Besides great teams, New Jersey boasts a number of baseball legends. Many of these players have been enshrined in the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.

Some current major leaguers are New Jerseyans as well. The most prominent player on that list is 2000 All-Star Game and World Series MVP Derek Jeter. The Yankees shortstop was born in Pequannock. He won the 1996 Rookie of the Year as well as three World Series rings.

Other notable New Jersey players include New York Mets ace Al Leiter. The Toms River native is a two-time All-Star who threw the first no-hitter in Florida Marlins history. He has won three World Series titles.

Willingboro's Sean Casey of the Cincinnati Reds is an All-Star with a .310 lifetime average.

1992 Rookie of the Year Eric Karros of Hackensack is the Los Angeles Dodgers all-time leading home-run hitter. He is third on the all-time Dodger homer list (including Brooklyn and Los Angeles.)

The Milwaukee Brewers Jeffrey Hammonds of Scotch Plains batted .414 in the 1992 Olympics for Team USA.

For a state without a major league team, New Jersey has quite an impressive baseball history. As the game progresses, baseball's birthplace will continue to produce many more of the outstanding players and moments in our national pastime.

Next: Sports Hall of Fame of NJ - Baseball Inductees