Top 5 MLB Baseball Players of All Time

#5. Nolan Ryan
The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) had Ryan ranked as the 44th best baseball player of all-time. Obviously as I put him at #5 on my all-time list, I believe Ryan is highly underrated on that list of the 100 best baseball players ever(1999). Nolan Ryan threw a MLB record 7 no-hitters that will never be broken. Ryan had deceiving 324 wins with 222 complete games, 5714 K's, and a 3.19 ERA. If it wasn't for many mediocre at best teams for which Ryan played for, his win total could have easily surpassed 400 wins.

For example check out the 1987 Astros. Ryan went 8-16 with a 2.76 ERA. It's amazing to me that an 8-16 record is possible with a 2.76 ERA, but it's because of a lack of run support from the 76-86 1987 Astros. Aaron, even with 324 wins, had only 2 twenty win seasons although he had 8 seasons in which he had a sub 3.00 ERA. The only season Ryan had an ERA over 4.00 with more than one start was in his last year of baseball at the age of 46. I would hear arguments on why Spahn and Bob Gibson should be in this spot over Ryan. As far as the early greats (Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson), I won't take anything away from their accomplishments and statistics, but the early 1900's baseball was a much different game, and I would have to conclude that those numbers are due to a learning curve in batting. As the pitchers reached the 1920's ERA's started to go up because of increased hitting, and 30 win seasons went away. The way Ryan performed from 1966-1993 throughout his career and on some very bad teams, is worthy of a top 5 all-time place in baseball's history.

#4. Stan Musial
Stan "The Man" Musial often gets shoved under the rug in talks about the greatest player of all time and even the greatest 10 or 5 players of all time. Stan Musial wasn't just another classic home run hitter, he was one of the smartest hitters of all time. Musial put up incredible numbers with 475 HR, 1,951 RBI, 3,630 hits, and an overall .331 batting average. The statistic that I am most impressed with in regards to Musial's career is that in 22 MLB seasons, he never had one year with more than 50 strikeouts! In only 3 of his 22 seasons Musial was struck out 40 or more times. Stan struck out 1 every 15.76 at bats, better than many hall of famers including Ruth and Hank Aaron.

#3. Hank Aaron
The real home run champ in my eyes is Henry Aaron. Aaron played in a total of 24 All-Star Games (59-61 there were 2 all star games each year, 21 years of ASG's), had 3,771 hits, 755 home runs, 2,297 RBI, and finished his career with a .305 batting average. Aaron was one of the most consistent hitters in the games history. Aaron never hit 50 home runs in his career, but had 8 season in which he hit 40 or more. Aaron was able to put up record numbers and change the game while battling through extreme racism and millions of baseball fans who did not want to see Babe Ruth's record broken, mainly because Aaron was African American. Aaron was a great baseball player, and an even better role model and man.

#2. Ty Cobb
Cobb is known as one of the most intense and by some as one of the dirtiest players to have ever lived. Cobb is second all time in hits (4191), 4th all time in steals (892), all team leader in batting average (.367), 2nd all time in triples (297), 2nd all time in runs (2245), and 7th all time in RBI (1938). Added to his incredible numbers was his intensity. Many claimed that Cobb would steal bases with his spikes up towards the defenders legs (also depicted this way in a statue in Comerica Park in Detroit. Cobb was accused of being racist and many other things that make us cringe. Despite his questionable character, Cobb is undeniably the second best baseball player ever.

#1. Babe Ruth
Out of 148 games started as a pitcher, Ruth had 94 wins, 17 shutouts, and 107 complete games. In over 1200 innings pitched, Ruth somehow allowed only 10 home runs. Everyone knows that Ruth did pitch at one time, but not many know how good he actually was. Ruth had 2 twenty win seasons and a career ERA of 2.28.

Ruth made appearances in 10 different World Series (3 with Red Sox, 7 with Yankees). Ruth hit 15 World Series home runs, 33 RBI, and even stole 4 bases (I'm guessing passed balls).

In his first 6 MLB seasons, Ruth had only 49 home runs total. After that Ruth would go on to make the home run popular. Ruth had 11 seasons with 40 or more home runs and finished with 714. Ruth also had 10 season with over 130 RBI including 6 seasons with 150 RBI or more. Ruth was, and always will be THE face of baseball and the greatest player to have ever lived.