Who is the best MLB player from each state?

Sep 19, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) smiles to the bench after hitting a triple and driving in a run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of Fenway Park during the first inning of game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Maine: Bob Stanley

The state of Maine is without a Hall of Famer, and has produced fewer than 100 big leaguers, and many came from the early days of baseball. How would we tell the story of the game without the great Cannonball Titcomb who was born in West Baldwin, ME in 1866 or Live Oak Taylor, born in Belfast in 1851? I’m not sure that you can. Chummy Gray, Happy Iott, and Cuke Barrows are all in the mix here, too.

It’s a somewhat difficult ask to find a player from Maine who had a lasting impact on the game of baseball, but Bob Stanley comes the closest. The right-hander from Portland spent all 13 of his seasons pitching for the Boston Red Sox and won 115 games with a 3.64 ERA. He also made the All-Star team twice. Stanley also pitched in the World Series for the Red Sox in 1986 as a reliever, appearing in five games. He did not allow a single run. Eat your heart out, Andrew Miller.

As a sparsely-populated state with long winters and no major urban areas, Maine has had a hard time producing big-league talent in the 2000s. There are no active All-Stars born in the state, and the best Maine product right now might be utility man Ryan Flaherty of the Baltimore Orioles.

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