MLB: Top 30 leadoff hitters of all-time
Paul Molitor. 6. player. 76. . 1978-1998. Brewers, Blue Jays, Twins
Like some that have come before him on this list, Paul Molitor eventually outgrew the leadoff spot. However, he spent enough time atop the batting order he is still considered one of the best in the history of the game.
Molitor is one of only four men in baseball history to hit .300 or better in more than 3,000 plate appearances out of the leadoff spot. In 7,291 such plate appearances, Molitor hit .300/.365/.439 with 1,953 hits, 654 walks, and 138 home runs. He scored 1,131 runs and stole 100 bases as his team’s table setter.
“The Ignitor” had his best season as a leadoff hitter in his final year as a Brewer, 1992. Molitor led the Majors in plate appearances (752), at bats (665), hits (216) runs (133) and led the AL in triples (13). He hit .325/.399/.489 with 17 home runs and 75 RBI and set a career high with 77 walks.
The following season, hitting primarily in the No. 3 spot in the order, Molitor helped the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series and finished second in the voting for the AL MVP.
Overall, Molitor hit .306/.369/.448 and collected 3,319 career hits (10th all-time) in 21 big league seasons. A seven-time All-Star, Molitor ranks in the top 30 all-time in at bats (10,835, 14th), plate appearances (12,167, 15th), singles (2,366, 11th), doubles (605, 11th), and times on base (4,460, 19th). He also stole 504 bases in his career.
In 2004, Molitor was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Next: Tim Raines