The Best Post WWII Players for the Red Sox, White Sox, Guardians and the Tigers

In last week's first installment of the best player from the 16 legacy Major League Baseball teams, we started with National League teams. This week, we jump to the American League and, continuing in alphabetical order, we review the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Detroit Tigers.    

On this list is one Hall of Famer who was as well known for his batting as his ability to consume massive amounts of beer. Additionally, two active players are likely first-ballot Hall of Famers, with the only question being which team they will enter Cooperstown with. 

🔟 Top 10 Red Sox Players Since 1946

1. Ted Williams (LF, 1939–1960; post-WWII 1946–1960)

• 2× AL MVP (1946, 1949), 6× batting champion, .344 career AVG

• 521 HR, 1.116 OPS, missed 5 years for military service

• Hit .406 in 1941; .388 in 1957 at age 38

• Greatest pure hitter in MLB history, Hall of Fame 1966

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2. Carl Yastrzemski (LF/1B, 1961–1983)

• 1967 AL MVP, Triple Crown winner, 18× All-Star

• 3,419 hits, 452 HR, 7 Gold Gloves

• Carried “Impossible Dream” team to 1967 pennant

• Hall of Fame, 1989

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3. David Ortiz (DH/1B, 2003–2016)

• 3× World Series champion (2004, 2007, 2013)

• 2004 ALCS MVP, 2013 WS MVP, 10× All-Star

• 541 HR, most clutch hitter in franchise history

• Hall of Fame, 2022

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4. Pedro Martínez (P, 1998–2004)

• 2× AL Cy Young with Boston (1999, 2000)

• 2.52 ERA, 1,683 K in 7 seasons with Red Sox

• One of the most dominant peaks by any pitcher ever

• Hall of Fame, 2015

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5. Wade Boggs (3B, 1982–1992)

• 5× AL batting champion, .338 AVG with Boston

• 8× All-Star with Sox, on-base machine (.428 OBP)

• 2,098 hits with Boston in just 11 seasons

• Hall of Fame, 2005

• Champion Beer Drinker

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6. Jim Rice (LF, 1974–1989)

• 1978 AL MVP, 8× All-Star

• 382 HR, 1,451 RBI, feared slugger in his era

• Led AL in HRs, RBI, hits, total bases at various times

• Hall of Fame, 2009

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7. Dwight Evans (RF, 1972–1990)

• 8 Gold Gloves, 3× All-Star, great all-around player

• 385 HR, .370 OBP, elite defense + underrated offense

• WAR leader for the Sox in the 1980s (above Rice and Boggs)

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8. Mookie Betts (RF, 2014–2019)

• 2018 AL MVP, 4 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Sluggers

• .301 AVG, 30/30 talent, sparkplug on 2018 championship team

• Traded too soon, but elite in short Red Sox tenure

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9. Dustin Pedroia (2B, 2006–2019)

• 2008 AL MVP, 2007 AL Rookie of the Year

• 4× Gold Glove, 3× All-Star

• .299 AVG, leader on 2 championship teams (2007, 2013)

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10. Nomar Garciaparra (SS, 1996–2004)

• 1997 AL Rookie of the Year, 2× batting champ

• .323 AVG with Red Sox, elite offensive shortstop

• Injuries and trade cut Boston tenure short, but peak was phenomenal

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Jon Lester – 110 wins, 2007 & 2013 WS champion

• Roger Clemens – 3 Cy Youngs with Boston, 192 wins

• J.D. Martinez – Big bat in 2018 title run

• Xander Bogaerts – 4× Silver Slugger, 2× champ

• Jason Varitek – Captain of 2004 & 2007 champs

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✅ Red Sox Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Ted Williams

2. Carl Yastrzemski

3. David Ortiz

4. Pedro Martínez

🔟 Top 10 Chicago White Sox Players Since 1946

1. Frank Thomas (1B/DH, 1990–2005)

• 2× AL MVP (1993, 1994), 5× All-Star, .307 AVG, 448 HR with Sox

• .427 OBP, .568 SLG, one of MLB’s greatest right-handed hitters

• Hall of Fame, 2014

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2. Luke Appling (SS, 1930–1950)

