The Best Post WWII Players for the Orioles, A's, Yankees and Twins

A third base vacuum cleaner! | 

Our last installment of the great post-WWII players from the 16 legacy Major League Teams appears out of alphabetical order. The reason they appear out of order is that three of these teams have relocated, with one still in the process of doing so.

In order of their original city are the Philadelphia Athletics (Kansas City, Oakland, West Sacramento, and presumably Las Vegas), the St. Louis Browns, now the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, and the original Washington Senators, who became the Minnesota Twins.

Like the other list, this one contains prominent players. One player appears in the Top 10 for two of these teams, and one player who was marred by the steroid scandals. 

Although it doesn't involve players, from our perspective, the Athletics are the most frequently relocated team in the MLB, tied for third place in all-time World Series appearances. Even though they pulled up stakes from Oakland, they won four of their nine series while there. 

Who knows, maybe they can win one in the next couple of years playing in West Sacramento. Now that would be a trivia question 100 years from now!  

🔟 Top 10 Athletics Players Since 1946

1. Rickey Henderson (LF, 1979–1984, 1989–1993, 1994–1995, 1998)

• MLB all-time leader in stolen bases (1,406), runs (2,295), and leadoff HR (81)

• 4× All-Star with A’s, 1990 AL MVP

• 867 steals, .288 AVG, .829 OPS in 14 A’s seasons

• Hall of Fame, 2009

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2. Reggie Jackson (RF, 1967–1975, 1987)

• 1973 AL MVP, 4× All-Star with A’s

• 254 HR, 733 RBI with the team

• Key slugger for 3 straight World Series titles (1972–74)

• Hall of Fame, 1993

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3. Catfish Hunter (P, 1965–1974)

• 1974 AL Cy Young, 4× 20-win seasons

• 3× World Series champion with Oakland

• Pitched perfect game in 1968

• 161 wins, 3.00 ERA with A’s

• Hall of Fame, 1987

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4. Dennis Eckersley (RP, 1987–1995)

• 1989 ALCS MVP, 1992 AL MVP & Cy Young

• 320 saves with Oakland, 2.74 ERA

• Redefined the modern closer

• Hall of Fame, 2004

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5. Sal Bando (3B, 1966–1976)

• Captain of the 1970s dynasty

• 192 HR, 789 RBI, 3× World Series champion

• 4× All-Star, underrated cornerstone of Oakland’s success

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6. Vida Blue (P, 1969–1977, 1985–86)

• 1971 AL MVP & Cy Young, 24–8, 1.82 ERA that season

• 3× All-Star with A’s, 2.95 ERA

• Big-game lefty in 3 World Series titles

• Among best pitchers of the 1970s

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7. Mark McGwire (1B, 1986–1997)

• 1987 AL Rookie of the Year, 363 HR with A’s

• .556 SLG, 7× All-Star with Oakland

• Key part of 1989 World Series champions

• Legacy clouded by PEDs, but undeniable power impact

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8. José Canseco (OF, 1985–1992, 1997)

• 1988 AL MVP, 4× All-Star with A’s

• 254 HR, 796 RBI, 3× 40-HR seasons

• First player in MLB history to hit 40 HR & steal 40 bases (1988)

• 1989 World Series champ

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9. Rollie Fingers (RP, 1968–1976)

• 3× World Series champ, AL saves leader 3×

• 136 saves, 2.91 ERA with A’s

• Mustached stopper and postseason weapon

• Hall of Fame, 1992

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10. Bert Campaneris (SS, 1964–1976)

• 6× AL stolen base leader, 566 SB with A’s

• Spark plug of the 1970s dynasty

• 3× World Series champ, 6× All-Star

• Versatile defender and leadoff force

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Dave Stewart – Ace of 1989 champions (4 straight 20-win seasons)

• Tim Hudson – 92–39, 3.30 ERA with A’s

• Terry Steinbach – 3× All-Star catcher

• Matt Chapman & Matt Olson – Short but elite peak defensively/offensively

• Elmer Valo – Best hitter on 1950s Kansas City A’s teams

• Eddie Joost – Great OBP and defense for late Philadelphia A’s

✅ Athletics Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Rickey Henderson

2. Reggie Jackson

3. Catfish Hunter

4. Dennis Eckersley

Top 10 Orioles (Formerly St. Louis Browns) Players Since 1946

1. Cal Ripken Jr. (SS/3B, 1981–2001)

• 1983 & 1991 AL MVP, 19× All-Star, 2× Gold Glove

• MLB record 2,632 consecutive games

• 3,184 hits, 431 HR — redefined the shortstop position

• Hall of Fame, 2007

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2. Brooks Robinson (3B, 1955–1977)

