The Greatest Arizona Diamondback Players in their History

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Arizona Diamondbacks

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Diamondbacks in their history (first season was 1998).  

First Base- Paul Goldschmidt

Second Base- Craig Counsel

Shortstop- Stephen Drew

Third Base- Matt Williams

Left Field- Luis Gonzalez

Centerfield- Chris Young

Right Field- Justin Upton

Catcher- Miguel Montero

Designated Hitter- Tony Womak

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Brandon Webb

Left-Handed starting pitcher- Randy Johnson

Relief pitcher-  Brad Ziegler

A couple of notes. If you watched the 2001 World Championship Diamondback team, you will find many of the players on this list. 2 key members from that team, Curt Schilling and Mark Grace, did not meet the 5 yr criteria.

Not many arguments can be made at any position on this list. 

Next up is the Colorado Rockies

The Greatest St Louis Cardinals players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the St Louis Cardinals

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Cardinals in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  

 First Base- Albert Pujols

Second Base- Tommy Herr

Shortstop- Ozzie Smith

Third Base- Scott Rolen

Left Field- Lou Brock

Centerfield- Jim Edmonds

Right Field- George Hendrick

Catcher- Yadier Molina

Designated Hitter- Ted Simmons

Right-Handed starting pitcher- Adam Wainright

Left-Handed starting pitcher- John Tudor

Relief pitcher- Jason Isringhausen

 A couple of notes. Some tough decisions on this list. At first base Keith Hernandez and Mark McGwire were considered but had to go with the 3-time MVP Pujols. Right field was the toughest position. The Cardinals did not have many great right fielders who lasted too long in the last 50 years. JD Drew and Brian Jordan both had some good years, but I went with Hendrick, who was a key member of the 82-championship team. For RHP, hall of famer Bob Gibson was at the end of his career. He was 11-13 and 3-10 in his last 2 years in 1973 and 1974, so I went with Wainright.  Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter did not play long enough to meet the 5-year criteria.

 Next up is the Arizona Diamondbacks

The Greatest Pittsburgh Pirates Players in the Last 50 Years

I am continuing my list for the greatest players at each position in the last 50 years for every MLB team. Today’s team is the Pittsburgh Pirates

The criteria are as follows:

- Player must have played a full 5 seasons for the team.

-1 player will be selected for each position, 1 righthanded starting pitcher, 1 lefthanded starting pitcher, and 1 relief pitcher. I will include a DH for both leagues (considering interleague play now).

 Below is my list of greatest players by position for the Pirates in the last 50 years (since the 1970 season).  

 

First Base- Willie Stargell

Second Base- Johnny Ray

Shortstop- Jay Bell

Third Base- Bill Madlock

Left Field- Barry Bonds

Centerfield- Andrew McCutcheon

Right Field- Dave Parker

Catcher- Manny Sanguillen

Designated Hitter- Bobby Bonilla

Right-Handed starting pitcher-  Doug Drabek

Left-Handed starting pitcher- John Candeleria

Relief pitcher- Kent Tekulve

A couple of notes.  There are a lot of great players on this list.  It contains 10 MVPs combined between Bonds, Stargell, McCutcheon and Parker, and 6 batting titles combined between Bonds and Madlock.  Not many positions were in question. At catcher, Jason Kendall was considered. He was a great hitting catcher, but I went with Sanguillen, who was part of the 2 Pirate championship teams of the 70s. Andy Van Slyke was considered for CF. He was a key contributor for the Pirates playoff teams in the early 90s. I had to take McCutcheon, who was an MVP, and was a top 5 finisher 3 times. Stargell played many years in left field, but ended his career playing first base and winning the MVP and leading the Pirates to the 79 championship. 

Next up is the St Louis Cardinals.