2-time National League pitching triple crown winner (wins, ERA, strikeouts)
4-time NL wins leader
5-time NL ERA leader
5-time NL strikeout leader
Pitched 2 no-hitters
World Series champion in 1905
Pitched 3 complete game shutouts in the 1905 World Series, allowing a mere 14 hits
Inducted into Baseball hall of Fame in 1936 as part of the inaugural class that included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson
Named to Baseball’s All-Century Team in 1999
Ranked in 1999 #7 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players (highest ranked pitcher)
ESPN ranked his feats in the 1905 World Series as the greatest playoff performance of all time
Insisted on enlisting into the United States Army for World War One. In France, he was accidentally gassed during a chemical training exercise and contracted tuberculosis. He died of the illness in 1925 at the age of 45.
1914-1935, primarily for the New York Yankees, as well as stints with the Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves
.342 lifetime batting average
714 career home runs
2,214 career runs batted in (rbi’s)
2,873 career hits
94-46 lifetime record as a lefthanded pitcher for Red Sox, with a 2.28 earned run average (ERA)
7-time World Series champion
12-time American League home run leader
5-time American League rbi leader
2-time AL All-Star
1923 AL Most Valuable Player
1924 AL batting champion
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its first class in 1936
Led the game in its transition from the dead ball era to one that featured long home runs, earning him unending adulation from fans
Legendary nicknames include “The Bambino” and “The Sultan of Swat”
Ranked by the Sporting News number one on its list of “Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players”
In 1999, was named to baseball’s All Century Team
Honorable Mention: Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Mel Ott, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Al Kaline, Ichiro Suzuki, Vladimir Guerrero, Dave Winfield, Paul Waner, Tony Oliva, Kiki Cuyler, Sam Crawford, Enos Slaughter, Harry Heilmann, Sam Rice, Chuck Klein
1951-1973, primarily for the New York/San Francisco Giants
.302 career lifetime batting average
660 career home runs
1,903 career runs batted in (rbi’s)
3,282 career hits
24-time National League All-Star
1954 World Series champion
2-time NL Most Valuable Player
1951 NL Rookie of the Year
1954 NL batting champion
4-time NL home run leader
4-time NL stolen base leader
12-time Gold Glove Award winner
MLB’s all-time leader in outfield putouts (7,095)
2,842 games as an outfielder third most all time
All-Star Game records for most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (six)
Shares All-Star Game records for most extra-base hits (eight), triples (three), and total bases (40)
Career 156.2 wins above replacement (WAR) ranks third all time for position players
Led NL in on base plus slugging (OPS) five times
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979
Named to Major League Baseball’s All Century Team and All-Time Team
Honorable Mention (this position is stacked with fantastic options): Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Tris Speaker, Duke Snider, Mike Trout, Larry Doby, Richie Ashburn, Hack Wilson, Earl Averill, Edd Roush, Kirby Puckett, Vada Pinson, Andrew McCutchen, Max Carey
Considered by many the greatest hitter of all time
.344 career batting average
521 career home runs
1,839 career runs batted in (rbi’s)
19-time all star
2-time American League MVP
2-time American League Triple Crown winner (batting average, home runs, rbi’s)
6-time AL batting champion
4-time AL home run leader
Last player to hit .400 (.406 in 1941)
MLB record .482 on base percentage
Served two tours of duty in the military (World War 2 and Korean War) and lost 5 years of playing time during his prime
Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966
Hall of Fame speech called for the recognition and inclusion of African American players
Honorable Mention: Stan Musial, Cart Yastrzemski, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Al Simmons, Ralph Kiner, Billy Williams, Jim Rice, Lou Brock, Charlie Keller, Joe Medwick, Goose Goslin, Fred Clarke, Ed Delahanty, Frank Howard, Tim Raines, Willie Stargell,
Only player ever to record at least 500 rbi in any three consecutive seasons
13 consecutive seasons with at least 100 rbi’s
Most seasons ever with at least 400 total bases (five)
Diagnosed in 1939 with ALS and retired immediately
Affects of illness before diagnosis forced Gehrig to bench himself because of poor play, ending his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played (a record broken by Cal Ripken in 1995)
Games played streak earned him the nickname, “The Iron Horse”
Gave the famous, “Luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech at Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939
Died on June 2, 1941 at age 37 from ALS
Honorable Mention: Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Johnny Mize, Harmon Killebrew, Willie McCovey, Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, Albert Pujols, Frank Thomas, Eddie Murray, Miguel Cabrera
Whipped Owl 