110 Greatest Baseball Players

97.  CF Steve Finley, Arizona Diamondbacks

Finley first got to the Majors with Baltimore in 1989.  He went to Houston in 1991.  Finley won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1992.  He went to San Diego in 1995 and won a Gold Glove Award.  In 1996, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and a Gold Glove Award.  In 1997, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game.  He went to the Diamondbacks in 1999 where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and a Golf Glove Award.  In 2000, he played in the All-Star Game and won a Gold Glove Award.  He won a World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001.  In 2004, he played in the All-Star Game, was traded to the Dodgers and won a Player-of-the-Week Award.  He played a season apiece with the Angels, San Francisco and Colorado before retiring.  He finished his career with 304 home runs and 1,167 runs batted in.  He will be eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012 if the world doesn't end first and here's hoping that the BBWAA doesn't fuck this one up (Finley probably isn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer so we're probably going to have to wait but LeRoy hopes that they don't vote him off the ballot).  His spot is safe on this list.

Honorable Mention:

3B Ron Cey, Los Angeles Dodgers

Cey got to the Majors with the Dodgers in 1971.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1973.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1974.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1975.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1976.  In 1977, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, a Player-of-the-Month Award and played in the All-Star Game.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1978.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1979.  In 1981, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame for his career at Washington State, won a Player-of-the-Week Award and won a World Series with the Dodgers.  He went to the Cubs in 1983 where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award.  He played three more seasons with the Cubs and a season with Oakland before retiring.  He finished his career with 316 home runs and 1,139 runs batted in.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and he won't make this list either.

110 Greatest Baseball Players

98.  RHP Hoyt Wilhelm, Chicago White Sox

Wilhelm began his Minor League career in 1942 but it was interrupted by World War II.  He didn't return to the U. S. until 1946 and by then he was unable to regain his former fastball, which was said to be outstanding, so he scrapped everything and restarted his career as a knuckleballer.  Wilhelm finally got to the Majors with the New York Giants in 1952 at the age of 28 and quickly established himself as a premier setup man and part-time closer but he first gained notice when he hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1953.  He won a World Series with the Giants in 1954.  He split 1957 between St. Louis and Cleveland.  He split 1958 between Cleveland and Baltimore and began starting games for the first time in his Major League career due to his extra stamina from the knuckleball and he amazingly threw a no-hitter in one of those starts with Baltimore.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1959.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1961.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1962.  He went to the White Sox in 1963.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1966.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1967.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1968.  He split the 1969 season between the California Angels and Atlanta and was the oldest player in both the American and National Leagues.  In 1970, he played in the All-Star Game, was traded to the Cubs and was the oldest player in the National League.  He split 1971 between Atlanta and the Dodgers and was the oldest player in the National League.  He was the oldest player in the National League in 1972.  He finished his career with 143 wins and 122 losses with 227 saves and 1,610 strikeouts.  The real testament is to his longevity, though.  He played 21 seasons in the Majors and pitched in 1,070 games during that span, completing 2,254 innings pitched and maintaining a 2.52 ERA during that span.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.  To date, he is the only setup man to ever be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Honorable Mention:

1B Norm Cash, Detroit Tigers

Cash got to the Majors with the White Sox in 1958.  He went to the Tigers in 1960. In 1961, he played in the All-Star Game, won the American League Batting Title and finished the season with 41 home runs.  He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in 1965.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1966.  He won a World Series with the Tigers in 1968.  In 1971, he played in the All-Star Game and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1972.  In 1974, he became a true franchise player with the Tigers and played in the All-Star Game before retiring.  He finished his career with 377 home runs and 1,103 runs batted in.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and he won't make this list either.   

110 Greatest Baseball Players

99.  OF Al Simmons, Philadelphia Athletics

Simmons got to the Majors with the Athletics in 1924.  He finished the season with 53 doubles in 1926.  Simmons won a World Series with the Athletics in 1929.  In 1930, he won the American League Batting Title and won a World Series with the Athletics.  He won the American League Batting Title in 1931.  He hit three home runs in a game in 1932.  He went to the White Sox in 1933 where he played in the All-Star Game.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1934.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1935.  He finished his career by returning to the Athletics for parts of three seasons, parts of two seasons with the Washington Senators, a year apiece with Detroit and Boston and cups of coffee with the Boston Braves and Detroit.  Simmons retired with a career .334 batting average, 307 home runs and 1,827 runs batted in.  He is the all-time leader in home runs by a player from Wisconsin.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953.

