North Carolina’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 North Carolina.
- Gaylord Perry – Williamston, NC
- Age: 23 – 44
- Years: 1962 – 1983
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals
- Luke Appling – High Point, NC
- Age: 23 – 36, 38 – 43
- Years: 1930 – 1943, 1945 – 1950
- Pos: SS
- Team(s): Chicago White Sox
- Wes Ferrell – Greensboro, NC
- Age: 19 – 33
- Years: 1927 – 1941
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves
- Enos Slaughter – Roxboro, NC
- Age: 22 – 26, 30 – 43
- Years: 1938 – 1942, 1946 – 1959
- Pos: RF, LF
- Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves
- Ryan Zimmerman – Washington, NC
- Age: 20 – 34
- Years: 2005 – 2019
- Pos: 3B, 1B
- Team(s): Washington Nationals
- Mark Grace – Winston-Salem, NC
- Age: 24 – 39
- Years: 1988 – 2003
- Pos: 1B
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Catfish Hunter – Hertford, NC
- Age: 19 – 33
- Years: 1965 – 1979
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees
- Josh Hamilton – Raleigh, NC
- Age: 26 – 34
- Years: 2007 – 2015
- Pos: CF, LF, RF
- Team(s): Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels
- Jim Ray Hart – Hookerton, NC
- Age: 21 – 32
- Years: 1963 – 1974
- Pos: 3B, OF, LF
- Team(s): San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees
- Kyle Seager – Charlotte, NC
- Age: 23 – 31
- Years: 2011 – 2019
- Pos: 3B
- Team(s): Seattle Mariners
- Jim Perry – Williamston, NC
- Age: 23 – 39
- Years: 1959 – 1975
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics
- Madison Bumgarner – Hickory, NC
- Age: 19 – 29
- Years: 2009 – 2019
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): San Francisco Giants
- Brian Roberts – Durham, NC
- Age: 23 – 36
- Years: 2001 – 2014
- Pos: 2B
- Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
- Max Lanier – Denton, NC
- Age: 22 – 30, 33 – 37
- Years: 1938 – 1946, 1949 – 1953
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, St. Louis Browns
- Kevin Millwood – Gastonia, NC
- Age: 22 – 37
- Years: 1997 – 2012
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners
- Smoky Burgess – Caroleen, NC
- Age: 22, 24 – 40
- Years: 1949, 1951 – 1967
- Pos: C
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox
- Ray Durham – Charlotte, NC
- Age: 23 – 36
- Years: 1995 – 2008
- Pos: 2B
- Team(s): Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers
- Corey Seager – Charlotte, NC
- Age: 21 – 25
- Years: 2015 – 2019
- Pos: SS
- Team(s): Los Angeles Dodgers
- Alvin Crowder – Winston-Salem, NC
- Age: 27 – 37
- Years: 1926 – 1936
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers
- Johnny Allen – Lenoir, NC
- Age: 27 – 39
- Years: 1932 – 1944
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants
- Trot Nixon – Durham, NC
- Age: 22, 24 – 34
- Years: 1996, 1998 – 2008
- Pos: RF
- Team(s): Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets
- Brandon Phillips – Raleigh, NC
- Age: 21 – 37
- Years: 2002 – 2018
- Pos: 2B
- Team(s): Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox
- Hoyt Wilhelm – Huntersville, NC
- Age: 29 – 49
- Years: 1952 – 1972
- Pos: RP
- Team(s): New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Buddy Lewis – Gaston County, NC
- Age: 18 – 24, 28 – 30, 32
- Years: 1935 – 1941, 1945 – 1947, 1949
- Pos: 3B, OF
- Team(s): Washington Senators
- Tom Zachary – Graham, NC
- Age: 22 – 40
- Years: 1918 – 1936
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Philadelphia Athletics, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies
- Lee Meadows – Oxford, NC
