There are a few current players in this section of my Top 1,000 MLB players ever. There are also a few guys who didn't play very long but made their mark. Let's continue as we wrap up the first fifth of our journey.
Be sure to check out the rest of our series: MLB 976-1,000 | 951-975 | 926-950 | 901-925 | 876-900 |850-875 | 826-850 | 776-800 | 751-775
#825 - Edgardo Alfonzo - Third Base/Second Base - 1995-2006
Alfonzo was part of one of the best fielding infields in history with the 1999 New York Mets. It was the first time in his career he had played more than 70 games at second base. He also had a solid peak. From 1997-2002, Alfonzo slashed .297/.380/.464 while averaging 21 home runs and 86 RBIs per 162. He also walked more than he struck out in that span.
#824 - Elvis Andrus - Shortstop - 2009-present
Andrus started his career by finishing second in the ROY voting in 2009. He stole 33 bases that season and would have nine consecutive years of 20+. Known for his speed and fielding early in his career, Andrus's power showed up in 2017. During his best offensive season, the shortstop slashed .297/.337/.471 with career-highs in doubles (44), home runs (20), and RBIs (88).
#823 - Anthony Rendon - Third Base - 2013-present
Despite his struggles to stay healthy or be very effective, Rendon was an excellent player before 2021. From 2014-2020, he slashed .293/.376/.500 while averaging 43 doubles, 26 home runs, and 101 RBIs per 162. Rendon finished in the top 10 of MVP voting four times and was a Silver Slugger twice.
#822 - Pat Hentgen - Right-handed Pitcher - 1991-2004
Hentgen may have had a short peak, but it was a good one. He was a workhorse for a couple of years. After a solid 1993, which saw him finish sixth in CYA voting, Hentgen followed it up with a good year in 1994. He had a clunker in 1995. Then, in 1996, he won the CYA, winning 20 games and finishing with a 3.22 ERA. In 1997, he was an All-Star for the third time and led the league in innings pitched with 264. Hentgen is the only AL pitcher to throw consecutive years of 260+ innings since 1990.
#821 - Cecil Travis - Shortstop/Third Base - 1933-1941, 1945-1947
Travis, like some other players of his time, was affected by World War II. Before entering the Army in 1942, Travis was a .327 hitter. His best year was in 1941 at the age of 27 before he went to war. That season, Travis slashed .359/.410/.520 with career-highs in many categories. He led the league with 218 hits and had 106 runs and 101 RBIs to go with 19 triples. Travis was considered an above-average fielder at shortstop.
#820 - Barry Zito - Left-handed Pitcher - 2000-2013, 2015
Oakland's Big Three in the early 2000s was comprised of Zito, Mark Mulder, and Tim Hudson. Of the three, Zito is the one who took home a CYA. In 2002, he was 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA. The southpaw was a workhorse for the A's. He threw over 200 innings in six consecutive years (2001-2006). He was a three-time All-Star.
#819 - Greg Luzinski - Left Fielder/Designated Hitter - 1970-1984
Luzinski may have been a below-average fielder and runner, but we can't put him in the conversation with the likes of Dave Kingman, Adam Dunn, or Rob Deer. Luzinski was actually a very good hitter aside from just his power. He batted over .300 three seasons in a row. He finished second in MVP voting twice (1975,1977) and led the league in RBIs in 1975 with 120. His best season came in 1977 when he slashed .309/.394/.594 with 39 home runs and 130 RBIs, all career highs.
#818 - Alex Gordon - Left Fielder - 2007-2020
Gordon was known more for his fielding as he won eight Gold Gloves and is third all-time according to baseball reference in Total Zone Rating for left fielders. Although his defensive prowess is unquestioned, Gordon had a nice little offensive peak from 2011-2015. During that stretch, he slashed .281/.359/.450 while averaging 20 home runs and 12 stolen bases per 162.
#817 - Ken Holtzman - Left-handed Pitcher - 1965-1979
Holtzman started his career with the Chicago Cubs, but he is probably best remembered for his contributions to the three-time champion Oakland A's in the 70s. From 1972-1974, Holtzman was 59-41 with a 2.85 ERA, and he was a two-time All-Star. In Game Three of the 1973 ALCS, Holtzman battled for 11 innings until Bert Campaneris led off the bottom of the 11th with a home run off of Mike Cuellar.
#816 - Gary Matthews - Outfielder - 1972-1987
Matthews won the NL ROY award in 1973 with the San Francisco Giants. It started a decade of excellent play for the outfielder. From 1973-1982, Matthews slashed .288/.362/.446 while averaging 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases per 162. In the postseason, Matthews shined. He had a 1.090 OPS and seven home runs in 19 playoff games. He had three home runs and eight RBIs in four games in the 1983 NLDS against the Dodgers and took home the MVP for the series.
#815 - Tino Martinez - First Base - 1990-2005
Martinez's first taste of the playoffs was with Seattle against the Yankees in 1995 and Tino went 9-for-22 with five RBIs in five games. Martinez would go on to have his best seasons with New York and win four rings. In 1997, Martinez slashed .296/.371/.577 with 44 home runs and 141 RBIs while finishing second in MVP voting.
#814 - Grady Sizemore - Centerfielder - 2004-2011, 2014-2015
Sizemore looked like a surefire Hall of Famer when through his age-26 season. From 2005-2008, Sizemore was ripping up the league. During that time, he slashed .281/.372/.496 while averaging 27 home runs and 29 stolen bases per 162. He also won two Gold Gloves. Unfortunately, injuries started for Sizemore and he was never able to be that player again.
