Honorable mentions: Jack Fournier, Hal Trosky, Frank McCormick, Ted Kluszewski
10. Mark Teixeira (2003-2016)
Mark Teixeira was a top slugger during the 2000's, stringing together eight consecutive seasons with 30 or more homers (out of nine overall) and finishing with 409 in his career. The runner-up for AL MVP in 2009, Teixeira also won five Gold Glove awards.
9. Andres Galarraga (1985-2004)
Despite recurring battles with cancer during his career, Galarraga nonetheless had an outstanding career, clubbing 399 homers and driving in 1,425 runs. More than just a slugger, Galarraga led the NL in hits (184) in 1988 and in batting (.370) in 1993.
8. Mickey Vernon (1939-1960)
One of only 30 players whose careers spanned four decades, Mickey Vernon was one of the best defensive first basemen of all time. Despite missing two seasons to military service, he managed to turn 2,044 career double plays, more than anyone else in history at any position. No slouch with the bat, Vernon also won two Batting Titles and collected 2,495 career hits, including 490 doubles, 120 triples, and 172 home runs.
7. Don Mattingly (1982-1995)
For a four-year stretch between 1984 and 1987, Don Mattingly was the best player in baseball, batting .337 during that span and averaging over 120 RBI's per season. He won the AL Batting Crown in 1984 and was the league MVP in 1985, when he led the Majors in doubles (48), RBI's (145), and total bases (370) while clubbing 35 homers. Mattingly was also a jaw-dropping fielder whose consistent highlight-reel plays earned him nine Gold Glove awards. Back issues forced him to retire at age 34, which is the only reason he doesn't rank higher.
6. Keith Hernandez (1974-1990)
Keith Hernandez's claim to fame is his defense, which helped him win 11 Gold Gloves, more than any other first baseman. A five-time all-star and two-time World Champion, Hernandez was NL MVP in 1979 when he topped the Majors with a .344 average.
5. Ed Konetchy (1907-1921)
Back when first base was a defensive position, "Big Ed" Konetchy was perhaps the best in the game, dominating fielding leaderboards throughout his career. He was also a respected power hitter for the dead-ball era, belting 182 career triples, the most of any player not in Cooperstown. Konetchy later played several years in the high minors, compiling over 3,000 hits across 23 professional seasons.
4. Jake Daubert (1910-1924)
Whether it's due to the mediocre teams on which he played, or his untimely death during his final season, Jake Daubert is seldom remembered today, despite being one of the best first basemen of his era. He won consecutive Batting Titles in 1913-14 (taking home MVP honors in 1913) and had a career batting average of .303. Daubert also had power (165 career triples), was an outstanding bunter (second all-time with 392 sacrifice hits), and played strong defense (three fielding titles). He should be seriously considered for the Hall of Fame.
3. John Olerud (1989-2005)
Best known for wearing a skullcap in the field after suffering a brain aneurysm in college, John Olerud was one of the finest pure hitters in the game, batting .295 with a .398 OBP over his 17-year career. He hit 255 home runs and 500 doubles in his career, including 54 in 1993, when he won the AL Batting Title and helped the Blue Jays win a second consecutive World Series.
2. Will Clark (1986-2000)
A superstar from the moment of his debut, "Will the Thrill" entered the league with a bang, homering against Nolan Ryan in his first at bat and batting .308 with 35 homers as a sophomore. Clark was a top-5 MVP contender in four out of five seasons between 1987 and 1991, a span in which he topped the Majors with a 153 OPS+. A .303 career hitter and stellar defensive first baseman, Clark went 13-for-20 with two homers in the 1989 NLCS, contributing to a .333 / .409 / .547 postseason slash line. His exclusion from Cooperstown is likely due to his early retirement at age 36, when he left the game after a .319 season to help his wife care for their special needs child instead of padding his career totals.
1. Carlos Delgado (1993-2009)
One of the top sluggers of his era, Carlos Delgado hit 473 home runs in his career, including 12 seasons with at least 30. He was the runner-up for AL MVP in 2003 when he batted .302 with 42 homers and an MLB-best 145 RBI's. Despite impressive career totals, Delgado was often overshadowed by the steroid-fueled sluggers who defined the era. Nonetheless, he was a truly incredible player and the best first baseman outside of Cooperstown.
