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MLB All-Star Game: All-time team

By Dave Stevenson

Jul 27, 2014; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Plaques all installed in the museum for viewing after the class of 2014 national baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2014; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Plaques all installed in the museum for viewing after the class of 2014 national baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images /

First Base

There have been a lot of excellent first basemen. However, none of them put up the numbers that Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees did. He leads all first basemen in career WAR (116.3). Stan Musial does not count because while he played more than 1,000 games at first base, he played more than half his games in the outfield.

Gehrig is arguably the most dangerous left-handed hitter in baseball history, hitting 493 home runs in a career that was shortened by a tragic disease. His career 1.079 OPS puts him over the top and his 173 wRC+ is tops among first basemen. Gehrig posted a career batting average of .340 as well.

He was an important part of the New York Yankees dynasty, winning six World Series during his career. Along with teammate Babe Ruth, he led the 1927 Yankees to record totals on offense. Had his career not been shortened due to illness, who knows what kind of numbers he could have put up.

Gehrig, though quiet and reserved off the field, was extremely competitive. He held the consecutive games record at 2,130 until Cal Ripken, Junior broke it in 1995. Ironically, his streak started by replacing Wally Pipp, who held the consecutive games record before being replaced by Gehrig.

Next: Second Base

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