The Best Post WWII MLB Players of the Braves, Dodgers, Cubs and Reds since 1946

There was no shortage of Hall of Fame players on our first four teams analyzed for the best players on 16 legacy Major League Baseball teams. In this installment, we asked baseball analytics to list the 10 best players for the Braves, Dodgers, Cubs, and Reds since 1946.

At the top of the list, alphabetically and in terms of being in the pantheon of great players, is Hank Aaron. To this day, many purists consider his home run record the legitimate one, but another Aaron, Aaron Judge, that is, is in hot pursuit.

Aaron faced immense pressure from external forces as he approached breaking Babe Ruth's home run record. In no small way, Jackie Robinson, aided by Branch Rickey, blazed that trail for Aaron. 

This list also includes a few current players, one of whom is a certain first-ballot Hall of Fame. 

🔟 Top 10 Braves Players Since 1946

1. Hank Aaron (RF, 1954–1974)

• 755 career HR, 3,771 hits, 2,297 RBI (MLB record)

• 1957 NL MVP, 25× All-Star (!), 3× Gold Glove

• Most iconic and consistent player in Braves history

• Led Braves to 1957 World Series title (Milwaukee era)

• Hall of Fame, 1982

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2. Chipper Jones (3B, 1993–2012)

• 1999 NL MVP, .303 AVG, 468 HR, 1,623 RBI

• 8× All-Star, switch-hitter with power and discipline

• Career Brave, key piece of 14 straight division titles

• Hall of Fame, 2018

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3. Greg Maddux (P, 1993–2003)

• 4× Cy Young winner, 3 with Braves

• 2.63 ERA, 194 wins with Atlanta

• Brilliant control, fielding (18 Gold Gloves total)

• Hall of Fame, 2014

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4. Eddie Mathews (3B, 1952–1966)

• 512 HR, 2× NL home run leader

• 12× All-Star, key part of 1957 champs

• One of the greatest third basemen ever

• Hall of Fame, 1978

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5. Tom Glavine (P, 1987–2002, 2008)

• 2× Cy Young, 244 wins with Braves

• 10× All-Star, 1995 World Series MVP

• Core of Braves’ 1990s dynasty

• Hall of Fame, 2014

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6. John Smoltz (P, 1988–2008)

• Cy Young winner (1996), 3× 20-win seasons

• Only pitcher in MLB history with 200 wins + 150 saves

• Dominant in both starter and closer roles

• Postseason warrior (15 wins, 2.67 ERA in playoffs)

• Hall of Fame, 2015

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7. Phil Niekro (P, 1964–1983, 1987)

• 268 wins with Braves, 3.20 ERA, master of the knuckleball

• 5× All-Star, 1974 NL strikeout leader

• Longtime ace for Atlanta in 1970s

• Hall of Fame, 1997

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8. Dale Murphy (OF, 1976–1990)

• 2× NL MVP (1982, 1983), 5× Gold Glove, 7× All-Star

• Hit 398 HR, known for clean image and leadership

• Braves’ face in the 1980s

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9. Andruw Jones (CF, 1996–2007)

• 10× Gold Glove (most for a CF), 5× All-Star

• 434 HR (368 with Braves), 2005 HR champ

• Elite defender and run producer

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10. Freddie Freeman (1B, 2010–2021)

• 2020 NL MVP, 5× All-Star with Atlanta

• Leader of 2021 World Series team

• .295/.384/.509 slash over 12 seasons

• Deeply beloved by fans

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Warren Spahn – All-time wins leader for lefties, most dominance before 1946 but still elite afterward

• Ronald Acuña Jr. – 2018 NL Rookie of the Year; 2023: 41 HR, 73 SB season; on pace to be all-time great

• Gary Sheffield – Brief stint but elite performance

• Rafael Furcal, Terry Pendleton, Javy López – Core 1990s/2000s contributors

• Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Spencer Strider – Recent stars building strong legacies

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✅ Braves Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Hank Aaron

2. Chipper Jones

3. Greg Maddux

4. Tom Glavine

🔟 Top 10 Dodgers Players Since 1946

1. Sandy Koufax (P, 1955–1966)

• 3× Cy Young, 1× MVP, 5× ERA leader, 4 no-hitters (1 perfect game)

• 3× World Series champion

• The most dominant short-peak pitcher in MLB history

• Hall of Fame, 1972 (at age 36)

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2. Clayton Kershaw (P, 2008–present)

• 3× Cy Young, 1× MVP, 10× All-Star

• Franchise leader in wins (since moving to LA), strikeouts, ERA titles

• World Series champion (2020), 200+ career wins

• Future first-ballot Hall of Famer

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3. Jackie Robinson (2B, 1947–1956)

