Baseball is one of America’s greatest pastimes and some of the greatest athletes of all time have been baseball players. All of the men on this list were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for their achievements as players, coaches, managers, or Commissioner of Baseball in Bud Selig’s case. Although these Hall of Famers are in their 80s and 90s, many of them are still actively involved with the MLB, holding various executive positions or advisory roles.
As of March 2021, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.
10. Juan Marichal (October 20, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021): 83 years, 4 months, 30 days
Birthplace: Laguna Verde, Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic
Years Active: 1960 – 1975
Team(s): San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Year Inducted into HOF: 1983
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Did You Know?
Juan Marichal and Milwaukee Braves’ Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, are known for the greatest game ever pitched in MLB history on July 2, 1963. Marichal and Spahn tossed 15-plus inning complete games and matched scoreless innings until Giants outfielder Willie Mays homered off Spahn to win the game – this is something that had not happened before or since in the Major Leagues.
9. Orlando Cepeda (September 17, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021): 83 years, 6 months, 2 days
Birthplace: Ponce, Puerto Rico
Years Active: 1958 – 1974
Team(s): San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals
Position: First Baseman
Year Inducted into HOF: 1999
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Orlando Cepeda, who was born in Puerto Rico, made his MLB debut on April 15, 1958 with the San Francisco Giants. Cepeda grew up playing baseball because his father, Pedro “Perucho” Cepeda, was a pro baseball player in Puerto Rico and was considered “The Babe Ruth of Puerto Rico.” After attending a New York Giants’ tryout, Cepeda played in the minor leagues before attracting the attention of the Giants. In addition to the Giants, Cepeda played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals.
Despite an aggressive campaign by many Puerto Ricans, celebrities and ordinary citizens alike, international celebrities, and former teammates, Cepeda was not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame before his eligibility expired in 1994. However, Cepeda was elected by the Hall’s Veterans Committee in 1999, becoming the second Puerto Rico to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
Over his 17-year career, Orlando Cepeda selected to play in 11 Major League Baseball All-Star Games, becoming the first player from Puerto Rico to start a game.
8. Pat Gillick (August 22, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021): 83 years, 6 months, 28 days
Birthplace: Chico, Califronia, USA
Years Active: 1978 – 2008 (General Manager of various teams); 2014 – 2015 (President of Philadelphia Phillies)
Team(s): Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Philadelphia Phillies
Position: General Manager and Team President
Year Inducted into HOF: 2011
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Pat Gillick spent three decades as a general manager in the MLB, primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays. Gillick had played in the minor leagues for a few years before he started a front-office career in 1963. He joined the Toronto Blue Jay in 1976 and stayed with the team until 1994. After he resigned from the Blue Jays in Gillick, he had fairly short stints with the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Gillick retired from his position as a general manager in 2008, after leading the Phillies to a World Series championship. He also briefly served as the Phillies’ interim president from 2014 – 2015. Gillick was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2011, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2018.
Did You Know?
As the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, Pat Gillick won five division titles (1985, 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1993) and led the club to their first World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.
7. Brooks Robinson (May 18, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021): 83 years, 10 months, 1 day
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Years Active: 1955 – 1977
Team(s): Baltimore Orioles
Position: Third Baseman
Year Inducted into HOF: 1983
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Brooks Robinson aka “Mr. Hoover” is considered the greatest defensive third baseman in MLB history. Robinson had a 23-year long career with the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977 – this is an MLB record Robinson shares with Carl Yastrzemski. A few years after joining the Orioles, Robinson became the team’s full-time third baseman. Then in 1960, Robinson was selected to the first of 18 straight All-Star Games, winning the first of 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards as well.
After retiring from the Major Leagues, Robinson worked as a broadcaster for the Orioles and also joined the Opening Day Partners organization, which owns and operates several minor league teams. Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, during his first year of eligibility.
Did You Know?
Brooks Robinson’s totals of 2870 games played at third base, 2697 career putouts, 6205 career assists, 8902 career total chances and 618 double plays are all records for third basemen.