• 16× Gold Glove (MLB record for 3B), 1964 AL MVP

• 18× All-Star, .971 fielding % at 3B

• 1970 World Series MVP, iconic defensive postseason

• Hall of Fame, 1983

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3. Jim Palmer (P, 1965–1984)

• 3× Cy Young Award winner, 268 wins, 2.86 ERA

• Only pitcher to win WS games in 3 different decades (’66, ’70, ’83)

• 8× 20-win seasons, Hall of Fame, 1990

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4. Eddie Murray (1B/DH, 1977–1988, 1996)

• 1977 AL Rookie of the Year, 504 HR, 3,255 hits (most with BAL)

• 8× All-Star, .295 AVG with Orioles

• 1983 World Series champion, Hall of Fame, 2003

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5. Frank Robinson (OF, 1966–1971)

• 1966 AL MVP, Triple Crown winner (.316/49/122)

• 179 HR, .401 OBP with Orioles

• Led Baltimore to 1966 and 1970 World Series titles

• Hall of Fame, 1982

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6. Manny Machado (3B/SS, 2012–2018)

• 4× All-Star, 2× Gold Glove with Orioles

• 162 HR, .283 AVG, elite defense

• Best player on competitive 2010s teams, though didn’t stay long

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7. Adam Jones (CF, 2008–2019)

• 5× All-Star, 4× Gold Glove

• 263 HR, 1,781 hits with Orioles

• Emotional leader and face of the 2010s resurgence

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8. Boog Powell (1B, 1961–1974)

• 1970 AL MVP, 3× All-Star

• 303 HR with Orioles

• Key slugger on 2 World Series-winning teams

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9. Mike Mussina (P, 1991–2000)

• 147 wins, 3.53 ERA, 1,535 Ks with Orioles

• 5× Gold Glove, consistent top-5 Cy Young finisher

• Hall of Fame, 2019 (wears no logo, but elite in Baltimore)

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10. Bobby Grich (2B, 1970–1976)

• 3× Gold Glove, 2× All-Star with Orioles

• Excellent glove, OBP machine at second base

• Often underrated and key to 1971 AL champs

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• George Sisler (Browns) – Greatness was pre-1946

• Don Larsen – Threw 3 no-hitters for the Browns in 1954 before moving to NYY

• Mark Belanger – Legendary SS defense, 8 Gold Gloves

• Brian Roberts – 2× All-Star, doubles machine

• Nick Markakis – 10 years of consistency in RF

• Chris Davis – 2013 HR leader, short peak but massive power

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✅ Orioles/Browns Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Cal Ripken Jr.

2. Brooks Robinson

3. Jim Palmer

4. Eddie Murray

🔟 Top 10 Yankees Players Since 1946

1. Mickey Mantle (CF, 1951–1968)

• 3× AL MVP (1956, 1957, 1962), 7× World Series champion

• 536 HR, 1,509 RBI, .977 OPS

• Switch-hitting icon with power, speed, and clutch postseason heroics

• Hall of Fame, 1974

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2. Derek Jeter (SS, 1995–2014)

• 3,465 hits, 14× All-Star, 5× Gold Glove, .310 AVG

• 5× World Series champion, Captain for over a decade

• Clutch hitter: .321 AVG in 158 postseason games

• Hall of Fame, 2020 (99.75% vote)

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3. Mariano Rivera (RP, 1995–2013)

• MLB’s all-time saves leader (652), 2.21 ERA

• 13× All-Star, 5× World Series champion

• Postseason: 0.70 ERA in 141 innings — most dominant playoff reliever ever

• Hall of Fame, 2019 (unanimous)

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4. Yogi Berra (C, 1946–1963)

• 3× AL MVP (1951, 1954, 1955), 10× World Series champion

• 358 HR, 1,430 RBI — elite offensive catcher

• 18× All-Star, leader and wit behind the plate

• Hall of Fame, 1972

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5. Whitey Ford (P, 1950–1967)

• 236–106 record, 2.75 ERA, 10× All-Star

• 6× World Series champion, 1961 Cy Young winner

• Postseason: 2.71 ERA in 22 starts

• Franchise leader in wins

• Hall of Fame, 1974

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6. Joe DiMaggio (CF, 1936–1951)

• Played only 2 post-1946 seasons (1946–1951), but still elite

• 361 HR, 1,537 RBI, .325 AVG overall

• 9× World Series champion

• Hall of Fame, 1955

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7. Reggie Jackson (RF, 1977–1981)

• “Mr. October”, hit 3 HR in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series

