Top 10 US baseball players, you know all?

Meet the top 10 baseball players from the United States, you know all?

10. Ty Cobb (1905-1928)

Position: Outfielder, First Baseman
Greatest Moment: A 40-game hitting streak in 1911 to beat Shoeless Joe Jackson for the AL batting title.
Why he's one of the greatest: Cobb played for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia A's during his 24-year career. It's safe to say that no other hitter will match Cobb's accomplishments.

Cobb has 4,191 career hits; only Pete Rose collected more base knocks. Cobb won 12 AL batting titles, including a streak of nine in a row. Speaking of streaks, he had 23 straight seasons over .300. In 1911, his batting average was .420. He was over .400 in two other seasons.

9. Stan Musial (1941-1963)

Position: Outfielder, First Baseman
Greatest Moment: Getting hit No. 3,000 on May 13, 1958, against the Chicago Cubs.
Why he's one of the greatest: "Stan the Man" is an icon in St. Louis, where he played 22 years with the Cardinals. He finished 17 of those seasons with a batting average over .300. Musial led the NL in batting seven times. He was the choice for the league's MVP in 1943, 1946 and 1948. Musial was an All-Star 24 times. In addition, he hit 12 walk-off home runs during his career. Only four other players share this record.

The Cardinals originally signed Musial as a pitcher, but, upon noticing his quick feet, took him off the mound. He was a strong base runner, yet never stole more than nine bases in a season.

8. Mickey Mantle (1951-1968)

Position: Centerfielder
Greatest Moment: Hitting a 565-foot home run at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 1953.
Why he's one of the greatest: The greatest switch hitter in history had the unenviable job of replacing Joe DiMaggio in centerfield for the Yankees. "The Mick" spent his 18-year career with the Yanks, helping them to 12 AL pennants and seven World Series crowns. He holds the record for most home runs in the Series with 18 dingers.

Mantle was also a big-time player in the regular season, winning three MVP awards (1956, 1957 and 1962). His career stats include a batting average of .298 and 531 home runs. Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956.

7. Joe DiMaggio (1936-1951)

Position: Centerfielder
Greatest Moment: His 56-game hitting streak in 1941.
Why he's one of the greatest: At Baseball's Centennial Celebration in 1969, DiMaggio was named the "Greatest Living Player" in the game.

His career offensive numbers justify that selection. During his career, he hit .325 and nailed 361 homers. The Yankee Clipper won three AL MVP awards and a pair of batting titles. Many fans consider his 56-game hitting streak to be the MLB record that will probably never be broken. During his amazing 1941 season, DiMaggio led the AL with 125 RBIs. He hit 30 homers, 43 doubles and 11 triples. He only struck out 13 times that year. Amazingly, Ted Williams had an even better season, denying DiMaggio a batting title that year.

To Yankee fans, DiMaggio is a hero. But to the team's management, he was a pain in the neck. DiMaggio disrespected manager Casey Stengel, and frequently sparred with Yankee brass over his salary.

6. Nolan Ryan (1966-1993)

Position: Right-handed Pitcher
Greatest Moment: On May 1, 1991, Texas Ranger Ryan pitched the seventh no-hitter of his career against the Toronto Blue Jays in Arlington.
Why he's one of the greatest: Ryan was one of the most feared pitchers in major league history, with heat that approached speeds of 100 mph. During his 27-year career he racked up 5,714 strikeouts, a total surpassed by none to date. Ryan also had 324 victories and seven no-hitters. He fanned a record 383 batters as a California Angel in 1973.

5. Willie Mays (1951-1973)

Position: Centerfielder
Greatest Moment: His over-the-shoulder catch, robbing Cleveland Indian Vic Wertz of an extra base hit in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.
Why he's one of the greatest: A conversation about the best all-around players in the game's history would certainly have to include Mays in the Top 5. Mays was a selection to the All-Star Game 24 times. His play in the field was stellar, as testified by his 12 Gold Gloves. The two-time NL MVP hit 660 homers during his career, and is fourth on the all-time home run list. As Mays piled on the homers, many people considered him a threat to breaking Babe Ruth's record of 714 dingers.

During every season from 1957 to 1966, Mays finished no lower than sixth in the NL MVP voting. He became the first player to collect 3,000 hits and 500 homers.

4. Babe Ruth (1914-1935)

Position: Left-handed Pitcher, Outfielder
Greatest Moment: Hitting the first home run in Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923.
Why he's one of the greatest: The Sultan of Swat was baseball's first great slugger and the most celebrated athlete of his time, certainly a bona fide celebrity both on and off the baseball field. While everyone remembers Ruth as a slugger, it's worth noting that he started his career as a pitcher. He won 89 games in six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, helping the team to the 1915, 1916 and 1918 World Championships.

The Sox sold Ruth to the Yankees, and that kick-started the most memorable part of his career. He led the Yanks to seven AL pennants and four World Series crowns. The slugger who was known to "call his shot" hit 60 long bombs in 1927. He hit 714 homers during his career; only Hammerin' Hank Aaron has amassed more dingers.

3. Hank Aaron (1954-1976)

Position: Outfielder
Greatest Moment: Hitting career home run No. 715, breaking Babe Ruth's record, on April 8, 1974.
Why he's one of the greatest: Aaron was the last Negro American League player to also play in MLB. He's most remembered for his home run power; so far no one has exceeded his career home run total of 755. He also holds records in career RBIs, extra base hits and total bases. The NL's MVP in 1957 was a 24-time All-Star.

He was also pretty handy with the leather, winning three Gold Glove awards.

2. Ted Williams (1939-1960)

Position: Leftfielder
Greatest Moment: Hitting home run No. 500 against the Cleveland Indians on June 17, 1960.
Why he's one of the greatest: Many consider Williams the greatest hitter in the modern era. He was a two-time winner of the Triple Crown and AL MVP. He batted .406 in 1941; that contributed to his lifetime batting average of .344. The 17-time All-Star won six batting championships.

Williams wasn't just a good contact hitter; he had impressive power, blasting 521 career home runs.

1. Barry Bonds (1986-present)

Position: Leftfielder
Greatest Moment: Home run No. 71, breaking Mark McGwire's single season record.
Why he's the greatest: Bonds has already passed his godfather Mays on the all-time home run leader list. Bonds is approaching 700 homers and the totals that Ruth and Aaron posted. Doping controversy aside, Bonds is certain to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He's won six NL MVP awards. Despite his awesome career home run total, he's only led the NL in homers twice. In 2002, he led the league in hitting with an average of .370.

The only thing missing for Bonds is a World Series championship ring. He did have his chance as the San Francisco Giants made it to the Series in 2002; however, they lost to the Anaheim Angels in seven games. Even without the all-time home run record, Bonds was an easy choice for the top spot on this list. Love him or hate him, you have to admit he's the game's most electrifying player and feared hitter.

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