Baseball Reference Blog
The 10 Greatest First Basemen of All Time
Posted by Brett Baker on April 3, 2023
No position on the field is more centered on offensive production instead of defensive prowess than first base. It’s often the place where good hitters with fielding limitations are sent. And even the best fielding first basemen have trouble making a dent on dWAR. Of the top 50 WAR for first basemen, 45 of them have a negative dWAR. However, eleven of the 28 members of the 500-home run club played at least 40% of their games at first base, more than any other single position.
One note: I haven’t included Frank Thomas or Jim Thome, as fewer than half of their career starts were at first base. Had they played more first, they’d be included. And they’ll certainly be on a Top 10 Greatest DH list.
Here are the top 10 Greatest First Basemen, alphabetically.
Cap Anson
Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 227lb (183cm, 102kg)
Born: April 17, 1852 in Marshalltown, IA us
Died:
April 14, 1922
Buried: Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago, IL
High School: Marshalltown HS (Marshalltown, IA)
Schools: University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN), University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
Debut: May 6, 1871 (Age 19-019d, 38th in major league history)
Last Game: October 3, 1897 (Age 45-169d)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1939.
(Voted by Old Timers Committee)
View Cap Anson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1871 season
Full Name: Adrian Constantine Anson
Nicknames: Cap, Pop or The Marshalltown Infant
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
94.3
10281
3435
97
.334
1999
2075
277
.394
.447
.841
142
Cap Anson played 27 seasons, which is more than everyone but Nolan Ryan. The first player to 3,000 hits, only six players have collected more hits since he retired. Of the five players with 2,000 career RBI, he’s the only one to have fewer than 100 home runs, 97. (Alex Rodriguez is next closest with 696.) He led the league in RBI eight times, and OPS twice. Anson managed more than 2,000 games, all but 22 as player/manager.
Jeff Bagwell
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born:
May 27, 1968
Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 4th round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT).
High School: Xavier HS (Middletown, CT)
School: University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT)
Debut:
April 8, 1991
(Age 22-316d,
15,895th in major league history)
vs. CIN 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 2, 2005
(Age 37-128d)
vs. CHC 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2017.
(Voted by BBWAA on 381/442 ballots)
View Jeff Bagwell’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1991 season
Agents: Barry Axelrod
Full Name: Jeffrey Robert Bagwell
Nicknames: Baggy or BagPipes
Pronunciation: \BAG-well\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
79.9
7797
2314
449
.297
1517
1529
202
.408
.540
.948
149
The 1994 MVP and 1991 Rookie of the Year Bagwell drove in 100 runs eight times, and hit 40+ home runs three times, and 39 home runs three more times. With a lifetime .408 OBP, Bagwell had three seasons with a .450+ OBP, and five seasons with a 1.000+ OPS.
Dan Brouthers
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-2, 207lb (188cm, 93kg)
Born: May 8, 1858 in Sylvan Lake, NY us
Died:
August 2, 1932
Buried: St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wappingers Falls, NY
Debut: 1879 (395th in major league history)
Last Game: October 4, 1904 (Age 46-149d)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1945.
(Voted by Old Timers Committee)
No induction ceremony in Cooperstown held (until 2013).
View Dan Brouthers’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1879 season
Full Name: Dennis Joseph Brouthers
Nicknames: Big Dan
Pronunciation: \BROO-thurz\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
78.7
6726
2303
107
.342
1529
1301
257
.423
.520
.943
171
The list of players who led the majors in batting average, OBP, and slugging at least five times each in their career is quite small: Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Rogers Hornsby, and Dan Brouthers. Baseball’s first great power hitter, Dan Brouthers finished his career with a .342 average, and .423/.520/.943 OBP/SLG/OPS. He led the league in OPS eight times, which is the sixth most all-time. He retired as the career home run leader.
