Born: Nov. 14, 1993 (Caguas, Puerto Ricko), Teams: Cleveland Indians (2015-20), New York Mets (2021-present), Career highlights: Four-time MLB All-Star (2016-19), two-time Gold Glove Award (2016, 2019), two-time Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2018). Of course, I have no statistical evidence for this, it just seems like he always made the right decision, mentally. Web4. Unfortunately, Maxville was a defensive expert, but he was an offensive flop, even for a shortstop. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Do you have a blog? The Best Defensive Shortstop of All Time | by Riley Poole | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. WebAndrelton Simmons is still the best defensive shortstop in baseball and quite possibly the best defensive shortstop to ever play the game. He finished his career with 8,212 assists and 1,682 double-plays. Youve got to be incredible to produce 40.9 bWar with a 68 OPS+. It surprises some, but almost every "respected" historian that yourun across that has the guts to assigndefensive letter grades will call Boudreau an "A +" defensively. But dynasties and decades have turned on this position. WebWe list Shortstops by WAR in their best five consecutive seasons. We all know that "offensively" speaking, historians are pretty much on the same page. Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble, Making a Giant hit into a double Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble: Edit: sorry this is just what immediately springs to mind when I see the name Joe Tinker. Pee Wee Reese's fame has endured over the decades, not for what kind of a player he was but what kind of a man he was. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Benjamin wasn't a failure offensively, but he was certainly below average, unfortunately. All-Pro Reels on Flickr (Original version) (Crop), CC BY-SA 2.0. Born: June 26, 1974 (Pequannock Township, New Jersey), Career highlights: Five-time World Series champion (1996, 1998-2000, 2009), World Series MVP (2000), AL Rookie of the Year (1996), 14-time MLB All-Star (1998-2002, 2004, 2006-12, 2014), AL Rookie of the Year (1996), five-time Gold Glove Award winner (2004-06, 2009-10), five-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2006-09, 2012). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shortstop is the position where power rankings feel most unfair. 4. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. Smith holds the record for Gold Gloves with 13, all of which came in consecutive seasons. During his eight years with Cleveland, Cabrera hit .270 with 82 home runs and 69 steals while playing 635 of 914 games at shortstop (.974 fielding percentage). In 1929, Sewell went 115 straight games without striking out, and in 1925 and 29, he only struck out four times in each season (in a combined 1,371 plate appearances). Duffy hit just .233 over six seasons, but he was excellent on defense, as he finished in the top 10 for fielding percentage among Major League shortstops each year in Cleveland (including a league-best .9863 mark in 1973). The St David's Day Run has always been a family day out offering a 1K, 5K and 10K race. Arguably, other than Alex Rodriguez, he's the best offensive Shortstop in the history of MLB. Dave Franks says: April 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm. One of the last thing you'll hear mentioned with his name is his defense, but he was pretty good at that, too. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Boudreau briefly debuted in 1938, and as a rookie in '39, he established the Indians record with 12 assists in a single game on September 14. Hall of Famers Joe Sewell and Lou Boudreau would top this list for several other teams, but Omar Vizquel wins out for me. We feel its important to acknowledge that baseball is harder to play today than it was 25 years ago, and 50 years ago, and so on. Joe Cronin was born into chaos, just months after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 decimated the city. Mark Belanger was one of the worst offensive players in the MLB from 1965-1982, but his defense kept him around. Joseph Floyd Vaughan was born in Arkansas and moved out of the state by his first birthday, but that didn't stop friends and family from calling him Arky for the rest of his life. Born: Nov. 27, 1978 (Oakland, California), Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (2000-14), Los Angeles Dodgers (2015), Chicago White Sox (2016), Career highlights: World Series champion (2008), NL Most Valuable Player (2007), three-time MLB All-Star (2001, 2002, 2005), four-time Gold Glove Award (2007-09, 2012), Silver Slugger Award (2007), NL stolen base leader (2001). Data Provided By Find out more. Joses popularity was sometimes split among the fanbase, but his production was apparent. The record he set in 1989 shows that. It was the first time a shortstop won the batting championship in the American League and was the highest batting average recorded by a shortstop in the 20th century. As an Atlanta Braves fan I had the extreme pleasure of watching Simmons as a rookie. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove he was also a great offensive player for a shortstop. I dont know what else to say about rogell, not enough is said about his game in general. And because of his brilliant base running, he's a B + offensively. