Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth is the definitive figure in baseball history, having revolutionized the sport by turning the home run into the game's central offensive weapon. Over 22 seasons (1914–1935), he hit 714 home runs, a record that stood for 39 years until broken by Hank Aaron, who trails Ruth by just 41 homers at #3 on this list. He also posted a .342 career batting average, and outperforms #2 Willie Mays in slugging percentage (.690 vs. .557), showcasing his unmatched power. Ruth's impact began as a dominant Red Sox pitcher before he became the Yankees' legendary slugger, making him far more versatile than the average Hall of Famer. His career WAR of 182.5 is 45% higher than the typical top-10 all-time great, cementing his status as the game's greatest player.