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Ranking the First Basemen
Many of the league's most dangerous hitters call first base their diamond home. Which one of the many star first sackers is considered the best right now, and which teams badly need an upgrade here?
1. Buck Leonard, New York Yankees
2. Lou Gehrig, Pittsburgh
3. Jimmie Foxx, Kansas City
4. Johnny Mize, Detroit
5. Hank Greenberg, Milwaukee
6. Jim Bottomley, Washington
7. Hal Trosky, Chicago Cubs
8. Dale Alexander, Cincinnati
9. Zeke Bonura, Brooklyn
10. Jack Cummings, San Diego
11. Del Bissonette, Los Angeles
12. Don Hurst, St. Louis
13. Chris Clark, Portland
14. Stu Martin, Hollywood
15. Ripper Collins, Chicago White Sox
16. George McQuinn, Sacramento
17. Kenny Hopkins, San Francisco
18. Dolf Camilli, Philadelphia
19. Nathan Smith, Oakland
20. Billy Myers, Baltimore
21. Joe Kuhel, Boston
22. Harry Davis, New York Giants
23. Bill Sweeney, Cleveland
24. Jose Montoya, Seattle
Montoya has huge shoes to fill in Seattle. The Rainiers and their fans just said goodbye to Joe Bazeley, who retired after 17 wonderful seasons.
The top young talent at first base includes:
1. Danny Smith, Boston
2. Trosky
3. Babe Dahlgren, St. Louis
4. Mize
5. Buck O'Neil, Baltimore
Danny Smith is a big, strong kid out of Amherst, Massachusetts who reminds a lot of people of Hank Greenberg, except he's a little better with the glove. Is he really going to be better than Mize? If he is, the Red Sox are set at first base for a long time.
The Cubs finally got wise and will give Trosky a shot at a major league job this year. The O's should do the same with O'Neil.
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