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Illinois’s Best Baseball Players

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For a lot of people where we are from is a point of pride. When we meet someone who hales from the same place as us there is often a sense of comradery. Below is a list of the best players born in the state of Illinois.

  1. Rickey Henderson – Chicago, IL

    2. Rickey Henderson
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    111.1 132 3081 13346 10961 2295 3055 510 66 297 1115 1406 335 2190 1694 .279 .401 .419 .820

  2. Robin Roberts – Springfield, IL

    3. Robin Roberts
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    83 89 676 609 286 245 3.41 4688.2 305 45 25 1962 1774 902 2357 12.3% 1.17

  3. Jim Thome – Peoria, IL

    4. Jim Thome
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    73.2 145 2543 10313 8422 1583 2328 451 26 612 1699 19 20 1747 2548 .276 .402 .554 .956

  4. Robin Yount – Danville, IL

    5. Robin Yount
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    77.5 113 2856 12249 11008 1632 3142 583 126 251 1406 271 105 966 1350 .285 .342 .430 .772

  5. Lou Boudreau – Harvey, IL

    6. Lou Boudreau
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    63.1 122 1646 7023 6029 861 1779 385 66 68 789 51 50 796 309 .295 .380 .415 .795

  6. Joe McGinnity – Cornwall, IL

    7. Joe McGinnity
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    45.8 87 373 303 190 118 2.62 2732 244 27 22 1095 795 606 901 00.0% 1.16

  7. Bret Saberhagen – Chicago Heights, IL

    8. Bret Saberhagen
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    59 80 399 371 167 117 3.34 2562.2 76 16 1 1036 952 471 1715 16.5% 1.14

  8. Rick Reuschel – Quincy, IL

    9. Rick Reuschel
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    68.2 88 557 529 214 191 3.37 3548.1 102 26 5 1494 1330 935 2015 13.5% 1.27

  9. Fred Lynn – Chicago, IL

    10. Fred Lynn
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    50.2 129 1969 7923 6925 1063 1960 388 43 306 1111 72 54 857 1116 .283 .360 .484 .845

  10. Kirby Puckett – Chicago, IL

    11. Kirby Puckett
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    51.2 122 1783 7831 7244 1071 2304 414 57 207 1085 134 76 450 965 .318 .360 .477 .837

  11. Ben Zobrist – Eureka, IL

    12. Ben Zobrist
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    45.2 116 1651 6836 5880 884 1566 349 44 167 768 116 49 832 994 .266 .357 .426 .783

  12. Wally Berger – Chicago, IL

    13. Wally Berger
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    42.1 136 1350 5663 5163 809 1550 299 59 242 898 36 435 694 .300 .359 .522 .881

  13. Curtis Granderson – Blue Island, IL

    14. Curtis Granderson
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    47.4 115 2057 8306 7236 1217 1800 346 95 344 937 153 50 924 1916 .249 .337 .465 .803

  14. Jesse Barfield – Joliet, IL

    15. Jesse Barfield
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    39.5 117 1428 5394 4759 715 1219 216 30 241 716 66 47 551 1234 .256 .335 .466 .802

  15. Lonnie Smith – Chicago, IL

    16. Lonnie Smith
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    38.7 123 1613 5952 5170 909 1488 273 58 98 533 370 140 623 849 .288 .371 .420 .791

  16. Dutch Leonard – Auburn, IL

    17. Dutch Leonard
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    51.8 84 640 374 191 181 3.25 3218.1 192 30 44 1432 1162 737 1170 08.7% 1.26

  17. Shawn Green – Des Plaines, IL

    18. Shawn Green
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    34.9 118 1951 7963 7082 1129 2003 445 35 328 1070 162 52 744 1315 .283 .355 .494 .850

  18. Jack Powell – Bloomington, IL

    19. Jack Powell
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    56 96 423 369 167 194 2.76 3161.1 294 33 15 1329 969 685 1303 1.16

  19. Jeff Pfeffer – Seymour, IL

    20. Jeff Pfeffer
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    38.2 86 347 280 158 112 2.77 2407.1 194 28 10 921 742 592 836 8.1% 1.21

  20. Mike Donlin – Peoria, IL

    21. Mike Donlin
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    29.5 142 905 3698 3312 580 1106 159 85 35 468 179 281 39 .334 .389 .465 .854

  21. Larry Doyle – Caseyville, IL

    22. Larry Doyle
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    45.2 126 1766 7382 6509 960 1887 299 123 74 793 298 27 625 274 .290 .357 .408 .765

  22. Ted Kluszewski – Argo, IL

    23. Ted Kluszewski
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    32.3 120 1718 6470 5929 848 1766 290 29 279 1028 20 10 492 365 .298 .353 .498 .850

  23. Art Fletcher – Collinsville, IL

    24. Art Fletcher
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    47.1 100 1533 6039 5541 684 1534 238 77 32 675 159 28 203 348 .277 .319 .365 .684

  24. Red Ruffing – Granville, IL

    25. Red Ruffing
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    55.4 91 624 536 273 225 3.80 4344 335 45 16 2117 1833 1541 1987 10.7% 1.34

