Jimmie Foxx

Foxx was raw offensive destruction packaged into a first baseman’s body. He hit for average, got on base, and hit the kind of home runs that ended rallies before they started. His MVP hardware and league-leading power seasons weren’t flukes; he kept returning to the top of the leaderboards. Even in a high-offense environment, his production separated from the pack because he was doing everything at elite levels. The career OPS is among the best ever, and the OPS+ confirms it was true dominance relative to peers. His peak includes seasons that can stand next to Gehrig’s in impact, especially when you weigh power output. He also walked enough that pitchers couldn’t simply nibble, which is a key separator from one-dimensional sluggers. When you’re ranking first basemen with offense prioritized, Foxx’s bat forces him into the top few. If you built a lineup around one hitter’s ability to change a game with one swing, Foxx is that guy.