With the Yankees and Giants on track to open the 2026 season tonight on Netflix and the rest of the league scheduled to follow suit tomorrow, it is time, for the 16th consecutive year, to look into my crystal ball and make my picks for the division, league, and major award winners for the upcoming season.
East: Blue Jays
Central: Tigers
West: Mariners
Wild Cards: Yankees, Red Sox, Astros
AL Champion: Tigers
Cy Young: Tarik Skubal
MVP: Julio Rodriguez
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With the start of the 2026 season coming this week, we wrap up our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox, charter members of the American League, celebrated their 125th anniversary last year. I’ve seen 615 players wearing the various White Sox uniforms in the 765 of their games that I’ve attended live, including every home playoff appearance since 2000, except for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 92 |
| Jose Abreu | 49 |
| Jermaine Dye | 39 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 363 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 299 |
| Jose Abreu | 273 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 199 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 133 |
| Jose Abreu | 129 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 234 |
| Jose Abreu | 159 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 138 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Paul Konerko | 57 |
| Jose Abreu | 53 |
| Alexei Ramirez | 49 |
Triples Continue reading →
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With the start of the 2026 season coming next week, we start to wind down our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs, dating back to 1870, were charter members of the National League in 1876. I’ve seen 544 players wearing a Cub uniform in the 463 of their games that I’ve attended live at nine different stadiums across seven cities, with the earliest identified game at Wrigley Field on August 4, 1984 against the Mets, through their NLDS appearance against the Brewers last fall.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Sammy Sosa | 42 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 41 |
| Derrek Lee | 38 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Derrek Lee | 245 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 216 |
| Sammy Sosa | 136 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Derrek Lee | 136 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 114 |
| Sammy Sosa | 102 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Aramis Ramirez | 151 |
| Derrek Lee | 128 |
| Sammy Sosa | 97 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Derrek Lee | 51 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 48 |
| Michael Barrett | 29 |
Triples Continue reading →
Last week, we looked at the active leaders in games I’ve attended through 2025 on the offensive side of the ball. With spring training winding down and Opening Day just a few days away, let’s take a look at the defensive side of the ball and the active pitching leaders.
Wins
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Chris Sale | 21 |
| Lucas Giolito | 12 |
| Reynaldo Lopez | 10 |
| Jose Quintana | 9 |
| Dylan Cease | 7 |
| Carlos Rodon | 7 |
Losses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jose Quintana | 17 |
| Carlos Rodon | 13 |
| Chris Sale | 12 |
| Lucas Giolito | 9 |
| Michael Kopech | 8 |
ERA (> 35 IP)
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Taijuan Walker | 2.25 |
| Liam Hendriks | 2.88 |
| Chris Sale | 3.09 |
| Dylan Cease | 3.28 |
| Aaron Bummer | 3.31 |
ERA (> 70 IP)
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Chris Sale | 3.09 |
| Dylan Cease | 3.28 |
| Aaron Bummer | 3.31 |
| Reynaldo Lopez | 3.64 |
| Jose Quintana | 4.16 |
Strikeouts
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Chris Sale | 313 |
| Jose Quintana | 216 |
| Lucas Giolito | 185 |
| Continue reading → |
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With less than two weeks until the start of the 2025 season, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals began life in 1969, joining the American League following the abandonment of the Kansas City market by the A’s following the 1967 season. I’ve seen 277 players wearing the Royal blue in the 68 games I’ve seen them play, first in 1985 at old Comiskey Park where Willie Wilson took a throw to second base off the noggin, to last June, where Kyle Teel made his major league debut and picked up his first major league hit.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Salvador Perez | 10 |
| Alex Gordon | 6 |
| Eric Hosmer | 5 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Salvador Perez | 36 |
| Eric Hosmer | 31 |
| Billy Butler | 30 |
| Alcides Escobar | 30 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Alex Gordon | 17 |
| Alcides Escobar | 15 |
| Salvador Perez | 14 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Salvador Perez | 28 |
| Whit Merrifield | 19 |
| Billy Butler | 16 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Alcides Escobar | 10 |
| Salvador Perez | 7 |
| Whit Merrifield | 6 |
| Billy Butler | 6 |
| Alex Gordon | 6 |
Triples Continue reading →
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With the winter meetings starting today, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates began life in 1887 as the Alleghenys, before taking on the Pirates moniker in 1891. I’ve seen 245 players don the Pirates uniform in the 49 games of theirs that I’ve attended live, including a double header sweep in 2003, enabling the Cubs to clinch their first NL Central title and a work outing in 2008 against the White Sox.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Brian Giles | 3 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 3 |
