The 10 best first basemen in Major League Baseball history

The Best First Basemen in Major League Baseball History

 

10) Orlando Cepeda – Played 1,683 games in 17 seasons from 1958-1974 at first base for six teams, primarily the Giants. An eleven time All Star and the 1967 NL MVP, Cepeda batted .297 with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBI’s.

 

9) Johnny Mize – “The Big Cat” played 1,667 games at first base during 15 seasons from 1937-1953 for the Cardinals, Giants, and Yankees, finishing with a .312 career batting average, 359 home runs, and 1,337 RBI’s. He was a ten time All Star selection.

 

8) Tony Perez  -  “Big Dog” was a seven time All Star with a .279 career batting average, 379 home runs, and 1,652 RBI’s in 23 seasons from 1964 to 1986 with the Cincinnati Reds, playing 1,778 games at first base.

 

7) George Sisler -  Playing in 2,055 games during 15 years with Boston, St. Louis, and Washington from 1915-1930, “Gorgeous George” had a .340 career batting average with 2,812 hits and was the 1922 American League MVP.

 

6) Hank Greenberg – Winner of the American League MVP in 1935 and 1940, “Hammerin’ Hank” had a career batting average of .313 with 331 homers, 1,274 RBI’s, a .412 on base percentage, and a .605 slugging percentage in 13 seasons from 1930-1947, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He played 1,138 games at first base and also played the outfield.

 

5) Jake Beckley – “Eagle Eye” played 2,380 games at first base during 20 years in the major leagues from 1888-1907 with the Cardinals, Reds, Pirates, and Giants. He finished his career with a .308 batting average, 2,934 hits and 1,578 RBI’s.

 

4) Willie McCovey -  Playing 2,045 games at first base in a 22 year career from 1959-1980 “Big Mac” hit .270 with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBI’s, mainly with the San Francisco Giants. A six time All Star and winner of the 1969 National League MVP.

 

3)  Eddie Murray – Playing 2,413 games at first base “Steady Eddie” batted .287 with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, and 1,917 RBI’s during 21 seasons with the Orioles, Dodgers, Indians, Mets, and Angels from 1977-1997. Was an eight time All Star and won three Gold Gloves.

 

2) Jimmie Foxx – Winner of the 1933 Triple Crown, “The Beast” was a three-time American League MVP and was named to nine All Star teams.  Playing in 1,919 games at first base, mainly with Philadelphia and Boston from 1925-1945, Foxx batted .325 with 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI’s, as well as a .428 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage. He also played third base, catcher and outfield.

 

1) Lou Gehrig - The “Iron Horse” played in 2,164 games at first base from 1923-1939 for the Yankees. Gehrig batted .340 for his career, with a .447 on base percentage, .632 slugging percentage, 493 home runs and 1,995 RBI’s. A six time All Star, two time AL MVP, and winner of the 1934 Triple Crown, Gehrig also hit .361 with 10 homers and 35 RBI’s in 34 World Series games.