Meet the First Basemen Who Owned the ’90s

Last Updated: November 6th, 2026 by Matthew Brown

First base has always been known as a position that provides a lot of offense for a team. The 1990s have been known as a decade that provided a lot of offense for fans to marvel at. If you put the two together, you can create one of the most powerful lists in baseball history when it comes to slugging.

Now we'll go through the first basemen who helped define the position in such a dynamic decade.

20. Pete O’Brien: The Journeyman’s Tale

By the time the 1990s hit, Pete O'Brien was in the last few years of his career. Having spent seven years in Arlington and one in Cleveland, O'Brien spent four years with the Seattle Mariners during the only part of the '90s that he played in. He was still a healthy contributor as he provided some really good defense, leading all first basemen with a .997 fielding percentage in 1991.

Pete O’Brien — Career	Total
G	1567
AB	5437
H	1421
HR	169
RBI	736
SB	24
AVG	.261
OBP	.336
SLG	.409
OPS	.745

19. Todd Benzinger: Cincinnati’s World Series Hero

For those die-hard Reds fans, I'm sure you can remember who caught the game-ending pop-up to seal the World Series in 1990. For those who don't know, it's this exact entry: Todd Benzinger. He wasn't exactly their everyday starter that season, but he was highly utilized throughout their playoff run, including that championship-sealing catch.

Todd Benzinger — Career	Total
G	924
AB	2856
H	733
HR	66
RBI	376
SB	21
AVG	.257
OBP	.301
SLG	.386
OPS	.687
World Series titles	1

18. David Segui: The Switch-Hitting Specialist

Here is an under-the-radar entry that should be talked about a little more. David Segui was a journeyman who found a way to bring his offense to every franchise he played for. He carved out a nice 15-year career playing for seven different teams.

His lifetime .291 batting average is pretty remarkable considering the number of locations he had to move to.

David Segui — Career	Total
G	1456
AB	4847
H	1412
HR	139
RBI	684
SB	17
AVG	.291
OBP	.359
SLG	.443
OPS	.802

17. Eric Karros: LA’s Rookie Sensation Turned Star

It's pretty crazy seeing Kyle Karros hold his own at the major league level. His dad, Eric Karros, more than held his own when he burst onto the scene in 1992. He was a part of the Dodgers' incredible run of Rookie of the Year winners as he sustained that excellence throughout his career.

He would hit 284 career home runs, with 270 coming in Los Angeles. That would be the most a Dodger has hit since they moved from Brooklyn, until Max Muncy passed it in 2026.

Eric Karros — Career	Total
G	1755
AB	6441
H	1724
HR	284
RBI	1027
SB	59
AVG	.268
OBP	.325
SLG	.454
OPS	.779
Silver Sluggers	1
Rookie of the Year	1

16. J.T. Snow: The Golden Glove of San Francisco

In a list full of prolific hitters, J.T. Snow still holds his own as one of the better first basemen of this era. He was defense-first in an effective way. He won six consecutive Gold Gloves, proving that he was unmatched at the position in that aspect in the National League.

He still brought some pop to the plate, as he hit 132 home runs in basically half the decade since he didn't become a regular starter until 1995.

15. Andres Galarraga: The Big Cat’s Colorado Revival

I loved watching Andres Galarraga. He was a big-bodied slugger who still hit for a high average. In fact, he had an underrated season where he chased .400 for a little bit.

He would end up winning the batting title and leading all of baseball with a .370 average that year. Then he turned around and blasted a league-leading 47 home runs a year later.

Andres Galarraga — Career	Total
G	2257
AB	8096
H	2333
HR	399
RBI	1425
SB	128
AVG	.288
OBP	.347
SLG	.499
OPS	.846
All-Star selections	5
Gold Gloves	2
Silver Sluggers	2

14. Eddie Murray: Steady Eddie’s Twilight Years

As prolific of a switch-hitter as it gets, Eddie Murray was still swinging a big bat in the back half of his career. By the time the '90s rolled around, he was in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, leading everybody with a .330 batting average in 1990. He would continue to add to his home run total as he ended his career in 1997 with a cool 504 home runs.