• 2× World Series champ with Yankees

• 144 HR in 5 Yankees seasons, .884 OPS

• Known for swagger and clutch hitting

• Hall of Fame, 1993

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8. Ron Guidry (P, 1975–1988)

• 1978 AL Cy Young (25–3, 1.74 ERA)

• 170–91 career record, 3.29 ERA

• 4× All-Star, 2× World Series champ

• Leader of late-’70s rotation

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9. Thurman Munson (C, 1969–1979)

• 1976 AL MVP, 7× All-Star, 3× Gold Glove

• Captain of back-to-back champs (1977–78)

• Career cut tragically short at age 32 in 1979

• Revered for toughness and leadership

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10. Aaron Judge (RF, 2016–present)

• 2022 AL MVP, set AL record with 62 HR

• .282 AVG, .983 OPS, 257 HR (as of mid-2025)

• 5× All-Star, current Yankees captain

• On pace for all-time Yankee status

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Jorge Posada – 5× All-Star, key to late-’90s dynasty

• Don Mattingly – 1985 AL MVP, great hitter in playoff-less era

• Bernie Williams – 4× World Series champion, .297 AVG

• Elston Howard – 1963 AL MVP, first Black Yankee

• Graig Nettles – 390 HR, elite defense at 3B

• Andy Pettitte – Franchise leader in postseason wins

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✅ Yankees Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Mickey Mantle

2. Derek Jeter

3. Mariano Rivera

4. Yogi Berra

🔟 Top 10 Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins Players Since 1946

1. Rod Carew (1B/2B, 1967–1978)

• 7× AL batting champion, 1977 AL MVP

• .334 AVG with Twins, 12× All-Star (all with Minnesota)

• 2,085 hits and 271 SB with the franchise

• Hall of Fame, 1991

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2. Harmon Killebrew (1B/3B, 1954–1974)

• 1969 AL MVP, 11× All-Star

• 573 HR (559 with Senators/Twins), .884 OPS

• One of MLB’s top all-time power hitters

• Hall of Fame, 1984

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3. Joe Mauer (C/1B, 2004–2018)

• 2009 AL MVP, 3× batting champion (only AL catcher to do so)

• .306 career AVG, 6× All-Star, 3× Gold Glove

• Spent entire career with Twins

• Likely future Hall of Famer

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4. Tony Oliva (RF/DH, 1962–1976)

• 1964 AL Rookie of the Year, 3× AL batting champion

• 8× All-Star, .304 career AVG

• Key offensive force in 1960s and ’70s

• Hall of Fame, 2022

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5. Bert Blyleven (P, 1970–1976, 1985–1988)

• 149 of his 287 wins came with the Twins

• 2× World Series champion (1 with Twins in 1987)

• 3,701 career strikeouts, elite curveball

• Hall of Fame, 2011

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6. Kirby Puckett (CF, 1984–1995)

• 1989 AL batting champ, 10× All-Star, 6× Gold Glove

• .318 AVG, 2× World Series champion (1987, 1991)

• Face of the Twins' golden era

• Hall of Fame, 2001

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7. Jim Kaat (P, 1959–1973)

• 190 wins with Senators/Twins

• 15 Gold Gloves (13 with Twins), 3× All-Star

• Led AL in wins in 1966

• Hall of Fame, 2022

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8. Johan Santana (P, 2000–2007)

• 2× AL Cy Young winner (2004, 2006), 3× All-Star

• 93–44, 2.91 ERA with Twins

• Led AL in ERA 3×, strikeouts 3×

• Best lefty in baseball during mid-2000s

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9. Kent Hrbek (1B, 1981–1994)

• Power-hitting hometown hero

• 293 HR, 1,086 RBI, .282 AVG

• Key to 1987 & 1991 World Series titles

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10. Bob Allison (OF/1B, 1958–1970)

• 256 HR, 796 RBI, 3× All-Star

• 1959 AL Rookie of the Year (as Senator)

• Reliable slugger through franchise’s relocation to Minnesota

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🏅 Honorable Mentions

• Zoilo Versalles – 1965 AL MVP

• Frank Viola – 1988 AL Cy Young, 1987 WS champ

• Cesar Tovar – Utility spark plug of late ’60s

• Chuck Knoblauch – 1991 AL Rookie of the Year, 4× All-Star

• Torii Hunter – 7 Gold Gloves, 2× All-Star with Twins

• Byron Buxton – Elite defense, speed, and power (ongoing)

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✅ Twins / Senators Mount Rushmore Since 1946

1. Rod Carew

2. Harmon Killebrew

3. Kirby Puckett

4. Joe Mauer

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