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 Louisiana.

1. Mel Ott – Gretna, LA



• Age: 17 – 38
• Years: 1926 – 1947
• Pos: RF, 3B
• Team(s): New York Giants

Mel Ott

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
107.7	156	2730	11337	9456	1859	2876	488	72	511	1860	89		1708	896	.304	.414	.533	.947

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2. Reggie Smith – Shreveport, LA



• Age: 21 – 37
• Years: 1966 – 1982
• Pos: RF, CF, 1B
• Team(s): Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants

Reggie Smith

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
64.6	137	1987	8050	7033	1123	2020	363	57	314	1092	137	86	890	1030	.287	.366	.489	.855

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3. Will Clark – New Orleans, LA



• Age: 22 – 36
• Years: 1986 – 2000
• Pos: 1B
• Team(s): San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals

Will Clark

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
56.5	136	1976	8283	7173	1186	2176	440	47	284	1205	67	48	937	1190	.303	.384	.497	.880

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4. Chuck Finley – Monroe, LA



• Age: 23 – 39
• Years: 1986 – 2002
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): California / Anaheim Angels, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals

Chuck Finley

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
58.2	87	524	467	200	173	3.84	3197.2	63	15	0	1517	1366	1332	2610	19.1%	1.38

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5. Albert Belle – Shreveport, LA



• Age: 22 – 33
• Years: 1989 – 2000
• Pos: LF, RF
• Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles

Albert Belle

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
40.1	139	1539	6676	5853	974	1726	389	21	381	1239	88	41	683	961	.295	.369	.564	.933

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6. Andy Pettitte – Baton Rouge, LA



• Age: 23 – 38, 40 – 41
• Years: 1995 – 2010, 2012 – 2013
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): New York Yankees, Houston Astros

Andy Pettitte

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
60.8	86	531	521	256	153	3.85	3316	26	4	0	1572	1418	1031	2448	17.4%	1.35

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7. Ron Guidry – Lafayette, LA



• Age: 24 – 37
• Years: 1975 – 1988
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): New York Yankees

Ron Guidry

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
47.9	83	368	323	170	91	3.29	2392	95	26	4	953	874	633	1778	18.2%	1.18

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8. Bill Dickey – Bastrop, LA



• Age: 21 – 36, 39
• Years: 1928 – 1943, 1946
• Pos: C
• Team(s): New York Yankees

Bill Dickey

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
58.6	126	1789	7060	6300	930	1969	343	72	202	1209	37	29	678	289	.313	.382	.486	.868

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9. Vida Blue – Mansfield, LA



• Age: 19 – 33, 35 – 36
• Years: 1969 – 1983, 1985 – 1986
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Kansas City Royals

Vida Blue

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
45.0	92	502	473	209	161	3.27	3343.1	143	37	2	1357	1213	1185	2175	15.7%	1.23

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10. Ted Lyons – Lake Charles, LA



• Age: 22 – 41, 45
• Years: 1923 – 1942, 1946
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Chicago White Sox

Ted Lyons

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
67.0	85	594	484	260	230	3.67	4161	356	27	23	2056	1696	1121	1073	6.0%	1.35

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11. Rusty Staub – New Orleans, LA



• Age: 19 – 41
• Years: 1963 – 1985
• Pos: RF, 1B
• Team(s): Houston Colt .45’s / Astros, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers

Rusty Staub

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
45.9	122	2951	11229	9720	1189	2716	499	47	292	1466	47	33	1255	888	.279	.362	.431	.793

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12. Mel Parnell – New Orleans, LA



• Age: 25 – 34
• Years: 1947 – 1956
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Boston Red Sox

Mel Parnell

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
27.4	80	289	232	123	75	3.50	1752.2	113	20	10	797	682	758	732	9.7%	1.41

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13. Howie Pollet – New Orleans, LA



• Age: 20 – 22, 25 – 35
• Years: 1941 – 1943, 1946 – 1956
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox

Howie Pollet

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
34.0	88	403	278	131	116	3.51	2107.1	116	25	20	957	821	745	934	10.4%	1.35

