MLB's Top 50 Center Fielders of All Time

Looking back at the history of the game, the list of center fielders to play the game is a who's who of baseball greats.

Players from DiMaggio to Doby, Duffy to Dawson all made their mark on the league whether it was with their ranging defense in the most expansive part of the ballpark or with their ability to change games with one swing of the bat.

Given the different eras that all these players came from, it's almost impossible to stack them accurately against each other, but there's no doubt that some of these players aren't only the best to play this position, but any position.

Doc Cramer

Spending time with four teams during his major-league career, Doc Cramer was a beaming example of longevity as he regularly spent time manning center field, even at the age of 40.

Garry Maddox

An eight-time Gold Glove winner, Garry Maddox spent 15 years in the league with the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.

He was a .285 career hitter and won his only World Series championship in 1980 with the Phillies.

Willie McGee

Willie McGee was a great hitter during his 18-year career, twice winning batting titles and appearing in four All-Star games.

On top of that, he was an important contributor to the 1982 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals and won three Gold Gloves during the first five years of his career.

Baby Doll Jacobson

Spending time with five different teams, the majority of William Jacobson's career was spent with the St. Louis Browns.

He ranks in the top 100 in career batting average (.311).

Chet Lemon

Chet Lemon spent his entire career in the Midwest, playing with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox.

He's a career .273 hitter and made three All-Star appearances while compiling a .984 career fielding percentage.

Steve Finley

Playing for eight teams during his 19-year career, Steve Finley's best years came with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he was a part of the 2001 World Series championship team.

He won five Gold Gloves in the outfield and twice received MVP votes.

Jackie Jensen

Jackie Jensen's career spanned three teams during 11 seasons. His best years came with the Boston Red Sox including the 1958 season, when he led the league in RBI and went deep 35 times en route to AL MVP honors.

He had a great arm in the outfield and along with winning a Gold Glove award, led the league in assists multiple times.

Amos Otis

Five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner Amos Otis spent a great deal of his career with the Kansas City Royals after being traded from the New York Mets, where he clashed with MLB great Gil Hodges.

He had a career .271 average and drove in over 1,000 runs while boasting some speed on the base paths stealing 341 bases.

Curt Flood

Curt Flood's defensive prowess with the St. Louis Cardinals was good enough to earn him Gold Glove awards in his last seven seasons in the league.

He led the league in putouts four times and had earned a .293 career average with over 1,800 hits and 600 RBI.

Andruw Jones

While his best years are behind him, Andruw Jones was a force in the outfield during his 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

He won 10 Gold Gloves during his time there and finished second in MVP voting in 2005 after hitting 51 home runs and driving in 128 runs, both leading the league.

Jimmy Wynn

Jimmy "Toy Cannon" Wynn spent 15 years in the major leagues, most notably with Houston.

After struggling in the infield where he was drafted, he moved to center field, where he spent the majority of his career boasting power, as he hit more than 20 home runs eight times, twice hitting more than 30.

Dom DiMaggio

Overshadowed by his brother, Dom DiMaggio spent his entire career with his brother's rival Boston Red Sox.

A speedy leadoff hitter, DiMaggio led the league in stolen bases and triples multiple times and also flashed talent with the leather, leading the league in putouts and assists twice.

Johnny Damon

Perhaps one of the best active players on this list, Johnny Damon has played for six different teams, most notably his eight seasons with Boston and New York.

Damon is a career .286 hitter and is currently 277 hits away from 3,000.

Earle Combs

Longtime New York Yankees center fielder Earle Combs spent his entire career with the Bronx Bombers, winning three World Series championships.

The Hall of Famer batted over .300 in all but two seasons and scored over 100 runs eight times.

Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter has put up strong enough offensive numbers to make him a feared bat with the potential to go deep.

But it's his glove that has gotten him the notoriety, as he has routinely made the impossible possible, climbing walls and laying out for balls most fielders couldn't even attempt to catch.

Cesar Cedeno

Cesar Cedeno's career got off on the right foot, as he batted .310 in his rookie season and elevated beyond that in the following seasons.

He also showed some power in becoming the second player to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season (three times).

Cy Williams

A former Notre Dame football player, Cy Williams moved to baseball after the Chicago Cubs caught wind of his talents.

He finished his career with 251 home runs, making him one of only three players born prior to 1900 with at least 200 round-trippers.

Eric Davis

Eric Davis was initially drafted into this league as an infielder, but he was moved to the outfield before ever playing a major-league game.

The three-time Gold Glove award winner finished his career with a .269 average and ended up just shy of 1,000 career RBI.

Lloyd Waner

Hall of Famer Lloyd Waner was one of the smallest players in the game at the time, barely cracking 130 pounds.