• Broke MLB’s color barrier in 1947

• 1947 Rookie of the Year, 1949 MVP, 6× All-Star

• .311 career average, legendary base running and leadership

• Transcendent social and cultural figure

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4. Roy Campanella (C, 1948–1957)

• 3× MVP (1951, 1953, 1955), 8× All-Star

• One of the greatest catchers in history

• Career cut short by paralyzing car accident

• Hall of Fame, 1969

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5. Duke Snider (CF, 1947–1962)

• 6 seasons with 40+ HR, 407 total HR with Dodgers

• 8× All-Star, 2× World Series champion

• Hall of Fame, 1980

• “The Duke of Flatbush” was the offensive engine of 1950s Brooklyn

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6. Don Drysdale (P, 1956–1969)

• 1962 Cy Young, 209 wins, feared right-hander

• 9× All-Star, 3× World Series champ

• Known for fierce competitiveness and inside pitching

• Hall of Fame, 1984

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7. Fernando Valenzuela (P, 1980–1990)

• 1981 Rookie of the Year + Cy Young winner (only player to win both in same year)

• Led Dodgers to World Series title in 1981

• 6× All-Star, major cultural icon during "Fernandomania"

• Inspired a generation of Latino baseball fans

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8. Orel Hershiser (P, 1983–1994, 2000)

• 1988 Cy Young winner

• Set MLB record: 59 consecutive scoreless innings

• 1988 NLCS & World Series MVP

• Carried the Dodgers to their 1988 championship

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9. Mike Piazza (C, 1992–1998)

• 1993 NL Rookie of the Year, 6× All-Star with Dodgers

• .331 AVG, .966 OPS as a Dodger

• Arguably the greatest offensive catcher in MLB history

• Hall of Fame, 2016

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10. Steve Garvey (1B, 1969–1982)

• 1974 NL MVP, 8× All-Star with Dodgers

• Gold Glove defense, 2× NLCS MVP

• Team leader on four NL pennant-winning teams (1974–1981)

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🏅 Honorable Mentions:

• Maury Wills – 1962 MVP, revolutionized base stealing

• Gil Hodges – 370 HR with Dodgers, Hall of Fame 2022

• Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell – Legendary infield core

• Adrián Beltré – Elite talent (though his prime came after LA)

• Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts – Post-2010 stars (Betts still building résumé)

✅ Dodgers "Mount Rushmore" Since 1946

1. Jackie Robinson

2. Sandy Koufax

3. Clayton Kershaw

4. Roy Campanella

🔟 Top 10 Chicago Cubs Players Since 1946

1. Ernie Banks (SS/1B, 1953–1971)

• “Mr. Cub”

• 2× NL MVP (1958, 1959), 14× All-Star

• 512 HR, 1,636 RBI

• First NL shortstop to hit 40+ HRs in a season

• Hall of Fame, 1977

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2. Ryne Sandberg (2B, 1982–1997)

• 1984 NL MVP, 10× All-Star, 9× Gold Glove

• One of the best two-way second basemen in MLB history

• Career .989 fielding % at 2B

• Hall of Fame, 2005

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3. Ron Santo (3B, 1960–1973)

• 9× All-Star, 5× Gold Glove

• 342 HR, .277 AVG, team leader for a decade

• Key voice in Cubs history as a broadcaster post-career

• Hall of Fame, 2012 (posthumously)

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4. Billy Williams (OF, 1959–1974)

• 426 HR, 2,711 hits, .290 AVG

• 1961 NL Rookie of the Year, 6× All-Star

• Ironman streak of 1,117 games

• Hall of Fame, 1987

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5. Fergie Jenkins (P, 1966–1973, 1982–83)

• 1971 NL Cy Young winner, 284 career wins (167 with Cubs)

• 7 straight 20-win seasons with Chicago

• First Canadian Hall of Famer

• Hall of Fame, 1991

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6. Anthony Rizzo (1B, 2012–2021)

• 3× All-Star, 4× Gold Glove, 1× Silver Slugger

• Clubhouse leader of the 2016 World Series champions

• 242 HR, 784 RBI with Cubs

• Beloved face of the modern era

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7. Kris Bryant (3B/OF, 2015–2021)

• 2015 NL Rookie of the Year, 2016 NL MVP

• Key part of 2016 World Series team

• 3× All-Star, known for versatility and power

• 2016: .292/.385/.554 with 39 HR

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8. Andre Dawson (OF, 1987–1992)

• 1987 NL MVP (on a last-place team!)

