Who are the greatest MLB outfielders of all time?

The game of baseball has seen an astonishing amount of superstar talent play in the outfield. But out of all of the outfielders in MLB history, who should be considered the greatest to play in left, center, or right? It’s not easy but we have our list of the ten greatest MLB outfielders.

10. Barry Bonds

There may not have been a player in MLB’s history with the toolset of Barry Bonds. Bonds quickly emerged as a superstar in the late 1980s with the Giants thanks to his ability to change the game with his speed and power. Bonds led the NL in OPS five times from 1990-1995 and won three MVP awards in that span.

Bonds is the all-time leader in home runs with 762. However, the Giants legend is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame due to his connection to performance-enhancing drugs. But put those years in the late 1990s and early 2000s aside, Bonds’ prowess in his prime with Pittsburgh and San Francisco still makes him one of the game’s most threatening forces.

9. Babe Ruth

No player in MLB history has a higher bWAR (182.6) than Babe Ruth, although his prowess on the mound did partially boost that number. Ruth was a dominant pitcher with the Red Sox but ultimately converted to being a hitter full-time with the Yankees. Needless to say, that decision worked out well.

With the Yankees, Ruth led the Majors 10 times in home runs. From 1920 to 1931, Ruth hit 562 home runs with New York, had 10 seasons of a bWAR of at least 10.0, and cemented himself as the greatest power hitter of his era. Just two players in MLB history have more total home runs than Ruth (714), who’s also the all-time leader in career SLG (.690) and (1.164)

8. Roberto Clemente

Statue of Roberto Clemente — Image via Wikimedia Commons

There may not have been a better Rule 5 Draft pick in history than Roberto Clemente. The Pirates drafted Clemente in the Rule 5 Draft in 1954 as a 20-year-old and he wound up playing his entire career with Pittsburgh. His first five seasons in the Majors were not great, as he had an OPS+ of 89 in that span. However. Clemente hit his stride in his mid-20s.

From 1960 to 1971, Clemente hit .331 with 2,200 career hits and 204 career home runs, and he played key roles in the Pirates’ World Series championships in 1960 and 1971. A former NL MVP and 15-time All-Star, Clemente was also a distinguished defensive outfielder. Clemente’s 12 Gold Gloves are tied for first all-time among outfielders.

7. Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. made his MLB debut at the age of 19. And by the end of his career, “The Kid” locked up his spot as one of the game’s all-time greats. Griffey Jr. won seven Silver Sluggers, tied for fourth-most in MLB history, and ten Gold Gloves.

Griffey Jr. could do it all and the sweet-swining left-handed hitter ended his illustrious career with 630 career home runs. That figure is good for seventh on the all-time MLB leaderboard.

6. Ted Williams

There may not have been a more gifted, natural hitter than Ted Williams. The all-time career leader in OBP (.482), Williams wreaked havoc across the 1940s and 1950s, as he hit over 500 career home runs, led the AL in runs scored six times, and was the last player in MLB history to hit over .400 in a single season when he posted a .406 average in 1941.

Williams missed the 1943-1945 seasons due to service in World War II, a primary reason as to why he never reached the 3,000-hit plateau. That, however, doesn’t diminish what the two-time AL MVP accomplished in his legendary MLB career.

5. Mickey Mantle

It’s nearly impossible to have a conversation about the greatest MLB outfielders in history without “The Mick,” Mickey Mantle. Mantle made an immediate impact upon his arrival in the Majors, as he hit .311 with 23 home runs in his first full season in 1952 and won his second of seven World Series titles.

Mantle’s accomplishments speak for themselves: over 500 career home runs, three AL MVP awards, and a Triple Crown. Not only could Mantle be considered one of the league’s greatest outfielders, but it’s hard to find a switch-hitter that’s had as large of an impact in MLB as Mickey Mantle.

4. Tris Speaker

Legendary outfielder Tris Speaker was a force in the 1910s and 1920, a reason why his 134.9 career bWAR is ninth in MLB history. The Red Sox and Guardians legend had a career .345 batting average and recorded 3,514 career hits. While Speaker may not have been a prolific home run hitter by today’s standards, Speaker did lead the AL in home runs in 1912 with 10 and is the all-time leader in doubles (792).

Speaker’s prowess helped him net three World Series titles and the 1912 AL MVP.

3. Ty Cobb

Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb — Image via Wikimedia Commons (Library of Congress)

A dominant player both at the plate and on the basepaths, Ty Cobb could be considered not just the greatest Tiger of all time but also one of the best players of all time. Cobb led the AL in stolen bases six times, hits eight times, and had seven 100+ RBI campaigns. The Tigers legend sits sixth all-time in career bWAR (151.5).

Cobb ended his career with 12 batting titles and no player in MLB history has a better batting average (.366) than “The Georgia Peach.”

2. Hank Aaron

Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron — Image via Wikimedia Commons (LBJ Library)

Braves icon Hank Aaron is seventh all-time in bWAR (143), after what was a landmark career. Aaron emerged as a star in the late 1950s with the Milwaukee Braves, after he won the NL MVP in 1957 and earned five All-Star appearances between 1956-60. In total, Aaron earned 25 All-Star appearances, a World Series title in 1957, and is still the career leader in RBI (2,297).

Aaron ended his career with 755 home runs, a title ultimately surpassed by Barry Bonds in 2007. Bonds’ career accomplishments have come under scrutiny over the past two decades due to his connection to PEDs. Thus, many still consider Aaron to be the true home run king.

1. Willie Mays

Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants — Image via Wikimedia Commons (Michael Marconi)

Giants sensation Willie Mays makes the top spot of our list of the greatest MLB outfielders, thanks to his ability to change the game with both his bat and glove. Mays hit 660 career home runs and had five seasons in which he hit at least 40. Arguably his seminal campaign came in 1954, when he hit .345 with 41 home runs, won the NL MVP, made “The Catch,” and helped the then-New York Giants win the World Series.

But on top of his bat, Mays could also be considered the greatest defensive center fielder in MLB history. Mays won 12 Gold Gloves in his career, tied for first all-time among all outfielders. Just four players in MLB history have a higher bWAR (156.1) than the “Say Hey Kid.”

Note: All stats and split values from Baseball-Reference. Data may not be completely accurate due to the lack of game logs from the early 1900s.