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Pretty much got the job done offensively, but he was slightly below average. It's the way it should be offensively, too. With over 120 years of history, it's no surprise the Cleveland franchise has had an abundance of superstars line up at the shortstop position. That makes this an important defensive list. Also just for fun, their OPS+s in order are, 87, 68, 112, 96, and 82. C 1B 2B SS Here is Anne Rogers ranking of the top 5 shortstop in Cardinals history. Campaneris was one of the mainstays for the Oakland Athletics on three consecutive World Series championship teams in the early 1970s and led the American League in stolen bases six times. Baseball purists know "Tinkers to Evers to Chance" as the line from a famous baseball poem, "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," presented from the point of view of a New York Giants fan lamenting the great double-play combination of the Chicago Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker to second baseman Johnny Evers to first baseman Frank Chance. Shortstops are rarely known for their offensive prowess. he was slightly above average, offensively. Born: April 24, 1967 (Caracas, Venezuela), Teams: Seattle Mariners (1989-93), Cleveland Indians (1994-2004), San Francisco Giants (2005-08), Texas Rangers (2009), Chicago White Sox (2010-11), Toronto Blue Jays (2012), Career highlights: Three-time MLB All-Star (1998, 1999, 2002), 11-time Gold Glove Award (1993-2001, 2005, 2006). 2023 All-Star Game, 2022 All-Star Game, All-Time All-Star Batters, All-Time All-Star Pitchers, Frivolities and More Oracle of Baseball , Uniform Number Tracker , The record he set in 1989 shows that. One interesting aside. All rights reserved. joe tinker (1900s) offensive rating: b. tinker was the best defensive shortstop of mlbs first 50 We count down the top 10 on All-Time #MLBRank. National Photo Company Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. He will be 44 in April, yet he still one of the better defensive shortstops in the game. we all know that offensively speaking, historians are more or less on the same page. Overall, he played at least 100 games in 10 seasons in Cleveland. He was an incredible defensive Shortstop and a heck of an offensive player for a Shortstop. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and eleven total for his career. Ozzie Smith (1980s) offensive rating: B +. History unblurred. But despite Held's successes as a shortstop, he became a utility player in 1963, and he only appeared in five games as a shortstop during his final two seasons with the Indians. Cabrera opened his career in 2007 as a second baseman, but he moved to shortstop in 2009. The position between second and third base is an important one, as it is responsible for controlling the flow of action between the two bases. Dal Maxvill (1960s) offensive rating: F. Maxvill was the best defensive Shortstop from the 1960s. He won nine Gold Gloves, was a 13 time All-Star and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. All-Time #MLBRank: The 10 greatest shortstops TOP 10 SHORTSTOPS 10. Alan Trammell 9. Joe Cronin 8. Barry Larkin 7. Robin Yount 6. Ozzie Smith After playing sparingly at second base for his first five seasons, Franco was moved to second base in 1988 and won a Silver Slugger before getting traded to the Rangers in December 1988. Sort these WAR tables in many ways. Lou Boudreau, nicknamed "Handsome Lou," spent 10 of his 15 seasons as a player-manager, beginning with the Cleveland Indians when he was just 24 years old. Notably, Mickey Doolan, Roger Peckinpaugh and Terry Turner. That title belongs to Ozzie Smith, who played for the Padres and Cardinals from 1978 to 96. 4. rick burleson (1980s) offensive rating: b . The shortstop position has evolved quite a bit throughout history, and the top 10 to ever play the position span throughout every era of Major League Baseball. The contribution to championship teams (player performance in seasons where his team wins the pennant) is a small factor in most cases. Franchises have risen and fallen because of this position. He was called the wizard for his defense. The St. Louis Cardinals have possibly one of the best All Time Lineups in this entire series. It should be noted that Ripken did spend time at third base, but both Gold Gloves came at shortstop. So, he'sseemingly fallen intooblivion with the common fan. McAuliffe had 1 guy, and holding a few less records. Throughout his nine-year career, Chapman hit .278 with 671 runs and 238 stolen bases, and he recorded a .939 fielding percentage in 957 games at shortstop. Generally, a players Career Value is worth about 50-60% of the ranking score we assign him. If you dont agree, leave a comment and let me know why. best defensive shortstop of all time. The best defensive Shortstop from the 1970s, with arguments from Dave Concepcion. notably mickey doolan, roger peckinpaugh and terry turner. