20 Best First Basemen of All Time In MLB History

Keith Hernandez, a former professional baseball player, played for 17 years with three different teams, the Cardinals, Mets and Indians.

Known for his defensive skills, Hernandez was an accomplished player, earning the title of National League MVP in 1979, and being named to the All-Star Game 5 times. He also won 11 Gold Glove awards and 2 Silver Slugger awards. Despite being primarily known for his defense, Hernandez also proved to be a formidable hitter, evidenced by his MVP season in 1979 where he hit .344.

Hernandez's career highlights include winning the World Series twice, once in 1982 with the Cardinals and again in 1986 as a member of the Mets. Despite his impressive career, Hernandez was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. However, his record of defensive excellence, combined with his offensive capabilities, solidified him as one of the best first basemen of his era.

His career spanned 17 years, during which he played for three different teams, and he was considered one of the best in his position, earning several accolades for his performance on the field.

Mark Teixeira, a former first baseman, played 14 seasons in the major league with four different teams, Rangers, Braves, Angels and Yankees.

He established himself as one of the best players of his time, earning 3 All-Star Game selections, 3 Silver Slugger awards, and 4 Gold Glove awards. He finished his career with an impressive record of 409 home runs, 1,298 RBIs and 1,862 hits.

Teixeira began his professional career with Texas and quickly made an impact, hitting 26 home runs with 84 RBIs in his rookie season. The following year, he hit 38 home runs and 112 RBIs. He continued to impress in his first 10 seasons, hitting 24 home runs or more each year, while also earning 4 Gold Gloves during that period.

Teixeira's most memorable year was in 2009, his first season with the Yankees, where he finished second in the American League MVP voting, but most importantly, won a World Series title with the Bronx Bombers. He was a complete player with both power and defensive skills, his career statistics are a testament to his abilities. Teixeira's impressive career numbers and accolades cemented him as one of the best players of his era.

Gil Hodges was a talented baseball player who spent 18 years in the major leagues, playing for three different teams - the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as the New York Mets.

Throughout his career, he was a force to be reckoned with, earning 8 All-Star Game appearances and 3 Gold Glove awards. He was known for his powerful hitting, finishing his career with an impressive 370 home runs, 1,274 RBIs, and 1,921 hits.

While Hodges is perhaps best known for his time with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a key member of the famous "Boys of Summer" team. During his 15-year tenure with the team, he hit a franchise-record 361 home runs, and helped lead the team to 7 pennants and 2 World Series titles.

Despite his success on the field, Hodges' career was cut short when he passed away suddenly at the age of 47 in 1972.After retiring as a player, Hodges found success as a manager.

He took over the helm of the New York Mets, leading the team to a World Series victory in 1969, which is considered one of the greatest upsets in baseball history. Despite his untimely death, Hodges' legacy lives on as one of the greatest players and managers in baseball history.

Fred McGriff is a former baseball player who spent 19 years in the major leagues, playing for six different teams including the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Throughout his career, he established himself as a consistent and productive player, amassing 439 home runs and 2,490 hits.

McGriff was recognized for his talents by being selected to play in 5 All-Star Games and winning 3 Silver Slugger awards, which is awarded to the best offensive player at each position.

His consistency throughout his career is what made him stand out, as he was able to maintain a high level of performance year after year. He was consistently hitting between 20 and 30 home runs, knocking in between 80 and 100 runs, and batting between .270 and .320 nearly every season, which shows his ability to maintain performance.

McGriff's career statistics are certainly impressive, but it is unlikely that he will ever be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, due to the high standard that players need to meet for induction and the stiff competition for a spot in the Hall. Despite this, McGriff's consistency and longevity in the sport make him a respected player among baseball fans and experts.

Todd Helton is a former baseball player who spent 17 years with the Colorado Rockies, from 1997 through 2013. He was an integral part of the team during its expansion phase, and his contributions to the Rockies' success cannot be overstated.

Throughout his career, he showcased his impressive hitting abilities, hitting 369 home runs, 592 doubles, and 2,519 hits while maintaining an impressive batting average of .316.

Helton's achievements on the field were recognized by his peers, earning him 5 trips to the All-Star Game, 4 Silver Slugger awards, and 3 Gold Glove awards. He was known for his ability to hit the ball to all parts of the field, but some experts suggest that his career was aided by playing at Coors Field, the home stadium of the Rockies.

