The first quarter of the 21st century is in the books, with 26 seasons of Major League Baseball taking place since the planet didn’t implode over Y2K.
In that time, we’ve seen some of the greatest players in the history of the game from 1980s holdovers like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens to the modern marvels in reigning back-to-back MVPs Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani.
We surveyed USA TODAY Sports’ staff of MLB writers and editors on who should make up baseball’s All Quarter-Century Team and there was consensus on most player that would up making the list of 10 positions, five starting pitchers and a closer.
There are certainly some notable snubs! Alex Rodriguez and Adrian Beltre each have a more-than valid shout and the manager (Bruce Bochy?) of this team would surely get them regular at-bats – though curiously nine of the ten hitters are right-handed.
With that, here’s the full look at USA TODAY Sports’ All Quarter-Century MLB Team:
Catcher: Yadier Molina (2004-2022)
10-time All-Star
Nine Gold Glove awards
Two World Series titles – 2006 and 2011
Also receiving votes: Buster Posey, Joe Mauer
First base: Albert Pujols (2001-2022)
St. Louis Cardinals (2001-2011, 2022), Los Angeles Angels (2011-2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2021)
703 home runs – fourth all-time
Three National League MVP awards – 2005, 2008 and 2009
2,218 RBI – second all time
3,384 hits – 10th all time
11-time All-Star
Two World Series titles – 2006 and 2011
Two Gold Glove awards
Second base: Jose Altuve (2011-present)
Houston Astros (2011-2025)
2017 American League MVP
Two World Series titles – 2017 and 2022
2015 AL Gold Glove award
.303 career average, 2,388 hits
Also receiving votes: Chase Utley
Third base: Miguel Cabrera (2003-2023)
Florida Marlins (2003-2007), Detroit Tigers (2008-2023)
2012 and 2013 American League MVP
511 home runs – 25th all time
3,174 hits
1,881 RBIs – 13th all time
2012 Triple Crown, MLB’s first since 1967 with 44 HR, 139 RBIs, .330 average
Four batting titles – 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015
2003 World Series title
Also receiving votes: Adrian Beltre, Alex Rodriguez
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (1995-2014)
New York Yankees (1995-2014)
Stats from 2000-2014
Two World Series titles – 2000 and 2009
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (2020)
Five Gold Glove awards
12-time All-Star from 2000
Also receiving votes: Mookie Betts, Alex Rodriguez
Outfield: Mike Trout (2011-present)
Los Angeles Angels (2011-2025)
Three American League MVP awards – 2014, 2016 and 2019
11-time All-Star
404 home runs, 214 stolen bases
Also receiving votes: Carlos Beltran, Barry Bonds
Outfield: Aaron Judge (2016-present)
New York Yankees (2016-2025)
Three American League MVP awards: 2022, 2024 and 2025
Four 50 HR seasons – one of only four players in history
1.028 OPS – ninth all time
.615 slugging percentage – sixth all time
AL record 62 home runs in 2022
Outfield: Mookie Betts (2014-present)
Boston Red Sox (2014-2019), Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-2025)
2018 American League MVP
Four World Series titles – 2018, 2020, 2024 and 2025
Eight-time All-Star
Six Gold Glove awards
Designated hitter: David Ortiz (1997-2016)
Minnesota Twins (1997-2002), Boston Red Sox (2003-2016)
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (2022)
541 career home runs – 17th all time
1,768 career RBIs – 23rd all time
10-time All-Star
Three World Series titles – 2004, 2007 and 2013
Also receiving votes: Shohei Ohtani
Starting pitcher: Clayton Kershaw (2008-2025)
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008-2025)
Three NL Cy Young awards – 2011, 2013 and 2014
2014 National League MVP
Three World Series titles – 2020, 2024 and 2025
Five NL ERA titles – 2011-2014, 2017
3,052 career strikeouts – 20th all time
4.271 strikeouts per walk – 12th all time
Also receiving votes: Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Roy Halladay
SP: Justin Verlander (2005-present)
Detroit Tigers (2005-2017), Houston Astros (2017-2024), New York Mets (2023), San Francisco Giants (2025)
Three Cy Young awards – 2011, 2019 and 2022
2011 American League MVP
266 wins
3,553 strikeouts – eighth all time
Two World Series titles – 2017 and 2022
Nine-time All-Star
SP: Max Scherzer (2008-present)
Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-2009), Detroit Tigers (2010-2014), Washington Nationals (2015-2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), New York Mets (2022), Texas Rangers (2023-2024), Toronto Blue Jays (2025)
Three Cy Young awards – 2013, 2016 and 2017
221 wins
3,489 strikeouts – 11th all time
Two World Series titles – 2019 and 2023
Eight-time All-Star
SP: Zack Greinke (2004-2023)
Kansas City Royals (2004-2010, 2022-2023), Milwaukee Brewers (2011-2012), Los Angeles Angels (2012), Los Angeles Dodgers (2013-2015), Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2019), Houston Astros (2019-2021)
2009 American League Cy Young
225 wins
Six-time All-Star
SP: CC Sabathia (2011-2019)
Cleveland (2001-2008), Milwaukee Brewers (2008), New York Yankees (2009-2019)
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (2025)
2007 American League Cy Young
251 wins
Six-time All-Star
2009 World Series title
Closer: Mariano Rivera (1995-2013)
New York Yankees (1995-2013)
Stats from 2000-2013
Two World Series titles – 2000 and 2009
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (2019)
523 saves
2.05 ERA in 849 games
0.86 ERA in 65 postseason games with 29 saves
11-time All-Star
MLB’s all-time saves leader with 622