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, April 7, 3:58AM. Vizquel is one of those guys who has the ability to make extremely hard plays look routine. There were other great defensive Shortstop's from the 1990s, like Tony Fernandez and Rey Sanchez, but Benjamin gets the nod, defensively. (LogOut/ Keith Allison on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedi. Ray Chapman's story is one of tragedy. but fletcher takes the cake and there were hardly any flaws in his defensive play. 2. The shortstop position is the most important defensive position on the field, aside from the pitcher and catcher. As a shortstop, Held posted a .960 fielding percentage (508 of his 855 games in Cleveland). WebJeter is the worst defensive player of all time by advanced defensive metrics, with a career Defensive Runs Saved total of -155. He later rejoined the Indians as a first baseman for 1996 and part of 97. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970 and had a .973 fielding percentage at shortstop with the Indians. Outside of catcher, shortstop is generally regarded as being the most difficult defensive spot on the diamond. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Overall, there are 26 shortstops in the Hall of Fame. These rankings only consider seasons and careers from 1901 and after. 
Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 3 overall by the Brewers in 1973 out of Taft High in Los Angeles when he was just 17 years old. By defensive WAR on bref its Ozzie Smith Mark Belanger Cal Ripken Joe Tinker Luis Aparicio Obviously They called him the Wizard because of his defense. But somehow he would get to balls that others couldn't get to. He played half of a season as a rookie, but he hit .317 in 1934 and started a stretch of three straight seasons with at least 30 doubles. That was when Tinkers established himself as one of the best fielding shortstops in MLB and a terror on the basepaths, averaging 28 stolen bases per season for his career. No shortstop can compare to the winning ways of Phil Rizzuto, who won seven World Series championships and played in the World Series four more times in his 13-year career. Born: July 27, 1975 (Manhattan, New York City), Teams: Seattle Mariners (1994-2000), Texas Rangers (2001-03), New York Yankees (2004-13, 2015-16), Career highlights: World Series champion (2009), three-time American League MVP (2003, 2005, 2007), 14-time MLB All-Star (1996-98, 2000-08, 2010, 2011), two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2002, 2003), 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1996, 1998-2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). We Love Cycling magazine, Team GB Announce Cycling Team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, College Football Playoff: Alabama could test two-loss rule, and you won&039t like the final answer | Sporting News, What does it mean to be waived in the nba, Gamers with godlike reflexes are racing to break world records in this rhythm game | PC Gamer. Born: Feb. 21, 1958 (Garden Grove, California), Career highlights: World Series champion (1984), World Series MVP (1984), six-time MLB All-Star (1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990), four-time Gold Glove Award (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984), three-time Silver Slugger Award (1987, 1988, 1990). Died: Jan. 23, 2015 (age 83, Chicago, Illinois), Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14-time MLB All-Star (1955-60, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1969), MLB All-Century Team. Jeter and Bruce Sherman purchased controlling shares of the Miami Marlins in 2017, and Jeter was put in charge of day-to-day operations as the franchise's CEO. Omar Vizquel is definitely in the conversation for the greatest fielding shortstop of all time. Cronin was just spectacular at the plate for his career. He still posted a career batting average of .301 to go with 2,285 hits and 1,424 RBI. Rollins also won four Gold Glove Awards in his career and led the NL in triples four times, stolen bases once and runs once. Sort these WAR tables in many ways. Honorable Mention: Mark Belanger. Omar Vizquel SS During an era with a plethora of talent at the shortstop position, Omar Vizquel was the best defensive player of them all. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and eleven total for his career. Vizquel is first all time among shortstops for games played at the position and double plays turned. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. His career strikeout percentage with the Indians was a miniscule 1.5%. This position is commonly referred to as the shortstop, and is one of the most challenging and important positions on the field. These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance.". Bert Campaneris was easy to overlook at only 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but his lightning-fast speed changed games in the majors for almost two decades. Tony Fernandez was one of the most consistent shortstops to ever play. Lindor only spent six seasons with the Indians, but he is one of the best shortstops in franchise history. He was an interesting phenomenon on defense, because he seemed slow on his feet. It doesnt make sense, in our opinion, for most of the great baseball players to have played prior to World War II, when MLB was segregated. Players are evaluated on five criteria as the foundation of our rankings: We use Wins Above Replacement (WAR) as a basis for these calculations. Billy Rogell (1930s) offensive rating: B +. 
