Who is the best MLB player born in 1979?

Cy Young hardware, Hall of Fame glovework and a handful of World Series rings all trace back to one birth year, alongside cult heroes who had a single unforgettable summer.

1. 1
   Adrián Beltré

   Hall of Fame third baseman (inducted 2024) with 3,166 hits, 477 home runs and five Gold Gloves for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Johan Santana

   Venezuelan left-hander who won AL Cy Young Awards with the Twins in 2004 and 2006 and threw the first no-hitter in Mets history in 2012.
   894pts
3. 3
   Jack Cust

   Athletics designated hitter who hit 33 home runs and led the AL with 111 walks in 2008.
   663pts
4. 4
   Michael Cuddyer

   Two-time All-Star who spent eleven seasons with the Twins and won the 2013 NL batting title with the Rockies.
   663pts
5. 5
   Brad Hawpe

   Rockies right fielder on the 2007 NL pennant team and a 2009 All-Star.
   663pts
6. 6
   Ryan Theriot

   Cubs shortstop who hit .307 in 2008 and later won World Series rings with the 2011 Cardinals and 2012 Giants.
   663pts
7. 7
   Brad Ziegler

   Submarine reliever who began his career with 39 straight scoreless innings for Oakland in 2008, a major league record.
   609pts
8. 8
   Jeremy Guthrie

   Starter for the Orioles and Royals who won a World Series ring with Kansas City in 2015.
   609pts
9. 9
   Kevin Youkilis

   Three-time All-Star corner infielder who won World Series titles with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007.
   609pts
10. 10
    Jeremy Affeldt

    Left-handed reliever who won three World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
    546pts
11. 11
    Ryan Howard

    Phillies first baseman who was 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, hit 58 home runs to win the 2006 NL MVP and won the 2008 World Series.
    546pts
12. 12
    Bill Hall

    Brewers infielder who hit 35 home runs while playing mostly shortstop in 2006.
    546pts
13. 13
    David DeJesus

    Outfielder who spent his first eight seasons with the Royals before playing for the Cubs, Rays and others.
    473pts
14. 14
    Carlos Silva

    Venezuelan sinkerballer who walked only nine batters in more than 188 innings for the 2005 Twins.
    473pts
15. 15
    Josh Willingham

    Outfielder who hit 35 home runs and won a Silver Slugger for the Twins in 2012.
    387pts
16. 16
    Rafael Soriano

    Dominican closer who led the AL with 45 saves for the Rays in 2010 and saved 42 games for the Yankees in 2012.
    387pts
17. 17
    Jayson Werth

    Outfielder who won the 2008 World Series with the Phillies and then spent seven seasons with the Washington Nationals.
    387pts
18. 18
    Akinori Iwamura

    Japanese infielder who joined the Rays in 2007 and recorded the final out of the 2008 ALCS.
    387pts
19. 19
    Aaron Cook

    Sinkerballer who spent most of his career in the Rockies rotation and was a 2008 All-Star.
    387pts
20. 20
    Adam Dunn

    Power-hitting slugger who hit 462 career home runs, most of them for the Cincinnati Reds.
    284pts
21. 21
    Adam LaRoche

    First baseman who won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger with the Nationals in 2012 after hitting 33 home runs.
    284pts
22. 22
    Khalil Greene

    Padres shortstop who finished second in 2004 NL Rookie of the Year voting and hit 27 home runs in 2007.
    284pts
23. 23
    Jason Bartlett

    Shortstop who started for the 2008 AL champion Rays and hit .320 as a 2009 All-Star.
    284pts
24. 24
    Juan Uribe

    Dominican infielder who won the World Series with the 2005 White Sox and the 2010 Giants.
    284pts
25. 25
    Jon Garland

    Right-hander who won 18 games as a 2005 All-Star for the World Series champion White Sox.
    284pts
26. 26
    Chris Young

    Six-foot-ten right-hander who was a 2007 All-Star with the Padres and won the 2015 World Series with the Royals.
    284pts
27. 27
    Wandy Rodríguez

    Dominican left-hander known for his curveball who started for the Astros from 2005 to 2012.
    284pts
28. 28
    Brandon Webb

    Diamondbacks sinkerballer who won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award before a shoulder injury ended his career.
    284pts
29. 29
    Garrett Atkins

    Rockies third baseman who hit .329 with 29 home runs and 120 RBIs in 2006.
    284pts
30. 30
    Rick Ankiel

    Cardinals left-hander who lost his command as a pitcher and returned in 2007 as an outfielder, hitting 25 home runs in 2008.
    284pts
31. 31
    Carlos Ruiz

    Panamanian catcher who won the 2008 World Series with the Phillies and caught four no-hitters.
    0pts
32. 32
    Coco Crisp

    Switch-hitting center fielder who won the 2007 World Series with Boston and shared the AL stolen-base lead with Oakland in 2011.
    0pts
33. 33
    Érik Bédard

    Canadian left-hander who struck out 221 batters for the Orioles in 2007 before a trade to Seattle.
    0pts
34. 34
    Mark Buehrle

    White Sox left-hander who won 214 games, threw a perfect game in 2009 and won the 2005 World Series.
    0pts

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