The best baseball players born on Feb. 24

February 24th, 2024

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 Feb. 24:

1) (1874)
One of the greatest baseball players of all time, Wagner was voted in as an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame in 1936 -- trailing only Ty Cobb in the balloting -- and in 1952, his number was the first to be retired by the Pirates. During a 21-year Major League career (18 with Pittsburgh), Wagner distinguished himself as a true five-tool player, a premier power hitter and the most dominant player of his era. In addition to winning eight National League batting titles, he also notably recorded the first RBI and stolen base in World Series history, managing both in the first inning of Game 1 in 1903. With a whopping 130.8 Wins Above Replacement (per Baseball Reference), Wagner ranks in the top 10 in AL/NL history, alongside the likes of Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

2) (1956)
Murray, another Hall of Famer, is one of four players in Major League history who surpassed 3,000 hits and 500 home runs -- joining Aaron, Mays and Rafael Palmeiro. “Steady Eddie” also played the most games at first base in MLB history, and from ages 21 through 40, he played in 150 or more games in all but one season unaffected by a work stoppage. The 1977 American League Rookie of the Year with the Orioles received the most lifetime MVP votes of anyone who never won the award, finishing in the Top 5 five consecutive times (and six total). One of the game’s best switch-hitters, Murray leads the group in career RBIs (1,917) and intentional walks (222).

3) Wilbur Cooper (1892)
Arguably the best pitcher in Pirates history, Cooper was born 18 years to the day after fellow franchise legend Wagner. Cooper holds the club’s all-time records for victories (202) and complete games (263), as well as its single-season ERA record (1.87 in 1916). But despite finishing his 15-year career with a 216-178 overall mark and a 2.89 ERA, the southpaw did not join his teammate Wagner in Cooperstown, making him one of only two pitchers to toss 3,000 innings with a sub-3.00 ERA and not be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He did become a part of history in 1920, however, becoming the only hurler to begin a triple play (he did so twice).

4) (1974)
A four-time All-Star, Lowell won two World Series titles in a five-year span -- with two different franchises. The former Yankees prospect helped the 2003 Marlins topple the Bronx Bombers, then won ’07 World Series MVP honors after leading the Red Sox to a sweep of the Rockies. Lowell hit .400 (6-for-15) with four RBIs and a 1.300 OPS in the latter effort. The third baseman also ranks second all-time in career fielding percentage (.974) at the position, behind only Placido Polanco.

5)  (1977)
Arroyo spent the bulk of his 16-year big league career with the Reds -- even hitting a home run in his first at-bat with the club -- but he also made two relief appearances in the 2004 World Series as the Red Sox broke their 86-year championship drought. Named after actor Charles Bronson, Arroyo was also a musician; the night before he announced his retirement, Arroyo and his band performed Pearl Jam covers in a Reds postgame concert.

Others of note:
Miguel Rojas (1989)

The Marlins’ longest-tenured player and unofficial captain, Rojas slashed .271/.325/.375 with 32 homers and 37 stolen bases in 730 games through 2021 while anchoring the club’s infield.

Nick Esasky (1960)
The Reds’ first-round Draft pick in 1978, Esasky managed a career-high 30 homers and 108 RBIs for the Red Sox in 1989, but he was forced to retire prematurely the next season after suffering from vertigo.

Want to see more baseball birthdays for Feb. 24? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.