MLB's 25 Best Power Hitters Ever Under 6'0” Tall

Size does not matter.

Well, at least not in baseball, that is.

When baseball first started back in the 19th century, the average height of a ballplayer was 68.9" or roughly 5'9" tall. Today, the average player is 73.7", just under 6'2" tall.*

Only 27 of the players in the top 200 of baseball's all-time home run list measure under six feet tall.

However, lack of size definitely cannot be considered as a deterrent. Don't even try telling that to Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who at 5'8" tall captured the American League MVP Award in 2008.

Here, then, is a list of the top 25 greatest power hitters in Major League Baseball history who measured in at under six feet tall.

*Source: Beyond the Box Score

Honorable Mention: Joe Gordon

Second baseman Joe Gordon only had an 11-year career in Major League Baseball, but he made it memorable.

Gordon, 5'10" tall, won the American League MVP Award in 1942 as a member of the New York Yankees, helping lead them to their 13th overall American League pennant.

Gordon hit 253 home runs during his career, putting him in a four-way tie for 194th place on the all-time home run list with Larry Doby, Andre Thornton and Todd Zeile.

25. Vada Pinson

Measuring in at 5'11" and 170 pounds, long-time Cincinnati Reds center fielder Vada Pinson didn't appear to be a powerful guy, but he proved that theory wrong quickly.

Pinson, who spent 11 of his 18 years in baseball with the Reds, registered seven seasons with at least 20 HR and also added speed to his game as well, stealing 305 bases during his career.

Pinson finished with 256 homers altogether, putting him in 187th place on MLB's career homer list alongside Larry Parrish and Bob Allison.

24. Matt Stairs

At 5'9" and 200 pounds, Matt Stairs put together a nice career in Major League Baseball, first as an everyday outfielder for the Oakland Athletics and later as a valued pinch hitter/utility player for several teams.

Stairs would play for 12 teams altogether during his 19-year career, ending in 2011 with the Washington Nationals.

Stairs hit the little white ball out of the park 265 times, placing him in a tie for 180th on the MLB all-time home run list with George Bell.

23. Joe Morgan

One of the smallest people on this list, Joe Morgan was only 5'7" and 160 pounds when he broke into the majors with the Houston Astros in 1963.

However, by the time his career was over, he became one of the best second baseman in the history of the game, earning induction in the baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Morgan won back-to-back National League MVP awards in 1975 and 1976, hitting 268 career home runs along the way. Morgan is in 174th place on baseball's career home run list along with Brooks Robinson and Gorman Thomas.

22. Raul Mondesi

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed 17-year outfielder Raul Mondesi to a contract in 1988, and within six years, the 5'11", 200-pound outfielder from the Dominican Republic paid dividends.

Mondesi won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in the strike-shortened season of 1994, hitting .306 with 16 HR and 56 RBI.

Mondesi would go on to have a stellar 13-year career, winning two Gold Glove awards for his outstanding defense in right field and hitting 271 HR along the way.

Mondesi is tied for 171st on baseball's all-time home run list along with George Scott and Tom Brunansky.

21. Steve Garvey

For 19 seasons, first baseman Steve Garvey was a huge presence in the National League, despite being just 5'10" tall.

Garvey won the 1974 NL MVP Award, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win their first National League pennant since 1966. Later in his career, Garvey would help lead the San Diego Padres to their first-ever pennant as well.

Garvey ended his career in 1987 with 272 home runs, good for 170th on baseball's all-time HR list.

20. Brian Downing

First as a catcher and later as a left fielder and designated hitter, Brian Downing proved to be invaluable during his 20-year career, especially for the California Angels.

Downing, 5'10" and 170 pounds, started his career behind the plate with the Chicago White Sox and was later moved to left field full-time with the Angels when they acquired Bob Boone.

Downing hit 275 long balls during his career, placing him in a tie for 165th place on baseball's all-time home run list along with Dean Palmer, Roger Maris and Jorge Posada.

