The 20 Best Careers at Each Position

Michael Hoban, Ph.D.

There are one hundred and eighteen (118) position players (since 1901) who have Hall of Fame numbers according to the CAWS CAREER GAUGE. Here is the distribution by position.

First Base - 16

Second Base - 15

Third Base - 11

Shortstop - 17

Left Field - 18

Center Field - 14

Right Field - 14

Catcher - 11

DH - 2

118

These lists will show the names of those players who had HOF numbers at each position – as well as the other players among the 20 players with the best career numbers at the position.

All numbers include the 2017 season.

Bold print = Hall of Famer

Italic = active player in 2017

CWS = Career Win Shares

CV = Core Value (sum of win shares for 10 best seasons)

CAWS = Career Value = CV + .25(CWS - CV)

The 14 Right Fielders with HOF Numbers (CAWS = 280)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Babe Ruth (1914-1935) 756 460 534

2. Hank Aaron (1954-1976) 643 356 428

3. Mel Ott (1926-1947) 528 335 383

4. Frank Robinson (1956-1976) 519 316 367

5. Sam Crawford (1899-1917) 446 303 339

6. Paul Waner (1926-1945) 423 304 334

7. Reggie Jackson (1967-1987) 444 296 333

8. Al Kaline (1953-1974) 443 268 312

9. Dave Winfield (1973-1995) 415 259 298

10. Roberto Clemente (1955-1972) 377 269 296

11. Tony Gwynn (1982-2001) 398 269 294

12. Harry Heilmann (1914-1932) 356 267 289

13. Vladimir Guerrero (1996-2011) 333 269 285

14. Elmer Flick (1898-1910) 291 280 283

The Other Right Fielders in the top 20

CWS CV CAWS

15. Bobby Abreu 346 257 279

16. Rusty Staub 354 254 279

17. Bobby Bonds 302 264 274

18. Sammy Sosa 325 255 273

19. Ken Singleton 302 260 271

20. Reggie Smith 325 250 269

Right fielders who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Willie Keeler 333 246 268

Enos Slaughter 323 246 265

Andre Dawson 340 234 261

Kiki Cuyler 292 244 256

Sam Rice 327 228 253

Harry Hooper 321 221 246

Chuck Klein 238 217 222

Ross Youngs 206 206 206

The 18 Left Fielders with HOF Numbers (CAWS = 280)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Barry Bonds (1986-2007) 707 427 497

2. Stan Musial (1941-1963) 604 378 435

3. Ted Williams (1939-1960) 555 394 434

4. Pete Rose (1963-1986) 547 307 367

5. Rickey Henderson (1979-2003) 535 308 365

6. Carl Yastrzemski (1961-1983) 488 286 337

7. Gary Sheffield (1988-2009) 430 305 336

8. Fred Clarke (1894-1915) 400 273 305

9. Tim Raines (1979-2002) 390 275 304

10. Billy Williams (1959-1976) 374 279 303

11. Al Simmons (1924-1944) 375 276 301

12. Manny Ramirez (1993-2011) 394 263 296

13. Sherry Magee (1904-1919) 354 272 293

14. Zack Wheat (1909-1927) 380 264 293

15. Joe Jackson (1908-1920) 294 290 291

16. Willie Stargell (1962-1982) 370 263 290

17. Goose Goslin (1921-1938) 355 263 286

18. Lou Brock (1961-1979) 348 264 285

The Other Left Fielders in the Top 20

CWS CV CAWS

19. Joe Medwick 312 267 278

20. Jimmy Sheckard 339 257 278

Left fielders who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Heinie Manush 285 236 248

Jim Rice 282 233 245

Ralph Kiner 242 242 242

Chick Hafey 186 176 179

The 14 Center Fielders with HOF Numbers (CAWS = 270)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Ty Cobb (1905-1928) 722 419 495

2. Willie Mays (1951-1973) 642 389 452

3. Mickey Mantle (1951-1968) 565 399 441

4. Tris Speaker (1907-1928) 630 388 449

5. Joe DiMaggio (1936-1951) 387 325 341

6. Ken Griffey Jr (1989-2010) 403 278 309

7. Duke Snider (1947-1964) 352 289 305

8. Jimmy Wynn (1963-1977) 305 269 278

9. Richie Ashburn (1948-1962) 329 257 275

10. Carlos Beltran (1998-2017) 370 240 273

11. Max Carey (1910-1929) 351 245 272

12. Earl Averill (1929-1941) 280 268 271

17. Larry Doby* (1947-1959) 268 257 260

19. Kirby Puckett* (1984-1995) 281 247 256

* = Short but great career.