That didn't stop him from providing great value on the field, as Waner was a ranging outfielder as well as a .316 career hitter with 2,459 hits.

Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton is one of the best outfielders to play the game in the 1990s, as he was a dominating force for the Cleveland Indians.

In his 10 years with the Tribe, Lofton went to six All-Star games and won four Gold Glove awards while batting .300 and stealing 452 bases.

After leaving the Indians, he became a journeyman outfielder, playing for 10 different teams.

Fred Lynn

Fred Lynn's .331 batting average and 75 extra-base hits in 1975 led to a coming-out party of sorts, as it would prove to be enough to make him the first player in league history to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

The four-time Gold Glover also made nine All-Star appearances during his time in the league and finished his career with a .283 average.

Al Oliver

Spending the first 10 years of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Al Oliver would ultimately move on to play with six different teams, including the Texas Rangers and Montreal Expos.

His best seasons came between 1972 and 1983, when he'd make seven All-Star appearances and four times finished in the top 10 in MVP voting.

Oliver finished his career with a .303 average while driving in over 1,300 runs and hitting 825 extra-base hits.

Ed Roush

Ed Roush's offensive consistency made him a staple in the lineup during his 18-year career.

He earned himself a career .323 average, while impressively never striking out more than 25 times in a season.

He also showed great speed with his 182 career triples and 30 inside-the-park home runs.

Hack Wilson

Hack Wilson's raw power was evidenced best in 1930 when with the Chicago Cubs he went deep 56 times and drove in an astounding 191 runs.

Even with such power, Wilson managed to bat over .300 for his career, although his career was cut short likely in part due to a drinking problem that he failed to control.

Carlos Beltran

As one of the hotter free agents left on the open market, Carlos Beltran has made a name for himself in center field with the New York Mets and most recently with the San Francisco Giants.

The 1999 AL Rookie of the Year has a .283 lifetime average and boasts a .987 career fielding percentage.

Vada Pinson

Spending the first half of his major-league career with the Cincinnati Reds, Vada Pinson was an all-around great player who held his own in center field and got on base at a .341 clip.

He batted over .300 four times in the first eight years of his career but would fail to crack .290 in the next 10.

Jim Edmonds

Winning eight Gold Gloves with the Angels and Cardinals, Jim Edmonds was a part of one World Series championship team (2006) and also made four All-Star appearances.

Edmonds had stretches of great power during his 17-year career, hitting more than 30 home runs five different times and driving in over 100 runs four times.

Richie Ashburn

Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn spent all but three of his 15 seasons manning center field for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Batting over .300 nine times during his career, he led the league in average (.351), on-base percentage (.440) and hits (215) in 1958 en route to an All-Star appearance and seventh-place finish in NL MVP voting.

Wally Berger

Wally Berger blasted onto the scene in 1930, hitting 38 home runs and driving in 119 runs in the process.

It turned out to be just one year in a great start to a major-league career, as Berger averaged 28 home runs and 106 RBI per season during his first six years in the league.

Berger is widely considered to be one of the most underappreciated players in baseball history and one that many feel deserves a place in Cooperstown.

Bernie Williams

Bernie Williams was an integral part of the New York Yankees dominance over the past two decades as he made contributions on four World Series championship teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000).

He made five consecutive All-Star appearances between 1997 and 2001 and won Gold Gloves in all but one of those seasons.

Williams finished his career playing only for the Yankees and maintained a .297 batting average and .858 slugging percentage during his 16 seasons.

Dale Murphy

Individual accomplishments are something Dale Murphy clearly took seriously during his 18-year career.

He was a seven-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glover, four-time Silver Slugger and two-time NL MVP, all with the Atlanta Braves.

Murphy was a career .265 hitter and retired just two home runs shy of 400 while driving in 1,266 runs.

Willard Brown

Willard Brown may only have spent one month in the major leagues, but his contributions to the Negro Leagues are what have earned himself a place in the Hall of Fame.

He was long considered to be one of the best and most feared power hitters in the Negro Leagues, hitting for a great average and boasting great speed on the base paths all along the way.

Andy Van Slyke

Longtime Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyke won five Gold Gloves in consecutive seasons between 1988 and 1992.

As a part an outfield trio that included Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds, Van Slyke's offensive contributions were somewhat overshadowed, although he did lead the team in doubles, triples and hits during individual seasons during his career.

Max Carey

Spending 20 seasons in the league, Max Carey stole an impressive 738 bases, leading the league in that category 10 times.

With such speed on the base paths and in the field, Carey was in no way known as a power hitter, going deep less than 70 times during his career.

Still ranking in the top 10 in stolen bases, Carey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961.

