The MLB's Top 10 Left Fielders Since 1980

Part Seven in my Top 10...1980-Present series was left field, and it was a controversial one to say the least.

With Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez in the mix, it was sure to be interesting.

As with previous lists, I am simply recognizing the player's overall body of work, and the only effect steroids will have on my rankings is an asterisk next to stats.

Only stats from 1980-now were considered, and players must have played 1,000 career games to be eligible.

One of the hardest parts of doing the outfield is figuring out what outfield spot guys belong at, and there is a chance I may have misplaced someone along the way because of that.

That said, I look forward to your suggestions on how my list can be improved, so let's get it started with No. 10...

No. 10: Tim Raines

.294 BA, 170 HR, 980 RBI, 808 SB
All-Star Appearances: seven (two starts)
Silver Sluggers: one
.300+ BA Seasons: five
30+ SB Seasons: 12
100+ Run Seasons: six

With 808 career steals, good for fifth all-time, and an equally impressive 85 percent success rate, Raines is one of the best base runners the game has ever seen.

While his other numbers leave him a bit short of the Hall of Fame, he is certainly worthy of a spot on this list.

No. 9: Jim Rice

.290 BA, 210 HR, 868 RBIs, 19 SB
All-Star Appearances: five (one start)
.300+ BA Seasons: three
30+ HR Seasons: one
100+ RBI Seasons: four

Being that my specifications were to only take into account stats from 1980-now, Rice is a little lower on this list than he would be if his entire career were looked at.

While his MVP season was in the 70s, he still managed to put up big numbers late in his career, including a .305, 39, 126 season in 1983 as he led the league in HR and RBI.

No. 8: Alfonso Soriano

.282 BA, 280 HR, 727 RBI, 252 SB
All-Star Appearances: seven (four starts)
Silver Sluggers: four
.300+ BA Seasons: one
30+ HR Seasons: five
100+ RBI Seasons: two
30+ SB Seasons: five

Technically, he has played more career games at second base to this point, but I considered him a left fielder because I think that is where he will spend the remainder of his career.

Soriano has three 30-30 seasons and a 40-40 season to his credit and is one of the best power-speed threats in baseball history.

No. 7: Carlos Lee

.291 BA, 287 HR, 1,027 RBI, 110 SB
All-Star Appearances: three
Silver Sluggers: two
.300+ BA Seasons: five
30+ HR Seasons: five
100+ RBI Seasons: five

At only 33 years old, and having gone his entire career without missing any significant time due to injury, Lee is someone that could put up some really impressive numbers before his career is over.

Considering the friendly left field of his home park, he has an outside shot at 500 home runs if he can stay healthy and productive until he is 40.

No. 6: Moises Alou

.303 BA, 332 HR, 1,287 RBI, 106 SB
All-Star Appearances: six
Silver Sluggers: two
.300+ BA Seasons: six
30+ HR Seasons: three
100+ RBI Seasons: five

As productive as his career was, you can't help but wonder what it would have been like without the severe ankle injury he suffered in 1993.

That took away his speed both on the bases and in the field, but he was still a fantastic hitter.

He only got better as his career went on as he had a career high with 39 home runs in 2004 with the Cubs at the age of 37.

No. 5: Luis Gonzalez

.283 BA, 354 HR, 1,439 RBI, 128 SB
All-Star Appearances: five (one start)
Silver Sluggers: one
.300+ BA Seasons: five
30+ HR Seasons: two
100+ RBI Seasons: five

Lost amongst Barry Bonds' 73 home run season in 2001, Gonzalez turned in one of the greatest offensive seasons of all-time for the D'Backs with a line of .325, 57, and 142.

He also had the game-winning hit in what was one of the most exciting World Series of all-time in 2001, as the D-Backs topped the Yankees.

No. 4: Albert Belle

.295 BA, 381 HR, 1,239 RBI, 88 SB
All-Star Appearances: five (three starts)
Silver Sluggers: five
.300+ BA Seasons: four
30+ HR Seasons: eight
100+ RBI Seasons: nine

Despite having a relatively short career at only 12 years and retiring at the age of 33, Belle was incredibly productive throughout his career.

His 1995 numbers of .317, 50, and 126 were amazing as he led the AL in home runs and RBI, but he came in a close second to Mo Vaughn for MVP.

No. 3: Manny Ramirez

.315* BA, 533* HR, 1,745* RBI, 37* SB
All-Star Appearances: 12 (six starts)
Silver Sluggers: nine
.300+ BA Seasons: 11
30+ HR Seasons: 12
100+ RBI Seasons: 12

Ramirez has been a run-producing machine throughout his career, and he seems to be showing no signs of slowing down. He will even get a chance to be well rested this year as he takes a 50-game vacation here early in the season.

While he has had some great seasons, his 1999 year was unreal.

With a stat line of .333, 44, and 165, he showed what a hitter he is. Two years later he won the batting title with a .349 average.

No 2: Rickey Henderson

.279 BA, 297 HR, 1,115 RBI, 1,406 SB, 2,295 RUNS
Hall of Fame
Career SB and Runs Leader
3,055 Career Hits
All-Star Appearances: 10 (seven starts)
Silver Sluggers: three
Gold Gloves: one
.300+ BA Seasons: seven
30+ SB Seasons: 21
100+ Run Seasons: 13
1990 AL MVP

The best leadoff hitter the game has ever seen, Henderson was deserving of his first ballot Hall of Fame nod.

What separates him from the rest of the great base-stealing leadoff men is his 297 home runs. He had great power for someone who was not known for it.

No. 1: Barry Bonds

.298* BA, 762* HR, 1,996* RBI, 514* SB
Career HR and BB Leader
All-Star Appearances: 14 (12 starts)
Silver Sluggers: 12
Gold Gloves: eight
.300+ BA Seasons: 11
30+ HR Seasons: 14
100+ RBI Seasons: 12
30+ SB Seasons: nine
MVP Awards: seven

Like him or hate him, and I personally hate him, his body of work is otherworldly.

While steroids may have played a role, I firmly believe that Bonds was a first ballot Hall of Famer before he broke the home run record and before he supposedly began juicing.

In his prime, he was the complete package: speed, power, average, defense...he could do it all, and if I'm putting together my top team of the last 25 years, he has to be a part of it.

Honorable Mention

Garret Anderson, Angels
Ron Gant, Braves
Vince Coleman, Cardinals
Greg Vaughn, Padres
Carl Crawford, Rays
Rusty Greer, Rangers
Jeff Conine, Marlins
Bo Jackson, Royals
Jose Cruz, Astros
Kevin Mitchell, Giants
Ben Oglivie, Brewers