MLB: Top 30 leadoff hitters of all-time
Phillies, Cubs, Mets. Richie Ashburn. 14. player. 6. . 1948-1962
Like many leadoff hitters, Richie Ashburn made a living by getting on base and using good speed to score runs. A career .308/.396/.382 hitter across 15 seasons from 1948-1962, Ashburn was consistently one of the top performing leadoff hitters of his generation.
The left-handed hitting outfielder led off in 1,410 of 2,189 career games, mainly with the Philadelphia Phillies, though he also often held the top spot in the order with the Chicago Cubs in 1960 and 1961 as well as with the New York Mets in 1962.
Primarily a singles hitter, Ashburn hit .300 or better nine times and won the National League batting title twice. He was one of the most patient hitters of his generation and led the NL in walks four times, on-base percentage four times and times on base on four more occasions.
A five-time All-Star, Ashburn collected 2,574 career hits, including 109 triples, scored 1,322 times and stole 234 bases. His 32 steals as a rookie in 1948 led the Majors and two years later he helped lead the “Whiz Kids” to the 1950 World Series.
After failing to get the necessary votes for Hall of Fame induction by the Baseball Writers Association of American from 1968 to 1982, the Veterans Committee elected Ashburn to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
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