Top 10 American League First Basemen of All-Time

Russ Cohen and I are embarking on a project to put together a list of the 10 best players at each position, with him doing the top National Leaguers and me taking on the best in the junior circuit.

The list comprises of the 10 best who played the majority of or all of their career in the American League:

Note: Any player who was entangled in performance-enhancing drugs or is suspected of taking them (such as Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmiero and David Ortiz) were not under consideration. They should never be enshrined in Cooperstown and thus do not belong on this list.

1. Lou Gehrig

It is sometimes forgotten that there is more to Gehrig than his 2,130 consecutive games streak and his tragic death from ALS at 38 years old. “The Iron Horse” along with Babe Ruth were the centerpieces of the New York Yankees dynasty in the 1920s and ’30s and the celebrated “Murderer’s Row.” The big lefty’s career numbers would have been even more impressive if he had not been forced to retire at age 36, but in his 17-year career, Gehrig won six World Championships in the Bronx, two MVP’s, a Triple Crown in 1931, a .340 batting average, 493 home runs, and 2721 hits.

2. Jimmie Foxx

Foxx played most of his 20-year career with Philadelphia A’s and the Boston Red Sox, and hit 30 or more home runs in 12 consecutive seasons. “The Beast” won consecutive World Series in 1929 and 1930, three MVP’s, 534 home runs and a .325 career batting average.

3. George Sisler

A rival of Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson as the best hitter of the dead-ball era, Sisler hit .407 in 1920 and .420 in 1922 for the St. Louis Browns, which earned him an MVP. In spite of vision problems that caused him to miss an entire year, he ended his 15-year career with a .340 batting average and 2,812 hits.

4. Hank Greenberg

The other “Hammering Hank” gave Babe Ruth’s home run record a run for its money in 1938, falling short with 58 long balls. Considered the first Jewish sports superstar, Greenberg lost four years in his prime serving in the US Army during World War II, but finished with a .313 career batting average, 331 home runs, two MVPs and two World Series titles with Detroit.

5. Frank Thomas

An imposing right-handed hitter who spent his entire 19-year career in the American League, the “Big Hurt” was not only known for his power, but also for his eye at the plate. Thomas won consecutive MVPs in 1993-94 with the Chicago White Sox, finished with a .301 career batting average and 521 home runs, but had over 100 walks 10 times in his career.

6. Miguel Cabrera

Perhaps the best pure hitter of his generation, Cabrera started his career with Florida, won a World Series with the Marlins in 2003 before being traded to Detroit in 2007. A lock for the Hall of Fame, “Miggy” won back-to-back MVPs in 2012-13, has over 500 homers, a .310 career batting average, and is 13 short of 3,000 hits.

7. Eddie Murray

A model of consistency, the switch-hitter hit 20 home runs 16 times and 504 in his 21-year career. Murray won Rookie-of-the-Year in 1977, a World Series with Baltimore in 1983, and along with Cal Ripken formed the core of the great Orioles clubs of the 1980s. After a long stint in the NL, the Hall of Famer finished his career as mostly a DH with Cleveland, Baltimore, and Anaheim and hit .323 at age 39.

8. Jim Thome

The big lefty played most of his 22-year career in the AL and other than an injury-shortened year with Philadelphia hit 20 home runs or more every season from 1994 to 2009. Thome did not win a World Series, but he ended 8th all-time with 612 HR’s and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

9. Harmon Killebrew

Killebrew personified big right-handed power throughout his 25-year career mostly with the Minnesota Twins. Although he played some outfield and third base early in his career, “Killer” played mostly first in the second half, hit 40 home runs or more seven times, won an MVP in 1969, and finished with 573 HRs.

10. Don Mattingly

Mattingly is someone who should be considered for the Hall of Fame since back injuries sapped his power numbers in the second half of his career. The sweet-swinging lefty won an MVP in 1985, had a .307 career batting average, and battled Keith Hernandez for being the best defensive first baseman of his era with nine Gold Gloves.