• 6× Gold Glove, 4× Silver Slugger

• 174 HR, 587 RBI in 6 Cubs seasons

• Hall of Fame, 2010

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9. Sammy Sosa (OF, 1992–2004)

• Hit 609 career HR (545 with Cubs)

• 3 seasons with 60+ HR (1998, 1999, 2001)

• 7× All-Star, 1998 NL MVP runner-up

• Legacy clouded by PED allegations, not in Hall

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10. Jon Lester (P, 2015–2020)

• 2× All-Star with Cubs, key to 2016 title run

• 77–44 record, 3.64 ERA with Cubs

• NLCS MVP in 2016, World Series co-ace with Jake Arrieta

• Changed team culture with veteran leadership

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Jake Arrieta – 2015 NL Cy Young, 2 no-hitters, elite 3-year stretch

• Mark Grace – 1990s batting star, .308 AVG with Cubs

• Javier Báez – Elite defender, 2× All-Star, World Series hero

• Rick Sutcliffe – 1984 NL Cy Young, key figure in ‘80s

• Derrek Lee – .298/.378/.524 slash, 46 HR in 2005

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✅ Cubs Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Ernie Banks

2. Ryne Sandberg

3. Ron Santo

4. Fergie Jenkins

   

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🔟 Top 10 Reds Players Since 1946

1. Johnny Bench (C, 1967–1983)

• Arguably the greatest catcher in MLB history

• 2× NL MVP (1970, 1972), 10 Gold Gloves, 14× All-Star

• 389 HR, 1,376 RBI, key leader of the Big Red Machine

• Hall of Fame, 1989

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2. Joe Morgan (2B, 1972–1979)

• Back-to-back NL MVP (1975, 1976)

• 5× Gold Glove, 10× All-Star

• Elite combo of power, speed, and defense

• 268 SB, .415 OBP with Reds

• Hall of Fame, 1990

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3. Pete Rose (OF/IF, 1963–1978, 1984–1986)

• All-time MLB hits leader (4,256 total, 3,358 with Reds)

• 1973 NL MVP, 17× All-Star (multiple positions)

• Won 3 batting titles and 2 Gold Gloves

• Banned from MLB but remains a Reds legend

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4. Frank Robinson (OF/1B, 1956–1965)

• 1956 NL Rookie of the Year, 1961 NL MVP

• 324 HR, .303 AVG with Reds

• Later became first Black MLB manager (with Cleveland)

• Hall of Fame, 1982

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5. Barry Larkin (SS, 1986–2004)

• 1995 NL MVP, 12× All-Star, 3× Gold Glove

• 379 SB, .295 AVG

• World Series champion (1990), longtime team captain

• Hall of Fame, 2012

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6. Tony Pérez (1B/3B, 1964–1976, 1984–1986)

• Key RBI man for the Big Red Machine

• 1,192 RBI and 287 HR with Reds

• 7× All-Star, clutch postseason hitter

• Hall of Fame, 2000

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7. Joey Votto (1B, 2007–2023)

• 2010 NL MVP, 6× All-Star, .294/.409/.511 career slash line

• 356 HR, 1,144 RBI, 1,365 walks with Reds

• Known for elite plate discipline and consistency

• Modern face of the franchise for 15+ years

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8. George Foster (OF, 1971–1981)

• 1977 NL MVP, led NL in HR (52) and RBI (149) that year

• Key slugger on 1975–76 title teams

• 244 HR, .286 AVG with Reds

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9. Vada Pinson (CF, 1958–1968)

• 2× All-Star, .297 AVG, 814 RBI, 221 SB

• 2,757 career hits, elite speed/power combo in his era

• Overlooked due to playing before Big Red Machine

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10. Eric Davis (CF, 1984–1996)

• Dynamic power-speed threat: 37 HR and 50 SB in 1987

• Gold Glove defense, feared base runner

• Key contributor to 1990 World Series title team

• Career limited by injuries, but peak was electric

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Dave Concepción – Longtime SS, 5× Gold Glove, key to Big Red Machine

• Ken Griffey Jr. – 210 HR with Reds but injury-plagued

• Sean Casey – .305 AVG with Reds, 3× All-Star

• José Rijo – 1990 World Series MVP, Reds ace

• Tom Seaver – 1977–82 with Reds, 1 no-hitter, 2.88 ERA

• Aroldis Chapman – 6 seasons as dominant closer

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✅ Reds "Mount Rushmore" Since 1946

1. Johnny Bench

2. Joe Morgan

3. Pete Rose

4. Barry Larkin

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