All-Time Baseball › Best 1980s Lineup

Best 1980s MLB Lineup

The greatest lineup of the 1980s, chosen from every team of the era by iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine — and the record they'd run over a full 162-game season.

1593projected season
avg overall 93
94
SP
Roger Clemens
Starting Pitcher · 1980s
89
C
Gary Carter
Catcher · 1980s
92
1B
Eddie Murray
First Baseman · 1980s
93
2B
Ryne Sandberg
Second Baseman · 1980s
96
3B
Mike Schmidt
Third Baseman · 1980s
96
SS
Cal Ripken Jr.
Shortstop · 1980s
96
OF
Rickey Henderson
Outfielder · 1980s
92
OF
Tony Gwynn
Outfielder · 1980s
91
OF
Dale Murphy
Outfielder · 1980s
95
DH
George Brett
Third Baseman · 1980s

Why This Is the Era's Best Lineup

Roger Clemens headlines the 1980s at a 94 overall. The engine assembles a complete lineup — an ace, the full batting order, up-the-middle defense and outfield power — from across the era's teams, then plays out all 162 games. Their 1593 projection captures an era-defining core, measured on the same era-adjusted scale as every other decade so the comparison is fair.

Full 1980s Player Rankings

PlayerPositionEraOVR
Roger ClemensStarting Pitcher1980s94
Gary CarterCatcher1980s89
Eddie MurrayFirst Baseman1980s92
Ryne SandbergSecond Baseman1980s93
Mike SchmidtThird Baseman1980s96
Cal Ripken Jr.Shortstop1980s96
Rickey HendersonOutfielder1980s96
Tony GwynnOutfielder1980s92
Dale MurphyOutfielder1980s91
George BrettThird Baseman1980s95
Wade BoggsThird Baseman1980s93
Nolan RyanStarting Pitcher1980s93
Robin YountShortstop1980s93
Don MattinglyFirst Baseman1980s92
Dennis EckersleyStarting Pitcher1980s91
Paul MolitorThird Baseman1980s91
Kirby PuckettOutfielder1980s91
Darryl StrawberryOutfielder1980s91
Dwight GoodenStarting Pitcher1980s91
Steve CarltonStarting Pitcher1980s91
Ozzie SmithShortstop1980s91
Andre DawsonOutfielder1980s91
Alan TrammellShortstop1980s91
Dave WinfieldOutfielder1980s91
Jose CansecoOutfielder1980s91
Mark McGwireFirst Baseman1980s91
Jack MorrisStarting Pitcher1980s90
Bret SaberhagenStarting Pitcher1980s90
Jim RiceOutfielder1980s89
Lou WhitakerSecond Baseman1980s89

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Frequently Asked

What is the best 1980s MLB lineup of all time?

iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine picks Roger Clemens (SP, 1980s), Gary Carter (C, 1980s), Eddie Murray (1B, 1980s), Ryne Sandberg (2B, 1980s), Mike Schmidt (3B, 1980s), Cal Ripken Jr. (SS, 1980s), Rickey Henderson (OF, 1980s), Tony Gwynn (OF, 1980s), Dale Murphy (OF, 1980s), George Brett (DH, 1980s) as the greatest 1980s team, projecting them to a 159–3 season.

How good was the 1980s MLB?

The top 1980s lineup projects at 159–3 with an average starter rating of 93. Ratings are era-adjusted so a dominant 1980s season is measured on the same scale as any other era.

Who was the best player of the 1980s?

On iKnoBall's scale the top-rated 1980s player is Roger Clemens at a 94 overall. See the full 1980s rankings above.

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Ratings are era-adjusted and computed by iKnoBall's simulation engine. Records are model projections for entertainment, not predictions. Player names belong to their respective owners; iKnoBall is an independent fan-made game.