MLB Power Rankings: The Best Throwback Jersey To Own for Each MLB Team

For baseball fans, and sports fans in general for that matter, gearing up to go to see your favorite team play with hats, jerseys and anything else available to show your allegiance to that team is as much a part of going to the game as the actual game itself.

And without fail, there is always that one person that you see wearing an awesome throwback jersey, paying homage to a former great of the team.

Not only do these jerseys look awesome, but in this era of free agency and players constantly changing teams, they are far safer to buy than jerseys of current players in terms of relevance.

To put it simply:

Wearing an Ernie Banks jersey to a Cubs game: cool.
Wearing a Mark Prior jersey to a Cubs game: extremely questionable.
Wearing a Milton Bradley jersey to a Cubs game: unacceptable.

So here is a look at the one throwback jersey worth owning above all others for all 30 MLB teams. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson

2001-2004 Road Jersey

While the idea of "throwback" and a team that came into existence in 1998 do not necessarily go hand in hand, there is no doubt a large market for jerseys of a number of Diamondbacks players from the 2001 World Series-winning team.

While it would be cool to rock a Curt Schilling or Luis Gonzalez jersey, the top honor has to go to the Big Unit himself, and any fan wearing the "old school" vest jersey would no doubt garner some props from his fellow fans.

Atlanta Braves: Hank Aaron

1972-1975 Home Jersey

While the jersey was only worn for a short time, and is an incredibly simple design, it is among the most iconic throwback jerseys in all of baseball, and that is thanks in large part to Aaron.

That is because it was this jersey that he was wearing in 1974 when he hit career home run No. 715 to pass Babe Ruth and become the all-time home run king. So while the Braves weren't great as a team in these jerseys, the most memorable moment in team history occurred while wearing them, and that has to count for something.

Baltimore Orioles: Cal Ripken Jr.

1995-2001 Home Jersey

While there are a number of good options in the Orioles' lengthy history, with Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson all worthy options, there is no question that the most loved player in team history is Cal Ripken Jr.

The "Iron Man" was a legend, not just for breaking Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games, but for his overall work ethic and his elite production while he was on the field. 

There are gaudier options for Ripken's jersey such as the all-orange or all-black versions, but you can't go wrong with the classic white home jersey, the same one he was wearing when he broke the record.

Boston Red Sox: Ted Williams

1939-1960 Home Jersey

The Red Sox have made little alterations to their jerseys through the years, so the throwbacks look strikingly similar to the jerseys that are currently being worn.

However, you will not see anyone on the field wearing No. 9, as that is reserved for one of the greatest to ever play the game, the Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams. While a Carl Yastrzemski or Carlton Fisk jersey would be cool, they don't quite compare to Williams. 

Chicago Cubs: Ron Santo

1960-1973 Home Jersey

While the Cubs have had players that enjoyed better careers than Ron Santo in players like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and others, no one has meant as much to the organization as a whole than Santo.

Not only as an All-Star third baseman and deserving Hall of Famer, but also as a passionate broadcaster who lived and breathed Chicago Cubs, Santo will forever be remembered by the Cubs faithful, and that makes his jersey No. 1 on this list.

Chicago White Sox: Ozzie Guillen

1985-1986 Home/Away Jersey

While this choice may come under some scrutiny, with choices like Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and even more recently Frank Thomas out there, Guillen gives fans a current White Sox to represent with an old-school jersey.

While he was only an average player, he is a larger-than-life manager and someone who White Sox fans have grown to love. Not only that, but the 1980s White Sox jerseys are among the coolest in baseball history and while Carlton Fisk and Harold Baines also played for those teams, the Guillen jersey tops the list here. 

Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Bench

1972-1983 Home Jersey

When it comes to the Reds, it is a matter of which member of the Big Red Machine to go with, and while Joe Morgan, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, George Foster and Dave Concepcion are all worthy options, the top spot here goes to Johnny Bench.

While Mike Piazza has passed many of his offensive marks, Bench is still widely regarded as the best all-around catcher to ever play the game, and he was the heart and soul of those terrific Reds teams.

Honorable mention goes to anyone out there who would be willing to buy a Ted Kluszewski jersey and cut the sleeves off of it like he used to.

