Walter Johnson: Dominant force from 1907 to 1919, posting a 1.65 ERA, 1.86 FIP, and accumulating 297 victories. Two-time MVP with consistent excellence.
Lou Gehrig: Famous for his retirement speech in 1939, tragically cut short by ALS. Impressive .340/.447/.632 slash line and 493 home runs.
Ty Cobb: MLB's batting-average benchmark at .366, consistency through 23 seasons, and controversies aside, a top-10 lock.
Hank Aaron: Hit 755 home runs, held all-time mark until 2007. Career .305 batting average, 155 OPS+. Remarkable consistency with 25 straight All-Star bids.
Ted Williams: Second only to Ruth in various hitting categories, left prime for military service. Six-time batting champion and two-time Triple Crown recipient.
Willie Mays: The most well-rounded player with 660 home runs, a .302 average, and 156 OPS+. Exceptional defensive worth, third all-time in outfielders' fWAR.
Babe Ruth: Unsurprisingly at the top, revolutionized the game, shattered home run records. Dominant hitter with a .342/.474/.690 slash line, also excelled as a pitcher.
Barry Bonds: All-time home run leader with 762. Historic offensive seasons, including 73 home runs in 2001. Elite before PED controversies, eight Gold Gloves, and seven MVP awards.