Helton's statistics are certainly impressive, but it is unlikely that he will reach the Hall of Fame. Despite this, his ability to consistently hit at a high level and his ability to spray the ball to all fields is something that is worthy of admiration and recognition. Helton's contributions to the Rockies' organization and his longevity in the sport make him a respected player among baseball fans and experts.

Tony Perez is a former baseball player who had a remarkable 23-year career in the major leagues, playing for four different teams - Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies.

He was known for his powerful hitting and finished his career with 379 home runs and 2,732 hits, which earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Perez was a consistent performer, earning 7 All-Star Game selections. He is best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds, where he helped lead the team to four pennants and two World Series titles. His contributions to the team's success are still remembered and celebrated by the Reds' fans.

As Perez's career progressed, he saw his playing time decrease and ended up being used mostly as a pinch-hitter, but his veteran presence and leadership was still valuable for the teams he played for.

He retired from the game at the age of 44, and in 2000, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, further solidifying his place among the greats of the game. Perez's longevity, consistency, and achievements make him one of the most respected players in the history of baseball.

Don Mattingly, also known as "Donnie Baseball," is a former baseball player who spent his entire 14-year career with the New York Yankees. He is currently the manager of the Miami Marlins.

Throughout his career, Mattingly established himself as one of the best first basemen in the game, earning numerous accolades, including being named the AL MVP in 1985, and being selected to 6 All-Star Games. He was also known for his defensive abilities, winning 9 Gold Gloves and 3 Silver Slugger awards.

During the 1980s, Mattingly was a consistent force at the plate, maintaining a batting average around .300, and regularly knocking in 100 runs. Despite his individual success, the Yankees team during his tenure, did not reach the post-season. Despite his impressive statistics and awards, Mattingly has yet to be selected for the Hall of Fame, and it is unlikely that he will be inducted in the future.

Despite his lack of post-season success and Hall of Fame induction, Mattingly's career and his consistency at the plate and in the field, make him one of the most respected and admired players in the history of the New York Yankees and baseball in general. He continues to be an important figure in the game as a manager for the Miami Marlins.

Steve Garvey is a former baseball player who spent 19 years in the major leagues, playing for only two teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

Throughout his career, Garvey was a perennial All-Star, earning 10 selections to the All-Star Game. He was also recognized for his defensive abilities, winning 4 Gold Glove awards.

Garvey began his career as a third baseman and came off the bench more often than not, but in 1974, he made his first All-Star Game and won the MVP award for the game and went on to be named the National League MVP for the entire 1974 season.

He was an All-Star for the NL in eight straight seasons and while with the Dodgers, he helped lead the team to four pennants and a World Series victory in 1981. In 1983, he left to play for the San Diego Padres, where he made two more All-Star games and led the team to their first-ever pennant in 1984.

Garvey finished his career with 272 home runs and 2,599 hits, but despite his impressive statistics and accomplishments, he has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Despite this, Garvey's consistency, longevity, and leadership throughout his career make him one of the most respected players in the history of the game.

Orlando Cepeda is a former baseball player who had a 17-year career in the major leagues, playing for six different teams. He was known for his hard-hitting, powerful first-base play and earned 7 All-Star Game selections, as well as the 1958 Rookie of the Year award and the 1967 National League MVP award.

Cepeda began his career with a bang, hitting 25 home runs and racking up 96 RBIs in his rookie season, while maintaining an impressive batting average of .312 at the plate. He had his career-best season in 1961, when he hit 46 home runs with 142 RBIs.

In 1966, while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cepeda won his NL MVP award. However, injuries slowed his success later on in his career. Despite this, he finished his career with a .297 batting average, 379 home runs, 417 doubles and 2,357 hits.

Cepeda's career statistics and achievements are certainly impressive, and in 1999, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the veteran's committee. This recognition further solidifies his place among the greats of the game and his contributions to baseball will not be forgotten.

Rafael Palmeiro is a former baseball player who had a 17-year career in the major leagues, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles. He was recognized for his talents by being selected to 4 All-Star teams.

Throughout his career, Palmeiro put up impressive numbers, hitting 569 home runs, 1,835 RBIs, and 3,020 hits. These statistics would typically make him a strong candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but a scandal involving performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is likely to prevent him from being inducted.