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14. Joe Adcock – Coushatta, LA



• Age: 22 – 38
• Years: 1950 – 1966
• Pos: 1B, OF
• Team(s): Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles / California Angels

Joe Adcock

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
33.3	123	1959	7304	6606	823	1832	295	35	336	1122	20	25	594	1059	.277	.337	.485	.822

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15. Don Wilson – Monroe, LA



• Age: 21 – 29
• Years: 1966 – 1974
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Houston Astros

Don Wilson

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
27.6	92	266	245	104	92	3.15	1748.1	78	20	2	698	611	640	1283	17.6%	1.21

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16. Ben Sheets – Baton Rouge, LA



• Age: 22 – 29, 31, 33
• Years: 2001 – 2008, 2010, 2012
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves

Ben Sheets

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
26.1	89	250	250	94	96	3.78	1596.2	18	4	0	736	670	369	1325	20.0%	1.22

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17. Bill Lee – Plaquemine, LA



• Age: 24 – 37
• Years: 1934 – 1947
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Braves

Bill Lee

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
32.6	95	462	378	169	157	3.54	2864	182	29	13	1304	1127	893	998	8.2%	1.34

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18. Aaron Nola – Baton Rouge, LA



• Age: 22 – 26
• Years: 2015 – 2019
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Philadelphia Phillies

Aaron Nola

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
20.3	83	127	127	53	35	3.49	771.1	0	0	0	314	299	235	826	26.0%	1.17

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19. Vernon Wells – Shreveport, LA



• Age: 20 – 34
• Years: 1999 – 2013
• Pos: CF, LF
• Team(s): Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees

Vernon Wells

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
28.4	102	1731	7212	6642	930	1794	379	34	270	958	109	37	472	956	.270	.319	.459	.778

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20. Watty Clark – St. Joseph, LA



• Age: 22, 25 – 35
• Years: 1924, 1927 – 1937
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Brooklyn Robins / Dodgers, New York Giants

Watty Clark

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
26.7	90	355	206	111	97	3.66	1747.1	91	14	16	836	711	383	643	8.6%	1.30

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21. Tommy Harper – Oak Grove, LA



• Age: 21 – 35
• Years: 1962 – 1976
• Pos: LF, RF, 3B, CF
• Team(s): Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles

Tommy Harper

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
25.9	104	1810	7164	6269	972	1609	256	36	146	567	408	116	753	1080	.257	.338	.379	.717

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22. Zeke Bonura – New Orleans, LA



• Age: 25 – 31
• Years: 1934 – 1940
• Pos: 1B
• Team(s): Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, New York Giants, Chicago Cubs

Zeke Bonura

WAR	wRC+	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
23.5	119	917	4026	3582	600	1099	232	29	119	704	19	7	404	180	.307	.380	.487	.867

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23. J.R. Richard – Vienna, LA



• Age: 21 – 30
• Years: 1971 – 1980
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Houston Astros

J.R. Richard

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
21.4	92	238	221	107	71	3.15	1606	76	19	0	625	562	770	1493	22.4%	1.24

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24. Ben McDonald – Baton Rouge, LA



• Age: 21 – 29
• Years: 1989 – 1997
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers

Ben McDonald

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
20.8	89	211	198	78	70	3.91	1291.1	24	6	0	606	561	437	894	16.5%	1.26

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25. Earl Wilson – Ponchatoula, LA



• Age: 24 – 25, 27 – 35
• Years: 1959 – 1960, 1962 – 1970
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres

Earl Wilson

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
20.4	101	338	310	121	109	3.69	2051.2	69	13	0	934	842	796	1452	16.7%	1.30

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26. Shane Reynolds – Bastrop, LA



• Age: 24 – 36
• Years: 1992 – 2004
• Pos: SP
• Team(s): Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks

Shane Reynolds

WAR	ERA-	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	CG	ShO	SV	R	ER	BB	SO	K%	WHIP
18.1	98	305	278	114	96	4.09	1791.2	20	7	0	895	814	419	1403	18.4%	1.31

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Published by Dave Franks

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