6. Bill Mazeroski (September 5, 1936 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):84 years, 6 months, 14 days
Birthplace: Wheeling, West Virginia, USA
Years Active: 1956 – 1972
Team(s): Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: Second Baseman
Year Inducted into HOF: 2001
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Bill Mazeroski spent 17 seasons as the second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mazeroski Mazeroski is widely regarded as one of the best fielders ever, at any position. He quickly became known for his defensive prowess and earned his first of eight Gold Glove Awards in 1958. Following his playing career, Mazeroski spent a few years as a third-base coach for the Pirates and the Seattle Mariners. Mazeroski was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. During the induction ceremony, Mazeroski was so overcome with emotion, that he was unable to deliver his speech and ended up apologizing to those who “had to come all the way up here to hear this crap!”
Did You Know?
During the 1960 World Series, which the Pittsburgh Pirates won, Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in Game 7, the only game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history.
5. Sandy Koufax (December 30, 1935 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):85 years, 2 months, 20 days
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Years Active: 1955 – 1966
Team(s): Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Pitcher
Year Inducted into HOF: 1972
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Did You Know?
Sandy Koufax won three Cy Young Awards in 1963, 1965, and 1966, by unanimous votes, making him the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball history.
4. Bud Selig (July 30, 1934 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):86 years, 7 months, 20 days
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Years Active: 1992 – 2015 (Commissioner of Baseball); 2015 – present (Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball)
Team(s): N/A
Position: 9th Commissioner of Baseball; Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball
Year Inducted into HOF: 2017
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Bud Selig is the only Hall of Famer on this list who was not a former player, manager, or coach. Instead, Selig is known for being the 9th Commissioner of Baseball as well as the first Commissioner Emeritus of Baseball, a role that was created specificially for him in 2015. Before becoming acting commissioner in 1992, Selig was part owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and after he accepted the role of Baseball Commissioner, Selig transferred his ownership to his daughter. Originally, Selig’s role as Commissioner was set to expire in 2012, but he decided to stay on past his 80th birthday. Selig finally retired at the beginning of 2015.
Did You Know?
Bud Selig’s tenure as Commissioner of Baseball was marred by some controversies, most notably The Mitchell Report, which revealed that the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs was widespread among players.
3. Luis Aparicio (April 29, 1934 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):86 years, 10 months, 20 days
Birthplace: Maracaibo, Venezuela
Years Active: 1956 – 1973
Team(s): Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox
Position: Shortstop
Year Inducted into HOF: 1984
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Luis Aparicio, who hails from Venezuela, is the only foreign-born Hall of Famer on this list. Aparicio, nicknamed “Little Louie” is the the first player from Venezuela to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. From 1956 to 1973, Aparicio played as a shortstop, mostly for the Chicago White Sox, but also for the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. Aparicio was known for his exceptional defensive and base stealing skills. MLB legend Ted Williams called Aparicio “the best shortstop he had ever seen.”
Did You Know?
There is a sports complex in Luis Aparicio’s hometown, Maracaibo, Venezuela, that is named after the legendary shortstop.
2. Whitey Herzog (November 9, 1931 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):89 years, 4 months, 10 days
Birthplace: New Athens, Illinois, USA
Years Active: 1956 – 1963 as player; 1973 – 1990 as manager
Team(s): Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers; Texas Rangers, California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals (manager)
Position: Outfielder and Manager
Year Inducted into HOF: 2010
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Although Whitey Herzog spent seven years as an outfielder, he is better known for his managerial career with the various teams. After his playing career ended, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including scout, manager, coach, general manager, and farm system director. When Herzog was manager for the Kansas City Royals, he led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances from 1976 to 1978. Then as a St. Louis Cardinals manager, Herzog guided the team to win the 1982 World Series.
Did You Know?
At the end of Whitey Herzog’s managerial career, he produced1,281 regular-season wins.
1. Willie Mays (May 6, 1931 – Present)
Current Age (as of March 2021):89 years, 10 months, 13 days
Birthplace: Westfield, Alabama, USA
Years Active: 1951 – 1973
Team(s): New York/San Francisco Giants and New York Mets
Position: Center Fielder
Year Inducted into HOF: 1979
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Mays’ career was filled with many achievements, including two National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, 660 home runs – third at the time of his retirement and currently fifth all-time – and won a record-tying 12 Gold Glove awards beginning in 1957, when the award was introduced.
Did You Know?
Willie Mays hit over 50 home runs in 1955 and 1965, representing the longest time span between 50-plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history.
