Best all-time player for each MLB team

Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. (R) is congratulated by teammate Alex Rodriguez (L) after Griffey hit his 16th home run of the year in the fourth inning at Toronto's Skydome 18 May against the Blue Jays. The three-run shot ties him at the top of the American League with Rodriguez. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI / AFP) (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. (R) is congratulated by teammate Alex Rodriguez (L) after Griffey hit his 16th home run of the year in the fourth inning at Toronto's Skydome 18 May against the Blue Jays. The three-run shot ties him at the top of the American League with Rodriguez. AFP PHOTO Carlo ALLEGRI (Photo by CARLO ALLEGRI / AFP) (Photo credit should read CARLO ALLEGRI/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 30
Next
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 27: Hall of Famer and Kansas City Royals legend George Brett poses for a photo with Mike Moustakas
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 27: Hall of Famer and Kansas City Royals legend George Brett poses for a photo with Mike Moustakas /

Kansas City Royals: George Brett

The Royals began play as an expansion team in 1969, and do not have a lengthy history of producing Hall of Famers. Their best player by a wide margin is George Brett, a member of the Hall of Fame and 3,000-hit club. Brett played his entire 21-year career in Kansas City and remains heavily involved in the organization to this day.

Brett was a 13-time All-Star for the Royals and won three batting titles. In 1985, the Royals first World Series title, he batted .370/.452/.407 in the seven-game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Brett was also the MVP of the ALCS that year. In 1980 he wont he AL MVP after batting .390 with 175 hits in only 117 games. It was the closest an MLB player had come to batting .400 since Ted Williams accomplished the feat.

As a third baseman and later first baseman, Brett was not a prototypical power hitter. Rather, he was one of the best contact hitters of his generation. Brett struck out only 908 times for his career while walking 1,096 times. He never struck out more than 100 times in a season while batting .305.

Honorable Mention: Brett Saberhagen, Carlos Beltran