Eddie Murray — Career	Total
G	3026
AB	11336
H	3255
HR	504
RBI	1917
SB	110
AVG	.287
OBP	.359
SLG	.476
OPS	.835
All-Star selections	8
Gold Gloves	3
Silver Sluggers	3
World Series titles	1
Rookie of the Year	1

13. Carlos Delgado: Toronto’s Rising Star

I recently watched a video where a younger baseball fan was guessing Carlos Delgado was a solid player, but not one who could put up huge numbers. The thing is, there were a lot of players putting up huge numbers during the '90s, and a younger Carlos Delgado was one of them. He hit what would be a career-high 44 home runs in 1999, setting him up for the monster season he would have at the turn of the century.

Carlos Delgado — Career	Total
G	2035
AB	7283
H	2038
HR	473
RBI	1512
SB	14
AVG	.280
OBP	.383
SLG	.546
OPS	.929
All-Star selections	2
Silver Sluggers	3

12. Don Mattingly: Donnie Baseball’s Final Act

I know that Don Mattingly is better known for his time in the 1980s, but he still had a third of his career in the following decade. The Yankee legend wasn't getting All-Star nods anymore, but he was still recognized as one of the best defensive first basemen of all time. He earned four Gold Gloves within the last five years of his career, which ended in 1995.

Don Mattingly — Career	Total
G	1785
AB	7003
H	2153
HR	222
RBI	1099
SB	14
AVG	.307
OBP	.358
SLG	.471
OPS	.829
MVP	1
All-Star selections	6
Gold Gloves	9
Silver Sluggers	3

11. Paul Molitor: The DH Who Mastered First

Even though he was a primary designated hitter at the time, Paul Molitor still saw some time at first base in the 1990s. He must be included here for his hitting ability alone. A .313 batting average in the decade contributed to a great 123 OPS+.

This all added up to a well-deserved Hall of Fame career, as he was one of the more prolific hitters in MLB.

10. Tino Martinez: The Yankees’ Dynasty Cornerstone

I know that the space at the top of the greatest first basemen in Yankee history is crowded, but Tino Martinez has a case to at least be on the outside looking in at the top names. His steady contributions as the first baseman of the Bronx dynasty in the 1990s will not be forgotten by Yankee fans. He was an RBI machine, reaching over 100 RBI in five straight seasons of the decade.

Tino Martinez — Career	Total
G	2023
AB	7111
H	1925
HR	339
RBI	1271
SB	27
AVG	.271
OBP	.344
SLG	.471
OPS	.815
All-Star selections	2
Silver Sluggers	1
World Series titles	4

9. Mo Vaughn: The Hit Dog’s Fenway Feast

For how big Mo Vaughn was, you would think that he would hit like his steroid peers at the time. He did slug, but Vaughn was more focused on keeping a high batting average and driving in teammates in scoring position. He certainly did that as he accrued more than 200 hits in two seasons while maintaining a .300 average or better in an impressive five straight seasons.

Mo Vaughn — Career	Total
G	1512
AB	5532
H	1620
HR	328
RBI	1064
SB	30
AVG	.293
OBP	.383
SLG	.523
OPS	.906
MVP	1
All-Star selections	3
Silver Sluggers	1

8. Will Clark: The Sweet Swing of ‘The Thrill’

I know that many San Francisco Giants fans will swear by the greatness of Will Clark as one of the top first basemen of the era. I know that part of their argument centers around the fact that he was the antithesis of the steroid-using sluggers of the time. He hit hard, played hard, and got rewarded as a six-time All-Star in his 15-year career.

Will Clark — Career	Total
G	1976
AB	7173
H	2176
HR	284
RBI	1205
SB	67
AVG	.303
OBP	.384
SLG	.497
OPS	.881
All-Star selections	6
Gold Gloves	1
Silver Sluggers	2

7. Mark Grace: Chicago’s Mr. Consistency

When the Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001, I feel like a good amount of casual fans learned about the consistency that Mark Grace brought to the position. By then, he had already had an entire career. That's because he was on the Chicago Cubs for all of that time, who unfortunately only got to the playoffs once in the '90s.