It is worth noting that more than half of Palmeiro's home runs came after his 33rd birthday, which raises suspicions about his late-career power surge. Despite his impressive numbers, Palmeiro's association with PEDs has damaged his reputation and his chances of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. His case is a reminder of the impact that PEDs have had on the game and the importance of maintaining the integrity of baseball.

Jim Thome is a former baseball player who had a career that spanned from 1991 to 2012, playing for six different teams, but he is most remembered for his time with the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies. During his career, Thome was a 5-time All-Star and won 1 Silver Slugger award.

He was known for his powerful left-handed hitting, hitting 612 home runs, 1,699 RBIs, and 451 doubles.

Thome became a full-time designated hitter in 2008, which allowed him to extend his career as he did not have to play in the field as much. In his prime, he hit 40 or more home runs for four straight seasons and clubbed over 150 home runs after turning 35.

Thome's impressive numbers, power and consistency, made him a first-ballot inductee to the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Thome's career is a testament to his powerful hitting, his longevity and consistency, and his ability to adapt to his role as a designated hitter. He is widely considered as one of the greatest power hitters of his era and his place in the Hall of Fame is well-deserved recognition of his contributions to the game of baseball.

Jeff Bagwell is a former baseball player who had a remarkable 15-year career in the major leagues, playing his entire career with the Houston Astros. During his tenure, he established himself as one of the best players in the league, earning 4 All-Star Game selections, 1 Gold Glove award, and 3 Silver Slugger awards.

He was also recognized for his outstanding rookie season, being named the 1991 National League Rookie of the Year and the 1994 National League MVP.

Bagwell was known for his consistency at the plate, hitting 20 home runs or more and 87 RBIs or more in 12 straight seasons. He was a powerful and consistent force in the middle of the Astros lineup. He could have played well beyond his 15 seasons in the league if not for an arthritic shoulder that forced him to retire.

Bagwell's impressive career statistics and achievements earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he was elected in 2017. His tenure with the Houston Astros, his consistency, and his impact on the game make him one of the most respected and admired players in baseball history.

Eddie Murray, a professional baseball player, had a successful career that spanned over three decades and 21 seasons. He played for several teams including the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, and California Angels.

Throughout his career, Murray was recognized for his skills and achievements, being selected to eight All-Star teams and winning three Gold Glove awards, three Silver Slugger awards, and being named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1977.

In his debut season, Murray made a strong impression by hitting 27 home runs and driving in 88 runs. Despite never surpassing 33 home runs or 124 runs batted in during a single season, Murray was known for his consistency as a player. He finished in the top five for American League MVP voting for five consecutive seasons during the 1980s.

When Murray retired, he had an impressive list of accomplishments, including 504 home runs, 1,917 runs batted in, 560 doubles, and 3,255 hits. His outstanding career was recognized in 2003 when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mark McGwire, a professional baseball player, had a career that spanned from 1984 to 2001, playing for both the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. Despite his undeniable talent as a power hitter, McGwire's use of performance-enhancing drugs has cast a shadow over his career.

He was selected as an All-Star 12 times, won one Gold Glove, three Silver Slugger awards, and was named the 1987 American League Rookie of the Year.

In 1998, McGwire made history by breaking Roger Maris' record for most home runs in a single season by hitting 70. Despite his impressive home run total, McGwire had relatively few career hits, with only 1,626, which is the lowest of any player with 500 or more home runs. He finished his career with 583 home runs and 1,414 runs batted in.

However, due to his admission of using steroids, it is unlikely that McGwire will be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Willie McCovey, a professional baseball player, had a career spanning 21 seasons in Major League Baseball. He is known for his outstanding offensive performance, finishing his career with 521 home runs, 1,555 runs batted in, and 2,211 hits.

McCovey was recognized for his skills and achievements, being selected to six All-Star teams, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1959, and the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1969.

McCovey is widely considered as one of the best left-handed power hitters in baseball history. At the age of 21, he debuted in the majors and had an impressive rookie season, batting .354 in 52 games and earning Rookie of the Year honors.

His best season following his rookie year was in 1963, when he hit 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs. He also reached the milestone of 500 home runs in his career. McCovey was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, receiving the honor on the first ballot.

Miguel Cabrera, a professional baseball player, made his debut in Major League Baseball in 2003 with the Florida Marlins as a third baseman. In 2008, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he became the team's starting first baseman and remains active today.

