner
Although he spent most of his career playing in the shadow of Babe Ruth, what this man has meant to the game of baseball cannot be shown in stats alone.
From the New York Yankees, first baseman Lou Gehrig
There's no doubt that Babe Ruth was the greatest left handed power hitter of the late 20's, and early 30's. But there was also no doubt as to who the greatest right handed power hitter was during that era.
From the Philadelphia Athletics, first baseman Jimmie Foxx
This man stood just 5'7" and weighed 170 pounds. Yet if you ever thought this man was a contact hitter, you were in for a very rude awakening. Six times this man led the National League in home runs.
Look up the word hitting in the dictionary. You should see a picture of this man right next to it. That's all there really has to be said about this person.
If by any chance Ted Williams picture is shown when looking for the definition of hitting, I'll accept this person as a substitute. A 24 time all-star and quite possibly the greatest player in this storied franchise's history.
From the St. Louis Cardinals, outfielder Stan Musial
He hit 660 home runs during his career, yet he is probably best remembered for the play he made in the 1954 World Series as seen below, in what many consider the greatest catch ever made.
From the New York/San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays
Perhaps no other player in baseball history had more god given talent then this man. Had he not had knee injuries or been into alcohol the type of stats this person could have put up would be scary. But even with the knee and alcohol problems, he managed to hit 536 home runs in his career, and was a triple crown winner in 1956.
From the New York Yankees, outfielder Mickey Mantle
If there was any doubt that African American players weren't capable of playing the game to the same degree as a white man could, on April 8, 1974 all of those voices were forever silenced as this man broke the ultimate record in sports.
From the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves outfielder Hank Aaron
When this man made his major league debut at the age of 18, the Tigers knew they had a great player on their hands. What they didn't know was that he would go on to become the youngest American League batting champion of all-time at just 20 years old, or that he would go on to win 10 gold gloves, and appear in 15 all-star games all with the same team.
Nobody who has ever played Major League Baseball has more hits, games played,and at bat's. He is also the very definition of what hustle means unfortunately in more ways then one, but it's his on the field hustle that this list looked at.
They say if you cut this man in half you will get two Hall of Fame players. It's hard to argue with the greatest stolen base artist of all time that this assumption isn't true.
From the Oakland Athletics, outfielder Rickey Henderson
And last but certainly not least, one of only two active members on the all-century team, and the only active player in the top 25. Who knows where he would have ended up had he not had so many injury plagued seasons with the Reds.
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