Cleveland Indians: Satchel Paige

1948-1949 Home Jersey

While flamethrower Bob Feller is No. 1A on this list, the top spot goes to Negro League superstar and larger-than-life personality Satchel Paige.

Despite the fact that he was 41 years old when he made his big league debut with the Indians in 1948 and he only pitched two seasons with the team and five total in the majors, he still made an impact not only as a reliever but as a living legend. 

Colorado Rockies: Andres Galarraga

1993-1997 Home Jersey

Another team that has not been around nearly long enough to be talking about "throwback" anything, there are nonetheless some jerseys that a Rockies fan would love to have of players who helped build the foundation of what the team is now.

While guys like Larry Walker, Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks and others were great, the team's first real star was first baseman Andres Galarraga. He was there from the onset in 1993, winning the NL batting title that season with a .370 average, and he would go on to hit .316 BA, 172 HR and 579 RBI in his five seasons with the team.

Detroit Tigers: Lou Whitaker/Alan Trammell

1978-1995 Any Jersey

This one requires you to have a friend or significant other who is willing to look awesome along with you, but if that can be arranged, there is no better jersey duo to wear than Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell.

The double-play combination manned the middle of the infield from 1978-1995, as they were the heart and soul of the Detroit Tigers for nearly two decades, and they were both among the best at their respective positions and fan favorites in the city.   

Florida Marlins: Jeff Conine

Teal Alternate Jersey

The Marlins have been a roller coaster ride of a franchise since coming into existence back in 1993, as they have built their team into a World Series-winner twice, only to tear it apart the following season and return to mediocrity.

Several great players have been members of the team, including guys like Gary Sheffield and Kevin Brown the first go-around, and Miguel Cabrera and Ivan Rodriguez the second time around. However, Jeff Conine was there for both championships and a lot in between, and he is "Mr. Marlin for a reason.

While any Conine jersey would be good, the teal alternate jersey pictured on the card here takes the cake as the top Marlins jersey to own.

Houston Astros: Nolan Ryan

1975-1986 Road Jersey

While there are no doubt a lot of throwback jerseys out there, nothing fully encompasses the idea of a throwback jersey quite like the Astros jerseys of the 1970s and 1980s.

You can call them terrible, you can call them ugly, but there is no doubt that the orange-and-yellow Astros jerseys of old are like nothing we have ever seen before, and nothing we will ever see again. Ryan is best remembered for his time with other teams, but he was still a stud with the Astros, and this would be a fantastic jersey to own for any Astros fan.

Kansas City Royals: George Brett

1983-1991 Road Jersey

The Royals had some terrific players during their glory days of the 1970s and 1980s, as they made the playoffs seven times in 10 seasons from 1976-1985 thanks to the likes of Willie Wilson, Hal McRae, Frank White, Bret Saberhagen and many others.

However, the unquestioned leader of those teams and one of the best third baseman to ever play the game was George Brett. Not only is he the best player in Royals history, but he is among the most well-liked and respected players league-wide. 

Los Angeles Angels: Jim Abbott

1989-1992 Home Jersey

The Angels never had a true superstar player in their organization until Vladimir Guerrero came along, and considering he is still playing I don't think that qualifies as throwback.

However, they did have one of the most inspirational athletes in sports history begin his career with their team in Jim Abbott, who overcame being born without a right hand to win 87 games and pitch 10 big league seasons, with 54 wins coming in six seasons with the Angles and that would certainly be a cool jersey to own.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Jackie Robinson

1947-1956 Home Jersey

This one is a no-brainer, despite the deep history and tradition that the Dodgers organization has, as Robinson changed the game forever when he broke the color barrier back in 1947.

Considering what he had to endure when he first entered the league, it is incredible that he did not just give up, let alone win Rookie of the Year, but he did just that. It would be interesting to see the sort of numbers an athlete like him could have put up in his career had he started playing before the age of 28.

While Robinson is the clear-cut choice here in my mind, Sandy Koufax would top the list of many Dodgers fans, and baseball fans in general for that matter when it came to picking one jersey to buy.

