# Who is the best MLB player born in 1978?

> A shortstop MVP, two Cy Young lefties and a long tail of All-Star summers that burned bright and short. Some of these careers ran sixteen seasons; others peaked for one year.

*By YPB Team · Published November 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-mlb-player-born-in-1978*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Chase Utley** — score 1000/1000
   Phillies second baseman who made six All-Star teams, won four Silver Sluggers and won the 2008 World Series.
2. **Jimmy Rollins** — score 576/1000
   Phillies shortstop who won the 2007 NL MVP Award, four Gold Gloves and the 2008 World Series.
3. **Barry Zito** — score 529/1000
   Left-hander who won the 2002 AL Cy Young Award with Oakland and the 2012 World Series with San Francisco.
4. **Aramis Ramírez** — score 529/1000
   Third baseman who hit 386 home runs and made three All-Star teams with the Cubs and Brewers.
5. **Cliff Lee** — score 475/1000
   Left-hander who won the 2008 AL Cy Young Award with Cleveland and made four All-Star teams.
6. **Cristian Guzmán** — score 411/1000
   Shortstop who made All-Star teams with Minnesota in 2001 and Washington in 2008.
7. **Ben Sheets** — score 411/1000
   Milwaukee Brewers right-hander who made four All-Star teams and struck out 18 batters in a 2004 game.
8. **Brad Penny** — score 411/1000
   Right-hander who won two games for the Marlins in the 2003 World Series and started the 2006 All-Star Game.
9. **Aaron Harang** — score 411/1000
   Cincinnati Reds right-hander who led the National League in strikeouts in 2006 and tied for the lead in wins.
10. **José Valverde** — score 411/1000
   Closer who saved 288 games and converted all 49 of his save chances for Detroit in 2011.
11. **Jason Bay** — score 411/1000
   Canadian outfielder who won the 2004 NL Rookie of the Year Award with Pittsburgh and made three All-Star teams.
12. **Chone Figgins** — score 337/1000
   Angels utility man who won the 2002 World Series and led the AL with 62 stolen bases in 2005.
13. **Jason Jennings** — score 337/1000
   Colorado Rockies right-hander who won the 2002 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
14. **Gil Meche** — score 247/1000
   Right-hander who made the 2007 All-Star team for the Kansas City Royals.
15. **Ryan Ludwick** — score 247/1000
   Outfielder who hit 37 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008 and made that year's All-Star team.
16. **Vernon Wells** — score 247/1000
   Toronto Blue Jays center fielder who made three All-Star teams and won three Gold Gloves.
17. **Carlos Peña** — score 247/1000
   First baseman who hit 286 home runs and shared the AL lead with 39 for Tampa Bay in 2009.
18. **John Lackey** — score 247/1000
   Right-hander who won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a rookie and later won titles with Boston in 2013 and the Cubs in 2016.
19. **Joe Crede** — score 247/1000
   Chicago White Sox third baseman who won the 2005 World Series and a 2006 Silver Slugger.
20. **Victor Martinez** — score 0/1000
   Switch-hitting catcher and designated hitter who made five All-Star teams and led the AL in on-base percentage in 2014.
21. **Kyle Lohse** — score 0/1000
   Right-hander who won 147 games and went 16–3 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012.
22. **Milton Bradley** — score 0/1000
   Switch-hitting outfielder who led the AL in on-base percentage and OPS for Texas in 2008.

Tags: sports, 70s, baseball, players, mlb