The Baseball Scholar

1990s All-Decade Team

Dave Franks
4–6 minutes

The 1990s may be remembered as much for the players strike in August of 1994 as for the PED-fueled home run chase in 1998 that brought the game back into the national spotlight. It was, however, a decade filled with players reaching some of the most respected individual statistical milestones. The 300-win club welcomed all-time strikeout king and hall of famer to be Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens joined the 3,000 strikeout club when he fanned Randy Winn on July 5, 1998. As with much of the decade, even the milestones were dominated by the hitters. Of the 30 players in the 3,000 hit club seven joined during the 1990s. Robin Yount and George Brett reached the milestone in September of 1992. A year later in September of 1993 Dave Winfield collected number 3,000. 1995 saw Eddie Murray join and in 1996 Paul Molitor became the first player who’s 3,000 hit was a triple. Then on back to back days in August of 1999 Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs were welcomed to the elite club with Boggs becoming the first player to collect number 3,000 on a home run. The decade started with Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones being selected as the number one overall pick in the June 1990 draft. Phil Nevin (1992), Alex Rodriguez (1993), Darin Erstad (1995), Pat Burrell (1998), and Josh Hamilton (1999) are the other position players taken number one overall during the decade making it one of the best classes of number one overall picks and a sign for things to come.

There were definitely some significant bumps during the decade but the game has ultimately come out on top. Below is our list of best players during the decade by position.


Frank Thomas Batting Statistics
WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
52.7 1,371 4,892 968 1,564 317 10 301 1,040 28 18 1,076 741 .320 .440 .573 1.013

  • Second Base, Craig Biggio

    • Age: 24 – 33
    • Years: 1990 – 1999
    • Teams: Houston Astros
    • All-Star: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
    • Silver Slugger: 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998


    Craig Biggio Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    52.9 1,515 5,823 1,042 1,728 362 35 136 641 319 100 730 880 .297 .386 .441 .827

  • Third Base, Chipper Jones


    • Chipper Jones Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    26.9 779 2,890 542 871 166 17 153 524 83 19 459 463 .301 .394 .529 .923

  • Shortstop, Barry Larkin

    • Age: 26 – 35
    • Years: 1990 – 1999
    • Teams: Cincinnati Reds
    • MVP: 1995
    • All-Star: 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
    • Silver Slugger: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999


    Barry Larkin Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    52.4 1,293 4,780 834 1,447 269 51 137 639 266 47 658 513 .303 .388 .466 .854

  • Outfield, Barry Bonds


    • Barry Bonds Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    79.9 1,434 4,894 1,091 1,478 299 42 361 1,076 343 94 1,146 747 .302 .434 .602 1.036

  • Outfield, Ken Griffey, Jr

    • Age: 20 – 29
    • Years: 1990 – 1999
    • Teams: Seattle Mariners
    • MVP 1997
    • All-Star: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
    • Silver Slugger: 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999


    Ken Griffey, Jr. Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    67.3 1,408 5,377 1,002 1,622 297 30 382 1,091 151 53 703 901 .302 .384 .581 .965

  • Outfield, Albert Belle


    • Albert Belle Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    39.4 1,336 5,076 881 1,520 344 16 351 1,099 86 34 619 838 .299 .376 .581 .957

  • Designated Hitter, Edgar Martinez


    • Edgar Martinez Batting Statistics
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
    51.6 1,295 4,630 854 1,492 358 12 196 750 38 26 854 708 .322 .430 .532 .962

  • Starting Pitcher, Greg Maddux

  • Age: 24 – 33
  • Years: 1990 – 1999
  • Teams: Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves
  • Cy Young Award: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
  • All-Star: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998


    • Greg Maddux Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    65.3 331 331 176 88 2.54 2,394.2 75 23 0 786 677 443 1,764 6.6 1.055

  • Starting Pitcher, Pedro Martinez

  • Age: 20 – 27
  • Years: 1992 – 1999
  • Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox
  • Cy Young Award: 1997, 1999
  • All-Star: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999


    • Pedro Martinez Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    40.3 249 182 107 50 2.83 1,359.1 28 11 3 476 428 410 1,534 10.2 1.074

  • Starting Pitcher, Roger Clemens

  • Age: 27 – 36
  • Years: 1990 – 1999
  • Teams: Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees
  • Cy Young Award: 1991, 1997, 1998
  • All-Star: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998


    • Roger Clemens Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    68.5 305 305 152 89 3.02 2,177.2 57 24 0 813 731 731 2,101 8.7 1.176

  • Starting Pitcher, Jose Rijo

  • Age: 25 – 30
  • Years: 1990 – 1995
  • Teams: Cincinnati Reds
  • All-Star: 1994