• Though much of his career was pre-1946, he played through 1950

• .310 career AVG, 2,749 hits, excellent defense and plate discipline

• Hall of Fame, 1964

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3. Minnie Miñoso (OF, 1951–1964, 1976, 1980)

• 9× All-Star (7× with Sox), 3× Gold Glove

• .304 AVG with Chicago, elite speed and OBP

• MLB’s first Afro-Latino star, trailblazer

• Hall of Fame, 2022 (posthumously)

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4. Paul Konerko (1B, 1999–2014)

• 6× All-Star, 432 HR with Sox

• Captain and World Series hero (2005)

• Franchise leader in heart and postseason legacy

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5. Luis Aparicio (SS, 1956–1962, 1968–1970)

• 1956 AL Rookie of the Year, 9× Gold Glove (7 with Sox)

• AL stolen base leader 9 times

• Defensive wizard and speed icon

• Hall of Fame, 1984

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6. Nellie Fox (2B, 1950–1963)

• 1959 AL MVP, 15× All-Star

• Gold Glove defender and contact-hitting machine

• Key player on 1959 pennant-winning “Go-Go Sox”

• Hall of Fame, 1997

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7. Harold Baines (DH/OF, 1980–1989, 1996–1997, 2000–2001)

• 221 HR, 981 RBI in 14 Sox seasons

• .288 AVG, known for consistent offense over two decades

• Hall of Fame, 2019 (Veterans Committee)

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8. Chris Sale (P, 2010–2016)

• 5× All-Star with Sox, 1,244 K in just 7 seasons

• 74–50, 3.00 ERA, top 5 Cy Young finish 5×

• One of the most dominant LHPs of the 2010s

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9. Mark Buehrle (P, 2000–2011)

• 214 career wins (161 with Sox), 4× All-Star with team

• Pitched a perfect game and no-hitter

• Starter in 2005 World Series run

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10. José Abreu (1B, 2014–2022)

• 2020 AL MVP, 3× All-Star, 3× Silver Slugger

• 243 HR, 863 RBI, .292 AVG with White Sox

• Face of the team for nearly a decade

🔟 Top 10 Guardians/Indians Players Since 1946

1. Bob Feller (P, 1936–1956)

• Though much of his career came before 1946, he was still elite after WWII

• 3 no-hitters, 266 career wins, 2,581 Ks

• Led AL in wins 6×, strikeouts 7×

• Hall of Fame, 1962

• Face of the franchise for three decades

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2. Jim Thome (1B/3B/DH, 1991–2002, 2011)

• 337 HR with Cleveland (612 overall)

• 5× All-Star with Indians, .287/.414/.567 slash with team

• Massive power, beloved personality

• Hall of Fame, 2018

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3. Bob Lemon (P, 1946–1958)

• 207 wins, 7× All-Star

• AL wins leader 3×, helped win 1948 World Series

• Converted from OF to P—then became an ace

• Hall of Fame, 1976

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4. Omar Vizquel (SS, 1994–2004)

• 9 Gold Gloves with Cleveland, 3× All-Star

• .283 AVG, elite defender, base stealer, and fan favorite

• Played in 2 World Series (1995, 1997)

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5. Kenny Lofton (CF, 1992–1996, 1998–2001, 2007)

• 6× All-Star with Indians, 5× Gold Glove

• 450 SB, .299 AVG in Cleveland

• Sparked the ’90s teams with speed and defense

• Top 3 in WAR for the franchise since 1946

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6. Corey Kluber (P, 2011–2019)

• 2× AL Cy Young (2014, 2017), 3× All-Star

• 98–58, 3.16 ERA, 1,461 Ks with Cleveland

• Ace of the 2016 AL Championship team

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7. Manny Ramírez (OF, 1993–2000)

• .313/.407/.592 with 236 HR and 804 RBI in Cleveland

• 4× All-Star, pure hitting force

• Helped lead 1995 and 1997 pennant-winning teams

• Later clouded by PEDs but elite in Cleveland

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8. Francisco Lindor (SS, 2015–2020)

• 4× All-Star, 2× Gold Glove, 2× Silver Slugger

• .285 AVG, 138 HR, elite defense and charisma

• Leader of 2016 AL champions and consistent playoff teams

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9. Larry Doby (CF, 1947–1955, 1958)

