Baseball First Basemen – Who Were the Best of the 1960s?

The 1960s were a decade highlighting great pitching and power hitting. The 10 first basemen listed here accounted for more than 3,000 home runs and 10,000 RBIs during their careers. How many ulcers they caused in opposing pitchers have never been fully determined.

Here's my rundown of the top 10 first basemen of the 1960s.

1. Harmon Killebrew – Nicknamed “The Killer” for good reason, Killebrew was the power source for the potent Minnesota Twins lineup throughout the 1960s, leading the league in home runs for 6 of those seasons. He retired following the 1975 season, hitting 573 home runs in his career, an average of 1 home run for every 14 at-bats.

2. Willie McCovey – The National League's Rookie of the Year in 1959, McCovey led the league in home runs and RBIs in both 1968 (36 and 105) and in 1969 (45 and 126), when he finished 5th in the league in hitting with a .320 average. He was named National League Most Valuable Player for 1969.

3. Orlando Cepeda – From 1960 through 1964, Cepeda batted a combined .307, averaging 34 home runs and 109 RBIs per season. After struggling with knee injuries, Cepeda came back in 1967 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals to win the National League MVP by hitting .325 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 111 RBIs.

4. Bill White – The first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies during the 1960s, White hit .286 over 13 seasons, batting over .300 3 times and driving in more than 100 runs 4 times. His best year was 1963, when he hit .304 with 27 home runs and 109 RBIs for the Cardinals.

5. Boog Powell –Powell's bat was instrumental in helping the Orioles win the American League pennant in 1966, hitting .287 with 34 home runs and 109 RBIs. He was slowed by injuries in 1967, but rebounded in 1968 (22 home runs and 85 RBIs) and was outstanding in the Orioles' pennant-winning 1969 season with 37 home runs and 121 RBIs while hitting a career-high .304.

6. Norm Cash – As the Detroit Tigers first baseman, Cash averaged 27 home runs and 83 RBIs per year during the 1960s. Over a 17-year career, Cash hit .271 with 377 home runs. He was also considered one of the league's best-fielding first basemen.

7. Vic Power – Power batted .284 over a 12-year career, and was selected as Minnesota's team MVP in 1962 when he hit .290 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs. But it was his sure glove and quickness that set Power apart from other first basemen. He won 7 Gold Gloves, and tied a major league record with 2 unassisted double plays in a single game.

8. Dick Stuart – Stuart ranked among the worst defensive first basemen in major league history. But boy, could he hit, batting .301 with 35 home runs and 117 RBIs for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1961. Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1962, Stuart had a career season in 1963, hitting 42 home runs and leading the American League in RBIs (118) and total bases (319). In 1964, his power numbers almost as good: 33 home runs and 114 RBIs.

9. Jim Gentile – Jim Gentile played for 4 different teams during the 1960s. His breakout year was 1960 when, as, After hitting  .292 with 21 home runs and 98 RBIs in 1960, the Oriole first baseman  had his best season in 1961, hitting .302 with 46 home runs and 141 RBIs. He also set a major league record with back-to-back grand slams in one game.

10. Norm Siebern – Siebern  was a dependable fixture at first base for the A's from 1960 to 1963, averaging 19 home runs and 78 RBIs during his 4 seasons with the A's. His best year was 1962, when he hit .308 with 25 home runs and 117 RBIs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/baseball-articles/baseball-first-basemen-who-were-the-best-of-the-1960s-1328171.html

A life-long baseball fan, Hardball Bob is the founder of 1960s Baseball, a site dedicated to celebrating the players and teams that made the 1960s baseball's real golden age. http://www.1960sbaseball.com