- Age: 20 – 34
- Years: 1915 – 1929
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Mike Caldwell – Tarboro, NC
- Age: 22 – 35
- Years: 1971 – 1984
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers
- George Suggs – Kinston, NC
- Age: 25 – 32
- Years: 1908 – 1915
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles
- Billy Goodman – Concord, NC
- Age: 21 – 36
- Years: 1947 – 1962
- Pos: 2B, 1B, 3B, OF
- Team(s): Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Houston Colt .45’S
- Jimmie Hall – Mount Holly, NC
- Age: 25 – 32
- Years: 1963 – 1970
- Pos: CF, LF, RF
- Team(s): Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves
- Vic Sorrell – Morrisville, NC
- Age: 27 – 36
- Years: 1928 – 1937
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers
- Rick Ferrell – Durham, NC
- Age: 23 – 39, 41
- Years: 1929 – 1945, 1947
- Pos: C
- Team(s): St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators
- Whitey Lockman – Lowell, NC
- Age: 18, 20 – 33
- Years: 1945, 1947 – 1960
- Pos: 1B, OF, LF
- Team(s): New York / San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds
- Jim Bibby – Franklinton, NC
- Age: 27 – 36, 38 – 39
- Years: 1972 – 1981, 1983 – 1984
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
93.2 | 85 | 777 | 690 | 314 | 265 | 3.11 | 5350.1 | 303 | 53 | 11 | 2128 | 1846 | 1379 | 3534 | 16.1% | 1.18 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
74.4 | 115 | 2422 | 10243 | 8856 | 1319 | 2749 | 440 | 102 | 45 | 1116 | 179 | 108 | 1302 | 528 | .310 | .399 | .398 | .798 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49.0 | 87 | 374 | 323 | 193 | 128 | 4.04 | 2623 | 227 | 17 | 13 | 1382 | 1177 | 1040 | 985 | 8.5% | 1.48 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
55.5 | 126 | 2380 | 9084 | 7946 | 1247 | 2383 | 413 | 148 | 169 | 1304 | 71 | 15 | 1018 | 538 | .300 | .382 | .453 | .834 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37.8 | 116 | 1689 | 7129 | 6399 | 936 | 1784 | 401 | 22 | 270 | 1015 | 43 | 16 | 630 | 1307 | .279 | .343 | .475 | .818 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46.2 | 120 | 2245 | 9290 | 8065 | 1179 | 2445 | 511 | 45 | 173 | 1146 | 70 | 48 | 1075 | 642 | .303 | .383 | .442 | .825 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36.4 | 94 | 500 | 476 | 224 | 166 | 3.26 | 3449.1 | 181 | 42 | 1 | 1380 | 1248 | 954 | 2012 | 14.3% | 1.13 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
28.3 | 127 | 1027 | 4350 | 3909 | 609 | 1134 | 234 | 24 | 200 | 701 | 50 | 16 | 352 | 938 | .290 | .349 | .516 | .865 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25.0 | 129 | 1125 | 4236 | 3783 | 518 | 1052 | 148 | 29 | 170 | 578 | 17 | 17 | 380 | 573 | .278 | .345 | .467 | .813 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30.5 | 112 | 1261 | 5286 | 4755 | 597 | 1218 | 268 | 13 | 198 | 666 | 47 | 26 | 442 | 926 | .256 | .324 | .443 | .767 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38.6 | 94 | 630 | 447 | 215 | 174 | 3.45 | 3285.2 | 109 | 32 | 10 | 1407 | 1258 | 998 | 1575 | 11.5% | 1.26 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
