Baseball Reference Blog
Best Left Fielders of All Time
Posted by Chris Bergstrom on May 5, 2023
Some of the greatest names in the sport have graced the left field. From impact bats to legendary fielders, the impact on the national pastime from this outfield position can’t be ignored. We are going to break down the best left fielders of all time, using statistics. For this we are going to look at the leaders in Position Player WAR. This stat takes into consideration batting runs, baserunning runs, fielding runs to name a few which will help determine the best left fielders to ever play the game. Here are some of the greatest of all time to patrol left in alphabetical order, 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
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
25 All-Star selections, 1957 NL MVP, 3x Gold Glove winner and 2x Batting Title winner accolades highlight the career of this legendary left fielder. Aaron ranks number 5 all time in career WAR for left fielders with 143. Nicknamed the “Hammer”, Aaron clubbed 755 home runs which ranks him second on the all-time list. These accomplishments led to his enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Barry Bonds
Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-1, 185lb (185cm, 83kg)
Born:
July 24, 1964
Draft: Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft from Junipero Serra HS (San Mateo, CA) and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round (6th) of the 1985 MLB June Amateur Draft from Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ).
High School: Junipero Serra HS (San Mateo, CA)
School: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Debut:
May 30, 1986
(Age 21-310d,
15,166th in major league history)
vs. LAD 5 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 26, 2007
(Age 43-064d)
vs. SDP 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1986 season
Agents: Jeff Borris • Previously: Dennis Gilbert, Rod Wright, Scott Boras
Full Name: Barry Lamar Bonds
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Cousin of Reggie Jackson; Son of Bobby Bonds
Career
162.8
9847
2935
762
.298
2227
1996
514
.444
.607
1.051
182
It is hard to find room in the trophy case for Barry. A 7x MVP, 14x All-Star, 8x Gold Glove Winner, 2x Batting Champ and 12x Silver Slugger winner, Bonds is considered one of the best all around players to have ever played the game. He comes in at number 1 all time in career WAR for left fielders. With 762 career home runs, Bonds finds himself as the all-time leader for career home runs.
Ty Cobb
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg)
Born: December 18, 1886 in Narrows, GA us
Died:
July 17, 1961
Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, GA
High School: Franklin County HS (Royston, GA)
Debut:
August 30, 1905
(Age 18-255d,
2,755th in major league history)
vs. NYY 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 11, 1928
(Age 41-268d)
vs. NYY 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1936.
(Voted by BBWAA on 222/226 ballots)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.
View Ty Cobb’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1905 season
Full Name: Tyrus Raymond Cobb
Nicknames: The Georgia Peach
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
151.5
11440
4189
117
.366
2245
1944
897
.433
.512
.944
168
Ty Cobb is synonymous with baseball. Not only did he win the AL MVP award in 1911 and 12 Batting Titles, but he was also able to capture the AL Triple Crown in 1909 leading the league in homeruns, batting average and RBIs. This achievement is a remarkable feat only accomplished by 27 position players in history. Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach” due to being born in the peach state, Cobb was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He ranks number 4 on the all time WAR list of players who have patrolled left field.
Willie Mays
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-10, 170lb (178cm, 77kg)
Born:
May 6, 1931
High School: Fairfield Industrial HS (Fairfield, AL)
Debut: 1948 (10,377th in major league history)
AL/NL Debut:
May 25, 1951
(Age 20-019d)
vs. PHI 5 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 9, 1973
(Age 42-126d)
vs. MON 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1979.
(Voted by BBWAA on 409/432 ballots)
View Willie Mays’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1951 season
Full Name: Willie Howard Mays
Nicknames: Say Hey Kid
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
- Hall of Fame
- 2x MVP
- Rookie of the Year
- 24x All-Star
- 1954 World Series
- 12x Gold Glove
- Batting Title
- 2x AS MVP
- ML PoY
Career
156.1
10924
3293
660
.301
2068
1909
339
.384
.557
.940
155
When it comes to talking about ranks of players who have played left field according to WAR, it would be hard to leave Willie Mays out no matter what metric you use to decide. This 2x MVP, 1952 NL Rookie of the Year, 24x All-Star and 12x Gold Glove winner is one of the most respected players to ever wear a jersey. Nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid”, Mays ranks number 3 on the all time left field WAR list.