James Bell

James "Cool Papa" Bell is considered in some circles to be one of the fastest ever to play baseball, and although he never played in the major leagues, he was able to showcase his speed in the Negro Leagues.

Bell's value can be best quantified by his 1940 season in which he took home the triple crown, beating Negro League great Josh Gibson.

Turkey Stearnes

Turkey Stearnes is considered by some to be one of the most deserving of players from the Negro League days who isn't in Cooperstown.

He batted over .400 three different times during his 18-year career and led the league in home runs seven times.

Cristobol Torriente

Cuban outfielder Cristobal Torriente was one of the Cuban League greats during the early 1900s. He owns the record for career average in the Cuban League with a .354 clip.

It was during his days in the Cuban Leagues that Torriente gained perhaps the most notoriety as he outplayed Babe Ruth in 1920 during a nine-game exhibition in Cuba.

Andre Dawson

Recent Hall of Fame inductee Andre Dawson spent over half of his career north of the border with the Montreal Expos but also spent six years in Chicago (Cubs) and two years each in Boston and Florida.

The eight-time Gold Glove winner won the NL MVP honors in his first season with the Chicago Cubs thanks to a .287 average that saw him go deep 49 times and drive in 137 runs.

Larry Doby

Stepping into the major leagues shortly after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, Hall of Famer Larry Doby started off his career with the Cleveland Indians and made an impact during his 10 seasons there.

He struggled at the plate during his rookie season but did come back in 1948 to lead the club to a World Series title.

After his playing career, he became the second African-American manager when he took over the Chicago White Sox in 1978.

Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett's infectious smile and positive attitude on the field made him a fan favorite during his time in Minnesota.

He was long known as the face of the franchise and led the team to two World Series titles (1987, 1991) while always coming up with clutch hits and timely catches in center field.

Earl Averill

One of the best ever to wear a Cleveland Indians jersey, Earl Averill is the team's all-time leader in RBI, triples, runs scored and total bases.

A career .318 hitter, Averill made six All-Star appearances and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975 by the veterans committee.

Oscar Charleston

While he never played in the major leagues, Oscar Charleston did have chances to square off against some of the league's best as he participated in exhibitions between major league players and Negro League players.

His style of play drew comparisons to players like Tris Speaker, but he was also remembered for his fiery temperament, as he was occasionally known to fight with opposing players and even umpires.

Duke Snider

Hall of Famer Duke Snider's best seasons came in the early 1950s as he batted .323 between 1952 and 1955, including a .341 average in 1954.

He was an eight-time All-Star selection and won two World Series championships with the Dodgers.

After controversially losing the 1955 NL MVP award to Roy Campanella, Snider responded with one of his best seasons in 1956, hitting a career-high 43 home runs.

Ken Griffey Jr.

As one of the most exciting young players to come into the league at the time, recently retired Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the best hitters to ever play the game.

A member of the 600 home run club, Griffey Jr. hit more than 30 home runs nine times, including two seasons when he hit more than 50.

It wasn't just his bat that made him famous though, as he routinely made acrobatic catches in center field and had a range that seemingly put every ball in the outfield within reach.

Hugh Duffy

Having played almost his entire career prior to the 20th century, Hugh Duffy was one of the most consistent hitters of his time, batting over .300 in all but four of his 17 career seasons.

His best season came in 1894, when he batted an amazing .440 and drove in 145 runs in only 125 games played.

Tris Speaker

Tris Speaker's .345 career batting average currently ranks him fourth in league history. Believe it or not, though, his defensive value made him an even more important player.

Speaker holds career records for assists and double plays and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in its second year of existence.

Mickey Mantle

The best switch hitter of all time, it's hard to do Mickey Mantle justice when talking about his career accomplishments.

He was a 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion and three-time AL MVP.

Playing during an era with as many good players as he did, Mantle ranked up there with the best and is still considered to be one of the best ever to put on the pinstripes.

Joe DiMaggio

Among the records in baseball history that may never be broken is Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak in 1941.

He was an All-Star selection in each of his 13 seasons in the league and won three MVP awards, as well as nine World Series championships.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb was certainly one of the most ruthless players in baseball history, as some of his win-at-all-costs tactics earned him a reputation as a dirty player.

Dirty or not, he was one of the best hitters in baseball history and while he only won one MVP trophy (1911), he finished his career with a .366 career average and ranks second in career hits with 4,189.

Willie Mays

It's impossible to think about the center field position without thinking of Willie Mays.

He's the best center fielder to play the game, but might actually be the best all-around player at any position to set foot on a field.

Whether you remember his offensive prowess that currently has him in the top five on the all-time home run list (660) or the 12 Gold Glove awards he holds, he clearly made his mark on the league.