The 10 best Shortstops in Major League Baseball history

The 10 best Shortstops in Major League Baseball history

 

10) Phil Rizzuto – Winner of the 1950 American League MVP award and a five time All Star, “Scooter” played 1,647 games in 13 seasons for the Yankees in the 1940’s and 1950’s, contributing to 7 World Championship teams.  He had a fielding average of .968, higher than the league average of .959. Rizzuto had a career batting average of .273 with an on-base percentage of .351 and 149 stolen bases.

9) Robin Yount – In a twenty year career from 1974 -1993 “The Kid” played 1,479 games at shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers with a .964 fielding percentage, equal to the league average during that time. Winner of a  a Gold Glove in 1982, as well as the AL MVP in 1982 and 1989, he batted .285 with 3,142 hits, 251 home runs, 1,406 RBI’s, and 271 stolen bases. A three time All Star, Yount played centerfield for the latter half of his career.

8) Pee Wee Reese – In sixteen seasons in the 1940’s and 1950’s “The Little Colonel” played 2,014 games at shortstop for the Dodgers and was named to 10 All Star teams. His fielding average was .962, higher than the league average of .958, and his career totals include .269 batting average with a .366 on base percentage and 232 stolen bases.

7) Barry Larkin – Winner of the 1995 NL MVP award, Larkin was a 12 time All Star in a 19 year career and 2,085 games with the Reds, from 1986-2004. His .975 fielding percentage was above the league average of .968, and he led the league in range factor per game for three seasons. Larkin had a career batting average of .295, an on base percentage of .371, and 379 stolen bases.

6) Luke Appling – In 20 years from 1930-1950 “Luscious Luke” played 2,218 games at shortstop for the White Sox, and was named to seven All Star teams. He had a career batting average of .319 with an on base percentage of .399. Appling led American League shortstops in range factor per game for three seasons.

5) Luis Aparicio – “Little Louie” played 2,599 games at shortstop in 18 years from 1956 to 1973 for the White Sox, Orioles, and Red Sox. He saved 149 runs in his career, had a fielding percentage of .972, higher than the league average of .963, won 9 Gold Gloves, and was named to 10 All Star teams. Aparicio batted .262 with 506 stolen bases in his career.

4) Derek Jeter – “Captain Clutch” played 2,674 games at shortstop for 20 seasons from 1995-2014 for the Yankees, and was named to 14 All Star teams. He won five Gold Gloves and his .976 fielding percentage was higher than the league average of .972. Jeter finished his career with a .310 batting average, .377 on base percentage, 3,465 hits, 1,923 runs scored, 358 stolen bases, 260 home runs, and 1,311 RBI’s.

3) Honus Wagner – In 21 years from 1897-1917, “The Flying Dutchman” played 1,887 games at shortstop for the Pirates. He led the league in fielding percentage four seasons, with his .940 career mark higher than the league average of .927. He also played the outfield and the three other infield positions.  Wagner batted .328 with a .391 on base percentage, 3,420 hits, 1,739 runs scored, 723 stolen bases, and 1,732 RBI’s.

2) Cal Ripken Jr. – The “Iron Man,” was a 19 time All Star, won two Gold Gloves, and winner of the AL MVP in 1983 and 1991. He played 2,302 games at shortstop in a 21 year career from 1981-2001 for the Orioles. His fielding percentage of .979 was higher than the league average of .969, and he is crediting with saving 176 runs at shortstop. Ripken batted .276 with 431 home runs and 1,695 RBI’s.

1) Ozzie Smith – Playing 2,511 games at shortstop in 19 years from 1978-1996 for the Padres and Cardinals, “The Wizard of Oz” saved an astounding 239 runs during his career. He is baseball’s all-time leader, at any position, in career Defensive Wins-Above-Replacement with 43.4. A 13 time Gold Glove winner, his fielding percentage of .978 was higher than the league average of .966. Named to 15 All Star teams, Smith batted .262 with 580 stolen bases.

The 10 best Second Basemen in Major League Baseball history

Second Basemen

10) Tony Lazzeri – Playing in 1,760 games from 1926-1939, primarily for the Yankees, “Poosh’em Up Tony” batted .292, with 178 home runs, 1,194 RBI’s, 148 stolen bases, and a .380 on base percentage.

9) Craig Biggio – From 1988-2007 Biggio played 1,989 games at second base for the Astros; he also played catcher and centerfield. His career totals included a .281 batting average, 3,060 hits, 291 homers, 1,175 RBI’s, 414 stolen bases, and a .363 on base percentage. His .984 fielding percentage was higher than the league average of .982 for secondbasemen; he won four Gold Gloves and was named to seven All Star teams.