19. Brian Giles

It's pretty fair to say that left fielder Brian Giles was a pretty special player during his career, and in a time when baseball players continued getting bigger and stronger, Giles stood out at just 5'11" and 195 pounds.

For 15 seasons, Giles patrolled left field with a steady glove and provided a fast bat and keen eye at the plate, leading the National League with 119 walks in 2005.

Giles would end his career with a .291 batting average and 287 home runs, putting him in a tie for 148th place on MLB's career home run list with Garret Anderson and Bobby Bonilla.

18. Jim Wynn

At 5'10" and 160 pounds when he broke into the majors with the fledgling Houston Astros, outfielder Jim Wynn quickly earned the nickname "Toy Cannon" for his explosive bat and somewhat diminutive stature.

The numbers certainly back it up. Playing in the very pitcher-friendly Astrodome, Wynn supplied plenty of power during his 11 seasons there, ending his career with 291 HR, good for a tie for 141st place all-time on MLB's home run list along with Miguel Cabrera and Craig Biggio.

17. Craig Biggio

Part of the "Killer Bs" that led the Houston Astros' offense in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Craig Biggio, at 5'11" and 185 pounds, was easily the smallest of the original quartet that included Jeff Bagwell, Sean Berry and Derek Bell.

The Killer Bs would later incorporate Lance Berkman as they led the Astros to their first-ever National League pennant in 2005.

Biggio ended his career in 2007 after becoming just the 27th player in MLB history to amass 3,000 hits. Biggio's 291 career home runs were good enough to place him in 141st place, tied with Miguel Cabrera and Jimmy Wynn.

16. Rickey Henderson

While 5'10", 180-pound outfielder Rickey Henderson is well-known for being the most prolific base stealer in MLB history, he could pack a punch as well.

Henderson hit 81 career leadoff home runs during his 25-year career, easily the major league record.

His 297 lifetime home runs puts him in 135th place on baseball's all-time home run list.

15. Rogers Hornsby

One of the greatest infielders ever to play the game, Rogers Hornsby was only 5'11" and 175 pounds, yet he wielded a very powerful bat.

Hornsby was the MVP for the National League for two separate teams—first in 1925 with the St. Louis Cardinals and just four years later with the Chicago Cubs.

By the time his Hall of Fame career ended, Hornsby compiled an incredible .358 batting average along with 301 HR, good for 132nd on baseball's career homer list.

14. Miguel Tejada

During his heyday in the 2000s, 5'9", 220-pound shortstop Miguel Tejada was one of the elite shortstops in all of baseball.

Tejada won the 2002 American League MVP Award, leading his Oakland A's to the AL West title.

Tejada is currently in 134th place on baseball's all-time home run list with 304 home runs, tied with Steve Finley.

13. Al Simmons

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, outfielder Al Simmons was the driving force behind the offense for the Philadelphia A's, leading them to three consecutive AL pennants and two World Series championships.

Simmons, at 5'11" and 190 pounds, was simply magnificent during his career, finishing with a .334 lifetime batting average and 307 HR, tying him with Greg Luzinski for 123rd place on baseball's all-time home run list.

12. Ivan Rodriguez

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez was just 5'9" and 205 pounds, but by the time he retired this year, he had become one of the greatest all-around catchers in MLB history.

Rodriguez won 13 Gold Glove Awards during his outstanding 21-year, winning the 1999 AL MVP Award while a member of the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez was also a key player for the Florida Marlins in 2003 as they went on to win their second World Series title.

Rodriguez retired with 311 home runs, good for 119th place on MLB's all-time list.

11. Ron Cey

At 5'10" and 185 pounds, third baseman Ron Cey earned the nickname "Penguin," coined by former manager Tommy Lasorda, for his rather slow waddling style of running around the basepaths.

But Cey was anything but slow at the plate. Part of a fabulous infield along with Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Bill Russell in 1974 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cey's bat was a major factor in helping the Dodgers capture their first NL pennant since 1966.

