Baseball Reference Blog
Best right fielders of all time
Posted by Brett Baker on October 27, 2023
Right field can be a tricky position for a number of reasons. It’s the farthest from third base, so right fielders usually have the best arm in the outfield. However, of the 25 right fielders with the highest career WAR, only 6 have a positive dWAR. Yet most teams want a good fielder in that position, especially if right field is a sun field at their park, which is often the case. As you’ll see below, some of the greatest hitters of all time have been right fielders, with four members of the 500-home run club, seven members of the 3,000-hit club, and seven with a career OPS+ of 140 or higher. Here are the top 10 right fielders of all time, according to WAR.
Henry Aaron
Name Note: commonly referred to as Hank Aaron
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 180lb (183cm, 81kg)
Born: February 5, 1934 in Mobile, AL us
Died: January 22, 2021 (Aged 86-352d) in Atlanta, GA
Buried: Southview Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
High School: Allen Institute (Mobile, AL)
Debut:
April 13, 1954
(Age 20-067d,
11,071st in major league history)
vs. CIN 5 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 1976
(Age 42-241d)
vs. DET 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1982.
(Voted by BBWAA on 406/415 ballots)
View Henry Aaron’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1954 season
Full Name: Henry Louis Aaron
Nicknames: Hammer, Hammerin’ Hank or Bad Henry
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Tommie Aaron
Career
143.0
12364
3771
755
.305
2174
2297
240
.374
.555
.928
155
Hank Aaron is near the top of the list in almost any offensive category that exists. The all-time leader in RBI (2,297) and total bases (6,856), he’s also second in home runs (755), third in hits (3,771), fourth in runs (2,174), and fifth in position player WAR (143.0). The twenty-five time all-start somehow only won one MVP, in 1957, but he also had six third-place finishes. Despite a negative career dWAR, he won three Gold Gloves. A great clutch hitter, he hit .317 with a .981 OPS in late & close situations. He missed the 1963 Triple Crown by .007. Somehow 9 Hall of Fame voters didn’t include him on their ballot when he received 97.8% of the vote in 1982.
Mel Ott
Positions: Rightfielder and Third Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
5-9, 170lb (175cm, 77kg)
Born: March 2, 1909 in Gretna, LA us
Died: November 21, 1958 (Aged 49-264d) in New Orleans, LA
Buried: Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, LA
High School: Gretna HS (Gretna, LA)
Debut:
April 27, 1926
(Age 17-056d,
6,397th in major league history)
vs. PHI 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
July 11, 1947
(Age 38-131d)
vs. STL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1951.
(Voted by BBWAA on 197/226 ballots)
View Mel Ott’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1927 season
Full Name: Melvin Thomas Ott
Nicknames: Master Melvin
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
110.9
9456
2876
511
.304
1859
1860
89
.414
.533
.947
155
When Mel Ott retired in 1947 only Babe Ruth and Jimmie Foxx had more home runs than Ott’s 511, which led the National League. Chuck Klein was second in the NL, with 300. A twelve time all-star, Ott had three top-5 MVP finishes, and led the NL in WAR in 1932, 1938, and 1942. He led the league in home runs and walks six times each, and had an OPS over 1.000 seven times. One of very few players to move directly from high school to the majors, Ott hit .383 in 35 games before turning 18.
Roberto Clemente
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-11, 175lb (180cm, 79kg)
Born: August 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico pr
Died: December 31, 1972 (Aged 38-135d) in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Buried: Died at Sea
High School: Julio C. Vizarrondo (Carolina, Puerto Rico)
Debut:
April 17, 1955
(Age 20-242d,
11,226th in major league history)
vs. BRO 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 1972
(Age 38-046d)
vs. STL 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1973.
(Voted by Special Election)
View Roberto Clemente’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1955 season
Full Name: Roberto Clemente
Nicknames: Arriba or The Great One
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Uncle of Edgard Clemente
Career
94.8
9454
3000
240
.317
1416
1305
83
.359
.475
.834
130
With one of the best right-field arms in the history of baseball, Roberto Clemente’s 266 outfield assists leads all outfielders since 1920. With three seasons of 20+ home runs, Clemente wasn’t a power hitter, but he won four National League batting titles, and earned his 3000th career hit in his second-to-last game in 1972. The 1966 NL MVP with an 8.2 WAR, Clemente actually earned a 9.0 WAR the next season, and then led the league with an 8.2 in 1968. He hit .362 in 14 World Series games, collecting a hit in each. His fifteen all-star selections and twelve Gold Gloves put him among the premier mid-century players in baseball.