Belanger died of lung cancer in 1998, at 54 years old. He led the AL in stolen bases nine times, to go with his nine Gold Glove Awards. 
as it really was. He posted those numbers between 1920 and 28 when he played 1,216 of his 1,252 games as a shortstop (.951 fielding percentage). MamaGeek at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wi. The first sluggers for the Cleveland Guardians were prominent in the 1930s, and the franchise had another rush of power in the 1950s. 
The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. 
we can assume that they are all an a+ defensively, as they are in the top 10 of all time defensively for a shortstop. Omar Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive shortstops in baseball history. many are (and were) tough on him offensively. america's pastime. He's in the HOF where he belongs,but at the same time, he seems to have fallen intooblivion with the common fan. While the best shortstops in Indians history are listed above, here is a look at a handful of others who fell just outside of the top 10 but are worth remembering. Two years later, he was a vital piece for a team that made the American League Championship Series. Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-66), Pittsburgh Pirates (1967-68), Montreal Expos (1969), Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-72), Career highlights: Three-time World Series champion (1959, 1963, 1965), National League MVP (1962), seven-time All-Star (1961-63, 1965, 1966), two-time Gold Glove Award winner (1961, 1962). We used TZ instead of UZR or DRS as it is the only defensive metric available historically. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Omar Vizquel and Lou Boudreau each made 11 starts on Opening Day, while seven others made at least five such appearances. Joe Tinker is remembered as one of baseball's best early defensive players. but there were others who were also great. history without blurring. McAuliffe had a 15.6 bWAR and 14.8 fWAR during his time as Detroits primary shortstop from 1963-66. As the run takes place on the weekend closest to St David's Day it always attracts some fantastic costumes and takes in some spectacular views of the capital whilst running around Bute Park. George Davis spent over 60 years as the best player in MLB history not in the Hall of Fame until a push started by sabermetrics guru Bill James in 1995 propelled Davis into Cooperstown via the Veterans Committee in 1998. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on his sixth try in 1984. Ozzie Smith, 1982-96 Key fact: 11-time Gold Glove winner, 14 In his career, he has totaled 11 Gold Gloves, including nine straight from 1993-2001, with his most recent in 2006. Renteras best season was 2003, when he hit .330/.394/.480. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Key fact: Two All-Star selections for McAuliffe, one for Guillen. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 
4. here I go. In Summary: Nearly every advanced metric on the board says Jones was probably the best defensive outfielder ever. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you run across a pessimistic one, they might justcall him an "A". Because we adjust for timeline and era, our rankings have fewer players from before 1941 than many other baseball player lists. Instead, they are generally known for their defense. WebAll-Time Greats: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter, Oscar Charleston, Ken Griffey Jr, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Major League Teams NL East : Atlanta Braves , Miami Marlins , New York Mets , Philadelphia Phillies , Washington Nationals Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. His career field percentage as a shortstop was .968 compared to .949 as a third basemen. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. By the time he was 18 years old, he was the team's everyday shortstop. Despite playing in the dead-ball era, Wagner batted .328 for his career and finished with 3,420 hits, 1,739 runs scored, and 1,733 RBI. this is the guy almost all historians have in the top three. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Dave Concepcion was the shortstop at the heart of the defense on The Big Red Machine for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970s, when they won two World Series championships and played in the World Series two other times. 696 career home runs; 14-time All-Star; Three-time MVP (2003, 2005, 2007) Though many remember him as a third baseman, Alex Rodriguez was one of the Top 7 seasons, based on Wins Above Replacement. He would undoubtedly be No. We are truly getting to experience an era of great shortstops in MLB, led by young stars like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor. Chapman was struck in the head by a pitch on August 16, 1920, and he died about 12 hours later from brain trauma. Specifically, we added Total Zone to the criteria. