The best baseball players born on Nov. 13

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 Nov. 13:

1) Buck O'Neil (1911)
Across 10 seasons in the Negro Leagues (1937-48), nine with the Kansas City Monarchs, O'Neil made three All-Star teams. The first baseman did not play from 1944-45 while serving in the Navy during World War II. He also managed the Monarchs from 1948-55 and led the club to four Negro American League titles. O'Neil's great impact on the game came afterward, when he made history in 1962 as the first Black coach in MLB history, joining the Cubs' staff. He also played a major role in establishing the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City in 1990. O'Neil, who was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021 as an executive, also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in '06.

2) Mel Stottlemyre (1941)
A five-time All-Star, Stottlemyre spent all 11 MLB seasons with the Yankees (1964-74). The right-hander led the AL in innings once and complete games twice, compiling a 2.97 ERA and recording 40 shutouts -- tied with Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Known for being a solid hitting pitcher, Stottlemyre once knocked an inside-the-park grand slam. Stottlemyre's legacy goes beyond his playing days, as he spent 23 years as a coach for the Yankees, Mets, Astros and Mariners, winning the World Series five times. Stottlemyre passed away on Jan. 13, 2019. His sons, Mel Jr. and Todd, also reached the Majors.

3) Pat Hentgen (1968)
Hentgen ranks behind Stottlemyre for most WAR among those born on Nov. 13. The right-hander's finest season during his 14-year career (1991-2004) came in 1996, when he won the AL Cy Young Award as a member of the Blue Jays. He paced the league in complete games, shutouts, innings and HR/9, with a 156 ERA+. In 1993, Hentgen won his lone World Series start as Toronto went on to win its second of back-to-back titles. A three-time All-Star, he also spent time with the Cardinals and Orioles before finishing his career with the Blue Jays.

4) Wes Parker (1939)
Fifth in WAR for those born on this day, the slick-fielding first baseman won six consecutive Gold Gloves (1967-72) during his nine-year career -- all with the Dodgers ('64-72). Though Parker hit just 64 homers, he recorded a 111 career OPS+ and in 1970 he drove in 111 runs despite just 10 long balls, finishing fifth in the NL MVP race that year. Parker collected seven hits during the 1965 World Series, which the Dodgers won in seven games. Parker's cycle on May 7, 1970, was the last by a Dodger until 2009 (Orlando Hudson).

5) Gene Garber (1947)
The sidearmer, who spent 10 of his 19 MLB seasons (1969-88) in Atlanta, held the Braves' all-time saves record (141) until Craig Kimbrel and Hall of Famer John Smoltz each surpassed it. On Aug. 1, 1978, Garber helped prevent Pete Rose from setting a new NL hitting streak record by striking him out to end the game. During his 1982 season, Garber recorded a career-high 30 saves and finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting. In 1977, he became the first Phillies pitcher to win a postseason game in 62 years. At the time of his retirement, his 931 appearances ranked fifth in MLB history.

Others of note:

Asdrúbal Cabrera (1985)
Cabrera, who ranks third in WAR for players born on Nov. 13, appeared for eight ballclubs in parts of 15 MLB seasons -- eight of them with Cleveland. The switch-hitter made the All-Star Game in consecutive years (2011-12) and won a Silver Slugger Award during that stretch. On May 12, 2008, the then-second baseman became the 14th player to turn an unassisted triple play. In 2019, the eventual World Series champion Nationals claimed the veteran off waivers, and he went on to slash .323/.404/.565 in 38 games.

Wade Miley (1986)
A former first-round pick, Miley lost out on NL Rookie of the Year to Bryce Harper in 2012. He was named an All-Star, going 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 games (29 starts) and recording an immaculate inning for the D-backs. The southpaw also has spent time with seven other clubs during his 14-year MLB career, and he threw a no-hitter with the Reds in 2021.

Trevor Rogers (1997)
The tall left-hander struggled during a seven-start callup in 2020, then bounced back to finish as the runner-up for 2021 NL Rookie of the Year. Rogers led NL rookies in ERA, innings, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents batting average during an All-Star season. His mid-90s fastball and changeup are even more imposing because of his deceptive delivery. Rogers missed most of the 2023 season while recovering from various injuries before returning to match a career best with 25 starts in '24.

Want to see more baseball birthdays for Nov. 13? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.