The Other Center Fielders in the top 20

CWS CV CAWS

13. Vada Pinson 321 252 269

14. Edd Roush 314 250 266

15. Bernie Williams 311 248 264

16. Jim Edmonds 301 250 263

18. Andruw Jones 290 245 256

20. Willie Davis 322 230 255

Center fielders who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Hack Wilson 224 220 221

Earle Combs 227 217 220

Lloyd Waner 245 207 217

The 16 First Basemen (14 + 2) with HOF Numbers (CAWS = 280)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Lou Gehrig (1923-1939) 489 384 410

2. Albert Pujols (2001- ) 469 347 378

3. Jimmie Foxx (1925-1945) 435 325 353

4. Miguel Cabrera (2003- ) 388 295 318

5. Willie McCovey (1959-1980) 408 285 316

6. Dick Allen (1963-1977) 342 304 314

7. Eddie Murray (1977-1997) 437 273 314

8. Jeff Bagwell (1991-2005) 388 287 312

9. Johnny Mize (1936-1953) 339 296 307

10. Harmon Killebrew (1954-1975) 374 279 303

11. Jim Thome (1991-2012) 392 270 301

12. Mark McGwire (1986-2001) 342 283 298

13. Rafael Palmeiro (1986-2005) 387 257 290

14. Lance Berkman (1999-2013) 311 276 285

Note - If Frank Thomas were considered to be a first baseman, he would be #4 on this list with a CAWS score of 327. However, since he played more games as a designated hitter, that is where he is listed.

The Other First Basemen in the top 20

CWS CV CAWS

15. Jason Giambi 318 266 279

16. Tony Perez 349 249 274

17. Todd Helton 317 258 273

18. Will Clark 321 252 269

19. Orlando Cepeda 310 251 266

20. Carlos Delgado 303 254 266

First basemen who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Hank Greenberg* 267 262 263

Bill Terry* 278 255 261

George Sisler 292 239 252

Jim Bottomley 258 214 225

Frank Chance 237 206 214

George Kelly 193 177 181

*have HOF numbers = short but great career

The 15 Second Basemen with Hall of Fame Numbers (CAWS = 260)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Eddie Collins (1906-1930) 574 376 426

2. Rogers Hornsby (1915-1937) 502 381 411

3. Joe Morgan (1963-1984) 512 341 384

4. Nap Lajoie (1896-1916) 496 334 375

5. Craig Biggio (1988-2007) 428 294 328

6. Charlie Gehringer (1924-1942) 383 280 306

7. Roberto Alomar (1988-2004) 375 278 302

8. Robinson Cano (2005- ) 334 285 297

9. Ryne Sandberg (1981-1997) 346 278 295

10. Rod Carew (1967-1985) 384 257 289

11. Frankie Frisch (1919-1937) 366 256 284

12. Jeff Kent (1992-2008) 339 252 274

13. Bobby Grich (1970-1986) 329 253 272

14. Lou Whitaker (1977-1995) 351 232 262

18. Jackie Robinson* (1947-1956) 257 257 257

* = Short but great career.

The Other Second Basemen in the top 20.

15. Chase Utley 289 249 259

16. Nellie Fox 304 242 258

17. Billy Herman 298 243 257

19. Larry Doyle 289 240 252

20. Willie Randolph 312 220 243

Second baseman who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Bobby Doerr 281 223 238

Johnny Evers 268 226 237

Joe Gordon 242 233 235

Tony Lazzeri 252 215 224

Red Schoendienst 262 204 219

Bill Mazeroski 219 173 185

The 11 Third Basemen with Hall of Fame Numbers (CAWS = 270)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Mike Schmidt (1972-1989) 467 338 370

