Baseball is one of the most popular American sports, with Major League Baseball being the most popular league in the world, and it continues to grow in popularity. As the sport’s popularity has grown, so has the number of people interested in following different teams and leagues and even forming their teams.
The world is filled with baseball legends, and every generation of kids dreams of being one. Here are some of the baseball legends you should know about.
- The story of Roger Clemens is a classic saga of a down-and-out athlete whose talent made it seem as though his life was a success at the start, but whose health and lifestyle issues eventually followed him into his twilight years. The story of his career is a classic tale of a talented young athlete with a heart for baseball who started with a winning attitude and a winning performance, but whose troubles began shortly thereafter.
During the 1990s, the best pitchers in baseball were called “Big Red” and “Doc” because of their height and weight. Roger Clemens was the biggest and the strongest, and he was called “Big Red” because of his red hair and beard. He was also called “Doc” because of his playboy lifestyle and his black glasses. - Willie Mays stands as one of the greatest baseball players in history, and his exceptional skills, especially with the glove, have solidified his status as an all-time great. Despite his remarkable achievements, Mays maintained a remarkably humble demeanor and was not one to boast about his successes. If you’re interested in knowing more about this baseball player, reputable sports sites often provide a curated baseball player profile of Willie Mays with comprehensive information, including autobiographies and records.
- Honus Wagner was one of the greatest players in baseball history; he was the only player in history to win the Triple Crown, which is awarded to the best hitter, pitcher, and fielder in the American League. He also won four batting titles, two home run titles, two stolen base titles, and one strikeout title.
He won the National League batting title in 1897, 1898, and 1906 and finished his career with a.338 batting average. In addition, he was a three-time Gold Glove winner and a 17-time All-Star. Honus Wagner died on February 22, 1960. - Stan Musial is a name that should be familiar to anyone who has ever played baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals great was one of the best hitters of all time, batting over .300 during his career. His number 11 was retired by the Cardinals, making Musial the first Cardinals player to have his number retired. Musial died on January 16, 2009, at the age of 92 due to complications from pneumonia.
- Ty Cobb’s career in baseball was so prominent that it’s easy to overlook his inactivity in the game for the last 15 years of his life. Cobb was born in 1886 in rural DeKalb County in Georgia. His mother died when he was 6, and his father, a former slave, raised him. His father was an accomplished athlete, and Cobb’s athletic talent was exceptional. He was 6’2″ tall, weighed 205 pounds, and could outrun the fastest horses.
- Walter Johnson is one of the most well-known baseball players in the history of the game, and along with Ty Cobb, he was the only player in history to win at least three MVP awards in three different decades. Johnson was also the first black player in the modern Major League, and he helped bring the game more diversity.
- Most people have heard of Hank Aaron, but few have heard of his accomplishments. Throughout his career, Hank Aaron had 583 home runs and 2,558 RBI. He played for 32 years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974. He is also one of only 3 baseball players with a record of above 500 home runs as well as drive-in of above 1,000 runs. He is currently the all-time career leader in home runs and was the first player to hit over 500 home runs.
Hank Aaron is one of the most influential figures in the history of the National Pastime. He is a 5-time all-star and a 2-time World Series Champion. He is the only player in the Major Leagues to have his number retired, and he has a statue at the home of the Braves, Turner Field.