The best left fielders in baseball history

From the criminally underrated to the revered, an eclectic array of talented players has graced the game of baseball in left field.

Here is our list of the top five left fielders in MLB history.

5. Tim Raines

A seven-time All-Star, the longtime Montreal Expos standout tallied 808 stolen bases over his 23-year career (fifth all-time). He led the National League in swiped bags from 1981 to 1984 and stole 71 bases in just 88 games during his rookie campaign.

"Rock," who retired with 2,605 hits, won the NL batting title in 1986 (.334 average). After a long wait, Raines was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.

4. Lou Brock

The second-best base stealer in baseball history, Brock (938 steals) was a feared fixture on some great Cardinals teams. The six-time All-Star never won an MVP, but he amassed 3,023 hits, even though he played part of his prime in one of the most pitcher-dominated eras in the sport.

"The Rocket" hit .279 in 1968, the so-called "Year of the Pitcher," but took advantage of his base-stealing chances and swiped an MLB-leading 62 bags. That was one of seven times he led the majors in steals.

Brock won two World Series championships with St. Louis and was a .391 hitter in 87 postseason at-bats.

3. Carl Yastrzemski

Yastrzemski was one of the game’s most feared hitters in the low-scoring 1960s. In 1967 he won the Triple Crown (and his only MVP Award) by batting .326, with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs.

It would be 45 years before another player (Miguel Cabrera) was able to replicate that feat. “Yaz” was an 18-time All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove winner, and retired with 3,419 hits.

He played all 23 of his big-league seasons with the Red Sox, so it’s not surprising that his No. 8 was retired by Boston in 1989.

2. Rickey Henderson

Unquestionably the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time, the "Man of Steal" led the American League in stolen bases 12 times and both leagues six times. His 1,406 steals make him baseball’s all-time leader, and his mark is unlikely to ever be surpassed. He also scored the most runs in baseball history (2,295).

Henderson was a force during the Athletics’ 1989 World Series run, as he went 15-for-34 with 11 steals and won the ALCS MVP in the process. He was the regular-season MVP in 1990, when he led the majors in OPS (1.016).

1. Ted Williams

One of baseball’s best hitters, regardless of position, Williams sacrificed many prime years to fight in World War II and the Korean War. "The Splendid Splinter" retired with 2,654 hits.

He was the last player to hit .400 or better in a season, when he batted .406 in 1941. Williams’ lifetime .482 OBP is the best in baseball history, and a tribute to how feared he was at the plate. He led the AL in walks eight times.

Williams was a 19-time All-Star (there were two All-Star games in 1959 and 1960) and a two-time league MVP.

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