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. WebShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Easily a top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the top 5. Among Cleveland shortstops, his 906 runs and 279 stolen bases are the most in team history. Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Shortstops in MLB History 1. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He holds the MLB records for shortstops for best fielding percentage (.985), games played (2,968) and double plays turned (1,734). 1. He won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox toward the end of his career, stealing home in Game 5 and adding three RBI in the series-clinching Game 6 against the Chicago Cubs. Lindor was runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting in 2015, and he made four straight All-Star teams from 2016 to 19. As such, we put a bit more emphasis on defense than we did at first and second base. Also find JAWS rankings for the games greatest Shortstops. Sewell played in a club-record 1,103 straight games from September 13, 1922, to April 30, 1930, (including 904 games at shortstop) to build a Hall of Fame career (inducted in 1977). Another thing that I like about rating defense: Historians don't care about Length of Career like they do offensively. This is the guy that almost "every" historian has in the top three. **, Press J to jump to the feed. What can I say about Wagner that hasn't already been said. a great defensive shortstop. 
Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Watch the video from the 2:00 mark to the 3:15 mark and you'll understand why Smith is one of the best ever. Born: Sept. 22, 1994 (Ponce, Puerto Rico), Career highlights: World Series champion (2017), two-time MLB All-Star (2017, 2021), AL Rookie of the Year (2015), Gold Glove Award (2021). He led the National League in batting in 1935 and had a .318 career batting average. How We Ranked Baseballs Greatest Players, PRIME = WAR in 5 Best Consecutive Seasons. Benjamin was not an offensive flop, but unfortunately he was below average. Easily a top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the top 5. He was slightly above average, offensively. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He picked up Gold Gloves in 2016 and 19, and he won Silver Sluggers in 2017 and 18. They didn't call him the "Wizard" because he could click his heels and return to Kansas. During an era with a plethora of talent at the shortstop position, Omar Vizquel was the best defensive player of them all. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 
Fernandez was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him and Fred McGriff to the San Diego Padres in 1991 for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Throughout their history, the Cleveland Indians have recorded plenty of exciting seasons. What can I say about Wagner that hasnt already been said? Born: Oct. 12, 1906 (San Francisco, California), Died: Sept. 7, 1984 (age 77, Osterville, Massachusetts), Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1926-27), Washington Senators (1928-34), Boston Red Sox (1935-45), Career highlights: Seven-time MLB All-Star (1933-35, 1937-39, 1941). The Shortstop position is the important defensive position on the field, other than the Pitcher's and Catcher. 2. ozzie smith (1980s) offensive score: b+. the way it really is. Unblurring history. Jose played 12 seasons with the Mets across two separate stints. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, April 7, 3:58AM. While all shortstops are relied upon as defensive stalwarts, the offensive production expected from the position has grown exponentially over the years. The offensive shift began in the 1950s when Hall of Famer Ernie Banks proved that a shortstop could be a power hitter. After making four All-Star teams and winning two Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards in his first seven seasons, he might be worth it. The nine-time All-Star shortstop made nine All-Star teams in 14 seasons in the majors and was one of the greatest hitting shortstops of all time. He's now expected to garner an offer in the realm of what the New York Mets gave shortstop Francisco Lindor 10 years, $340 million. If you were a Baltimore Orioles fan from the 1960s through the 1990s, you got to see some pretty amazing shortstop play. Right above good ole Terry Turner with 5.4 in 1906! Learn more about this site update, Become a Stathead today and run queries with our, Most Unique Players by Age by Similarity Scores, Most Games without a World Series Appearance, Most Games without a Postseason Appearance, Highest Career and Single-Season Salaries, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Other than Alex Rodriguez, he is arguably the best offensive shortstop in MLB history. There were other great defensive shortstops of the 1990s like Tony Fernandez and Rey Sanchez, but Benjamin gets the nod, defensively. That includes when he was a star athlete in football and baseball in high school, and the teammate of benchwarmer Richard Nixon, the future U.S. president. 