Al Kaline
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg)
Born: December 19, 1934 in Baltimore, MD us
Died: April 6, 2020 (Aged 85-109d) in Bloomfield Hills, MI
High School: Southern HS (Baltimore, MD)
Debut:
June 25, 1953
(Age 18-188d,
11,033rd in major league history)
vs. PHA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 2, 1974
(Age 39-287d)
vs. BAL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980.
(Voted by BBWAA on 340/385 ballots)
View Al Kaline’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1954 season
Full Name: Albert William Kaline
Nicknames: Mr. Tiger or Six
Pronunciation: \KAY-line\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
92.8
10116
3007
399
.297
1622
1582
137
.376
.480
.855
134
Al Kaline played in his first Major League Baseball game June 25, 1953, a few weeks after graduating high school. He only got 30 plate appearances that season, but finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1954 and earned the first of 18 all-star selections in 1955 while finishing third in MVP voting at age 20. He’d go on to earn four more top-5 MVP finishes, and ten Gold Gloves. He hit .379 with two home runs in Detroit’s 1968 World Series win over the Cardinals. He became the twelfth player to collect 3,000 hits, and finished in the top-10 in OPS+ nine times.
Sam Crawford
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 190lb (183cm, 86kg)
Born: April 18, 1880 in Wahoo, NE us
Died: June 15, 1968 (Aged 88-058d) in Hollywood, CA
Buried: Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, CA
Debut: September 10, 1899 (Age 19-145d, 2,180th in major league history)
Last Game:
September 16, 1917
(Age 37-151d)
vs. CLE 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1957.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Sam Crawford’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1899 season
Full Name: Samuel Earl Crawford
Nicknames: Wahoo Sam
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
75.3
9570
2961
97
.309
1391
1523
367
.362
.452
.814
144
Besides being born in the fabulously-named Wahoo, Nebraska, Sam Crawford has the distinction of being the all-time AL/NL leader in triples with 309. He finished 39 hits short of 3,000, and had seasons of leading the league in doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, and runs. He finished second in MVP voting in 1914, had six 100-RBI seasons. He was fifth all-time in RBI when he retired in 1917.
Paul Waner
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-8, 153lb (173cm, 69kg)
Born: April 16, 1903 in Harrah, OK us
Died: August 29, 1965 (Aged 62-135d) in Sarasota, FL
Buried: Manasota Memorial Park, Bradenton, FL
High School: Central HS (Oklahoma City, OK)
School: East Central University (Ada, OK)
Debut:
April 13, 1926
(Age 22-362d,
6,362nd in major league history)
vs. STL 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
April 26, 1945
(Age 42-010d)
vs. PHA 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1952.
(Voted by BBWAA on 195/234 ballots)
View Paul Waner’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1926 season
Full Name: Paul Glee Waner
Nicknames: Big Poison
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Lloyd Waner
Career
74.8
9459
3152
113
.333
1627
1309
104
.404
.473
.878
134
Paul Waner has one of the best nicknames in the history of the game: Big Poison. Waner hit above .300 each of his first twelve seasons, and fourteen times overall, winning three batting titles. In 1927, he won the MVP, hitting .380 and driving in 131. He was the seventh player to collect 3,000 career hits, holding the record for the most hits in the first nine years of a career (1,860) until Ichiro. He and his brother Lloyd Waner hold the record for most hits by brothers with 5,611.
Reggie Jackson
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born: May 18, 1946 (Age: 77-162d) in Abington, PA us
Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1st round (2nd) of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ).
High School: Cheltenham HS (Wyncote, PA)
School: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Debut:
June 9, 1967
(Age 21-022d,
12,584th in major league history)
vs. CLE 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 4, 1987
(Age 41-139d)
vs. CHW 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1993.
(Voted by BBWAA on 396/423 ballots)
View Reggie Jackson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1967 season
Full Name: Reginald Martinez Jackson
Nicknames: Mr. October
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Cousin of Barry Bonds
Career
73.9
9864
2584
563
.262
1551
1702
228
.356
.490
.846
139
Mr. October got his nickname by hitting .357 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in 27 World Series games, including the famous 3-home run game in series-clinching game 6 of the 1977 World Series. With World Series MVP awards in 1973 and 1977, he’s the only position player to win it twice. Unanimous MVP for Oakland in 1971, Jackson led the league with 32 home runs and 117 RBI. He’d lead the AL in home runs three more time, amassing 563 for his career, which was sixth all-time when he retired. He led the league in OPS+ four times and drove in 100 runs six times. He’s also the career leader in strikeouts with 2,597.
