Current Sox players Dustin Pedroia (No. 18) and Josh Beckett (No. 16) were named among the top 20 active players in Major League baseball in a blue ribbon panel poll conducted by the Sporting News this week. Albert Pujols was voted the top current player in MLB with former Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez -- currently on a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy -- ranked fourth in the big leagues.

Other Sox in the top 50 active players included first basemen Kevin Youkilis (No. 36) and left fielder Jason Bay (No. 41), but closer Jonathan Papelbon was curiously absent from the list. Panelists were asked to determine what greatness meant to them and vote accordingly. Many of the former pitchers placed a higher premium on that aspect; others favored hitting, leadership, defense or a combination thereof. Panelists were also instructed to vote for the greatest players in today’s game, not the current players who’ve necessarily had the greatest careers. Hanley Ramirez, in just his fourth full major league season, was the youngest player to make the top 10 (25).

The Mets had the most players selected (six), followed by the Yankees (five). The selections along with the panel of voters are listed below, and the comprehensive list can be found in the upcoming issue of the Sporting News on news stands.

SPORTING NEWS’ TOP 50 PLAYERS

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals
2. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
3. Johan Santana, Mets
4. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
5. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
6. Chase Utley, Phillies
7. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
8. Derek Jeter, Yankees
9. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
10. Chipper Jones, Braves
11. Ryan Howard, Phillies
12. Grady Sizemore, Indians
13. David Wright, Mets
14. Justin Morneau, Twins
15. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies
16. Josh Beckett, Red Sox
17. Mark Teixeira, Yankees
18. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
19. Tim Lincecum, Giants
20. Evan Longoria, Rays
21. Lance Berkman, Astros
22. Jose Reyes, Mets
23. Carlos Beltran, Mets
24. Ian Kinsler, Rangers
25. Zack Greinke, Royals
26. Josh Hamilton, Rangers
27. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
28. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
29. CC Sabathia, Yankees
30. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
31. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks
32. Ryan Braun, Brewers
33. Dan Haren, Diamondbacks
34. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
35. Matt Holliday, A’s
36. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
37. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
38. Jake Peavy, Padres
39. Joe Mauer, Twins
40. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
41. Jason Bay, Red Sox
42. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers
43. Cliff Lee, Indians
44. Torii Hunter, Angels  
45. Victor Martinez, Indians
46. Roy Oswalt, Astros
47. Carlos Delgado, Mets
48. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
49. Cole Hamels, Phillies
50. Brian McCann, Braves

SPORTING NEWS’ PANEL
Don Baylor
Glenn Beckert
Andy Benes
Vida Blue  
Mike Boddicker
Bret Boone
Bill Buckner
Gene Budig
Don Buford
Jim Bunning
Bill Campbell
Sean Casey
Phil Cavarretta
Leonard Coleman
Pat Corrales
Eric Davis  
Glenn Davis
Mark Davis 
Tommy Davis 
Andre Dawson
Doug DeCinces
Jim Deshaies
Larry Dierker
Bobby Doerr
Dennis Eckersley
Doc Edwards
Lee Elia
Carl Erskine
Dan Evans
Rollie Fingers
Steve Finley
Mike Flanagan
Ray Fosse
Jim Fregosi
Bob Friend
Ron Gant
Phil Garner
Dave Giusti
Bobby Grich
Tom Grieve
Tony Gwynn
Atlee Hammaker
Ken “Hawk” Harrelson
Roland Hemond
Tom Henke
Orel Hershiser
Walt Hriniak
Bill James
Ferguson Jenkins
Randy Jones
Ed Kranepool
Duane Kuiper
Bill Lajoie
Barry Larkin
Vern Law
Jim Lefebvre
Dennis Leonard
Jim Lonborg
Fred Lynn
Steve Lyons
Greg Maddux
Dennis Martinez
Lloyd McClendon
Willie McCovey
Fred McGriff
Denny McLain
Bill Melton
Stan Musial
Mike Mussina
Phil Niekro
Billy North
Gregg Olson
Paul O’Neill
Tony Perez
Gary Peters
Rico Petrocelli
Dave Phillips
Steve Phillips
Billy Pierce
Brad Radke
Vern Rapp
Bobby Richardson
Brooks Robinson
Tim Salmon
Tom Seaver
Bobby Shantz
Norm Sherry
Buck Showalter
Roy Sievers
Jim Sundberg
Ron Swoboda
Frank Tanana
Ralph Terry
Gorman Thomas
Tom Trebelhorn
Larry Walker
George Will
Bobby Winkles
Jimmy Wynn
Don Zimmer