Pyle of List

I really feel like this might be one of the hardest positions for me. There have been so many great hitting first basemen in my lifetime, I’m sure this will come under some scrutiny. First, a review of the rules:

• Must have been in their prime (we’ll use making the All-Star team as a measure) when I was intently following baseball (1993-present)
• Must have played 100 games at said position in 3 seasons
• Each position will have two categories, Best Hitters and Best Fielders (except for pitchers, which will be Best Starters and Best Relievers)
• Looking for top 5 in each category

Check out my other rankings: 2B, SS, 3B

On to the one baggers! Whoa, that sounds a lot dirtier than I intended…

Best Hitters

Mark McGwire - Oakland A’s/St. Louis Cardinals - Steroids or not, this guy could crush. I think the best argument for this guy not doing steroids in ‘98 (or at least not starting to do them in ‘98 *cough*Sosa*cough*) is that he hit 50 HR in his rookie season. You know how many players would kill their first born to have 50 HR in one season? All of them that never hit 50 HR in a season. Best season (1998, duh) - .299/.470/.752, 70 HR, 147 RBI, 130 R, 1 SB

Frank Thomas - Chicago White Sox/Toronto Blue Jays/Oakland A’s - I think Thomas sometimes get forgotten about because he didn’t break any records or make jokes or anything. In fact, Thomas never really did anything cool…except hit. Two MVPs is no joke, but the real deal sealer is the fact that he had his own Sega Saturn video game. Prestige! Best season (2000) - .328/.436/.625, 43 HR, 143 RBI, 115 R, 1 SB

Albert Pujols - St. Louis Cardinals - Maybe the best hitting first baseman the game has ever seen, I couldn’t leave him off the list. Even if he doesn’t hold a special place in my childhood like the other guys. Here is a fun little tidbit: since entering the league, Pujols has never finished lower than 9th in the MVP race. The season he finished 9th? 2007 when he hit .327 with 32 HR and 103 RBI. I know, what a wuss, right? Best season (2006) - .331/.431/.671, 49 HR, 137 RBI, 119 R, 7 SB

Cecil Fielder - Toronto Blue Jays/Detroit Tigers/New York Yankees/California Angels/Cleveland Indians - Swing, Fat Man, swing! I remember when I was a kid and Fielder hit it onto the roof of a stadium. THE FREAKING ROOF! He makes this list for that feat alone. Best season (1990) - .277/.377/.592, 51 HR, 132 RBI, 104 R, 0 SB

Jeff Bagwell - Houston Astros - Listen, I’m not going to lie: in the late ’90s I had a thing for white guys with goatees. That’s why Bagwell, Caminitti, and Buhner were my three favorite players. Maybe I was just trying to find the next ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin in my life, but whatever, at least Bagwell was really good on top of my stupid man crush. Best season (1994) - .368/.451/.750, 39 HR, 116 RBI, 104 R, 15 SB, 1 MVP Award

Runners up: Will Clark, Fred McGriff, Mark Grace, Andres Galarraga, John Olerud

Best Fielders

JT Snow - California Angels/San Francisco Giants/Boston Red Sox - JT Snow won 6 Gold Gloves in a row (1995-2000) but perhaps the best play her ever made was saving Dusty Baker’s son who was a little too over-eager to get the bat.

Mark Grace - Chicago Cubs/Arizona Diamondbacks - Slick with the bat, slick with the glove…just how I like my women! Wait…

Don Mattingly - New York Yankees - Known mostly for his bat, Donnie Sideburns could play with the leather too, winning 9 Gold Gloves. Yes, only two of those were in the window of this list, but nonetheless he was good. Plus, his mustache would kick my ass if he wasn’t on this list.

Todd Helton - Colorado Rockies - Another guy who is mostly known for his bat, but who could handle himself in the field as well.

John Olerud - Toronto Blue Jays/New York Mets/Seattle Mariners/New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox - I mean, let’s face it, it’s easier to catch ‘em when you’ve got the safety and comfort of a batting helmet on your head.

Runners up: none

Disagree? Got someone I totally didn’t think of? Go ahead and let me know if the comments.