Through all of that, Grace was still a great three-time All-Star.

Mark Grace — Career	Total
G	2245
AB	8065
H	2445
HR	173
RBI	1146
SB	70
AVG	.303
OBP	.383
SLG	.442
OPS	.825
All-Star selections	3
Gold Gloves	4
World Series titles	1

6. Fred McGriff: The Crime Dog’s Clutch Legacy

Fred McGriff might be my favorite entry on this list. Yes, his nickname, the Crime Dog, is a play on his last name, but he really did swing like the baseball had done a bad crime. He finished just short of the famous threshold with his 493 career home runs, but I'm so happy that didn't prevent him from getting into the Hall of Fame.

Fred McGriff — Career	Total
G	2460
AB	8757
H	2490
HR	493
RBI	1550
SB	72
AVG	.284
OBP	.377
SLG	.509
OPS	.886
All-Star selections	5
Silver Sluggers	3
World Series titles	1

5. John Olerud: Baseball’s Helmeted Hero

Even when he was playing, I think that John Olerud was one of the most underrated players in baseball. He had 4.0 WAR or more in four separate seasons in the '90s, but only got selected to the All-Star Game once in these 10 years. He even finished third in MVP voting in 1993 when he won the batting title with a .363 average, an MLB-leading 54 doubles, and a league-leading 1.072 OPS.

John Olerud — Career	Total
G	2234
AB	7592
H	2239
HR	255
RBI	1230
SB	11
AVG	.295
OBP	.398
SLG	.465
OPS	.863
All-Star selections	2
Gold Gloves	3
World Series titles	2

4. Rafael Palmeiro: The Silent Superstar

Having always been a doubles machine, Rafael Palmeiro turned up the juice in the 1990s. From never hitting 30 home runs in a single season to hitting more than 35 in six of the last seven years of the decade. Steroids or not, Palmeiro had great bat-to-ball skills and a beautiful swing.

That helped him reach 569 home runs in his 20-year career.

Rafael Palmeiro — Career	Total
G	2831
AB	10472
H	3020
HR	569
RBI	1834
SB	97
AVG	.288
OBP	.371
SLG	.515
OPS	.886
All-Star selections	4
Gold Gloves	3
Silver Sluggers	2

3. Mark McGwire: The Home Run King Who Changed Baseball

Mark McGwire has been a major contributor to the popularity of baseball. Whether you like it or not, that home run chase with Sammy Sosa at the end of the 1990s was a turning point for MLB. I certainly will attest to that claim, as I was pulled into this great sport more than I already was at the time.

From what he started in the '80s, McGwire brought his power hitting to a climax in 1998.

2. Jeff Bagwell: The Unorthodox Slugger of Houston

I believe that Jeff Bagwell had one of the most intimidating batting stances of the era. His legs extended into a split-like stance lowered him to a height that made him look like a mouse from the pitcher's mound. The thing is, his power and hitting ability made him look like Mighty Mouse instead.

449 home runs in just a 15-year career just adds to that intimidation factor.

Jeff Bagwell — Career	Total
G	2150
AB	7797
H	2314
HR	449
RBI	1529
SB	202
AVG	.297
OBP	.408
SLG	.540
OPS	.948
MVP	1
All-Star selections	4
Gold Gloves	1
Silver Sluggers	3
Rookie of the Year	1

1. Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas: Chicago’s Gentle Giant

It's pretty unbelievable that Frank Thomas only ended up with five All-Star selections in his career. Granted, they all came in this decade, but it still seems disrespectful that he wasn't an actual perennial All-Star. The Big Hurt was as iconic as any slugger at the time, blasting 301 home runs during the 1990s.

That came out to an incredible 169 OPS+.

Frank Thomas — Career	Total
G	2322
AB	8199
H	2468
HR	521
RBI	1704
SB	32
AVG	.301
OBP	.419
SLG	.555
OPS	.974
MVP	2
All-Star selections	5
Silver Sluggers	4

Keep reading

• The Best First Basemen Not in the Hall of Fame
• The 14 First Basemen Who Defined the Position
• The 20 First Basemen Who Made the 1950s Golden Age