  25. Charlie Leibrandt – Chicago, IL

    26. Charlie Leibrandt
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    34.1 94 394 346 140 119 3.71 2308 52 18 2 1068 952 656 1121 11.5% 1.32

  26. Red Schoendienst – Germantown, IL

    27. Red Schoendienst
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    42.2 94 2216 9222 8479 1223 2449 427 78 84 773 89 27 606 346 .289 .337 .387 .724

  27. Jim Bottomley – Oglesby, IL

    28. Jim Bottomley
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    35.3 124 1991 8355 7471 1177 2313 465 151 219 1422 58 15 664 591 .310 .369 .500 .869

  28. Jayson Werth – Springfield, IL

    29. Jayson Werth
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    29 120 1583 6366 5484 883 1465 300 22 229 799 132 23 764 1450 .267 .360 .455 .816

  29. Greg Luzinski – Chicago, IL

    30. Greg Luzinski
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    26.4 131 1821 7518 6505 880 1795 344 24 307 1128 37 31 845 1495 .276 .363 .478 .840

  30. Cliff Floyd – Chicago, IL

    31. Cliff Floyd
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    25.9 118 1621 6063 5319 824 1479 340 23 233 865 148 43 601 1064 .278 .358 .482 .840

  31. Hank Bauer – East St. Louis, IL

    32. Hank Bauer
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    27.3 114 1544 5776 5145 833 1424 229 57 164 703 50 33 521 638 .277 .346 .439 .785

  32. Kevin Seitzer – Springfield, IL

    33. Kevin Seitzer
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    28.9 113 1439 6062 5278 739 1557 285 35 74 613 80 49 669 617 .295 .375 .404 .780

  33. Phil Cavarretta – Chicago, IL

    34. Phil Cavarretta
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    34.9 119 2030 7701 6754 990 1977 347 99 95 920 65 0 820 598 .293 .372 .416 .788

  34. Jim Sundberg – Galesburg, IL

    35. Jim Sundberg
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    40.6 91 1962 6899 6021 621 1493 243 36 95 624 20 38 699 963 .248 .327 .348 .674

  35. Fritz Ostermueller – Quincy, IL

    36. Fritz Ostermueller
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    34.5 92 390 246 114 115 3.99 2066.2 113 11 15 1062 917 835 774 08.5% 1.45

  36. Gary Gaetti – Centralia, IL

    37. Gary Gaetti
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    42.2 95 2507 9817 8951 1130 2280 443 39 360 1341 96 65 634 1602 .255 .308 .434 .741

  37. Tom Haller – Lockport, IL

    38. Tom Haller
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    29.4 113 1294 4519 3935 461 1011 153 31 134 504 14 30 477 593 .257 .340 .414 .753

  38. Dick Bartell – Chicago, IL

    39. Dick Bartell
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    40.3 98 2016 8743 7629 1130 2165 442 71 79 710 109 3 748 627 .284 .355 .391 .747

  39. Freddie Lindstrom – Chicago, IL

    40. Freddie Lindstrom
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    28.3 109 1438 6104 5611 895 1747 301 81 103 779 84 10 334 276 .311 .351 .449 .800

  40. Bill Skowron – Chicago, IL

    41. Bill Skowron
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    27 118 1658 6046 5547 681 1566 243 53 211 888 16 18 383 870 .282 .332 .459 .792

  41. Denny McLain – Chicago, IL

    42. Denny McLain
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    20.5 98 280 264 131 91 3.39 1886 105 29 2 778 711 548 1282 16.6% 1.16

  42. Johnny Mostil – Chicago, IL

    43. Johnny Mostil
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    24.2 114 972 4096 3507 618 1054 209 82 23 376 176 105 415 336 .301 .386 .427 .812

  43. Jim O’Toole – Chicago, IL

    44. Jim O’Toole
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    21.3 94 270 238 98 84 3.57 1615.1 58 18 4 730 640 546 1039 15.2% 1.29

  44. Baby Doll Jacobson – Cable, IL

    45. Baby Doll Jacobson
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    28.4 108 1472 6072 5507 787 1714 328 94 83 821 86 54 355 410 .311 .357 .450 .807

  45. Johnny Rigney – Oak Park, IL

    • Age: 22 – 27, 31 – 32
    • Years: 1937 – 1942, 1946 – 1947
    • Pos: SP
    • Team(s): Chicago White Sox

    Johnny Rigney
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    21.1 84 197 132 63 64 3.59 1186.1 66 10 5 550 473 450 605 12.0% 1.31

  46. Mark Mulder – South Holland, IL

    47. Mark Mulder
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    19.7 94 205 203 103 60 4.18 1314 25 10 0 657 611 412 834 15.0% 1.34

  47. Wes Parker – Evanston, IL

    48. Wes Parker
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    22.9 112 1288 4835 4157 548 1110 194 32 64 470 60 34 532 615 .267 .351 .375 .726

  48. Cy Falkenberg – Chicago, IL

    49. Cy Falkenberg
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    23.4 96 330 266 130 123 2.68 2275 180 27 8 960 678 690 1164 10.9% 1.22

