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 Dec. 18.
1) Ty Cobb (1886)
As a member of the first Hall of Fame class and one who received the highest votes of the six inductees (yes, even more than Babe Ruth), the Georgia Peach really needs little introduction. The lone Hall inductee born on this day, Cobb enjoyed a storied 24-year career that included 12(!) batting titles, a Triple Crown, an MVP Award, a career .366 batting average that has yet to be surpassed and a mind-blowing 151.5 WAR. He finished with 1,944 career RBIs and 897 stolen bases and, in 1911, led the AL in every major offensive category except home runs. If that's still not enough for you, check out our 15 Ty Cobb facts baseball fans should know.
2) Ronald Acuña Jr. (1997)
Acuña hasn't been around long but he's certainly already made his mark, debuting in 2018 and winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award. The outfielder already has quite the resume after winning the 2023 NL MVP Award, being selected as an All-Star five times and winning three Silver Slugger Awards.
Acuña produced one of the game’s most incredible seasons in 2023, as he became the first player to hit 40-plus homers and tally 70-plus stolen bases in the same season. He earned his first NL MVP Award after hitting .337 with 41 home runs, 217 hits, 80 extra-base hits, 106 RBIs, 149 runs, a 1.012 OPS and 84 strikeouts. Acuña joined Lou Gehrig (1927), Chuck Klein ('30) and Joe DiMaggio ('37) as the only players to hit at least .335 with 40 home runs, 215 hits, 80 extra-base hits, 100 RBIs, 145 runs and a 1.000 OPS with fewer than 90 strikeouts. 2023 marked the second time Acuña led the NL in steals, after he also swiped the most bags in '19.
His 2024 season was cut short after 49 games when he tore his ACL in his left knee. Acuña returned for 95 games in '25, posting a .935 OPS with 21 homers.
3) Byron Buxton (1993)
Buxton brings a little bit of everything to the table, and he can do all those bits really well. Although hampered by numerous injuries throughout his 11 seasons in the Majors, Buxton has impressed with superior speed and stellar defense in center field for the Twins. Buxton was an All-Star in 2022, he also netted a Gold Glove, a Platinum Glove and a Defensive Player of the Year Award for his defensive prowess in '17. in 126 games in 2025 (his most since playing a career-high 140 in 2017), Buxton had an .878 OPS with 35 homers and 24 steals while earning his second All-Star nod.
4) Bill Skowron (1930)
Long before Mike Mussina, the original "Moose" left his mark on the game. Skowron was an eight-time All-Star who won five World Series championships (1956, '58, 1961-63) during his 14-year career. No slouch at the plate, the first baseman finished with a career .282 batting average, 888 RBIs and 211 homers across 1,658 games with five teams.
5) Joe Randa (1969)
With a career .284 batting average, it's clear Randa collected plenty of hits during his 12 seasons. On Sept. 9, 2004, they all came in a bunch, when The Joker became just one of three Royals in franchise history to collect six hits in a nine-inning game. A fan favorite in Kansas City, Randa spent two tours there (1995-96, 1999-2004) before retiring to become a Minor League special assistant for the Royals.
Others of note:
Jim Clancy (1955)
Clancy spent 12 of his 15 seasons with the Blue Jays, for whom he won 128 games. He earned his lone All-Star nod in 1982, when he won a career-best 16 games after starting a now-unheard-of 40 games.
Want to see more baseball birthdays for Dec. 18? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.