The best baseball players born on Nov. 4

November 4th, 2024

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. 4.

1) Dick Groat (1930)
When fans think of two-sport athletes, Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders are top of mind, but don't overlook Groat. Before Bo Knows and Prime Time, Groat excelled at basketball and baseball. While at Duke University on a hoops scholarship, he would become a star on the hardwood and on the diamond. Groat was a two-time All-America in both sports, and his No. 10 was the first basketball jersey retired by the school. When Duke was eliminated from the College World Series in 1952, Pirates general manager Branch Rickey signed the Pennsylvania native, who bypassed the Minors and was also selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons with the third-overall pick two months earlier in the NBA Draft. Groat would hit .284 in his rookie season and start his NBA career 42 days later. His Pistons career would last just 26 games due to be being drafted by the Army in '53. Following two years of military service, Groat was offered more money to return to Fort Wayne, but Rickey convinced him to concentrate on baseball full-time. In a 14-year career, Groat slashed .286/.330/.366, captured the NL MVP in '60 and won two World Series championships (in '60 with the Bucs and again in '64 for with the Cardinals). He was elected to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and College Baseball Hall of Fame in '11. Groat returned to his love of basketball, spending 40 seasons calling University of Pittsburgh basketball games.

2) Bobby Wallace (1873)
Just like Babe Ruth, Wallace started his 25-year big league career on the mound but would eventually become a full-time hitter. Wallace posted a mediocre 24-22 record with a 3.89 ERA from 1894-96 with the Cleveland Spiders, but his defensive prowess on the mound convinced management to play him at different positions. After struggling in right field, he excelled at third base, second base and then became one of the American League's best shortstops. On June 10, 1902, Wallace recorded an AL-record 17 chances at shortstop. He would eventually spend 60 years in the Majors, logging time as a manager, umpire and scout. Wallace was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953 by the Veterans Committee.

Bobby Wallace with the St. Louis Browns in 1913. (Bain Collection/Library of Congress)

3) (1968)
On April 8, 1993, the switch-hitting Cleveland second baseman became the first Major Leaguer to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. Batting right-handed, Baerga hit a two-run homer off the Yankees' Steve Howe in the seventh. With two outs and hitting from the left side of the plate, Baerga took Steve Farr deep to cap a nine-run outburst. Over 14 seasons, he would slash .291/.332/.423 with 134 homers and 774 RBIs. In 2013, he was inducted into Cleveland's Hall of Fame.

4) (1933)
In a 15-year career that spanned stints with the Orioles, White Sox, Tigers, Cleveland, Cardinals, Phillies, Braves, A's and Brewers, Francona slashed .272/.343/.403 with 125 homers and 656 RBIs. He and Rocky Colavito finished second to Luis Aparicio in the 1956 AL Rookie of the Year voting. Francona's best season came in '59, when he hit .363 with 20 home runs in 122 games and finished fifth in the AL MVP race. Francona's lone All-Star selection came in '61, but he didn't play in that year's second Midsummer Classic that ended in a 1-1 tie due to rain at Fenway Park. (From '59-62, MLB held two All-Star Games.) Two times in his career he was part of a trade that included future Hall of Famer Larry Doby. Francona is the father of Reds manager Terry Francona, who previously managed Boston and Cleveland.

Tito Francona with his son, Terry, before he threw out the first pitch prior to Game 1 of the 2016 ALDS in Cleveland. (Getty Images)

5) (1967)
Until Mike Trout burst on the scene, Karros had the most homers from a player born in New Jersey. He would win the 1992 NL Rookie of the Year with a .257/.304/.426 slash line with 20 homers and 88 RBIs. Karros received NL MVP votes in 1995 (fifth) and '96 (16th) and won his lone Silver Slugger Award in '95. Over 14 seasons spent primarily with the Dodgers, he would belt 20 or more homers eight times and have five seasons with at least 30 dingers. He recorded 100 or more RBIs in five seasons. Upon retirement, Karros moved into the broadcast booth.

Others of note:

Tommy Leach (1877)
Leach holds the distinction of recording the first hit and run in World Series history. His four triples in a Fall Classic are tied with Hall of Famer Tris Speaker and Billy Johnson. Of Leach's 63 homers, 48 are an NL-record inside-the-park variety. Leach's 172 triples are the most among players with at least 500 games while playing the hot corner.

Want to see more baseball birthdays for Nov. 4? Find the complete list on Baseball Reference.