  49. Jason Kipnis – Northbrook, IL

    50. Jason Kipnis
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    22.4 103 1121 4849 4290 594 1120 252 23 123 529 135 33 449 910 .261 .333 .417 .750

  50. Larry Gura – Joliet, IL

    51. Larry Gura
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    21.6 94 403 261 126 97 3.76 2047 71 16 14 958 855 600 801 09.3% 1.28

  51. Jim Clancy – Chicago, IL

    52. Jim Clancy
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    20.7 104 472 381 140 167 4.23 2517.1 74 11 10 1305 1183 947 1422 13.2% 1.37

  52. Nick Etten – Spring Grove, IL

    53. Nick Etten
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    16.8 128 937 3840 3320 426 921 167 25 89 526 22 13 480 199 .277 .371 .423 .794

  53. Tanner Roark – Wilmington, IL

    54. Tanner Roark
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    19.3 89 213 172 74 64 3.71 1100.1 1 1 1 481 453 314 890 19.4% 1.24

  54. Hal Carlson – Rockford, IL

    55. Hal Carlson
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    25.4 101 377 238 114 120 3.97 2002 121 17 19 1013 883 498 590 06.9% 1.38

  55. Wally Pipp – Chicago, IL

    56. Wally Pipp
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    31.5 104 1872 7820 6914 974 1941 311 148 90 998 125 60 596 551 .281 .341 .408 .749

  56. J.A. Happ – Peru, IL

    57. J.A. Happ
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    22 97 315 289 121 90 3.99 1692 4 3 0 800 751 605 1497 20.9% 1.31

  57. Marty McManus – Chicago, IL

    58. Marty McManus
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    33.7 100 1831 7563 6660 1008 1926 401 88 120 999 126 91 675 558 .289 .357 .430 .787

  58. Doug Rader – Chicago, IL

    59. Doug Rader
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    24.3 105 1465 5832 5186 631 1302 245 39 155 722 37 33 528 1057 .251 .322 .403 .725

  59. Dick Wakefield – Chicago, IL

    60. Dick Wakefield
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    13.2 134 638 2505 2132 334 625 102 29 56 315 10 17 360 270 .293 .396 .447 .843

  60. Bill Walker – East St. Louis, IL

    61. Bill Walker
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    18.1 88 272 192 97 77 3.59 1489.2 83 15 8 711 594 538 626 9.6% 1.42

  61. Lefty Leifield – Trenton, IL

    62. Lefty Leifield
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    21.1 87 296 217 124 97 2.47 1838 138 33 7 693 505 554 616 06.2% 1.21

  62. Ken Oberkfell – Highland, IL

    63. Ken Oberkfell
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    22.6 98 1602 5528 4874 558 1354 237 44 29 446 62 47 546 356 .278 .351 .362 .713

  63. Fritz Peterson – Chicago, IL

    64. Fritz Peterson
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    19.4 98 355 330 133 131 3.30 2218.1 90 20 1 947 813 426 1015 11.2% 1.19

  64. Ray Blades – Mount Vernon, IL

    • Age: 25 – 31, 33 – 35
    • Years: 1922 – 1928, 1930 – 1932
    • Pos: LF
    • Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals

    Ray Blades
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    15.2 126 767 2846 2415 467 726 133 51 50 340 33 22 331 310 .301 .395 .460 .855

  65. Earl Sheely – Bushnell, IL

    66. Earl Sheely
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    20.3 107 1234 5263 4471 572 1340 244 27 48 747 33 31 563 205 .300 .383 .399 .782

  66. Leon Cadore – Chicago, IL

    67. Leon Cadore
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    18.9 94 192 147 68 72 3.14 1257.1 83 10 3 525 438 289 445 08.5% 1.24

  67. Braggo Roth – Chicago, IL

    68. Braggo Roth
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    16.7 123 811 3284 2831 427 804 138 73 30 422 189 41 335 389 .284 .367 .416 .783

  68. Ed Morgan – Cairo, IL

    69. Ed Morgan
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    14.3 120 771 3257 2810 512 879 186 45 52 473 36 25 385 252 .313 .398 .467 .864

  69. Ray Schalk – Harvel, IL

    70. Ray Schalk
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    33.3 88 1762 6217 5306 579 1345 199 49 11 594 177 69 638 355 .253 .340 .316 .656

  70. Jake Stahl – Elkhart, IL

    71. Jake Stahl
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    16.5 119 981 3845 3425 405 894 149 87 31 437 178 221 1 .261 .323 .382 .706

  71. Earl Hamilton – Gibson, IL

    72. Earl Hamilton
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG ShO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    25.3 99 410 261 116 147 3.16 2342.2 140 16 13 1075 822 773 790 06.4% 1.32

  72. Billy Rogell – Springfield, IL

    73. Billy Rogell
    WAR wRC+ G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
    23.8 86 1482 5919 5149 755 1375 256 75 42 609 82 62 649 416 .267 .351 .370 .722

Published by Dave Franks

Best Players From Each State, The Lists
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