Leon “Goose” Goslin won batting titles in the minor leagues and the American League. He won World Series with the Senators and the Tigers. He drove in 100 or more runs eleven times, and was known as one of the best fastball hitters of his time. The Washington Post called Goslin, “Washington’s answer to Babe Ruth.” A clutch hitter, Goslin was famous for driving in the winning run in Detroit’s first World Series championship.

In 24 seasons, mostly with the Detroit Tigers, Ty Cobb compiled a .367 batting average, the highest in the history of the game. He was the all-time leader in runs scored for more than 70 years, and in hits for nearly 60 years. In 1936, Cobb became the first man inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning 222 out of a possible 226 votes, more than Babe Ruth, Nap Lajoie, Walter Johnson, or Honus Wagner.

In a time when baseball, reeling from the 1919 Black Sox scandal, declining attendance and declining credibility, needed a revitalization, Babe Ruth’s bat saved the day. The most vibrant, dominant, and popular athlete in American history, the Babe turned baseball on its head, sparking fan interest and excitement, and the birth of the most enduring dynasty in sports history.

Al Kaline won a batting title at the age of 20, won 10 Gold Glove Awards, hit .379 in the 1968 World Series, and reached the coveted 3,000 hit mark despite several nagging injuries in his career. In 1980, he became just the 10th player elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and at the time of his retirement, Kaline and Ty Cobb were the only Tigers to ever play 20 or more seasons in a Detroit uniform.

Joe DiMaggio became an American hero at a time when Americans had little to feel heroic about. He was an American idol when America struggled with idealism. This wonderful ballplayer exhibited grace and class in a game that less than two decades prior had been blemished by a gambling scandal. DiMaggio attracted attention years after his retirement not just for his exploits on the diamond, but for his extraordinary traits as an American.

Little Al Orth was a one-pitch wonder until 1906, when teammate Jack Chesbro taught him to throw the spitter. That season, Orth led the American League with 27 wins, but it was the last time the right-hander would post a winning record. Orth was one of the first pitchers to win 100 games in both leagues, logging an even 100 in the National League and 104 in the American.

Hard-working Dwight Evans mastered the tricky angles of Fenway Park’s right field corner, winning eight Gold Gloves for this skill and his powerful throwing arm. Tutored by batting coach Walt Hriniak, Evans altered his batting style in mid-career, which resulted in a tremendous power increase in his 30s.

Mike Schmidt was the personification of talent at the hot corner, possessing a combination of Eddie Mathews’ power and the Gold Glove ability of Brooks Robinson. He had enough finesse to win ten Gold Gloves, and his brute strength enabled him to rack up more than 500 career home runs. He won three Most Valuable Player Awards, including back-to-back honors at his peak, and led the league in homers eight times.