| Nate McLouth | 2 |
| Carlos Garcia | 2 |
| Craig Wilson | 2 |
| Jack Wilson | 2 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jack Wilson | 27 |
| Jason Kendall | 14 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 14 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jack Wilson | 16 |
| Brian Giles | 10 |
| Nate McLouth | 9 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jason Kendall | 12 |
| Brian Giles | 11 |
| Jack Wilson | 8 |
| Andrew McCutchen | 8 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Freddy Sanchez | 5 |
| Aramis Ramirez | 4 |
| Abraham Nunez | 4 |
Triples Continue reading →
Last month, we looked at the overall leaders on both sides of the ball from all of the games I’ve attended between 1984 and 2025. With the end of spring training in sight and Opening Day right around the corner, let’s take another look at those numbers, limiting it to players that are still active heading into the 2026 season.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Luis Robert | 25 |
| Tim Anderson | 24 |
| Andrew Vaughn | 17 |
| Yoan Moncada | 16 |
| Eloy Jimenez | 14 |
| Gavin Sheets | 14 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Tim Anderson | 218 |
| Yoan Moncada | 133 |
| Luis Robert | 111 |
| Andrew Vaughn | 102 |
| Eloy Jimenez | 98 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Tim Anderson | 117 |
| Luis Robert | 65 |
| Yoan Moncada | 64 |
| Andrew Vaughn | 50 |
| Andrew Benintendi | 50 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Tim Anderson | 73 |
| Luis Robert | 64 |
| Yoan Moncada Continue reading → |
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With less than a month until regular season baseball, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins originated in 1901 as the Washington Senators, one of the charter members of the American League. When Minneapolis was given an expansion team to begin play in 1961, owner Calvin Griffith requested to move the Senators to Minnesota, becoming the Twins, and to have the expansion franchise take over the Senators name in Washington. I’ve seen 232 players don the Twins uniform in 69 games at three different stadiums, including the division-title deciding game 163 in 2008 at US Cellular Field.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Oswaldo Arcia | 6 |
| Jorge Polanco | 6 |
| Jason Kubel | 4 |
| Brian Dozier | 4 |
| Torii Hunter | 4 |
| Max Kepler | 4 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Joe Mauer | 43 |
| Justin Morneau | 25 |
| Trevor Plouffe | 23 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Joe Mauer | 19 |
| Jorge Polanco | 14 |
| Brian Dozier | 13 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jorge Polanco | 16 |
| Justin Morneau | 15 |
| Oswaldo Arcia | 14 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Trevor Plouffe | 6 |
| Justin Morneau | 5 |
| Oswaldo Arcia | 5 |
| Joe Mauer | 5 |
| Brian Dozier | 5 |
Triples Continue reading →
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. With the winter meetings starting today, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds began life in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association, joining the National League in 1890. I’ve seen 197 players don a Reds uniform in the 41 games of theirs that I’ve attended, at four separate stadiums across two states.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Dunn | 12 |
| Austin Kearns | 3 |
| Edwin Encarnacion | 3 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Dunn | 24 |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | 19 |
| Sean Casey | 18 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Dunn | 22 |
| Sean Casey | 12 |
| Brandon Phillips | 10 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Adam Dunn | 27 |
| Ken Griffey Jr. | 12 |
| Austin Kearns | 10 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jason LaRue | 5 |
| Adam Dunn | 4 |
| Austin Kearns | 4 |
Triples Continue reading →
To paraphrase from a famous movie, the one constant through all the years has been baseball. As we head into 2026, we continue our look at the all-time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. Today, we take a deeper dive into the Cleveland Guardians.
Then known as the Bluebirds, the Guardians were one of the charter members of the American League in 1901. After a few name changes, they settled on the Indians name in 1915 before transitioning to the Guardians in 2022. I’ve seen 307 players wearing the various Cleveland uniforms in the 69 of their games that I’ve attended live, including Games 4 and 5 of the 2016 World Series and two games against the White Sox at Progressive Field in 2019.
Home Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Victor Martinez | 6 |
| Jose Ramirez | 6 |
| Jason Kipnis | 5 |
Hits
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jose Ramirez | 25 |
| Victor Martinez | 24 |
| Carlos Santana | 24 |
Runs
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jose Ramirez | 20 |
| Grady Sizemore | 14 |
| Shin-Soo Choo | 13 |
| Jhonny Peralta | 13 |
RBI
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Carlos Santana | 19 |
| Jose Ramirez | 16 |
| Victor Martinez | 16 |
Doubles
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| Jose Ramirez | 7 |
| Carlos Santana | 5 |
| Josh Naylor | 5 |
Triples Continue reading →