Top 5 MLB Players That Played For Only One Franchise, Since 1980
Derek Jeter will don the home pinstripes for the final time in the Bronx tonight. It got us thinking.. Who has played up to his elite level, and was loyal to only one franchise in their career?
Here are the top 5 players to only play for one franchise, since 1980:
1. Derek Jeter, SS, NYY: Mr. November is playing in his 20th and final season for the New York Yankees. A five-time gold glove winner, 3,000 plus hits and counting; Jeter will go down as arguably the greatest shortstop to ever play the game of baseball.
2. Tony Gwynn, OF, SD: The late great, Tony Gwynn, had 3,000 plus hits and a .338 batting average over 20 seasons with the San Diego Padres.
3. Chipper Jones, 3B, ATL: Chipper spent 19 years in Atlanta, compiling a .303 average to go with 468 home runs.
4. Mariano Rivera, Closer, NYY: Enter Sandman closed out an MLB leading 652 ballgames in his 19 seasons with the Yankees.
5. Cal Ripken Jr., 3B, BAL: 21 years and a record 2,632 straight games played for the Iron Man. Ripken had 3,184 hits and a .276 batting average.
Honorable mention: Todd Helton, Craig Biggio