Iowa’s Best Baseball Players
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 Iowa.
- Bob Feller – Van Meter, IA
- Age: 17 – 22, 26 – 37
- Years: 1936 – 1941, 1945 – 1956
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Cleveland Indians
- Dazzy Vance – Orient, IA
- Age: 24, 27, 31 – 44
- Years: 1915, 1918, 1922 – 1935
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Robins / Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds
- Red Faber – Cascade, IA
- Age: 25 – 44
- Years: 1914 – 1933
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Chicago White Sox
- Fred Clarke – Winterset, IA
- Age: 21 – 38, 40 – 42
- Years: 1894 – 1911, 1913 – 1915
- Pos: LF
- Team(s): Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates
- George Stone – Lost Nation, IA
- Age: 26, 28 – 33
- Years: 1903, 1905 – 1910
- Pos: LF
- Team(s): Boston Americans, St. Louis Browns
- Dave Bancroft – Sioux City, IA
- Age: 24 – 39
- Years: 1915 – 1930
- Pos: SS
- Team(s): Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Robins
- Hal Trosky – Norway, IA
- Age: 20 – 28, 31, 33
- Years: 1933 – 1941, 1944, 1946
- Pos: 1B
- Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox
- Mike Boddicker – Cedar Rapids, IA
- Age: 22 – 35
- Years: 1980 – 1993
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers
- Jake Weimer – Ottumwa, IA
- Age: 29 – 35
- Years: 1903 – 1909
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants
- Denis Menke – Bancroft, IA
- Age: 21 – 33
- Years: 1962 – 1974
- Pos: SS, 3B, 2B, 1B
- Team(s): Milwaukee Braves, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds
- Kevin Tapani – Des Moines, IA
- Age: 25 – 37
- Years: 1989 – 2001
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs
- Earl Whitehill – Cedar Rapids, IA
- Age: 24 – 40
- Years: 1923 – 1939
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs
- Stan Bahnsen – Council Bluffs, IA
- Age: 21, 23 – 37
- Years: 1966, 1968 – 1982
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Montreal Expos, California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies
- Casey Blake – Des Moines, IA
- Age: 25 – 37
- Years: 1999 – 2011
- Pos: 3B, OF, RF, 1B
- Team(s): Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jon Lieber – Council Bluffs, IA
- Age: 24 – 32, 34 – 38
- Years: 1994 – 2002, 2004 – 2008
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
- Johnny Niggeling – Remsen, IA
- Age: 34 – 42
- Years: 1938 – 1946
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Boston Bees / Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators
- Jack Coombs – Le Grand, IA
- Age: 23 – 35, 37
- Years: 1906 – 1918, 1920
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Robins, Detroit Tigers
- Ken Henderson – Carroll, IA
- Age: 19 – 34
- Years: 1965 – 1980
- Pos: CF, LF, RF
- Team(s): San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs
- Bing Miller – Vinton, IA
- Age: 26 – 41
- Years: 1921 – 1936
- Pos: RF, LF, CF
- Team(s): Washington Senators, Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox
- Cal Eldred – Cedar Rapids, IA
- Age: 23 – 33, 35 – 37
- Years: 1991 – 2001, 2003 – 2005
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64.9 | 82 | 570 | 484 | 266 | 162 | 3.25 | 3827 | 279 | 44 | 21 | 1557 | 1384 | 1764 | 2581 | 16.0% | 1.32 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
62.8 | 81 | 442 | 347 | 197 | 140 | 3.24 | 2966.2 | 216 | 29 | 11 | 1246 | 1068 | 840 | 2045 | 16.6% | 1.23 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67.7 | 84 | 669 | 483 | 254 | 213 | 3.15 | 4086.2 | 273 | 29 | 28 | 1813 | 1430 | 1213 | 1471 | 7.8% | 1.30 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
44.4 | 136 | 1373 | 5902 | 5073 | 931 | 1528 | 223 | 144 | 30 | 590 | 240 | 579 | 50 | .301 | .380 | .420 | .799 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25.9 | 140 | 849 | 3668 | 3274 | 428 | 986 | 106 | 68 | 23 | 268 | 133 | 282 | .301 | .361 | .396 | .757 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
48.8 | 100 | 1913 | 8244 | 7182 | 1048 | 2004 | 320 | 77 | 32 | 591 | 145 | 75 | 827 | 487 | .279 | .355 | .358 | .714 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30.5 | 126 | 1347 | 5747 | 5161 | 835 | 1561 | 331 | 58 | 228 | 1012 | 28 | 23 | 545 | 440 | .302 | .371 | .522 | .892 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31.4 | 93 | 342 | 309 | 134 | 116 | 3.80 | 2123.2 | 63 | 16 | 3 | 992 | 897 | 721 | 1330 | 14.8% | 1.32 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25.8 | 81 | 191 | 180 | 97 | 69 | 2.23 | 1472.2 | 143 | 21 | 2 | 511 | 365 | 493 | 657 | 00.0% | 1.17 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28.2 | 104 | 1598 | 5934 | 5071 | 605 | 1270 | 225 | 40 | 101 | 606 | 34 | 54 | 698 | 853 | .250 | .343 | .370 | .713 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29.2 | 99 | 361 | 354 | 143 | 125 | 4.35 | 2265 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 1168 | 1094 | 554 | 1482 | 15.4% | 1.31 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36.4 | 99 | 541 | 473 | 218 | 185 | 4.36 | 3564.2 | 226 | 16 | 11 | 2018 | 1726 | 1431 | 1350 | 08.6% | 1.50 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23.8 | 103 | 574 | 327 | 146 | 149 | 3.60 | 2529 | 73 | 16 | 20 | 1127 | 1013 | 924 | 1359 | 12.7% | 1.33 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24.8 | 106 | 1265 | 5091 | 4500 | 644 | 1186 | 264 | 18 | 167 | 616 | 36 | 37 | 445 | 1037 | .264 | .336 | .442 | .778 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25.7 | 97 | 401 | 327 | 131 | 124 | 4.27 | 2198 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 1158 | 1043 | 422 | 1553 | 16.7% | 1.28 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19.7 | 87 | 184 | 161 | 64 | 69 | 3.22 | 1250.2 | 81 | 12 | 0 | 534 | 447 | 516 | 620 | 11.6% | 1.30 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
23.8 | 99 | 354 | 270 | 158 | 110 | 2.78 | 2320 | 187 | 35 | 8 | 925 | 717 | 841 | 1052 | 6.1% | 1.24 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14.9 | 106 | 1444 | 5227 | 4553 | 595 | 1168 | 216 | 26 | 122 | 576 | 86 | 42 | 589 | 763 | .257 | .343 | .396 | .739 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28.9 | 108 | 1820 | 6885 | 6212 | 946 | 1934 | 389 | 96 | 116 | 992 | 127 | 82 | 383 | 340 | .311 | .359 | .461 | .820 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16.2 | 97 | 341 | 192 | 86 | 74 | 4.42 | 1368 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 716 | 672 | 576 | 939 | 15.8% | 1.40 |