32.4 | 83 | 289 | 286 | 119 | 92 | 3.13 | 1846 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 703 | 642 | 428 | 1794 | 23.9% | 1.11 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30.4 | 101 | 1418 | 6253 | 5531 | 850 | 1527 | 367 | 39 | 97 | 542 | 285 | 73 | 609 | 844 | .276 | .347 | .409 | .756 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30.3 | 79 | 327 | 204 | 108 | 82 | 3.01 | 1619.1 | 91 | 21 | 17 | 630 | 541 | 611 | 821 | 12.1% | 1.30 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30.8 | 94 | 451 | 443 | 169 | 152 | 4.11 | 2720.1 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1357 | 1243 | 843 | 2083 | 17.9% | 1.33 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33.4 | 115 | 1691 | 5013 | 4471 | 485 | 1318 | 230 | 33 | 126 | 673 | 13 | 14 | 477 | 270 | .295 | .362 | .446 | .807 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33.8 | 105 | 1975 | 8423 | 7408 | 1249 | 2054 | 440 | 79 | 192 | 875 | 273 | 97 | 820 | 1201 | .277 | .352 | .436 | .788 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17.8 | 128 | 489 | 2069 | 1854 | 302 | 545 | 130 | 8 | 73 | 266 | 10 | 5 | 190 | 398 | .294 | .362 | .491 | .853 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29.1 | 95 | 402 | 292 | 167 | 115 | 4.12 | 2344.1 | 150 | 16 | 22 | 1204 | 1072 | 800 | 799 | 7.9% | 1.39 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27.9 | 89 | 352 | 241 | 142 | 75 | 3.75 | 1950.1 | 109 | 17 | 18 | 924 | 813 | 738 | 1070 | 12.9% | 1.33 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21.3 | 115 | 1092 | 4224 | 3627 | 579 | 995 | 222 | 28 | 137 | 555 | 30 | 13 | 504 | 689 | .274 | .364 | .464 | .828 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31.1 | 95 | 1902 | 7992 | 7378 | 1005 | 2029 | 368 | 35 | 211 | 951 | 209 | 84 | 420 | 1092 | .275 | .320 | .420 | .740 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49.9 | 68 | 1070 | 52 | 143 | 122 | 2.52 | 2254.1 | 20 | 5 | 227 | 773 | 632 | 778 | 1610 | 17.6% | 1.12 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26.7 | 110 | 1349 | 5937 | 5261 | 830 | 1563 | 249 | 93 | 71 | 607 | 83 | 59 | 573 | 303 | .297 | .368 | .420 | .789 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37.6 | 95 | 533 | 409 | 186 | 191 | 3.73 | 3126.1 | 186 | 24 | 22 | 1552 | 1295 | 914 | 720 | 5.3% | 1.44 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31.3 | 96 | 490 | 406 | 188 | 180 | 3.37 | 3160.2 | 219 | 25 | 7 | 1491 | 1185 | 956 | 1063 | 7.8% | 1.34 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18.9 | 101 | 475 | 307 | 137 | 130 | 3.81 | 2409 | 98 | 23 | 18 | 1183 | 1021 | 597 | 939 | 9.3% | 1.32 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20.2 | 97 | 245 | 185 | 99 | 91 | 3.11 | 1652 | 115 | 16 | 17 | 720 | 571 | 355 | 588 | 1.26 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | 101 | 1623 | 6446 | 5644 | 807 | 1691 | 299 | 44 | 19 | 591 | 37 | 30 | 669 | 329 | .300 | .376 | .378 | .754 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13.7 | 111 | 963 | 3169 | 2848 | 387 | 724 | 100 | 24 | 121 | 391 | 38 | 18 | 287 | 529 | .254 | .321 | .434 | .755 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20.3 | 99 | 280 | 216 | 92 | 101 | 4.43 | 1671.2 | 95 | 8 | 10 | 949 | 823 | 706 | 619 | 8.4% | 1.51 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33.7 | 98 | 1884 | 7072 | 6028 | 687 | 1692 | 324 | 45 | 28 | 734 | 29 | 35 | 931 | 277 | .281 | .378 | .363 | .741 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18.1 | 96 | 1666 | 6590 | 5940 | 836 | 1658 | 222 | 49 | 114 | 563 | 43 | 27 | 552 | 383 | .279 | .342 | .391 | .732 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18.6 | 101 | 340 | 239 | 111 | 101 | 3.75 | 1722.2 | 56 | 19 | 8 | 800 | 718 | 723 | 1079 | 14.8% | 1.33 |
You missed one of my favorites, Johnny “Tobacco Chewing Johnny” Lanning, from Asheville!!
He had a good solid career, interrupted by WW2.
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