The best baseball players born on July 16

Who are the best players born on each day of the year? We have a list for every day on the calendar.

Here’s a subjective ranking of the top five for July 16:

1) Shoeless Joe Jackson (1887)
Not only is Jackson's career WAR more than double the player with the second-most value born on July 16, but he also had one of the most iconic nicknames and a presence in one of the best baseball movies. All that despite being banned in his prime due to his association with the White Sox scandal to fix the 1919 World Series. Across parts of 13 seasons (1908-20) with the Athletics, Naps/Indians and White Sox, Jackson paced the American League in hits twice, including in 1913 when he also led in slugging percentage and OPS to finish as the MVP runner-up. The left fielder still holds the fourth-highest career batting average in MLB history (.356), and Babe Ruth once said that he modeled his swing after Jackson's.

2) Terry Pendleton (1960)
Across 15 seasons (1984-98) with the Cardinals, Braves, Marlins, Reds and Royals, Pendelton was a three-time Gold Glover at third base, an All-Star and the 1991 National League MVP. During that campaign with Atlanta, he led the NL in hits, average and total bases, beating out Pittsburgh's Barry Bonds for the award. Pendleton ranks second in WAR (28.5) among players born on July 16. He reached the World Series five times in his career, missing out on the title each time.

3) Larry Jansen (1920)
Jansen didn't debut until age 26, but he made the most of it by going 21-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 42 games (30 starts) for the New York Giants and finishing as the runner-up to Jackie Robinson for the 1947 NL Rookie of the Year. Across parts of nine seasons (1947-56), Jansen won at least 20 games twice and led the NL in WHIP once. A two-time All-Star, the righty pitched five scoreless innings in the 1950 Midsummer Classic and was the winning pitcher in the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" game.

4) Eddie Fisher (1936)
In parts of 15 seasons (1959-73) with the Giants, White Sox, Orioles, Indians, Angels and Cardinals, the knuckleballer went 85-70 with a 3.41 ERA and 82 saves in 690 games (63 starts). During his lone All-Star campaign in 1965, Fisher led the AL in appearances (82), games finished (60) and WHIP (0.97) and ranked second in ERA (2.40) and saves (24), finishing fourth in MVP voting. At the Midsummer Classic, he pitched two scoreless innings, retiring Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Ron Santo in order in the ninth.

5) Jarred Kelenic (1999)
The sixth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, the former top prospect made his debut on May 13, 2021, then was sent down to Triple-A in the midst of a 0-for-39 slump. By season's end, the 22-year-old outfielder had slashed .181/.265/.350 with 13 doubles, one triple and 14 homers in 93 Major League games. He spent time in both the big leagues and Minors in 2022, before making the Opening Day roster for the Mariners in '23.

Others of note:
Hi Bell (1897)
The righty finished 32-34 with a 3.69 ERA and 24 saves in 221 games (47 starts) across eight seasons (1924-34) with the Cardinals and New York Giants. Bell won the World Series twice with St. Louis, and he became the last pitcher to start and win both ends of a doubleheader on July 19, 1924.

Doc Prothro (1893)
Before signing a professional contract at 26, Prothro was a practicing dentist. He recorded a 105 OPS+ in parts of five seasons (1920-26) with the Senators, Red Sox and Reds before compiling the lowest managerial winning percentage (.301) in MLB history with the Phillies ('39-41).

Want to see more baseball birthdays for July 16? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.