Larry Walker
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-2, 185lb (188cm, 83kg)
Born: December 1, 1966 (Age: 56-330d) in Maple Ridge, Canada ca
High School: Maple Ridge HS (Maple Ridge, BC)
Debut:
August 16, 1989
(Age 22-258d,
15,668th in major league history)
vs. SFG 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 2, 2005
(Age 38-305d)
vs. CIN 2 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020. (Voted by BBWAA on 304/397 ballots)
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1990 season
Agents: Bob Gilhooley, Jim Bronner, Pat Rooney
Full Name: Larry Kenneth Robert Walker
Nicknames: Booger
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
72.7
6907
2160
383
.313
1355
1311
230
.400
.565
.965
141
Larry Walker’s 1997 seasons is one of the greatest seasons in the history of baseball. His 49 home runs, 130 RBI, .366 batting average and 1.172 OPS earned the NL MVP. And while it’s easy to dismiss those numbers as the effect of playing at Coors Field in Denver, he actually had more home runs and a higher OPS away from Coors than at Coors. Walker won three batting titles, and seven Gold Gloves. He’s the only player in baseball history with a .310 batting average, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases.
Harry Heilmann
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 195lb (185cm, 88kg)
Born: August 3, 1894 in San Francisco, CA us
Died: July 9, 1951 (Aged 56-340d) in Southfield, MI
Buried: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, MI
High School: Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco, CA)
Debut:
May 16, 1914
(Age 19-286d,
4,153rd in major league history)
vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
May 31, 1932
(Age 37-302d)
vs. PIT 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1952.
(Voted by BBWAA on 203/234 ballots)
View Harry Heilmann’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1914 season
Full Name: Harry Edwin Heilmann
Nicknames: Slug
Pronunciation: \HILE-man\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
72.2
7787
2660
183
.342
1291
1543
113
.410
.520
.930
148
Before Ted Williams in 1941, Harry Heilmann is the most recent AL player to hit .400 with a .403 average in 1923. That was one of four times he led the league in hitting, while hitting .380 over a span of seven seasons. He’s tenth all-time (5000 min plate appearances) with a .342 career batting average. He drove in at least 100 runs in eight different seasons and had five top-10 MVP finishes.
Tony Gwynn
Position: Rightfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-11, 185lb (180cm, 83kg)
Born: May 9, 1960 in Los Angeles, CA us
Died: June 16, 2014 (Aged 54-038d) in Poway, CA
Buried: Dearborn Memorial Park, Poway, CA
Draft: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 3rd round of the 1981 MLB June Amateur Draft from San Diego State University (San Diego, CA).
High School: Long Beach Polytechnic HS (Long Beach, CA)
School: San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)
Debut:
July 19, 1982
(Age 22-071d,
14,627th in major league history)
vs. PHI 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 7, 2001
(Age 41-151d)
vs. COL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2007.
(Voted by BBWAA on 532/545 ballots)
View Tony Gwynn’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1982 season
Agents: John Boggs & Associates • Previously: Lew Muller
Full Name: Anthony Keith Gwynn
Nicknames: Mr. Padre or Captain Video
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Chris Gwynn; Father of Tony Gwynn
Career
69.2
9288
3141
135
.338
1383
1138
319
.388
.459
.847
132
With eight batting titles, Tony Gwynn was the pre-eminent contact hitter of the 1980s and 90s. He hit .289 his rookie season in 1982, and then hit above .300 for the last 19 seasons of his career. Led the National League in WAR in 1986 and 1987. Played 2,440 games, and struck out three times in a game once, while collecting 5 hits nine times. Fifteen time All-star and five time Gold Glove winner. Seven top-10 MVP finishes. Gwynn finished with 3,141 hits.
Right field has been home to some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Whether it’s Hank Aaron’s copious home runs, Roberto Clemente and Larry Walker’s unbelievable throwing arms, Tony Gwynn’s consistent contact, or the amazing accomplishments of the other players above, right fielders have left their mark on the game. Six of the players above started their career age 20 or younger, and four of them played into their 40s. Their greatness lasted decades.
Hank Aaron leads all right fielders with a career WAR of 143.0. He also has the most home runs, hits, RBI, and runs.
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