Honorable Mention:

3B Vinny Castilla, Colorado Rockies

Castilla got to the Majors with Atlanta in 1991 but didn't gain notice until he was taken by the Rockies in the expansion draft in the 1992 off-season.  In 1995, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 1996, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and finished the season with 40 home runs.  In 1997, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, finished the season with 40 home runs and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 1998, he participated in the Home Run Derby, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 46 home runs and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He hit three home runs in a game in 1999.  He went to Tampa Bay in 2000.  He hit three home runs in a game in 2001 shortly before being traded to Houston.  He returned to Atlanta in 2002.  He returned to Colorado in 2004 and won a Player-of-the-Week Award.  He played for Washington in 2005.  He represented his native Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and split the season between San Diego and the Rockies before retiring.  He finished his career with 320 home runs and 1,105 runs batted in.  He was snubbed last year for the Hall of Fame and won't make this list either.

110 Greatest Baseball Players

100.  RHP Kent Tekulve, Pittsburgh Pirates

Tekulve quickly gained attention when he arrived in the Majors with the Pirates in 1974 with his quirky sidearm-submarine-style delivery and had established himself as a premier setup man and part-time closer by 1975.  He won a Pitcher-of-the-Month Award in 1978.  Tekulve won a World Series with the Pirates in 1979.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1980.  He was traded to Philadelphia mid-season in 1985.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1986.  He spent two more seasons in Philadelphia and a season in Cincinnati before retiring.  He finished his career with 94 wins and 90 losses and recorded 184 saves and 779 strikeouts.  His real testament is his longevity though, as he pitched 16 seasons in the Majors and pitched in 1,050 games in his career and recorded 1,436 innings pitched, maintaining a 2.85 ERA throughout his duration.  Like most setup men, he was unceremoniously snubbed by the BBWAA but his place won't be forgotten here.

Honorable Mention:

1B Jack Doyle, New York Giants

Doyle broke into the Majors with the Colorado Solons in 1889 at the young age of 19.  He moved on to the Cleveland Spiders in 1891 and was traded to the Giants in 1892.  He went to Baltimore in 1896.  He went to the Washington Senators in 1898 before being traded back to the Giants.  He played for the Cubs in 1901.  In 1902 he once again played for the Giants and the Washington Senators.  He played for the Brooklyn Superbas in 1903 before being traded to Philadelphia in 1904.  He finished his career with the Yankees in 1905.  Doyle finished his career with 518 stolen bases.  It's hard to judge a player like Doyle, who probably belongs in the Hall of Fame but who left the game over 30 years before the Hall of Fame was invented.  He probably isn't one of the all-time greats regardless, but he's definitely worthy of an honorable mention here.

110 Greatest Baseball Player

101.  RF Gary Sheffield, Florida Marlins

Sheffield first came of note while still in Elementary School as a star pitcher for Belmont Heights High School (Florida) in the Little League World Series.  He was remembered again when his uncle, Dwight Gooden, became a star pitcher for the New York Mets in 1984.  Sheffield was noticed again in 1986 when he was drafted in the first round by the Milwaukee Brewers.    He broke into the Majors in 1988 at the young age of 19.  He was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team in 1989.  He was suspended in 1990 for three games for inciting a brawl.  He went to San Diego in 1992, where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, a Player-of-the-Month Award, participated in the Home Run Derby, played in the All-Star Game, won the National League Batting Title, won a Silver Slugger Award and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year.  In 1993, he was suspended for three games for inciting a brawl, won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game while being traded to the Marlins mid-season.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1994.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1995.  In 1996, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, participated in the Home Run Derby, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 42 home runs and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He won a World Series with the Marlins in 1997.  In 1998, he signed a contract with the Dodgers which made him the highest-paid player in the Majors and played in the All-Star Game.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1999.  In 2000, he was suspended for five games for having an altercation with fans, won two Player-of-the-Week Awards, played in the All-Star Game, and finished the season with 43 home runs.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 2001.  He went to Atlanta in 2002.  In 2003, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, participated in the Home Run Derby, played in the All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He moved on to the Yankees in 2004, where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 2005, he was suspended for one game for having an altercation with a fan, won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He went to Detroit in 2007, where he was suspended for three games for making aggressive actions toward an umpire and won a Player-of-the-Week Award.  In 2008, it was revealed that he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career and he was suspended for four games for fighting in a bench-clearing brawl.  He moved on to the Mets in 2009 and hit his 500th career home run before retiring.  He finished his career with 509 home runs and 1,676 runs batted in.  Sheffield is also known for being Dwight Gooden's nephew and for being married to singer DeLeon Richards.  On paper, there is no doubt about Sheffield's place among the greats.  But again we are faced with the PED problem.  If LeRoy attempted to alter his stats to take the drugs into account, Sheffield probably still would have cracked the list in about the same spot as he's in now, trading hits and stolen bases for home runs and runs batted in.

