The MLB's Top 10 First Basemen Since 1980

This is the now the third in my Top 10...Since 1980 series, and it was, by far, the hardest to date. With so many great power hitting first basemen in the last 30 years, and such similar statistics to go off of, it was really close.

Then we have the known steroid users, and what to do with them.

Just as I handled Roger Clemens in my Starting Pitchers article, I am ranking the players as though steroids are a non-factor and simply noting with an asterisk the stats the are illegitimate.

As before, only stats from 1980-Present were considered. I look forward to your input, suggestions, criticisms, etc.

So on to number 10...

No. 10: Mark McGwire*

.263* Average, 583* HRs, 1414* RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 12 (six starts)
Silver Sluggers: 3
Gold Gloves: 1
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 1
30+ Home Run Seasons: 11
100+ RBI Seasons: 7
1987 AL Rookie of the Year

At the height of the home run race in 1998, when steroids were the last thing on peoples' minds, there was nothing more fun to do than watch McGwire take batting practice, as thousands of people flocked to Busch Stadium early and watch him put on a show.

While he has by far the lowest batting average of anyone on this list, and he is a known steroid user, he still deserves a spot on the top 10 because of his productivity.

No. 9: Fred McGriff

.284 Average, 493 HRs, 1550 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 5 (three starts)
Silver Sluggers: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 4
30+ Home Run Seasons: 10
100+ RBI Seasons: 8
1994 All-Star MVP

The Crime Dog was a model of consistency throughout the 1990s. He anchored the lineup for those Atlanta super-teams that could never quite win it all, but he still put up stellar numbers across the board.

His stretch of eight straight 25+ home run seasons is impressive and when the time comes I feel he is deserving of Hall of Fame recognition.

No. 8: Jim Thome

.278 Average, 545 HRs, 1502 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 5 (two starts)
Silver Sluggers: 1
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 3
30+ Home Run Seasons: 12
100+ RBI Seasons: 9

It is hard to believe Thome came up as a third basemen, and I would certainly enjoy watching him try to play over there today.

The simple fact that Ryan Howard was rotting in the Phillies' minor league system speaks to what a force Thome was as he registered four straight 40+ home run seasons with the Indians and Phillies.

Even as he approaches 40 years old, he still has outstanding power.

No. 7: Rafael Palmeiro*

.288* Average, 569* HRs, 1835* RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 4 (one start)
Silver Sluggers: 2
Gold Gloves: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 6
30+ Home Run Seasons: 10
100+ RBI Seasons: 10

This guy's a douche bag...alright, now that that is out of the way his career numbers are incredible.

He is one of the few 500 home run, 3000 hit players ever, and he also played a good defensive first base.

No. 6: Don Mattingly

.307 Average, 222 HRs, 1099 RBIs, 442 Doubles
All-Star Appearances: 6 (one start)
Silver Sluggers: 3
Gold Gloves: 9
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 7
30+ Home Run Seasons: 3
100+ RBI Seasons: 5
1985 AL MVP

Mattingly was the Yankees in the 1980s. He made the All-Star team every year from 1984-89 and was the best first basemen in the AL in the 1980s.

He didn't have a ton of power, but he put together a huge season in 1985 with a line of .324, 35, 145.

No. 5: Todd Helton

.329 Average, 313 HRs, 1133 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 5 (three start)
Silver Sluggers: 4
Gold Gloves: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 10
30+ Home Run Seasons: 6
100+ RBI Seasons: 5

Any time you can immediately make fans forget about someone as productive as Andres Galarraga, you must be good, and Helton is great.

Helton had a season for the ages in 2000 when he posted an astounding .372, 42, 147 and led the NL in batting average and RBIs.

Also a stellar defender, Helton continues to produce for the Rockies.

No. 4: Jeff Bagwell

.297 Average, 449 HRs, 1529 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 4 (two starts)
Gold Gloves: 1
Silver Sluggers: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 6
30+ Home Run Seasons: 9
100+ RBI Seasons: 8
1991 NL Rookie of the Year
1994 NL MVP

Bagwell, unorthodox batting stance and all, was by far one of the best run producers of the 1990s.

He drove in over 120 runs in four different seasons and had his best year in 2000 with a .310, 47, 132 season.

A likely Hall of Famer when his time comes.

No. 3: Albert Pujols

.335 Average, 330 HRs, 1008 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 7 (five starts)
Silver Sluggers: 4
Gold Gloves: 1
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 8
30+ Home Run Seasons: 8
100+ RBI Seasons: 8
2001 NL Rookie of the Year
2005 NL MVP
2008 NL MVP

As a Cubs fan I loathe this man, but as a baseball fan I have the utmost respect for him.

He is number three on the list, simply because he is still in the prime of his career, but when it is all said and done, he could definitely be number one.

No. 2: Eddie Murray

.287 Average, 425 HRs, 1635 RBIs
Hall of Fame Member
All-Star Appearances: 7 (one start)
Gold Gloves: 3
Silver Sluggers: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 7
30+ Home Run Seasons: 5
100+ RBI Seasons: 6

A member of the prestigious 500 home run, 3000 hit club, Murray is one of the best switch hitters of all-time and definitely the best first basemen of the 1980s.

Murray had a whopping 19 grand slams in his career, third all time.

No. 1: Frank Thomas

.301 Average, 521 HRs, 1704 RBIs
All-Star Appearances: 5 (two starts)
Silver Sluggers: 4
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 9
30+ Home Run Seasons: 9
100+ RBI Seasons: 11
1993 AL MVP
1994 AL MVP

The Big Hurt's combination of contact and power are what set him apart from the pack. His nine seasons over .300 are tops on this list and when he was in his prime he was arguably the best and most popular player in all of baseball.

Thomas also led the league in walks four times and logged an on-base percentage over .400 ten times.

Overall, he was the best first basemen of his era, and he did it clean, which is more than can be said for most of the era.

Honorable Mentions

Carlos Delgado: Blur Jays
Mo Vaughn: Red Sox
Keith Hernandez: Mets
Andres Galarraga: Rockies
Cecil Cooper: Brewers
Mark Grace: Cubs
Will Clark: Giants
John Olerud: Blue Jays
Jason Giambi: Yankees
Cecil Fielder: Tigers
Ryan Howard: Phillies
Tino Martinez: Yankees