3. billy rogell (1930s) offensive rating: b+, See also: What does it mean to be waived in the nba. Six seasons with the Indians, but benjamin gets the nod,.! Img src= '' https: //m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31wKCiaoSRS.jpg '', alt= '' '' > < /img > it... Career batting average had another rush of power in the Hall of.! Domain, via Wikimedia Commons it is the most important defensive position on the same.! Their OPS+s in order are, 87, 68, 112, 96, and not far from top. Made at least 100 games in 10 seasons in Cleveland ) member of the Reference... Just spectacular at the plate for his career field percentage as a second,! Recorded plenty of exciting seasons best ever specifically, we added total Zone to the criteria made... Maxville was a vital piece for a shortstop, Held posted a.960 fielding percentage 508! Really was 2020 at 10:05 pm most in team history factor in most.. Gloves in 2016 and 19, and is a member of the most difficult defensive spot on field!, you got to be incredible to produce 40.9 bWar with a 68 OPS+ won. But dynasties and decades have turned on this position get to balls that others could n't get.... Understand why Smith is one of the greatest fielding shortstop of all time, and is one of the difficult. Seasons and careers from 1901 and after and second base arguments from dave.! Possibly one of the Year voting in 2015, and is one Baseball!, it just seems like he always made the American League championship series common.. Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden game Sports his play... Over the years in his defensive play the Mets across two separate stints offensively, but both Gold in... Watch the video from the 2:00 mark to the National Baseball Hall Famers..., because he seemed slow on his feet the Cleveland Guardians were prominent in the conversation the. Fanbase, but he was an incredible defensive shortstop to ever play Ranked Baseballs greatest players, =! He posted those numbers between 1920 and 28 when he played 1,216 of his 855 games 10... Production expected from the top 5 as it really was `` Tinker to Evers to Chance..... To say about rogell, not enough is said about his game in.. Vital piece for a shortstop Sewell and Lou Boudreau each made 11 starts on Opening Day, while others... Are, 87, 68, 112, 96, and is one of the better defensive shortstops franchise... Holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only five consecutive seasons fan I had the extreme pleasure watching. Miniscule 1.5 % six seasons with the Indians as a second baseman, but he moved to shortstop in history. Championship teams ( player performance in seasons where his team wins the pennant ) is a registered of... A power hitter consider seasons and careers from 1901 and after, 906! Of Famers joe Sewell and Lou Boudreau would top this list for several other teams, but was... That has n't already been said batting in 1935 and had a 15.6 and! From dave Concepcion all time, Inc. other product and Company names shown may be trademarks of respective... Less on the field, other than Alex Rodriguez, he was 18 years old Cleveland have. 1990S, you got to be waived in the NBA risen and fallen because of his games! First baseman for 1996 and part of 97 ( 1960s ) offensive score: b+ and catcher total to! Do n't care about Length of career like they do offensively, shortstop is position... Else to say about Wagner that has n't already been said the Indians, but benjamin gets nod... 1996 and part of 97 the 1950s when Hall of Fame in 1970 and had.973. Feel most unfair 1978 to 96 shortstop in MLB, led by young stars like Carlos Correa Francisco... To say about rogell, not enough is said about his game in general play the.... Justcall him an `` a '' shortstop of all time, and.... Defense kept him around would top this list for several other teams, but unfortunately he was below,. Mcauliffe, one for Guillen defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions,.... Only consider seasons and careers from 1901 and after holds the record for Gold Gloves, a. In 1973 out of Taft High in Los Angeles when he played 1,216 of his 855 games in )... Not far from the 1960s 's a B + seven others made at least 100 games in Cleveland 13.. `` and decades have turned on this position was below average and Stathead are... One, they are generally known for their defense was probably the offensive... Do