Cey ended his career in 1987 after hitting 316 home runs, good for 116th place on baseball's all-time HR list.

10. Adrian Beltre

Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre is currently in 108th place on baseball's all-time home run list with 321 home runs. But considering he's still bashing, he'll likely continue climbing that list.

At 5'11" and 220 pounds, Beltre has long been known for generating tremendous bat speed and currently has 11 HR and 43 RBI this season while hitting .305.

Just don't rub him on the head, though. He really hates that.

9. Willie Horton

Outfielder Willie Horton was only 5'11" tall, but for the Detroit Tigers in 1968, he was the biggest bat in the lineup.

Horton belted 38 long balls that year, helping the Tigers win their first World Series title in 23 seasons.

When all was said and done, Horton ended his career with 325 HR, good for a tie for 103rd along with Jermaine Dye on baseball's all-time list.

8. Dick Allen

Throughout his 15-year career, 5'11" outfielder/first baseman Dick Allen was outspoken, but he was also an offensive weapon.

Allen won the 1972 AL MVP Award with a terrific season for the Chicago White Sox, hitting .308 with 37 HR and 113 RBI. Allen also won the Rookie of the Year Award for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964.

Allen ended his career with 351 HR, good for 85th all-time on baseball's career home run list.

7. Yogi Berra

At just 5'7" and 185 pounds, catcher Yogi Berra certainly didn't look like the perfect image of a power hitter. But they do say that big explosions come from small sticks of dynamite.

Berra hit 358 HR during his fabulous 18-year career with the New York Yankees, helping his Yankees win 13 World Series titles during that time.

Berra sits alone in 77th place on baseball's all-time home run list.

6. Carl Yastrzemski

When Ted Williams retired following the 1960 season, the Boston Red Sox already had someone in mind to take his place—Carl Yastrzemski.

At 5'11" and 175 pounds, Yaz was clearly not a spitting image of the Splendid Splinter, but eventually he let his bat do his talking for him.

Yastrzemski was the last person in baseball to capture the Triple Crown, doing it in 1967 while leading the Red Sox to their first pennant in 21 years.

Yastrzemski would retire with 452 home runs, good for 35th place on baseball's career list.

5. Gary Sheffield

When Gary Sheffield debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1988 at the age of 19, he was a skinny 5'11" shortstop. By the time he retired in 2009, he was in an exclusive power club.

Sheffield hit 509 home runs during his career, putting himself in rarified air with his 500th home run in his final season with the New York Mets.

Sheffield is 24th on baseball's all-time list.

4. Mel Ott

Mel Ott had just turned 17 years old when he debuted with the New York Giants in 1926, and while he was only 5'9" and 170 pounds, he quickly showed everyone that his diminutive stature was deceiving.

Some 21 years later, Ott retired after hitting 511 home runs for the Giants, becoming the first National League player to surpass the 500-home run mark.

Ott is just ahead of Gary Sheffield on baseball's all-time home run list in 23rd place.

3. Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle made his debut for the New York Yankees in April 1951, a young 19-year-old who stood 5'11" tall and had one heckuva sweet swing from both sides of the plate.

Seventeen years later, Mantle retired with 536 lifetime home runs, the most ever for a switch-hitter. That number likely would have been much larger if not for his balky knees that often saw him icing them down between innings.

Mantle is currently 16th on baseball's all-time home run list.

2. Willie Mays

There are many who consider Willie Mays to be the greatest all-around player in MLB history.

At just 5'10" and 175 pounds, Mays could pack a whole lot of power as well.

Mays hit 660 home runs during his fabulous 22-year career, good for fourth place all time on MLB's home run list.

1. Hank Aaron

When the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1954, they not only featured a new city, but a new young right fielder as well—Henry Louis Aaron.

Aaron, at 5'11", was just 20 years old when he began play that year, but by the time his incredible 23-year career was finished, he was a household name.

Aaron broke Babe Ruth's long-standing career home run mark on April 8, 1974 and finished with 755 home runs, now second on baseball's all-time list.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.