    • Jose Rijo Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    29.6 168 168 72 43 2.74 1,111 16 3 0 383 338 313 955 7.7 1.157

  • Starting Pitcher, Randy Johnson

  • Age: 26 – 35
  • Years: 1990 – 1999
  • Teams: Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Cy Young Award: 1995, 1999
  • All-Star: 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999


    • Randy Johnson Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    52.6 298 290 150 75 3.14 2,063.1 65 25 2 805 715 910 2,538 11.1 1.197

  • Relief Pitcher, Billy Wagner

  • Age: 23 – 27
  • Years: 1995 – 1999
  • Teams: Houston Astros
  • All-Star: 1999


    • Billy Wagner Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    7.7 224 0 17 14 2.35 253 0 0 101 72 66 108 394 14.0 1.051

  • Relief Pitcher, Mariano Rivera

  • Age: 25 – 29
  • Years: 1995 – 1999
  • Teams: New York Yankees
  • All-Star: 1997, 1999


    • Mariano Rivera Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    15.2 266 10 26 13 2.58 376.2 0 0 129 113 108 119 337 8.1 1.112

  • Relief Pitcher, Bryan Harvey

  • Age: 27 – 32
  • Years: 1990 – 1995
  • Teams: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Florida Marlins
  • All-Star: 1991, 1993


    • Bryan Harvey Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    8.9 218 0 7 17 2.44 251 0 0 135 79 68 81 300 10.8 1.028

  • Relief Pitcher, Rob Dibble

  • Age: 26 – 31
  • Years: 1990 – 1995
  • Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers
  • All-Star: 1991, 1991


    • Rob Dibble Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    3.9 274 0 16 19 3.47 318.2 0 0 87 134 123 178 445 12.6 1.271

  • Relief Pitcher, Ugueth Urbina

  • Age: 21 – 25
  • Years: 1995 – 1999
  • Teams: Montreal Expos
  • All-Star: 1998


    • Ugueth Urbina Pitching Statistics
    WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP
    6.6 238 21 29 24 3.40 346.2 0 0 102 146 131 156 401 10.4 1.246

    Honorable Mention

    6 responses to “1990s All-Decade Team”

    1. Garry Harris Avatar
      Garry Harris

      C Mike Piazza, Ivan Rodriguez Benito Santiago
      1B Frank Thomas, Jeff Bagwell, Mark McGuire, Rafael Palmeiro, Fred McGriff, Andres Gallarago
      2B Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio
      3B Matt Williams, Robin Ventura
      SS Barry Larkin, Jay Bell
      LF Barry Bonds, Albert Belle
      CF Ken Griffey Jr, Steve Finley, Kenny Loften
      RF Juan Gonzales, Gary Sheffield

      DH Edgar Martinez

      SP Greg Maddux
      SP Roger Clemens
      SP Tom Glavine
      SP John Smoltz
      SP Kevin Brown
      SP David Cone

      RP Dennis Eckersley
      RP John Franco
      RP Randy Myers
      RP John Wetteland
      RP Doug Jones

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    2. Greg Avatar
      Greg

      Blue Jays snubbed here.

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    3. Juan Felipe Avatar
      Juan Felipe

      No Mike Mussina and his 136 wins during the decade?

      Tom Glavine? John Smoltz? Please any of these guys are better than Jose Vidro. Give me a break!

      And really? Bobby Bonilla gets honorable mention at 3B over the 6-time gold glove winner Robin Ventura? Bonilla wasn’t even a full time 3B.

      And no love for Pudge Rodriguez?

      This list needs to be revised.

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    4. Avatar
      Anonymous

      No Gwynn?? Lol ok

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    5. Matthew Avatar
      Matthew

      All time 90’s Team

      2B Roberto Alomar
      SS Barry Larkin
      RF Tony Gwynn
      LF Barry Bonds
      CF Ken Griffey Jr.
      1B Frank Thomas
      DH Albert Belle
      C Mike Piazza
      3B Wade Boggs

      P Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens & Randy Johnson

      Since Arod, & Jeter really began in 96, Barry Larkin takes it for the whole decade. Since Chipper started in 95, Boggs did enough playing every year of the 90’s with 7 AS, 2 GG and 3 SS in the decade. Your dilemma is not having the best pure hitter in the era not having Tony Gwynn on your list. Belle who played LF would be my DH, kicking Edgar M out.

      Oh and nobody beats this team, NOBODY., they had to deal with specialty relief pitching, something that the earlier eras didn’t have to deal with. Your not getting anything theough the infield with Alomar and Larkin.

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    6. Avatar
      Anonymous

      I’d take Jeff Bagwell at 1b over Frank Thomas any day. Reason: Bagwell brings a lot more to the table, he can hit, hit w/power, field, run the bases…more of an asset on on both offense and defense!

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