Before the NFL and the NBA became as popular as they are today, baseball stood alone as America’s pastime. Fans would flock to stadiums and huddle around black and white TVs to watch icons like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle play ball.
The American and National League each grants its own Cy Young Award for the top pitcher and an MVP to the top player overall. However, in each season, only one player stood out as the very best in baseball.
To determine the greatest baseball player the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the players with the highest wins above replacement each season since the Integration Era began in 1947, using data from Baseball Reference.
Some of the players on this list are now hailed as some of the greatest in history. Others were flashes in the pan and were mediocre outside of their one great season. Several of these players had incredible careers that would normally earn them a spot in the Hall of Fame, but cheating allegations and other untoward behavior has kept them out of Cooperstown. These are the scandals that rocked the sports world.
Every position except catcher is represented on the list. Pitchers are more likely than any other players to rank as the greatest player in a given year, followed by center fielders.
Many of the players included won an MVP or a Cy Young for the season (or seasons) in which they ranked as the MLB’s best. However, very few won the World Series in the year they were baseball’s top player, and many never won a World Series at all. These are the greatest players that never won a championship.
Click here to see the greatest baseball player the year you were born
1947
> Player: Ted Williams
> Position, team: Left field, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .343 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 32 home runs
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1948
> Player: Stan Musial
> Position, team: Right field, St. Louis Cardinals
> Statistics: .376 batting avg., 131 RBIs, 39 home runs
1949
> Player: Jackie Robinson
> Position, team: Second base, Brooklyn Dodgers
> Statistics: .342 batting avg., 124 RBIs, 16 home runs
1950
> Player: Eddie Stanky
> Position, team: Second base, New York Giants
> Statistics: .300 batting avg., 51 RBIs, 8 home runs
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1951
> Player: Jackie Robinson
> Position, team: Second base, Brooklyn Dodgers
> Statistics: .338 batting avg., 88 RBIs, 19 home runs
1952
> Player: Bobby Shantz
> Position, team: Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics
> Statistics: 2.48 ERA, 24-7 record, 152 strikeouts
1953
> Player: Al Rosen
> Position, team: Third base, Cleveland Indians
> Statistics: .336 batting avg., 145 RBIs, 43 home runs
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1954
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, New York Giants
> Statistics: .345 batting avg., 110 RBIs, 41 home runs
1955
> Player: Mickey Mantle
> Position, team: Center field, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .306 batting avg., 99 RBIs, 37 home runs
1956
> Player: Mickey Mantle
> Position, team: Center field, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .353 batting avg., 130 RBIs, 52 home runs
1957
> Player: Mickey Mantle
> Position, team: Center field, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .365 batting avg., 94 RBIs, 34 home runs
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1958
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .347 batting avg., 96 RBIs, 29 home runs
1959
> Player: Ernie Banks
> Position, team: Shortstop, Chicago Cubs
> Statistics: .304 batting avg., 143 RBIs, 45 home runs
1960
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .319 batting avg., 103 RBIs, 29 home runs
1961
> Player: Mickey Mantle
> Position, team: Center field, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .317 batting avg., 128 RBIs, 54 home runs
1962
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .304 batting avg., 141 RBIs, 49 home runs
1963
> Player: Sandy Koufax
> Position, team: Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
> Statistics: 1.88 ERA, 25-5 record, 306 strikeouts
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1964
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .296 batting avg., 111 RBIs, 47 home runs
1965
> Player: Willie Mays
> Position, team: Center field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .317 batting avg., 112 RBIs, 52 home runs
1966
> Player: Sandy Koufax
> Position, team: Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
> Statistics: 1.73 ERA, 27-9 record, 317 strikeouts
1967
> Player: Carl Yastrzemski
> Position, team: Left field, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .326 batting avg., 121 RBIs, 44 home runs
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1968
> Player: Bob Gibson
> Position, team: Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
> Statistics: 1.12 ERA, 22-9 record, 268 strikeouts
1969
> Player: Bob Gibson
> Position, team: Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
> Statistics: 2.18 ERA, 20-13 record, 269 strikeouts
1970
> Player: Carl Yastrzemski
> Position, team: First base, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .329 batting avg., 102 RBIs, 40 home runs
1971
> Player: Wilbur Wood
> Position, team: Pitcher, Chicago White Sox
> Statistics: 1.91 ERA, 22-13 record, 210 strikeouts
1972
> Player: Steve Carlton
> Position, team: Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: 1.98 ERA, 27-10 record, 310 strikeouts
1973
> Player: Tom Seaver
> Position, team: Pitcher, New York Mets
> Statistics: 2.08 ERA, 19-10 record, 251 strikeouts
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1974
> Player: Mike Schmidt
> Position, team: Third base, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: .282 batting avg., 116 RBIs, 36 home runs
1975
> Player: Joe Morgan
> Position, team: Second base, Cincinnati Reds
> Statistics: .327 batting avg., 94 RBIs, 17 home runs
1976
> Player: Mark Fidrych
> Position, team: Pitcher, Detroit Tigers
> Statistics: 2.34 ERA, 19-9 record, 97 strikeouts
1977
> Player: Rod Carew
> Position, team: First base, Minnesota Twins
> Statistics: .388 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 14 home runs
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1978
> Player: Phil Niekro
> Position, team: Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
> Statistics: 2.88 ERA, 19-18 record, 248 strikeouts
1979
> Player: Fred Lynn
> Position, team: Center field, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .333 batting avg., 122 RBIs, 39 home runs
1980
> Player: Steve Carlton
> Position, team: Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: 2.34 ERA, 24-9 record, 286 strikeouts
1981
> Player: Mike Schmidt
> Position, team: Third base, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: .316 batting avg., 91 RBIs, 31 home runs
1982
> Player: Robin Yount
> Position, team: Shortstop, Milwaukee Brewers
> Statistics: .331 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 29 home runs
1983
> Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
> Position, team: Shortstop, Baltimore Orioles
> Statistics: .318 batting avg., 102 RBIs, 27 home runs
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1984
> Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
> Position, team: Shortstop, Baltimore Orioles
> Statistics: .304 batting avg., 86 RBIs, 27 home runs
1985
> Player: Dwight Gooden
> Position, team: Pitcher, New York Mets
> Statistics: 1.53 ERA, 24-4 record, 268 strikeouts
1986
> Player: Teddy Higuera
> Position, team: Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
> Statistics: 2.79 ERA, 20-11 record, 207 strikeouts
1987
> Player: Roger Clemens
> Position, team: Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: 2.97 ERA, 20-9 record, 256 strikeouts
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1988
> Player: Wade Boggs
> Position, team: Third base, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .366 batting avg., 58 RBIs, 5 home runs
1989
> Player: Bret Saberhagen
> Position, team: Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
> Statistics: 2.16 ERA, 23-6 record, 193 strikeouts
1990
> Player: Roger Clemens
> Position, team: Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: 1.93 ERA, 21-6 record, 209 strikeouts
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> Player: Cal Ripken Jr.