8) Bill Mazeroski – From 1956-1972, “Maz” played in 2,163 games for the Pirates and had a fielding average of .983, higher than the league average of .976 at the time. Defensively he saved 148 runs in his career and won eight Gold Gloves. Named to seven All Star teams, Mazeroski had a career batting average of .260.

7) Ryne Sandberg – A ten time All Star and winner of the 1984 National League MVP, “Ryno” played in 2,164 games from 1981-1997, all but thirteen with the Cubs. He batted .285 with 282 home runs, 1,061 RBI’s, and 344 stolen bases. Sandberg’s fielding average of .989 was higher than the league average of .981, and he saved 57 runs in his career, winning nine Gold Gloves.

6) Joe Morgan – Morgan played 2,527 games at second base from 1962-1984, primarily for the Astros and Reds.  He batted .271, with a .392 on base percentage, 268 home runs, 1,133 RBI’s, 689 stolen bases, and a .981 fielding percentage, compared to the league average of .977. Morgan was a ten time All Star, won five Gold Gloves, and was named the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976.

5) Frankie Frisch - Playing in 2,311 games from 1919-1937 for the Cardinals and Giants, “The Fordham Flash” had a career batting average of .316, with 2,880 hits and 419 stolen bases. His fielding average of .974 was higher than the league average of .965. Frisch was selected as the 1931 National League MVP.

4) Charlie Gehringer – “The Mechanical Man” played in 2,323 games for the Tigers from 1924-1942, batting .320 with 2,839 hits, 184 home runs, 1,427 RBI’s, 181 stolen bases, and a .404 on base percentage. Gehringer’s .976 fielding percentage was higher than the league average of .968; he was named to six All Star teams and won the 1937 American League MVP.

3) Rogers Hornsby – From 1915-1937 “Rajah” played 1,561 games at second base, mainly with St. Louis. He also played shortstop, third base, and the outfield. His career numbers include a .358 batting average, .434 on base percentage, 2,930 hits, 301 home runs, and 1,584 RBI’s. He won the Triple Crown in 1922 and 1925, and the National League MVP in 1925 and 1929.

2) Nap Lajoie – Playing for Cleveland and Philadelphia from 1896-1916, Lajoie spent 2,035 games at second base; he also played first base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield. He had a .963 fielding percentage, compared with the league average of .949 for secondbasemen. His batting numbers include 3,243 hits, 1,599 RBI’s, 380 stolen bases, a .338 batting average, and a .380 on base percentage.

1) Eddie Collins – The American League MVP in 1914, “Cocky” played in 2,650 games at second base for the White Sox and Philadelphia A’s from 1906-1930. Collins amassed 3,315 hits, 1,300 RBI’s, 741 stolen bases, a .333 batting average, and .424 on base percentage. His .970 fielding percentage was higher than the league average of .958.

The 10 best first basemen in Major League Baseball history

The Best First Basemen in Major League Baseball History

 

10) Orlando Cepeda – Played 1,683 games in 17 seasons from 1958-1974 at first base for six teams, primarily the Giants. An eleven time All Star and the 1967 NL MVP, Cepeda batted .297 with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBI’s.

 

9) Johnny Mize – “The Big Cat” played 1,667 games at first base during 15 seasons from 1937-1953 for the Cardinals, Giants, and Yankees, finishing with a .312 career batting average, 359 home runs, and 1,337 RBI’s. He was a ten time All Star selection.

 

8) Tony Perez  -  “Big Dog” was a seven time All Star with a .279 career batting average, 379 home runs, and 1,652 RBI’s in 23 seasons from 1964 to 1986 with the Cincinnati Reds, playing 1,778 games at first base.

 

7) George Sisler -  Playing in 2,055 games during 15 years with Boston, St. Louis, and Washington from 1915-1930, “Gorgeous George” had a .340 career batting average with 2,812 hits and was the 1922 American League MVP.

 

6) Hank Greenberg – Winner of the American League MVP in 1935 and 1940, “Hammerin’ Hank” had a career batting average of .313 with 331 homers, 1,274 RBI’s, a .412 on base percentage, and a .605 slugging percentage in 13 seasons from 1930-1947, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He played 1,138 games at first base and also played the outfield.

 

5) Jake Beckley – “Eagle Eye” played 2,380 games at first base during 20 years in the major leagues from 1888-1907 with the Cardinals, Reds, Pirates, and Giants. He finished his career with a .308 batting average, 2,934 hits and 1,578 RBI’s.

 

4) Willie McCovey -  Playing 2,045 games at first base in a 22 year career from 1959-1980 “Big Mac” hit .270 with 521 home runs and 1,555 RBI’s, mainly with the San Francisco Giants. A six time All Star and winner of the 1969 National League MVP.

