In sports, the indicators of success include whether an athlete has won a championship and how many they have won. Never winning a title can leave players out of the greatest of all-time conversations.
Looking back at someone’s career and seeing that they never finished holding a championship trophy or having a ring on their finger can be hard to believe. The MLB has plenty of players that fit this description since baseball is a difficult sport for a single player to control the outcome of a game. Still, the superstars of their sport are held to the same standard.
These Hall of Famers came close but could not win it all by the time their storied careers ended. Here are 10 Best Players Who Never Won A World Series
Tony Gwynn
One of the greatest hitters to ever step up to the plate, Gwynn was a lifetime .338 batter and won eight National League batting titles. He was affectionately known as “Mr. Padre” to the San Diego fans after spending all 20 seasons with the team. He had 3,141 career hits and was selected to 15 all-star games. Gwynn only participated in three postseasons during his career but made it to two World Series.
His team lost in 1984 to the Detroit Tigers. He returned to the World Series in 1998, but the Yankees swept his Padres. Gwynn joined the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Ken Griffey Jr is arguably the most gifted player in history and was the epitome of a five-tool player. Griffey had 2,781 hits and 630 career home runs. He spent 22 years in the majors, was named to 13 All-Star games, won 10 Gold Glove Awards, and was named the 1997 American League Most Valuable Player.
The furthest Griffey went in the playoffs was with the Seattle Mariners in 1995. They made it to the American League Championship Series before being put
out by the Cleveland Indians in six games. Griffey entered the Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Ted Williams
Ted Williams could be the most accomplished player on this list and the biggest victim of the wrong place at the wrong time. Williams is the last player to have a batting average of .400 or better for an entire season.
Williams played in the All-Star game in all 19 of his seasons with the Boston Red Sox. He was a two-time triple-crown winner and holds the MLB record of .482 on-base percentage. Williams played in the era when his team’s archrival, the New York Yankees, was the most dominant, and his chances of competing in the World Series were limited. He played in only one World Series in his career in 1946. His Red Sox fell in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski took over where Ted Williams left off with the Boston Red Sox. When Williams retired in 1960, Yastrzemski debuted the following season in 1961. In 1967 he became the last triple-crown winner for 45 years.
He became an 18-time All-Star and won the American League Most Valuable Player in 1967. Yastrzemski led the Red Sox to the World Series in 1967 before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. He also participated in the 1975 World Series and again lost in seven games this time to the Cincinnati Reds.
Ichiro Suzuki
Very few players come onto the scene like Ichiro Suzuki did in 2001 during his rookie season. Winning both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player Awards for a Seattle Mariners team that tied a record for wins in a single season with 116.
Ichiro holds the record for most hits in a season and went on to become a 10-time All-Star and won 10 Gold Gloves. Ichiro led the 2001 Mariners to the American League Championship Series before losing to the New York Yankees. In 2012, he joined the Yankees and lost to the Detroit Tigers.
Mike Piazza
The greatest power hitter from the catcher position, Mike Piazza holds the record for home runs as a catcher at 396 and had a total of 427 for his career.
Piazza was a lifetime .308 hitter, named the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year, and was a 12-time All-Star in his career. He spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers until 1998, when he was traded to the Florida Marlins and traded again a few days later to the New York Mets.
Piazza played in the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees, where his team lost in five games. Piazza joined the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Robin Yount
Robin Yount, known as “The Kid” by the Brewers fans, debuted in the majors at age 18. He went on to have a 20-year career for the team and recorded 3,142 hits.
As one of only four players to win a Most Valuable Player Award at two different positions, winning in 1982 at shortstop and 1989 at center fielder. In 1982, he had a standout campaign as he won the MVP, was voted an All-Star, won a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.
1982 was the only time that Yount played in the World Series as his Brewers lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals. Yount entered the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ernie Banks
“Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks was considered the best player to wear a Cubs uniform. He was a great power hitter knocking in 512 home runs and 1,636 RBIs during his 19 seasons in Chicago.
He won back-to-back National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1958 and 1959. A 14-time All-Star in his career, Banks was able to compile five 40-plus home run seasons. Banks entered the Hall of Fame in 1977. Sadly, he never participated in the postseason to show the world what he could do.
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk is another Boston Red Sox legend who never won a ring during the team’s 86-year drought. Fisk was an 11-time All-Star and the 1972 American League Rookie of the Year. He had 2,356 hits in his career as well as 376 home runs.
He is best known for his game-winning home run in the 12th inning of game six of the 1975 World Series that forced a game seven. That was the only time Fisk played in the World Series when his team lost in the seventh game to the Cincinnati Reds. He later signed with the Chicago White Sox, where he finished the remainder of his career. He joined the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb can easily lay claim as the best hitter in baseball history. He retired with a career .366 average and was the All-time leader in hits when he retired with 4,189. Voted the 1911 American League Most Valuable Player and had a Triple Crown season in 1909.
He became part of the first Hall of Fame class to join Cooperstown in 1936. Yet, for all his accomplishments, Cobb could never lead his Detroit Tigers to a World Series win. He did appear in three consecutive World Series from 1907-1909, but never took home the grand prize.