Milwaukee Brewers: Robin Yount

1974-1984 Road Jersey

While the Brewers have had some good players through the years, this one really came down to Robin Yount or Paul Molitor, and Yount comes out on top thanks to the fact that he spent his entire 20-year career in Milwaukee.

A two-time MVP, who made a mid-career transition from shortstop to center field seamlessly, Yount played in 2,856 games and collected 3,142 hits as a member of the Brewers and you would be hard-pressed to find a Milwaukee baseball fan who does not put Robin Yount at or near the top of the list of all-time favorites. 

Minnesota Twins: Kirby Puckett

1984-1986 Road Jersey

Really, who else would it be for the Twins besides Kirby Puckett? While Harmon Killebrew was a great player, there is no doubt who the most beloved player in Twins history was, as Puckett played the game the way it was supposed to be played.

His combination of clutch hitting, Gold Glove defense and overall enthusiasm for the game made him a household name, a fan favorite and eventually a Hall of Famer. 

New York Mets: Tom Seaver

1967-1977 Home Jersey

There is a reason only one player has had his number retired by the Mets to date, and that is because Tom Seaver is far and away the best player to ever suit up for the organization.

While players like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden certainly made their mark, as did Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman and Howard Johnson, no one holds a candle to Tom Terrific.

With 311 wins and three NL Cy Young awards, Seaver has his place among the best pitchers of all time and may well have been the best pitcher of the 1970s, an era dominated by some of the best pitchers to ever play the game.

New York Yankees: Mickey Mantle

1951-1968 Home Jersey

When it comes to the Yankees, it is really a matter of which Hall of Fame, all-time great you prefer, as you can't go wrong with the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and the many other fantastic players in Yankees history.

However, my personal preference would be No. 7, Mickey Mantle. He was the definition of a five-tool player, and the things he could do with the bat from both sides of the plate were simply amazing. 

Again, there is no right answer when it comes to the Yankees and their amazing history, but if it were me buying a Yankees jersey, it would be of Mantle.

Oakland Athletics: Reggie Jackson

1972-1982 Road Jersey

While it was a tough call between this jersey, and the yellow alternate version from the same era, in the end I think the green jersey is more readily identified with the Athletics and their great teams of the 1970s, as they made the playoffs five straight seasons from 1971-1975, winning the World Series in 1972, 1973 and 1974.

While those teams featured greats like Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Sal Bando and many others, Jackson was the most dynamic player on those great teams, and while he had a big personality he was still a fan favorite, and has a place in Oakland history.

Philadelphia Phillies: Steve Carlton

1973-1986 Road Jersey

Mike Schmidt it widely regarded as the greatest third baseman in baseball history, and with good reason as his power hitting and superior defense won him three MVP awards and made him arguably the best hitter of the 1980s.

However, Schmidt was never quite the fan favorite that superstars usually are, and that puts him a notch below one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in baseball history and Phillies great, Steve Carlton.

With 241 wins and four NL Cy Young awards in 15 seasons with the Phillies, Carlton secured his spot as one of the best pitchers to ever toe the rubber, and the city of Philadelphia still loves him for it. 

Pittsburgh Pirates: Roberto Clemente

Yellow Alternate Jersey

It came down to Willie Stargell or Roberto Clemente here, and both are solid choices, but Clemente was the better overall player and he achieved legendary status for his efforts both on the field and off.

While the vest-style jersey was the main uniform that of the Pirates during Clemente's time with the team, that jersey is still in use today, so to truly go throwback with this jersey the alternate all-yellow jersey is the choice here, as there is certainly no confusing that for any other team's jersey. 

San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn

1982-1984 Road Jersey

Much like the Mets with Tom Seaver, the Padres' best player by a landslide is former right fielder Tony Gwynn, as he was one of the best pure hitters to ever play the game.

With a .338 career average, 3,141 hits, eight NL batting titles and 15 All-Star appearances, his resume speaks for itself, and while guys like Dave Winfield and Steve Garvey have their place in Padres history, Gwynn is firmly in the top spot.

While it would be okay to go with the pin-striped Padres jersey of the 1990s, there is no substitute for the fantastically bad yellow-and-brown jerseys of the early 1980s. It is another jersey that falls into the category of so bad it's good, along with the old Astros jerseys.