#813 - Michael Brantley - Left Fielder - 2009-2023
Brantley has always been a good hitter. He finished his career with a .298 average. During his peak from 2014-2021, he was among a rare breed who could still hit for average. In that time, Brantley slashed .311/.370/.474 while averaging 18 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and 90 RBIs per 162. He was a five-time All-Star and finished third in MVP voting in 2014.
#812 - Matt Carpenter - Third Base/First Base/Second Base - 2011-present
Carpenter was a late bloomer as he didn't start his 10th game in the majors until he was 26 years old. In 2013, Carpenter led the league in runs (126), doubles (55), and hits (199) on his way to a fourth-place finish in MVP voting. He was a three-time All-Star and from 2012-2018 slashed .275/.377/.471. His 36 home runs in 2018 were a career high.
#811 - Bob Meusel - Outfielder - 1920-1930
While he was overshadowed by his teammates on the 1920s Yankees, Meusel was the second-best hitter on the team until Lou Gehrig became a full-time player in 1925. From 1920-1927, Meusel slashed .318/.365/.514 while averaging 19 home runs and 19 stolen bases with 128 RBIs per 162. In 1925, he led the league in home runs (33), and RBIs (134).
#810 - Raul Mondesi - Right Fielder - 1993-2005
Mondesi won the ROY award in 1994. For the next decade, he slashed .275/.333/.491 while averaging 30 home runs and 26 stolen bases per 162. Mondesi was known for his cannon arm, and he won two Gold Gloves in his career. He is one of only 20 players in history to have 270 home runs, 225 stolen bases, and a career OPS above .800.
#809 - Larry Dierker - Right-handed Pitcher - 1964-1977
Dierker made his major league debut on his 18th birthday in 1964. Despite battling shoulder issues for much of his career, he had some good seasons for the Astros. In 1969, he became Houston's first 20-game winner and finished the season with a 2.33 ERA in 305.1 innings. Dierker was a two-time All-Star. He holds the Astros franchise records for games started (320), complete games (106), and shutouts (25).
#808 - Don Baylor - Left Fielder/Designated Hitter - 1970-1988
Baylor liked to hit and be hit when he played. He blasted 338 home runs in his career and also stole 285 bases. The list of players to have 325+ home runs and 275+ stolen bases is only eight names long. Baylor won the 1979 AL MVP award and led the league in RBIs that season with 139. He held the modern record for being hit by a pitch 267 times until Craig Biggio broke it.
#807 - George Selkirk - Outfielder - 1934-1942
The man who replaced Babe Ruth did so admirably. Although Selkirk played just nine seasons, he won five World Series with the Yankees. His last two seasons were not productive but from 1934-1940 Selkirk slashed .298/.406/.498 and averaged 23 home runs and 120 RBIs per 162. He was a two-time All-Star and was a very good defensive outfielder.
#806 - Orval Overall - Right-handed Pitcher - 1905-1910, 1913
The big righty only pitched for seven seasons, but his 2.26 ERA is eighth all-time in major league history. From the time he was traded to the Cubs in 1906 to 1909, Overall was one of the best pitchers in the game. He was 70-32 with a minuscule 1.69 ERA. He also led the league in strikeouts in 1909 with 205. Overall won two World Series with the Cubs in that span and had a 3-0 record with a 1.12 ERA.
#805 - Kid Elberfeld - Shortstop/Third Base - 1898-1899, 1901-1911, 1914
Elberfeld was the best shortstop in the American League at the turn of the century. While his numbers don't look all that impressive, compared to his contemporaries, he was a star. From 1901-1906, he slashed .283/.359/.361 and averaged 27 stolen bases per 162. Elberfeld was also a top defensive shortstop and had a reputation for a cannon arm.
#804 - Kevin Kiermaier - Centerfielder - 2013-present
Kiermaier is certainly known for his defense. He is a four-time Gold Glove winner and won a Platinum Glove. Since DRS was created in 2002, Kiermaier has the most of any centerfielder. He also had a decent bat for a few years with Tampa Bay. From 2014-2017, Kiermaier slashed .262/.319/.431 and averaged 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases per 162.
#803 - Elbie Fletcher - First Base - 1934-1935, 1937-1943, 1946-1947, 1949
Fletcher wasn't your typical power-hitting first baseman. He had a little pop, but it was his plate discipline that got him on this list. From 1939-1943, Fletcher slashed .284/.407/.423 averaging 12 home runs and 84 RBIs per 162. He led the NL in OBP each year from 1940-1942 and led the league in walks in 1940 and 1941.
#802 - Ben Sheets - Right-handed Pitcher - 2001-2008, 2010, 2012
Despite the fact that Sheets had a career losing record (94-96), he had an excellent five-year peak that justifies his inclusion on this list. From 2004-2008, he had a 3.24 ERA (131 ERA+) with an impressive 5.16-to-1 K/BB rate. In 2004, Sheets set career highs in innings pitched (237) and strikeouts (264). He was a four-time All-Star.
#801 - Shane Victorino - Outfielder - 2003, 2005-2015
Victorino's peak was bookended by his two World Series championships with the 2008 Phillies and the 2013 Red Sox. In that time Victorino slashed .278/.344/.440 and averaged 16 home runs and 33 stolen bases per 162. He won four Gold Gloves and led the league in triples twice (2009, 2011).
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