 

3)  Eddie Murray – Playing 2,413 games at first base “Steady Eddie” batted .287 with 3,255 hits, 504 home runs, and 1,917 RBI’s during 21 seasons with the Orioles, Dodgers, Indians, Mets, and Angels from 1977-1997. Was an eight time All Star and won three Gold Gloves.

 

2) Jimmie Foxx – Winner of the 1933 Triple Crown, “The Beast” was a three-time American League MVP and was named to nine All Star teams.  Playing in 1,919 games at first base, mainly with Philadelphia and Boston from 1925-1945, Foxx batted .325 with 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI’s, as well as a .428 on-base percentage and .609 slugging percentage. He also played third base, catcher and outfield.

 

1) Lou Gehrig - The “Iron Horse” played in 2,164 games at first base from 1923-1939 for the Yankees. Gehrig batted .340 for his career, with a .447 on base percentage, .632 slugging percentage, 493 home runs and 1,995 RBI’s. A six time All Star, two time AL MVP, and winner of the 1934 Triple Crown, Gehrig also hit .361 with 10 homers and 35 RBI’s in 34 World Series games.

The 10 best catchers in Major League Baseball history

The best Catchers in major league baseball history

 

10) Thurman Munson:  Winner of the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award, and named the American League MVP in 1976, Munson was a seven time All Star selection. The winner of three Gold Gloves, he threw out 44% of base runners attempting to steal, and is credited with saving 34 runs in his career. Munson caught 1,278 games in eleven seasons for the Yankees from 1969-1979, batting .292 with 113 home runs and 701 RBI’s. Also, in 16 World Series games he hit .373 and drove in 12 runs.

 

9) Mickey Cochrane: A two time All Star, Cochrane was named American League MVP in 1928 and 1934. He has a career batting average of .320 with a .419 on-base percentage, 119 home runs, and 830 RBI’s. He threw out 39% of basestealers while catching 1,421 games in 13 seasons for the A’s and Tigers from 1925-1937.

 

8) Ernie Lombardi: A seven time All Star and winner of the 1938 National League MVP award, Lombardi caught 1,544 games in 17 seasons from 1931-1947, mainly with the Reds and Giants. He had a .306 career batting average, 190 home runs, 990 RBI’s, and threw out 48% of attempted base stealers.

 

7) Roy Campanella: Selected as the National League MVP in 1951, 1953, and 1955, Campanella was named to eight All Star teams. He threw out 57% of basestealers while catching 1,183 games in 10 seasons from 1948-1957 for the Dodgers. His career batting numbers include a .276 average, 242 home runs, and 856 RBI’s.

 

6) Gary Carter: Winner of three Gold Gloves, Carter is credited with saving 106 runs and caught 35% of attempted basestealers while catching 2,056 games in 20 seasons from 1974-1992, mainly with the Expos and Mets.  An eleven time All Star, he batted .262 with 324 home runs and 1,225 RBI’s.

 

5) Gabby Hartnett: Catching 1,793 games in 20 seasons from 1922-1941, mainly for the Cubs, Hartnett led the National League catchers in caught stealing percentage six times, with a career mark of 56%. A six time All Star, he had a career batting average of .297 with 236 home runs and 1,179 RBI’s. Hartnett won the 1935 National League MVP award. 

 

4) Bill Dickey:  An eleven time All Star for the Yankees, Dickey threw out 47% of runners attempting to steal and led American League catchers in range factor per game for six seasons.  In 17 years from 1928-1946 Dickey caught 1,708 games, while batting .313 with 202 home runs and 1,209 RBI’s.

 

3) Ivan Rodriguez: A thirteen time Gold Glove winner and fourteen time All Star, Rodriguez won the 1999 American League MVP award.  Catching 2,427 games in 21 seasons from 1991-2011, primarily for the Rangers and Tigers, he threw out 46% of runners attempting to steal and is credited with saving 167 runs in his career. Rodriguez batted .296 with 311 home runs and 1,332 RBI’s.

 

2) Johnny Bench: Winner of ten Gold Gloves and a fourteen time All Star, Bench won the National League MVP award in 1970 and 1972. Catching 1,742 games in 17 seasons for the Reds, he threw out 43% of basestealers and also saved 97 runs in his career. Bench’s career marks include a .267 average, 389 home runs, and 1,376 RBI’s.

 

1) Yogi Berra:  Selected to the All Star team 15 times, Berra won the American League MVP award in 1951, 1954, and 1955. He caught 1,699 games in 19 seasons and threw out 49% of basestealers to go along with a .285 career batting average, 358 home runs, and 1,430 RBI’s.