Honorable Mention:

1B Boog Powell, Baltimore Orioles

Powell first gained notice while playing in elementary school for playing in the Little League World Series with Lakeland, Florida.  He got to the Majors with Baltimore in 1961 and was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team in 1962.  In 1966, he won a World Series with the Orioles and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1968.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1969.  In 1970, he played in the All-Star Game, won a World Series with the Orioles and was named the American League Most Valuable Player.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1971.  He went to Cleveland in 1975 and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.  He finished his career by spending another year in Cleveland and a year with the Dodgers.  He retired with 339 home runs and 1,187 runs batted in in his career.  He was snubbed by the BBWAA and he won't make this list either.   

110 Greatest Baseball Players

102.  LHP Jesse Orosco, New York Mets

Orosco broke into the Major Leagues with the Mets in 1979 and he had established himself as a premier setup man and part-time closer by 1982.  In 1983, he won two Player-of-the-Week Awards, a Player-of-the-Month Award and played in the All-Star Game.  In 1984, Orosco won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game.  He won a World Series with the Mets in 1986.  He went to the Dodgers in 1988.  He moved on to Cleveland in 1989.  He joined Milwaukee in 1992.  He went to Baltimore in 1995.  He became the oldest active player in the Major Leagues in 1999.  He moved on to St. Louis in 2000, where he was the oldest player in the National League.  He returned to the Dodgers in 2001, where he was the oldest player in the National League.  He was the oldest player in the National League in 2002.  He had cups of coffee with San Diego, the Yankees, and Minnesota in 2003 and was the oldest player in both the American and National Leagues before retiring.  In his career Orosco won 87 games and lost 80, while posting 144 saves and recording 1,179 strikeouts.  His greatness comes from his longevity, though.  Orosco pitched 24 seasons in the Majors and over that period of time he pitched in 1,252 games and recorded 1,295 innings pitched, maintaining a 3.16 ERA over his body of work.

Honorable Mention:

1B Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers

Greenberg broke into the Major Leagues with the Tigers at the young age of 19 in 1930.  He went back to the Minors and gained note once again when he was named the MVP of the Texas League in 1932.  He finished the season with 63 doubles in 1934.  In 1935, he won a World Series with the Tigers and was named the American League Most Valuable Player.  In 1937, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 40 home runs.  In 1938, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 58 home runs.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1939.  In 1940, he played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 50 doubles, finished the season with 41 home runs and was named the American League Most Valuable Player.  He left the team in 1941 to join the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II.  He made his comeback in the second half of the 1945 season and played in the All-Star Game and won a World Series with the Tigers. He finished the season with 44 home runs in 1946.  He finished his career by spending a season with Pittsburgh.  He retired with a career .313 batting average with 331 home runs and 1,276 runs batted in.  His number 5 was retired by the Tigers.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.  Props to the BBWAA for getting one right for a change, but he won't make the cut for this list.

1B Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves

Adcock got to the Majors with Cincinnati in 1950.  He went to the Braves in 1953.  He hit three home runs in a game in 1954.  He won a World Series with the Braves in 1957.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1960.  He finished his career by playing a year apiece with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Angels and two years with the California Angels.  He retired with 336 home runs and 1,122 runs batted in in his career.  He became the manager for Cleveland in 1967.  He was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame for his career at Louisiana State University in 1978.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and he won't make this list either.

LF Dave Kingman, New York Mets

Kingman first gained attention by winning the College World Series with USC in 1970.  He got to the Majors with San Francisco in 1971.  He hit for the cycle in 1972.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1973.  He went to the Mets in 1975 where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and Player-of-the-Month Award.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1976.  He got traded to San Diego, California, and the Yankees in 1977.  He went to the Cubs in 1978.  In 1979, he won two Player-of-the-Week Awards, played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 48 home runs.  In 1980, he won a Player-of-the-Month Award and played in the All-Star Game.  He returned to the Mets in 1981 and won a Player-of-the-Week Award.  He won a Player-of-the-Week Award in 1982.  In 1984, he went to Oakland and was suspended for three games for charging the mound, won a Player-of-the-Week Award and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.  He finished his career by playing two more seasons in Oakland.  Kingman hit three home runs in a game five times during his career.  He finished his career with 442 home runs and 1,210 runs batted in.  He is the all-time leader in home runs by a player from Oregon.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and he won't make this list either. 

