Albert Pujols

Pujols owns the greatest right-handed first-base bat ever, and his prime is as clean as it gets. From 2001–2011 he was a yearly MVP threat with elite power, elite average, and elite on-base production all at once. He didn’t rely on one skill; he hit fastballs, broke pitches, and adjusted mid–at-bat like a veteran from day one. His run production wasn’t hollow—he consistently posted huge OBP and SLG together, which drives real wins. The Cardinals years are inner-circle greatness, and they include big October moments and championships. The later decline years with the Angels dragged down rate stats, but they don’t rewrite how dominant the peak was. Reaching 700+ homers in the modern era is not just longevity; it’s sustained threat level. He also piled up hits, doubles, and walks in a way that rounds out the profile beyond homers. Put simply: peak plus lifetime totals make him the modern gold standard at the position.