• First Black player in AL (debuted shortly after Jackie Robinson)

• 7× All-Star, 215 HR, .286 AVG

• Key to 1948 World Series championship

• Hall of Fame, 1998

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10. Albert Belle (OF, 1989–1996)

• One of the most feared hitters of the 1990s

• .295 AVG, 242 HR, 751 RBI with Cleveland

• 5× All-Star, 1995 AL MVP runner-up (50 HR, 52 2B)

• Controversial, but his peak was incredible

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Andre Thornton – 214 HR, mid-70s to 1987

• Carlos Baerga – All-Star 2B, key 1990s bat

• Tito Francona – Excellent hitter and father of manager Terry Francona

• Terry Francona (Mgr) – Most wins in franchise history, 3 playoff berths

• Shane Bieber – 2020 AL Cy Young, active star

• José Ramírez – Top 5 MVP finishes 4×, franchise cornerstone (could soon crack top 10)

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✅ Guardians/Indians Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Bob Feller

2. Jim Thome

3. Kenny Lofton

4. Corey Kluber

Let me know if you'd like a Rushmore-style image, or a list just for modern players (1990s–present) or pitchers only.

🔟 Top 10 Detroit Tigers Players Since 1946

1. Al Kaline (RF, 1953–1974)

• “Mr. Tiger”, lifelong Tiger and franchise icon

• 18× All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 3,007 hits, 399 HR

• 1955 AL batting champion, .297 career AVG

• Hall of Fame, 1980

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2. Miguel Cabrera (1B/DH, 2008–2023)

• 2012 & 2013 AL MVP, 2012 Triple Crown winner

• 7× All-Star with Detroit, .306 AVG, 511 HR, 3,174 hits

• One of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time

• First-ballot Hall of Famer-in-waiting

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3. Alan Trammell (SS, 1977–1996)

• 6× All-Star, 4× Gold Glove, 1984 World Series MVP

• .285 AVG, excellent defender and leader

• Lifelong Tiger; Hall of Fame, 2018

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4. Lou Whitaker (2B, 1977–1995)

• 5× All-Star, 3× Gold Glove, 244 HR

• .276 AVG, .363 OBP, underrated sabermetric profile

• Partnered with Trammell for 19 seasons

• Still not in the Hall, though widely considered a major snub

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5. Justin Verlander (P, 2005–2017)

• 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, 2011 AL MVP + Cy Young

• 183 wins, 2.52 ERA in 2011 MVP season

• Tigers' ace during 4 straight playoff runs (2011–14)

• Likely Hall of Famer

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6. Jack Morris (P, 1977–1990)

• 1984 World Series ace, 198 wins with Detroit

• 5× All-Star, known for big-game pitching

• Led MLB in wins during the 1980s

• Hall of Fame, 2018

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7. Norm Cash (1B, 1960–1974)

• 1961 AL batting champion (.361), 377 HR, 1,088 RBI

• One of the top power hitters in franchise history

• Key contributor to 1968 World Series team

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8. Bill Freehan (C, 1961–1976)

• 11× All-Star, 5× Gold Glove

• Best defensive catcher of his era

• Leader of the 1968 World Series champs

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9. Cecil Fielder (1B/DH, 1990–1996)

• 245 HR in 7 Detroit seasons, led AL in HR & RBI twice

• 51 HR in 1990, revived Detroit power legacy

• Feared slugger in early ’90s

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10. Kirk Gibson (OF, 1979–1987, 1993–95)

• Catalyst of the 1984 World Series champions

• Speed-power combo; 195 HR, 123 SB with Detroit

• Intense, clutch performer and local legend

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Mickey Lolich – 1968 World Series MVP (3 complete game wins)

• Darrell Evans – Key bat in '84 champs

• Curtis Granderson – Fan favorite and dynamic 2000s CF

• Carlos Guillén – 3× All-Star, consistent hitter

• Tony Clark – Short but productive stint

• Max Scherzer – 2013 Cy Young winner (only 5 years in Detroit)

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✅ Tigers Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Al Kaline

2. Miguel Cabrera

3. Alan Trammell

4. Justin Verlander

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