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 May 15:

1) George Brett (1953)

The only player to win batting titles in three different decades, Brett was picked just one slot ahead of fellow third base legend Mike Schmidt in the second round of the 1971 Draft. Despite a Hall of Fame career, Brett doesn’t mind being remembered most for his wild dugout escape during the infamous pine tar incident. Better that than hemorrhoids during the World Series.

2) John Smoltz (1967)

Is there anything this Hall of Famer wouldn’t do to win? Cy Young starter, record-setting reliever. After displaying his mettle in the 1991 World Series, he went on to become the second-winningest postseason pitcher of all-time, trailing only Andy Pettitte. And then there’s this: By the time Smoltz retired, there were a total of six stolen bases by a pitcher in postseason history – and Smoltz swiped half of them. Two of them while wearing a satin jacket.

3) Josh Beckett (1980)

Does any date have a more clutch 1-2 postseason punch than Smoltz and Beckett on May 15? Beckett’s crowning achievement is coming back on short rest in Game 6 of the 2003 World Series to vanquish the Yankees. He was clutch all over again for the Red Sox in 2007, winning the ALCS MVP and dominating his lone World Series start to earn a second ring.

4) Justin Morneau (1981)

In 2006, Morneau was the first Canadian to win an AL MVP Award (Larry Walker was NL MVP in 1997), famously standing in the way of Derek Jeter’s best chance to take home that honor. He’s also the only Canadian to win a Home Run Derby, hanging on after a legendary first round by Josh Hamilton in 2008 at Yankee Stadium.

5) Michael Brantley (1987)

Amid a trend of rising strikeout totals, Brantley never got sucked in. Seven times he reached 500 at-bats from 2012-21. Here’s where he finished on the list of fewest strikeouts:
2012 - 7th
2013 - 15th
2014 - 6th
2015 - 3rd
2018 - 3rd
2019 - 6th
2021 - 2nd

Others of note:

Brian Dozier (1987)

His 42 homers in 2016 were tied with Rogers Hornsby for the second most ever by a second baseman, behind Davey Johnson’s 43 in 1973. (Marcus Semien set a new record with 45 in 2021.) Dozier overlapped with Morneau in Minnesota in 2012 and '13, forming an all-May 15 right side of the infield.

Alex Verdugo (1996)

The centerpiece of Boston’s return in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to the Dodgers.

Al McBean (1938)

The 1964 NL Fireman of the Year was the first person from St. Thomas to play in the Majors. He roomed with Roberto Clemente, who was the best man at his wedding.

Tip O'Neill (1860)

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame named its highest honor after the late 19th century star. Morneau won the award 3 times.

Rick Waits (1952)

“Thank You, Rick Waits.” So read the Fenway Park scoreboard on the final day of the 1978 season after Waits and the Indians beat the Yankees to force a one-game playoff between the Red Sox and Yanks. Whoops.

Fred Goldsmith (1856)

He may, or may not, have invented the curveball.

AJ Hinch (1974)

Looking for someone to manage the May 15 squad? That would be Hinch. As a player, he had a career WAR of exactly 0.0.

Want to see more baseball birthdays for May 15? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.