The best baseball players born on Nov. 29

Here’s a subjective rating of the highest 5 for Nov. 29:

1) Mariano Rivera (1969)
From his debut in 1995 via his ultimate season in 2013, Rivera was the gold customary for closers. He was an almost unbreakable pressure behind the Yankees’ bullpen via their late-Nineties dynasty and helped shut out 5 World Series titles. Rivera holds three all-time MLB information: video games completed (952), saves (652) and ERA+ (205). His profession ERA of two.21 can also be the thirteenth greatest in MLB historical past. In 2019, Rivera turned the primary MLB participant to be elected to the Hall of Fame unanimously on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America poll.

2) Minnie Miñoso (1925)
The different Hall of Famer on this listing, Miñoso was voted into Cooperstown by the Golden Days Era Committee in December 2021. He made his mark with the White Sox within the Fifties as the primary Black participant in staff historical past, amongst myriad different accomplishments. Miñoso led the American League in stolen bases and triples 3 times, received three Gold Gloves and obtained MVP votes eight instances. He was often plunked all through his profession — Miñoso led the league in hit-by-pitches 10 instances and ranks tenth all time in that class. However, his legacy extends far past his stat traces, as he turned an inspiration and mentor for a lot of Cuban baseball gamers that adopted him within the Majors.

3) Bill Freehan (1941)
An important pillar of the Tigers’ World Series title in 1968, the catcher guided teammate Denny McLain to the newest 30-win season within the Majors. (McLain completed with 31 wins and the AL Cy Young.) He additionally completed second to McLain in that yr’s AL MVP voting. Freehan was as dependable as they arrive behind the plate, profitable 5 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1965-69 and making 11 All-Star groups. The Detroit native spent his whole 15-year profession with the Tigers and have become a beloved Michigan icon within the course of.

4) Dick McAuliffe (1939)
McAuliffe was teammates with Freehan in 1961 and 1963-73. He was the Tigers’ beginning second baseman of their World Series-winning 1968 season and led the AL with 95 runs scored. McAuliffe tied a Major League file in ‘68 by going the entire season without grounding into a double play; he appeared in 151 of the Tigers’ 162 video games. He additionally made three straight All-Star groups from 1965-67 and completed seventh within the 1968 MVP voting, the identical yr that three of his teammates — McLain, Freehan and Willie Horton — completed first, second and fourth, respectively.

5) Howard Johnson (1960)
Known affectionately as “HoJo,” Johnson was a useful position participant through the Tigers and Mets’ World Series runs in 1984 and 1986, respectively, although his greatest years got here after that. He put collectively three 30/30 seasons (no less than 30 dwelling runs and 30 stolen bases) in 1987, 1989 and 1991, which places him in elite firm. Only three different gamers in MLB historical past have recorded three or extra 30/30 seasons: Barry Bonds (5), Bobby Bonds (5) and Alfonso Soriano (4). Johnson received two Silver Slugger Awards and ranks close to the highest of many all-time Mets hitting leaderboards, together with stolen bases (third, 202), runs scored (fourth, 627), dwelling runs (fourth, 192) and RBIs (fourth, 629).

Pedro Martinez (1968)
No, not THAT Pedro Martinez. However, each Pedros have been pitchers who hailed from the Dominican Republic, although this Pedro was a lefty and Hall of Fame Pedro threw right-handed. Both Pedros pitched in the identical sport twice. The first was on Sept. 13, 1993, when non-Hall of Fame Pedro was with the Padres and Hall of Fame Pedro was pitching in reduction for the Dodgers. The second matchup was a July 5, 1996 contest between the Mets and Expos.

Jake Weimer (1873)
With a nickname like “Tornado Jake,” it’s no surprise that this lefty hurler was a nightmare for opposing hitters. From 1903 via 1909, he posted a minuscule 2.23 profession ERA, which remains to be 14th greatest all-time.

Carl Weilman (1889)
The southpaw posted a crisp 2.67 ERA throughout eight Major League seasons, from 1912-17 and 1919-20. He was the primary recognized batter to strike out six instances in a sport, which he did throughout an prolonged reduction outing on July 25, 1913. Four of these punchouts got here in opposition to longtime strikeout king and Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

Shadow Pyle (1861)
With a reputation as cool as “Shadow Pyle,” there’s no manner this Reading, Pa., native was getting left off this listing. Pyle appeared in simply 5 profession video games, in 1884 and 1887. His weight was listed at a mere 136 kilos, maybe contributing to his nickname of “Shadow.”