110 Greatest Baseball Players

103.  RF Reggie Jackson, Oakland Athletics

Jackson first gained notice when he was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Athletics in 1966.  He reached the Majors with the Athletics in 1967 and followed them to Oakland when they were relocated in 1968.  In 1969, Jackson had nine runs batted in in one game, played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 47 home runs.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1971.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1972.  In 1973, he played in the All-Star Game, won a World Series with the A's, was named the World Series MVP and was named the American League Most Valuable Player.  In 1974, he played in the all-Star Game and won a World Series with the A's.  In 1975, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame following his career at Arizona State, won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game.  He played for Baltimore in 1976 where he won a Player-of-the Month Award.  He moved onto the Yankees in 1977, where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game, hit three home runs in Game Six of the World Series, won a World Series with the Yankees and was named the World Series MVP.  In 1978, he was suspended by Yankees manager Billy Martin for five games, played in the All-Star game and won a World Series with the Yankees.  In 1979, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game.  In 1980, he won two Player-of-the-week Awards, a Player-of-the-Month Award, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 41 home runs and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1981.  He went to California in 1982 and he played in the All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1983.  In 1984, he played in the All-Star Game and hit his 500th career home run.  Jackson finished his career by playing two more years in California and another year with the Athletics before retiring.  Jackson hit three home runs in a regular season game three times in his career.  He finished his career with 563 home runs and 1,702 runs batted in.  His number nine was retired by the Athletics and his number 44 was retired by the Yankees following the end of his career.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.  He stayed in the public eye after his retirement by dabbling in acting and appearing in the films Naked Gun, BASEketball, and The Benchwarmers.

Honorable Mention:

2B Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs

Soriano's big-time professional baseball career began in Japan.  He came to the U. S. in 1999 and immediately emerged as a top prospect with the Yankees and played in the Futures Game on the World Team.  He was a top prospect again in 2000 and reached the Majors.  In 2001, he held the title of top prospect again and was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team.  In 2002, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 50 doubles, finished the season with 39 homers and 41 steals and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 2003, he won two Player-of-the-Week Awards, two Player-of-the-Month Awards, played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 38 homers and 35 steals.  He went to Texas in 2004, where he had six hits in one game, played in the All-Star Game, was named the All-Star Game MVP and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 2005, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 36 homers and 30 steals and won a Silver Slugger Award.  In 2006 he went to Washington, where he played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, played in the All-Star Game, finished the season with 46 home runs and 41 steals and won a Silver Slugger Award.  He went to the Cubs in 2007, where he won a Player-of-the-Week Award, won a Player-of-the-Month Award and played in the All-Star Game.  In 2008, he won a Player-of-the-Week Award and played in the All-Star Game.  Soriano has hit three home runs in a game three times in his career.  He has spent the last three seasons with the Cubs and is under contract for three more.  Soriano has already hit 340 home runs and has somewhere between five or six years left in the league.  He's not good enough to make this list yet, but he may very well be on his way.

RF Rocky Colavito, Cleveland Indians

Colavito got to the Majors with the Indians in 1955.  He finished the season with 41 home runs in 1958.  In 1959, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 42 home runs.  He went to Detroit in 1960.  In 1961, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 45 home runs.  In 1962, he had six hits in one game and played in the All-Star Game.  He went to the Kansas City Athletics in 1964, where he played in the All-Star Game.  He returned to the Indians in 1965 and played in the All-Star Game.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1966.  He finished his career with cups of coffees with the Indians, the Yankees, the Dodgers and the White Sox.  Colavito finished his career with 374 home runs but was snubbed from the Hall of Fame for no particular reason.  He won't make this list either.

OF Frank Howard, Washington Senators

Howard got to the Majors with cups of coffee with the Dodgers in 1958 and 1959.  He got to the Majors to stay in 1960 and was named to the Topps All-Rookie Team and was named the National League Rookie of the Year.  He won a Player-of-the-Month Award in 1962.  He won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1963.  He went to the Senators in 1965.  In 1968, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 44 home runs.  in 1969, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 48 home runs.  In 1970, he played in the All-Star Game and finished the season with 44 home runs.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1971.  He finished his career with a cup of coffee with Texas (the relocated Washington Senators) and parts of two seasons with Detroit.  He finished his career with 382 home runs.  Howard stayed in baseball as a coach following his career and eventually became a manager with San Diego and the Mets.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and didn't make the cut for this list either.