Miguel Cabrera
Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Leftfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-4, 267lb (193cm, 121kg)
Team: Detroit Tigers (majors)
Born:
April 18, 1983
High School: Maracay (Maracay, Venezuela)
Debut:
June 20, 2003
(Age 20-063d,
18,293rd in major league history)
vs. TBD 5 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2003 season
2023 Contract Status: Signed thru 2023, 8 yrs/$240M (16-23) & 24-25 vesting option
Service Time (01/2023): 19.101 • Free Agent: 2024
Agents: ISE Baseball • Previously: Andy Mota, Arn Tellem, Fernando Cuza, Scott Boras
Full Name: Jose Miguel Cabrera
Nicknames: Miggy
Pronunciation: \mee-gail kuh-BREH-rah\
Instagram: @miggy24
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
2023
Career
–
67.7
10
10032
2
3090
0
507
.200
.308
0
1530
1
1848
0
40
.273
.384
.300
.524
.573
.908
57
142
The most-recent Triple Crown winner with 44 home runs and 139 RBI with a .330 average in 2012 while winning the MVP, Cabrera won the MVP the next year, too. His 12 100-RBI seasons is sixth most all-time. A doubles machine, he’s 14th all-time. He’s one of three players – along with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron – with 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, and a .300 batting average. He’s a no doubt first ballot Hall of Famer.
Roger Connor
Positions: First Baseman and Third Baseman
Bats: Both • Throws: Left
6-3, 220lb (190cm, 99kg)
Born: July 1, 1857 in Waterbury, CT us
Died:
January 4, 1931
Buried: Old St. Joseph Cemetery, Waterbury, CT
Debut: May 1, 1880 (Age 22-305d, 452nd in major league history)
Last Game: May 18, 1897 (Age 39-321d)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1976.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Roger Connor’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1880 season
Full Name: Roger Connor
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Joe Connor
Career
84.3
7797
2467
138
.316
1620
1323
244
.397
.486
.883
153
Baseball’s all-time home run and triples leader upon retirement, Roger Connor drove in 100 runs four times, and is one of the only first baseman with a positive dWAR, 6.3. He was an on-base machine with eight seasons with an OBP of at least .400. Widely forgotten after his retirement, he had to wait until 1976 to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
Jimmie Foxx
Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 195lb (183cm, 88kg)
Born: October 22, 1907 in Sudlersville, MD us
Died:
July 21, 1967
Buried: Flagler Memorial Park, Miami, FL
High School: Sudlersville HS (Sudlersville, MD)
Debut:
May 1, 1925
(Age 17-191d,
6,193rd in major league history)
vs. WSH 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 23, 1945
(Age 37-336d)
vs. BRO 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1951.
(Voted by BBWAA on 179/226 ballots)
View Jimmie Foxx’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1927 season
Full Name: James Emory Foxx
Nicknames: Beast or Double X
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
93.0
8134
2646
534
.325
1751
1922
87
.428
.609
1.038
163
The second member of the 500 home run club, Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 season is one of the greatest in baseball history. With a .364 batting average, 58 home runs, 169 RBI, and a 1.218 OPS, his 438 total bases is the fifth-highest single-season total ever. He won the Triple Crown the next year with 48 home runs, 163 RBI and a .356 batting average, which was an absolute runaway as he finished 14 home runs, 23 RBI and 20 points better than the next-closest player in each category. His four 150-RBI seasons is more than anyone in the history of baseball except for Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He won three MVP awards and was a nine-time all-star.
Lou Gehrig
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 200lb (183cm, 90kg)
Born: June 19, 1903 in New York, NY us
Died:
June 2, 1941
Buried: Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, NY
High School: HS of Commerce (New York, NY)
School: Columbia University (New York, NY)
Debut:
June 15, 1923
(Age 19-361d,
5,754th in major league history)
vs. SLB 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
April 30, 1939
(Age 35-315d)
vs. WSH 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1939.
(Voted by Special Election)
View Lou Gehrig’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1925 season
Full Name: Henry Louis Gehrig
Nicknames: The Iron Horse, Biscuit Pants, Buster, Laruppin’, Crown Prince of Swat or Columbia
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
113.8
8001
2721
493
.340
1888
1995
102
.447
.632
1.080
179
With 2,130 consecutive games played, the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig, was a fixture in the Yankees lineup in every single game for almost 14 seasons. He finished in the top 5 in MVP voting eight times, winning the AL MVP in 1927 and 1936. He led the AL in home runs three times and in RBI five times, and had nine seasons with 140+ RBI, including an astonishing 185 in 1931. From 1927 to 1937 he had a 1.118 OPS, and averaged 202 hits per year. He played 34 games in seven World Series and had a 1.214 OPS. He showed no signs of slowing down until he started feeling the effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1938, and likely would have had more productive seasons. ALS forced his retirement in early 1939, and he died from the disease two years later.