San Francisco Giants: Willie Mays

1951-1972 Home Jersey

One of the best to ever play the game, Willie Mays could do it all and his stats certainly back that up as he could hit for average (.302 BA), hit for power (660 HR), run (338 SB), field (12 Gold Gloves) and throw (195 OF assists).

The same can be said for Barry Bonds, but you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would take a Bonds jersey over a Mays jersey, and for as long as baseball is played Mays will be viewed as one of the greatest to have ever taken the field. 

Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr.

1977-1986 Home Jersey

While he retired just last season, Griffey falls into the same class as the rest of the guys on this list in that his jersey will be purchased and worn for years to come, not only in Seattle but all around baseball.

Playing in the steroid era where seemingly everything has an asterisk next to it, Griffey did it the right way, and had he not run into injuries he almost certainly would have eclipsed Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds for the all-time home run mark. Regardless, he still had a phenomenal career, and his numbers make him one of the best to ever swing a bat.

The Mariners true throwback jersey features a trident in place of the letter "M," and while Griffey never wore the jersey it is a good combination of old school and new school. 

St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial

1941-1950 Home Jersey

Aided by the fact that the Cardinals jerseys from the 1940s are awesome-looking, Musial gets the nod for the Cardinals over fan favorite Ozzie Smith.

While Smith is perhaps as beloved as Musial is, the numbers are night and day with Musial ranking among the best hitters to ever play the game. With a .331 BA, 475 HR, 1,951 RBI line and 3,630 hits, there is little doubt he was a force at the plate.

He also spent all 22 seasons of his career with the Cardinals, adding to his legacy with the franchise, and anyone walking around in a No. 6 jersey at Busch Stadium would no doubt be given props by more than a few passersby.

Tampa Bay Rays: Wade Boggs

1998-1999 Home Jersey

When you consider the fact that the Rays franchise did not post a season with less than 90 losses until 2008, it is easy to see why there are not many choices for a throwback player, and while guys like Fred McGriff, Jose Canseco and Roberto Hernandez were the cream of the crop for those awful early Rays teams, the choice here is Wade Boggs.

While he is certainly better known for his time with the Red Sox and Yankees, Boggs finished out his career with two seasons in Tampa.

In his final season, he collected his 3,000th hit as a member of the team, and that still goes down as the first truly memorable moment in franchise history. 

Texas Rangers: Nolan Ryan

1989-1993 Home Jersey

Making his second appearance on this list, it is clear at this point that I support owning a Nolan Ryan jersey if nothing else. Much like the Ozzie Guillen pick for the White Sox, Ryan was not only a great player for the Rangers, but he also now holds a position within the organization as their team president.

Ryan joined the Rangers as a player in 1989 at the age of 42, and he would go on to play five seasons with the team, winning 51 games and pitching the sixth and seventh no-hitters of his storied career.

He became team president in 2008, and last season he helped lead the team to the first World Series appearance in franchise history. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Roberto Alomar

1991-1995 Home Jersey

The most recent inductee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Alomar will have his number retired by the Blue Jays this coming season, the first player in franchise history to receive that honor despite playing just five seasons with the team.

However, in those five seasons he helped bring back-to-back World Series titles to a franchise that had never before experienced that sort of success. The trade that brought both him and Joe Carter to the team from the Padres changed the entire outlook of the franchise, and played a big part in their success.

While Carter would also be a great choice, Alomar tops the list of most desirable Blue Jays throwback jersey here.

Washington Nationals: Andre Dawson

1976-1986 Road Jersey

While I will admit that I am technically not sure whether or not it is commonplace for someone to wear an Expos jersey at a Nationals game, there is no such thing as a Nationals throwback jersey so the choice here goes back to the team's roots.

There were certainly options, with Andre Dawson, Tim Raines and Gary Carter topping the list, and I chose to go with Dawson thanks to his recent Hall of Fame enshrinement and a slight Cubs fan bias.

Dawson spent the first 11 years of his career with the Expos, displaying his five-tool talents and destroying his knees on the artificial turf in the process, and it was fitting that he entered the Hall of Fame as an Expo, despite his desire to be represented by the Cubs.