While well over 2,500 players born in California have played in MLB, just 13 Alaska-born players have made it to The Show throughout the league’s history.
One of the more fascinating parts about the status that baseball holds as the pastime of the United States is the origin of all of the game’s American players, who continue to dominate MLB rosters today.
Taking into account the league’s history that dates back to 1871 as well as how different the United States looked when professional baseball began, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that states like California, Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois have produced well over 1,000 MLB players over the years.
In more recent times, American players seem to originate from two primary hotspots – California, with coastal Southern California serving as a particular stronghold, and the Sun Belt, with the southeastern U.S. between Texas and Florida having produced a wide range of MLB players in recent years.
While I love to keep track of this and the states that have produced the most players over the years, I also have quite the interest in the states that seldom send players to The Show, with none more conspicuous in that regard than The Last Frontier, Alaska.
Owing to its remote location, harsh winter climate and relative lack of interscholastic competition, Alaska has never been a hotbed for professional athletes of any kind. Sure, the NHL has seen some Alaska-based success from the likes of Scott Gomez, Brandon Dubinsky, Matt Carle and Jeremy Swayman, but the other leagues have had a scarcer flow of talent from the 49th state.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to learn that there have been just 13 Alaska-born MLB players, the fewest of any American state. Furthermore, the list is headlined by all-time playoff great and renowned right-wing asshole Curt Schilling, who was born in Anchorage despite being mostly raised in Arizona.
Taking Schilling out of the equation, the most recognizable Alaskan to put on an MLB uniform is likely Shawn Chacón to many, who amassed a little over 6.5 WAR across eight MLB seasons that included one All-Star campaign.
It’s been few and far in between since when it comes to Alaskans in MLB, though the 2026 debut of Anchorage-born Gabriel Hughes finally propelled Alaska into the teens when it comes to all-time player production.
As of August 2026, here’s a look at the 13 Alaska-born MLB players, listed from most to least career wins above replacement:
- Curt Schilling, Anchorage, 1988-2007: 79.51 WAR
- Shawn Chacón, Anchorage, 2001-2008: 6.52 WAR
- Josh Phelps, Anchorage, 2000-2008: 3.2 WAR
- Tony Barnette, Anchorage, 2016-2019: 2.51 WAR
- David Williams, Anchorage, 2001-2007: 2.34 WAR
- Randy Kutcher, Anchorage, 1986-1990: 1.87 WAR
- Gabriel Hughes, Anchorage, 2026-present: 0.88 WAR
- Steve Staggs, Anchorage, 1977-1978: 0.64 WAR
- Scott Loucks, Anchorage, 1980-1985: 0.52 WAR
- Daniel Schlereth, Anchorage, 2009-2012: 0.04 WAR
- Tom Sullivan, Nome, 1925: -0.11 WAR
- Aaron Cunningham, Anchorage, 2008-2012: -0.44 WAR
- Chad Bentz, Juneau, 2004-2005: -0.75 WAR
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