Johnny Mize
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-2, 215lb (188cm, 97kg)
Born: January 7, 1913 in Demorest, GA us
Died:
June 2, 1993
Buried: Yonah View Memorial Gardens, Demorest, GA
School: Piedmont College (Demorest, GA)
Debut:
April 16, 1936
(Age 23-100d,
7,984th in major league history)
vs. CHC 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 26, 1953
(Age 40-262d)
vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1981.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Johnny Mize’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1936 season
Full Name: John Robert Mize
Nicknames: The Big Cat or Big Jawn
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
70.6
6443
2011
359
.312
1118
1337
28
.397
.562
.959
158
Like many players during World War II, Johnny Mize missed three seasons of his prime (age 30-32) to military service. He finished in the top 5 in MVP voting four times, and was a 10-time all-star. He led the league in home runs four times, including 1947 – his second year back from the military – when he slugged 51 home runs and 138 RBI, and only struckout 42 times! From 1937-1942 only Joe DiMaggio had a higher WAR than Mize’s 39.7. After never making it to the World Series in his first 10 seasons, Mize was traded to the Yankees during his 11th season in 1949, and won the World Series in each of his last five seasons.
Eddie Murray
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Both • Throws: Right
6-2, 190lb (188cm, 86kg)
Born:
February 24, 1956
Draft: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft from Locke HS (Los Angeles, CA).
High School: Locke HS (Los Angeles, CA)
School: California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
Debut:
April 7, 1977
(Age 21-042d,
13,841st in major league history)
vs. TEX 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 20, 1997
(Age 41-208d)
vs. COL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2003.
(Voted by BBWAA on 423/496 ballots)
View Eddie Murray’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1977 season
Agents: Ron Shapiro
Full Name: Eddie Clarence Murray
Nicknames: Steady Eddie or Tired
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Rich Murray
Career
68.6
11336
3255
504
.287
1627
1917
110
.359
.476
.836
129
With six top 5 MVP finishes, and eight All-Star selections, Eddie Murray consistently produced over his 21-year career. Over the entire decade of the 1980s, he was third in homeruns, second in hits, and first in RBI. He had twelve seasons of 25+ home runs, and six seasons with at least 100 RBI. He’s one of seven players with 3,000+ hits and 500+ home runs in his career. He also happens to be the all-time leader in sacrifice flies.
Albert Pujols
Positions: First Baseman, Leftfielder and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 235lb (190cm, 106kg)
Born:
January 16, 1980
Draft: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft from Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods (Kansas City, MO).
High School: Fort Osage HS (Independence, MO)
School: Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods (Kansas City, MO)
Debut:
April 2, 2001
(Age 21-076d,
17,809th in major league history)
vs. COL 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 2021
(Age 41-260d)
vs. MIL 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2001 season
Agents: MVP Sports Group
Full Name: Jose Alberto Pujols
Nicknames: Prince Albert, Phat Albert, The Machine, La Maquina or Tio Albert
Pronunciation: \POO-hulse\
Instagram: @albertpujols
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
- 3x MVP
- Rookie of the Year
- 11x All-Star
- 2x World Series
- 2x Gold Glove
- 6x Silver Slugger
- Batting Title
- NLCS MVP
- 3x ML PoY
Career
101.5
11421
3384
703
.296
1914
2218
117
.374
.544
.918
145
A three–time MVP with seven other top-5 finishes, and the 2001 Rookie of the Year, Pujols was an eleven time All-Star. Upon retirement he was fifth all-time in games played and doubles, fourth in home runs, and second in RBI and total bases. Despite being the all-time leader in grounding into double plays, he did have 117 stolen bases. He hit a record 10 NLCS home runs. Over his first ten years his 1.050 OPS is third all time (min. 5000 PA), and he’s the only player in history to hit at least 400 home runs (408) over his first 10 seasons. He was the main offensive weapon of the 2006 and 2011 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals teams.
With 113.6 WAR in a career cut short by ALS, Lou Gehrig is the greatest MLB first baseman of all time.
Albert Pujols hit 703 home runs in his career to lead all players who played at least 50% of their total games at first base. However, only 501 of his home runs came while playing first base. Mark McGwire hit the most home runs while playing first base with 570.
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