2. Eddie Mathews (1952-1968) 450 333 362

3. George Brett (1973-1993) 432 296 330

4. Wade Boggs (1982-1999) 394 291 317

5. Chipper Jones (1993-2012) 423 281 317

6. Ron Santo (1960-1974) 324 275 287

7. Frank Baker (1908-1922) 301 280 285

8. Adrian Beltre (1998- ) 381 248 281

9. Darrell Evans (1969-1989) 363 253 281

10. Brooks Robinson (1955-1977) 356 247 274

11. Stan Hack (1932-1947) 316 256 271

The Other Third Basemen in the Top 20

CWS CV CAWS

12. Sal Bando 283 251 259

13. Scott Rolen 307 236 254

14. Jimmy Collins 274 242 250

15. Heinie Groh 272 243 250

16. Bob Elliott 287 236 249

17. Graig Nettles 321 224 248

18. Ken Boyer 279 235 246

19. Pie Traynor 274 228 240

20. Ron Cey 280 222 237

Third basemen who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

George Kell 229 192 201

Fred Lindstrom 193 182 190

The 17 Shortstops with Hall of Fame Numbers (CAWS = 250)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Honus Wagner (1897-1917) 655 422 480

2. Alex Rodriguez (1994-2016) 498 330 372

3. Arky Vaughan (1932-1948) 356 308 320

4. Cal Ripken Jr (1981-2001) 427 276 314

5. Robin Yount (1974-1993) 423 278 314

6. Derek Jeter (1995-2014) 415 275 310

7. Luke Appling (1930-1950) 378 275 301

8. George Davis (1890-1909) 398 255 291

9. Joe Cronin (1926-1945) 333 275 290

10. Bill Dahlen (1891-1911) 394 250 286

11. Barry Larkin (1986-2004) 347 258 280

12. Ernie Banks (1953-1971) 332 247 268

13. PeeWee Reese (1940-1958) 314 246 263

14. Lou Boudreau (1938-1952) 277 255 261

15. Alan Trammell (1977-1996) 318 238 258

16. Bobby Wallace (1894-1918) 345 227 257

17. Ozzie Smith (1978-1996) 325 226 251

Note: In his career, Alex Rodriguez played more games at shortstop than at any other position.

The Other Shortstops in the Top 20

CWS CV CAWS

18. Vern Stephens 265 239 246

19. Joe Sewell 277 233 244

20. Miguel Tejada 279 231 243

Shortstops who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 20.

Dave Bancroft 269 222 234

Rabbit Maranville 302 206 230

Joe Tinker 258 211 223

Phil Rizzuto 231 218 221

Luis Aparicio 293 193 218

Travis Jackson 211 191 196

The 11 Catchers with Hall of Fame Numbers (CAWS = 250)

CWS CV CAWS

1. Yogi Berra (1946-1965) 375 276 301

2. Johnny Bench (1967-1983) 356 277 297

3. Mike Piazza (1992-2008) 325 273 286

4. Gary Carter (1974-1992) 337 263 282

5. Carlton Fisk (1969-1993) 368 240 272

6. Ivan Rodriguez (1991-2011) 345 234 262

7. Joe Torre (1960-1977) 315 244 262

8. Ted Simmons (1968-1988) 315 240 259

9. Mickey Cochrane (1925-1937) 275 250 256

10. Bill Dickey (1928-1946) 314 235 255

11. Gabby Hartnett (1922-1941) 325 229 253

Note: Joe Torre is in the Hall of Fame as a manager – not as a player – although he deserves to be there as a player.

The Other Catchers in the Top 20

CWS CV CAWS

12. Joe Mauer 281 241 242

13. Bill Freehan 267 224 235

14. Jorge Posada 254 216 226

15. Jason Kendall 245 201 212

16. Gene Tenace 231 206 212

17. Lance Parrish 248 194 208

18. Roy Campanella 207 207 207

19. Thurman Munson 206 204 205

20. Roger Bresnahan 231 191 201

Catchers who are in the Hall of Fame who did not make it into the top 20.

Ernie Lombardi 218 167 180

Ray Schalk 191 167 173

Rick Ferrell 206 150 164

The 2 Designated Hitters with Hall of Fame Numbers (CAWS = 280)

Frank Thomas (1990-2008) 405 301 327

Paul Molitor (1978-1998) 414 270 306

Note: Paul Molitor and Frank Thomas each played more games as a designated hitter than at any other position.

Michael Hoban, Ph.D is Professor Emeritus of mathematics at the City University of N.Y. He has been an avid baseball fan for over 60 years and has become a serious baseball analyst, since joining SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) in 1998. He is the author of five baseball books including: DEFINING GREATNESS: A Hall of Fame Handbook (Booklocker, 2012) BASEBALL'S COMPLETE PLAYERS (McFarland: 2000) and FIELDER'S CHOICE (Booklocker: 2003).

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