Major League Baseball has compiled a long list of great superstars over the years including at the first base position. While the debate over who is deserving of a nod on the Top 10 MLB First Baseman of All-Time could be made for as many as 20-25 former MLB first baseman, only 10 could land on the list.

A list that includes future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera, along with greats like Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, and Jimmie Foxx. While a majority of the greatest first baseman All-Time are MLB Hall of Famers, a few are not including one of the best hitters of his generation Todd Helton who could hit as well as any first baseman to play the game.

When you look at the first base position, other factors that played a role in eliminating players was the Designated Hitter slot that reduced the number of games some stars played at the position such as David Ortiz who failed to make the list based on games played at the position and dropped Frank Thomas.

With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 MLB First Baseman of All-Time

Honorable Mention

Frank Thomas

Team(s): Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s & Toronto Blue Jays

One former first baseman that is well deserving of a spot to be mentioned among the greatest MLB players to play is the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas.

While Thomas lands outside of the Top 10 MLB First Baseman of All-Time rankings list based on playing more than hall of career at designated hitter, was one of the most feared hitters of his generation.

Thomas racked up five All-Star nods, two AL MVP Awards while playing first base, won four Silver Slugger Awards and finished his career with a stat line that included a .301 batting average, 2,468 career hits and 521 home runs.

Mark McGwire

Team(s): Oakland A’s & St. Louis Cardinals

As far as where you want to rank Mark McGwire it is up to the fan or expert building the list. McGwire, who was linked to performance enhancing drugs over his career, was one of the game’s biggest power hitters and one to put on a show for the fan’s night in and night out.

As MLB turned a blind eye to what might have been going on, McGwire helped bring the game of baseball back after a work stoppage. McGwire finished his career as a .263 career hitter while hitting 583 career home runs and driving in 1414 runs. 

Top 10 First Basemen

10. Todd Helton

Team(s): Colorado Rockies

One first baseman who tends to get overlooked as one of the Top 10 MLB First Basemen of All-Time is the Colorado Rockies great Todd Helton.

While Helton often gets overlooked due to his playing career taking place in one of the greatest hitters’ ballparks of All-Time, his numbers and accolades are well deserving to rank inside of the Top 10.

Helton posted a career .316 batting average to go along with 2,519 hits and 369 career home runs. Helton took home three Gold Glove Awards, four Silver Slugger Awards, led MLB in batting average and runs batted in while making five All-Star teams.

9. Jeff Bagwell

Team(s): Houston Astros

The man with one of the craziest batting stances of his generation, could do it all at first base while also being able to field his position, hit and steal a bag when needed. Bagwell led the league three times in runs scored, once in runs batted in and once in doubles.

Over his career the longtime Houston Astros star racked up at least 100 runs scored in nine different seasons, 40 doubles in three times, at least 35 home runs in six different seasons and drove in 100 runs in eight different seasons.

Those numbers helped land Bagwell in the MLB Hall of Fame as well as his NL MVP Award, and four All-Star trips.

8. Willie McCovey

Team(s): San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres & Oakland A’s

Not many MLB stars get a landmark named after him such as Willie McCovey has with the new San Francisco Giants stadium and McCovey Cove which is located outside of the right field portion of the stadium.

McCovey was as good as any player around the game during his playing days and a member of the 500-home run club. McCovey racked up 2,211 career hits over his 22-year playing career to go along with 353 doubles, 521 home runs and 1,555 runs batted in.

The longtime Giants great led the NL in home runs three different years, runs batted in in back-to-back years while also posting at least 100 runs batted in four different times.

7. Harmon Killebrew

Team(s): Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins & Kansas City Royals

“Hammerin” Harmon Killebrew landed a few nicknames over his career including “Hammering” Harmon as well as “The Killer” based on his ability to mash the baseball.

Killebrew was named to 13 All-Star games over his career while posting 2,086 career hits and 573 home runs. In addition, Killebrew led the AL in home runs in six different MLB seasons and took home the 1969 AL MVP Award.

The longtime Minnesota Twins and Washington Senators star drove in at least 100 runs in 10 different seasons while racking up 1,559 career runs batted in.

6. Miguel Cabrera

Team(s): Florida Marlins & Detroit Tigers

One of two MLB great first baseman to still be playing in 2022 is the great Miguel Cabrera who is expected to land a long list of greats in Cooperstown.

Cabrera, who is a member of the 3,000 hit and 500 home run club, continues to add to his storied MLB career in 2022 while potentially helping him climb the Top 10 MLB First Baseman of All-Time rankings list.

Cabrera has racked up at least 30 home runs in 10 different seasons and has driven in at least 100 runs in 12 different seasons including 11 straight seasons. Cabrera is one of a handful of MLB players to hit for the Triple Crown while also being named AL MVP in two different seasons. 

5. Hank Greenberg

Team(s): Detroit Tigers & Pittsburgh Pirates

The debate could easily be made that Hank Greenberg as well as Miguel Cabrera are two of the greatest Detroit Tigers to play the game of baseball.

Greenberg, who was one of the best power hitters of his generation during the 1930’s racked up five All-Star appearances as well as helping guide his teams to two World Series Championships. 

Greenberg’s accolades include leading the AL four times in both home runs and runs batted in while also winning two AL MVP Awards during the 1935 and 1945 MLB seasons.

4. Jimmie Foxx

Team(s): Philadelphia A’s, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs & Philadelphia Phillies

The 20-year MLB great put together a storied career while finishing his career with 1,922 runs batted in to go along with a career .325 batting average, 2,646 career hits and 534 career home runs.

In addition, Foxx posted at least 100 runs batted in during 13 seasons including 175 back during the 1938 season. Over his career Foxx was named to nine All-Star teams, won two World Series titles, three AL MVP Awards and is a member of the Triple Crown Award winners list.

3. Stan Musial

Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals

Mr. St. Louis Cardinals himself Stan Musial could easily be slotted into the greatest MLB outfielder of All-Time list as well as one of the greatest first baseman to play the game of baseball rankings.

Musial racked up a long list of accolades over his career including being named to 24 All-Star teams, won three World Series titles and three NL MVP awards.

In addition, Musial led the NL in batting average in seven different seasons while racking up a career .331 batting average. Musial is also a member of the 3,000 hit (3,630) club while also hitting 475 career home runs and driving in 1,951 career runs.

2. Lou Gehrig

Team(s): New York Yankees

One MLB first baseman who could easily land at number on the list of the greatest first baseman is the former New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig. Gehrig who played 17 MLB seasons all for the pinstripes with the New York Yankees racked up 2,164 career games played.

Over that stretch, Gehrig racked up 493 career home runs, 1995 runs batted in and a career .340 batting average.

Gehrig, who is considered one of the greatest New York Yankees of All-Time, racked up seven All-Star nods, won six World Series Championships, won two AL MVP awards and finished the 1934 season with the Triple Crown.

1. Albert Pujols

Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers & St. Louis Cardinals

Like fellow future Hall of Famer, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols is one of two MLB greatest first baseman to still be playing the game today.

Pujols, who is playing in his 22nd MLB season, entered 2022 with 679 career home runs to go along with 2150 career runs batted in. The longtime MLB great led the NL in runs scored in five different seasons, hits once, and home runs twice.

Over his career, Pujols also won the NL Rookie of the Year award, three NL MVP’s and was named to 10 All-Star teams. Pujols is well deserving as the top spot on the Top 10 MLB First Baseman of All-Time rankings list’s

How would you rank these great first basemen? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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