#27 Jackie Robinson


 Jackie Robinson
2B
1947-1956
6X All Star, MVP
Baseball Hall of Fame 1962

Sometimes it's about more than stats. Sometimes it's about stats, and importance to the game and the nation, and the eye test, and a sense of history. Jackie Robinson didn't get to the major leagues until he was 28 years old. Things like college, millitary service, that pesky color barrier saw to that. 

Obviously you know Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball - that the weight of an entire race sat on his shoulders (and Larry Doby's) - but Robinson was a truly truly great player. One could argue that he is the most important player of all time (along with Curt Flood) but look at his numbers for his shortened career.

A lifetime .307 hitter. He averaged 16 HR per 162 games which is tremendously high for a middle infielder in that area. He as a game changing base stealer- helping to alter the strategy of the league. 

He made 6 straight all star teams, and finsihed in the top 10 of the MVP 4 times including winning one in 1949- and remember everyone wasn't entirely pysched he was even in the league to put it mildly. 

Off the field he is one of two baseball players to ever recieve the Congressional Gold Medal (we'll get to the other soon enough).

He's 37th all time in on base percentage. He's also 114th in WAR among position players despite his short career. 

I can't begin to image what he went through to do what he did. He's a great ballplayer and a great American, and while his numbers might not scream top 30, his character and effort screams top 10. 

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962.



Anthony Leonelli is a 37 year old College Basketball Coach and amateur baseball arguer. If you wanna know how this list came together check here criteria. He thinks that George Brett winning batting titles in 3 decades is pretty awesome. 



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