> Position, team: Shortstop, Baltimore Orioles
> Statistics: .323 batting avg., 114 RBIs, 34 home runs
1992
> Player: Greg Maddux
> Position, team: Pitcher, Chicago Cubs
> Statistics: 2.18 ERA, 20-11 record, 199 strikeouts
1993
> Player: Barry Bonds
> Position, team: Left field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .336 batting avg., 123 RBIs, 46 home runs
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1994
> Player: Greg Maddux
> Position, team: Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
> Statistics: 1.56 ERA, 16-6 record, 156 strikeouts
1995
> Player: Greg Maddux
> Position, team: Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
> Statistics: 1.63 ERA, 19-2 record, 181 strikeouts
1996
> Player: Ken Griffey Jr.
> Position, team: Center field, Seattle Mariners
> Statistics: .303 batting avg., 140 RBIs, 49 home runs
1997
> Player: Roger Clemens
> Position, team: Pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
> Statistics: 2.05 ERA, 21-7 record, 292 strikeouts
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1998
> Player: Kevin Brown
> Position, team: Pitcher, San Diego Padres
> Statistics: 2.38 ERA, 18-7 record, 257 strikeouts
1999
> Player: Pedro Martinez
> Position, team: Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: 2.07 ERA, 23-4 record, 313 strikeouts
2000
> Player: Pedro Martinez
> Position, team: Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: 1.74 ERA, 18-6 record, 284 strikeouts
2001
> Player: Barry Bonds
> Position, team: Left field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .328 batting avg., 137 RBIs, 73 home runs
2002
> Player: Barry Bonds
> Position, team: Left field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .370 batting avg., 110 RBIs, 46 home runs
2003
> Player: Barry Bonds
> Position, team: Left field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .341 batting avg., 90 RBIs, 45 home runs
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2004
> Player: Barry Bonds
> Position, team: Left field, San Francisco Giants
> Statistics: .362 batting avg., 101 RBIs, 45 home runs
2005
> Player: Alex Rodriguez
> Position, team: Third base, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .321 batting avg., 130 RBIs, 48 home runs
2006
> Player: Albert Pujols
> Position, team: First base, St. Louis Cardinals
> Statistics: .331 batting avg., 137 RBIs, 49 home runs
2007
> Player: Alex Rodriguez
> Position, team: Third base, New York Yankees
> Statistics: .314 batting avg., 156 RBIs, 54 home runs
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2008
> Player: Albert Pujols
> Position, team: First base, St. Louis Cardinals
> Statistics: .357 batting avg., 116 RBIs, 37 home runs
2009
> Player: Zack Greinke
> Position, team: Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
> Statistics: 2.16 ERA, 16-8 record, 242 strikeouts
2010
> Player: Josh Hamilton
> Position, team: Left field, Texas Rangers
> Statistics: .359 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 32 home runs
2011
> Player: Roy Halladay
> Position, team: Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: 2.35 ERA, 19-6 record, 220 strikeouts
2012
> Player: Mike Trout
> Position, team: Center field, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
> Statistics: .326 batting avg., 83 RBIs, 30 home runs
2013
> Player: Mike Trout
> Position, team: Center field, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
> Statistics: .323 batting avg., 97 RBIs, 27 home runs
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2014
> Player: Corey Kluber
> Position, team: Pitcher, Cleveland Indians
> Statistics: 2.44 ERA, 18-9 record, 269 strikeouts
2015
> Player: Bryce Harper
> Position, team: Right field, Washington Nationals
> Statistics: .330 batting avg., 99 RBIs, 42 home runs
2016
> Player: Mike Trout
> Position, team: Center field, Los Angeles Angels
> Statistics: .315 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 29 home runs
2017
> Player: Joey Votto
> Position, team: First base, Cincinnati Reds
> Statistics: .320 batting avg., 100 RBIs, 36 home runs
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2018
> Player: Mookie Betts
> Position, team: Right field, Boston Red Sox
> Statistics: .346 batting avg., 80 RBIs, 32 home runs
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2019
> Player: Alex Bregman
> Position, team: Third base, Houston Astros
> Statistics: .296 batting avg., 112 RBIs, 41 home runs
2020
> Player: Mookie Betts
> Position, team: Right field, Los Angeles Dodgers
> Statistics: .292 batting avg., 39 RBIs, 16 home runs
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2021
> Player: Zack Wheeler
> Position, team: Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
> Statistics: 2.78 ERA, 14-10 record, 247 strikeouts
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