Throughout his career, Cabrera has earned numerous accolades for his skills and achievements, including 11 trips to the All-Star game, seven Silver Slugger awards, and being named the American League Most Valuable Player twice.

In 2012, Cabrera made history by becoming the first American League player to win the Triple Crown since 1967, leading the league in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and runs batted in (139).

As of September 6, 2022, Cabrera had a career batting average of .308, 506 home runs, and 1,841 runs batted in over 20 seasons, playing at the age of 39. He is considered one of the best offensive players of his generation.

Hank Greenberg, also known as the "Hebrew Hammer," was a professional baseball player who played between 1930 and 1947.

He was a dominant hitter during the 1930s, setting a record for runs batted in by knocking in 168 runs during the 1935 season and following that up with an even more impressive 184 RBIs during the 1937 season.

In 1938, Greenberg hit 58 home runs, which were second only to Babe Ruth at the time. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by World War II, as he left only 19 games into the 1941 season and missed all of the 1942, 1943, and 1944 seasons, as well as over half of the 1945 season.

Despite the significant time missed due to military service, Greenberg still managed to make a lasting impact on the game. He was a 4-time All-Star, twice American League Most Valuable Player, with a career batting average of .313 and 331 home runs. In 1956, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the sport.

Albert Pujols, a professional baseball player, began his career in 2001 and is still active today, currently playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

He made an immediate impact in the majors, having one of the greatest rookie seasons in Major League Baseball history, with 37 home runs, 130 runs batted in, and a batting average of .329. That season, he was named an All-Star, Rookie of the Year, a Silver Slugger and finished fourth in National League MVP voting.

Throughout his career, Pujols has been a perennial All-Star, earning the honor 10 times, he won 2 Gold Gloves, 6 Silver Slugger awards and was named National League MVP three times.

As of September 16, 2022, Pujols had a career batting average of .296, 695 home runs, and 2,193 runs batted in. He is just the fourth player to have more than 2,000 career runs batted in, joining Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Alex Rodriguez, which is a testament to his exceptional offensive abilities.

Jimmie Foxx, a legendary baseball player, had a career that spanned across two decades, from 1925 to 1942 and 1944 to 1945.

At just 17 years of age, he made his debut with the Philadelphia Athletics, showcasing his incredible talent as a power hitter. In 1932, Foxx hit 58 home runs and knocked in 168 runs, coming close to breaking Babe Ruth's record.

The following year, he achieved the prestigious Triple Crown, leading the league with a .356 batting average, 48 home runs, and 163 runs batted in.

Throughout his career, Foxx was recognized for his skill and achievements, earning nine All-Star selections, three American League Most Valuable Player awards and ending his career with a batting average of .325, 534 home runs, and 1,922 runs batted in.

His outstanding career was recognized in 1951 when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot, a testament to his lasting impact on the game of baseball.

Foxx was a remarkable individual who came into the world on October 22, 1907 in the small town of Sudlersville on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was born to farming parents, Dell and Mattie Foxx. His father, Dell, had a passion for baseball and had previously played for a local town team.

Jimmie was an accomplished student, but his true talent lay in sports, particularly soccer, track, and baseball. 

He had an innate ability in baseball and went on to have a successful professional career as a first baseman, playing for several teams over the course of 20 years in the major leagues. He was truly a one-of-a-kind talent that left an indelible mark on the game of baseball.

Lou Gehrig, also known as the "Iron Horse" of baseball, was a legendary player who spent his entire career with the New York Yankees. He held the record for the longest streak of consecutive games played at 2,130 until it was broken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1995. Gehrig was considered one of the best hitters to ever play the game.

At the age of 24, he had an impressive season in 1927, hitting 47 home runs and driving in 173 runs while batting behind Babe Ruth. In 1931, he recorded 185 RBIs, just two short of the all-time record. In 1934, he achieved the American League Triple Crown with a batting average of .363, 49 home runs, and 166 RBIs. He also had 13 consecutive seasons with 100 or more RBIs.

Throughout his career, Gehrig had a batting average of .340, hit 493 home runs, recorded 1,995 RBIs, and had 2,721 hits. He was also a 7-time All-Star and won two American League MVP awards. Gehrig was inducted into the Hall of Fame after retiring in 1939 due to a diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that now bears his name and took his life two years later.