Stan Musial
Positions: Outfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 175lb (183cm, 79kg)
Born: November 21, 1920 in Donora, PA us
Died:
January 19, 2013
Buried: Forever Bellerive Cemetery, Creve Coeur, MO
High School: Donora HS (Donora, PA)
Debut:
September 17, 1941
(Age 20-300d,
9,129th in major league history)
vs. BSN 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 29, 1963
(Age 42-312d)
vs. CIN 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1969.
(Voted by BBWAA on 317/340 ballots)
View Stan Musial’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1942 season
Full Name: Stanley Frank Musial
Nicknames: Stan the Man, Stashu, Stash or The Donora Greyhound
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
128.6
10972
3630
475
.331
1949
1951
78
.417
.559
.976
159
Stan isn’t nicknamed “The Man” for no reason at all. His accolades make him one of the most recognized St. Louis Cardinals of all time as he played his entire career with the organization. He is a 3x NL MVP (1943, 1946,1948), 24x All-Star, 7x batting champ and 3x World Series Champion. Stan capped off an amazing career by being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Holding a career batting average of .331, Stan ranks number 8 on the all time WAR list for players who have played left field.
Babe Ruth
Positions: Outfielder and Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-2, 215lb (188cm, 97kg)
Born: February 6, 1895 in Baltimore, MD us
Died:
August 16, 1948
Buried: Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY
High School: St. Mary’s HS (Baltimore, MD)
Debut:
July 11, 1914
(Age 19-155d,
4,204th in major league history)
vs. CLE 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 2 ER, W
Last Game:
May 30, 1935
(Age 40-113d)
vs. PHI 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1936.
(Voted by BBWAA on 215/226 ballots)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.
View Babe Ruth’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1915 season
Full Name: George Herman Ruth
Nicknames: Babe, The Bambino, The Sultan Of Swat, Jidge, The Colossus of Clout or The King of Crash
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
182.6
8399
2873
714
.342
2174
2214
123
.474
.690
1.164
206
Babe Ruth and baseball are synonymous with each other. One of the most recognizable names to be connected to the sport, Ruth might not have physically built Yankee Stadium, but it will always be known as the building that Ruth built. The Babe is a 7x World Series Champion, 2x All-Star and although he might be known for his bat, he was also an accomplished pitcher winning the 1916 AL Pitching Title. Ruth ranks number 2 on the all time WAR list for left fielders.
Honus Wagner
Positions: Shortstop, Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-11, 200lb (180cm, 90kg)
Born: February 24, 1874 in Chartiers, PA us
Died:
December 6, 1955
Buried: Jefferson Memorial Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Debut: July 19, 1897 (Age 23-145d, 2,011th in major league history)
Last Game:
September 17, 1917
(Age 43-205d)
vs. BSN 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1936.
(Voted by BBWAA on 215/226 ballots)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.
View Honus Wagner’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1897 season
Full Name: John Peter Wagner
Nicknames: The Flying Dutchman
Pronunciation: \HONN-us WAGG-ner\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Butts Wagner
Career
131.0
10439
3420
101
.328
1739
1732
723
.391
.467
.858
151
Not only does Honus Wagner rank high in most sought after for baseball card collectors, he is also high on the WAR list when it comes to the greatest left fielders ranking number 7 all time. This 8x batting champ had a career .328 batting average and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
Yordan Alvarez. Using WAR as criteria to determine the best left fielder in 2022, Yordan Alvarez leads the way, ranking number 1 on that list. Making the list of the 2022 All-MLB Team it is hard to argue that Yordan is one of the best outfielders in the game. Hitting .306 with 37 home runs in 2022, Yordan helped lead the Houston Astros to the ultimate prize winning the World Series.
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