About This Series

Debating the greatest players in baseball history has always been part of the sport’s appeal. The 100 Greatest Players series examines the most outstanding careers in Major League Baseball by ranking the greatest players both overall and at each position. The goal of the series is to place players in the historical context of the eras in which they played while recognizing the performance that defined their careers.

This page serves as the hub for the series, where readers can explore the overall ranking and the positional lists that make up the full project.

The Overall Rankings

100 Greatest Baseball Players of All-Time

The best players in MLB history ranked.

Players by Position

100 Greatest Catchers of All-Time

The best catchers in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest First Basemen of All-Time

The best first basemen in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Second Basemen of All-Time

The best second basemen in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Third Basemen of All-Time

The best third basemen in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Shortstops of All-Time

The best shorstops in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Right Fielders of All-Time

The best right fielders in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Center Fielders of All-Time

The best center fielders in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Left Fielders of All-Time

The best left fielders in MLB history ranked.

100 Greatest Starting Pitchers of All-Time

The best starting pitchers in MLB history ranked.

Methodology

The rankings in this series are determined by a proprietary scoring system that compares players across eras in a consistent, objective way. The formula evaluates statistical performance and career value through a purely mathematical framework rather than subjective factors. Awards, reputation, and historical narratives are not part of the calculation, allowing the rankings to focus entirely on measurable on-field production.

Related Series on The Baseball Scholar

The All-Decade Teams

Greatest Players by Franchise