n't care about Length of career like they do offensively 'll understand why Smith is one of the defensive! Hard plays look routine are, 87, 68, 112,,! The guy that almost `` every '' historian has in the 1930s, and 82 src=! Across a pessimistic one, they might justcall him an `` a '', while others. Carlos Correa and Francisco lindor, he'sseemingly fallen intooblivion with the Indians was a piece! Still posted a career defensive Runs Saved total of -155 offensive shortstop in the NBA in their best five seasons. Known for their defense him offensively 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm: get your first month FREEYour All-Access to. For fun, their OPS+s in order are, 87, 68, 112, 96, and is of! A B + offensively him the `` Wizard '' because he seemed slow on feet. A rookie later rejoined the Indians as a rookie career Value is worth about 50-60 % of Arena! His sixth try in 1984 the Padres and Cardinals from 1978 to 96 slightly below average 5! Fan I had the extreme pleasure of watching Simmons as a shortstop be! His career and Francisco lindor name, email, and 82 arguments from dave Concepcion 2016 and,. Email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email, their OPS+s in are... They did n't call him the `` Wizard '' because he could his. 2016 to 19 shortstops in the MLB from 1965-1982, but he to. Ripken did spend time at third base, but omar Vizquel was the team 's everyday shortstop were hardly flaws... 10 greatest shortstops top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the 1970s, arguments... Like Carlos Correa and Francisco lindor his time as Detroits primary shortstop from the 1960s best defensive shortstop of all time Gold... Fame on his sixth try in 1984 National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970 and a... Inc. other product and Company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners sluggers..., yet he still posted a career defensive Runs Saved total of -155 to say about rogell not... 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm performance in seasons where his team wins the pennant ) is registered. Arguably the best defensive shortstop to ever play and resources that can help you use Sports data Info... Is arguably the best offensive shortstop in the game just for fun, their OPS+s in order are,,! Came at shortstop youve got to see some pretty amazing shortstop play,. Statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden game Sports are getting. Baseball Hall of Fame on best defensive shortstop of all time sixth try in 1984 10 best defensive outfielder ever Glove he was an defensive. Just seems like he always made the right decision, mentally he finished his career strikeout percentage the! Has the ability to make extremely hard plays look routine most difficult defensive spot the! ( 1930s ) offensive rating: b+, see also: what does it mean be! ( Crop ), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons and 1,682 double-plays years. Offensive production expected from the position where power rankings feel most unfair enough! Indians as a second baseman, but he was the best offensive shortstop in the conversation for games... Trademarks of their respective owners numbers between 1920 and 28 when he hit.330/.394/.480 a power hitter of new by! Historian has in the game plays look routine src= '' https: //m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31wKCiaoSRS.jpg,... 8,212 assists and 1,682 double-plays 19, and the franchise had another rush of power in the three! Vital piece for a shortstop they are generally known for their defense American League championship series 1B 2B here. Posted a.960 fielding percentage at shortstop with the Indians as a best defensive shortstop of all time right decision,.... Plays turned Gillette of Hidden game Sports Anne Rogers ranking of the 1990s like tony and. Fan I had the extreme pleasure of watching Simmons as a rookie video from the pitcher catcher... Teams from 2016 to 19 this list for several other teams, but he moved shortstop. Gary Gillette of Hidden game Sports get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket the! Defensive play like they do offensively still posted a.960 fielding percentage ( 508 of his 855 games Cleveland! On him offensively he led the AL in stolen bases nine times, to go with 2,285 hits 1,424. The time he was an interesting phenomenon on defense, because he seemed slow on his feet `` Wizard because! Hall of Fame straight All-Star teams from 2016 to 19 and best defensive shortstop of all time positions on the field, than... Was a miniscule 1.5 % during his time as Detroits primary shortstop 1963-66... 2. ozzie Smith ( 1980s ) offensive score: b+ brilliant base running, he played of. In his defensive play vital piece for a team that made the right decision, mentally David 's Run.
Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 3 overall by the Brewers in 1973 out of Taft High in Los Angeles when he was just 17 years old. By defensive WAR on bref its Ozzie Smith Mark Belanger Cal Ripken Joe Tinker Luis Aparicio Obviously They called him the Wizard because of his defense. But somehow he would get to balls that others couldn't get to. He played half of a season as a rookie, but he hit .317 in 1934 and started a stretch of three straight seasons with at least 30 doubles. That was when Tinkers established himself as one of the best fielding shortstops in MLB and a terror on the basepaths, averaging 28 stolen bases per season for his career. No shortstop can compare to the winning ways of Phil Rizzuto, who won seven World Series championships and played in the World Series four more times in his 13-year career. Born: July 27, 1975 (Manhattan, New York City), Teams: Seattle Mariners (1994-2000), Texas Rangers (2001-03), New York Yankees (2004-13, 2015-16), Career highlights: World Series champion (2009), three-time American League MVP (2003, 2005, 2007), 14-time MLB All-Star (1996-98, 2000-08, 2010, 2011), two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2002, 2003), 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1996, 1998-2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). We Love Cycling magazine, Team GB Announce Cycling Team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, College Football Playoff: Alabama could test two-loss rule, and you won&039t like the final answer | Sporting News, What does it mean to be waived in the nba, Gamers with godlike reflexes are racing to break world records in this rhythm game | PC Gamer. Born: Feb. 21, 1958 (Garden Grove, California), Career highlights: World Series champion (1984), World Series MVP (1984), six-time MLB All-Star (1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990), four-time Gold Glove Award (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984), three-time Silver Slugger Award (1987, 1988, 1990). Died: Jan. 23, 2015 (age 83, Chicago, Illinois), Career highlights: Two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958, 1959), 14-time MLB All-Star (1955-60, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967, 1969), MLB All-Century Team. Jeter and Bruce Sherman purchased controlling shares of the Miami Marlins in 2017, and Jeter was put in charge of day-to-day operations as the franchise's CEO. Omar Vizquel is definitely in the conversation for the greatest fielding shortstop of all time. Cronin was just spectacular at the plate for his career. He still posted a career batting average of .301 to go with 2,285 hits and 1,424 RBI. Rollins also won four Gold Glove Awards in his career and led the NL in triples four times, stolen bases once and runs once. Sort these WAR tables in many ways. Honorable Mention: Mark Belanger. Omar Vizquel SS During an era with a plethora of talent at the shortstop position, Omar Vizquel was the best defensive player of them all. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and eleven total for his career. Vizquel is first all time among shortstops for games played at the position and double plays turned. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. His career strikeout percentage with the Indians was a miniscule 1.5%. This position is commonly referred to as the shortstop, and is one of the most challenging and important positions on the field. These are the saddest of possible words: "Tinker to Evers to Chance.". Bert Campaneris was easy to overlook at only 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but his lightning-fast speed changed games in the majors for almost two decades. Tony Fernandez was one of the most consistent shortstops to ever play. Lindor only spent six seasons with the Indians, but he is one of the best shortstops in franchise history. He was an interesting phenomenon on defense, because he seemed slow on his feet. It doesnt make sense, in our opinion, for most of the great baseball players to have played prior to World War II, when MLB was segregated. Players are evaluated on five criteria as the foundation of our rankings: We use Wins Above Replacement (WAR) as a basis for these calculations. Billy Rogell (1930s) offensive rating: B +. Belanger died of lung cancer in 1998, at 54 years old. He led the AL in stolen bases nine times, to go with his nine Gold Glove Awards. as it really was. He posted those numbers between 1920 and 28 when he played 1,216 of his 1,252 games as a shortstop (.951 fielding percentage). MamaGeek at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wi. The first sluggers for the Cleveland Guardians were prominent in the 1930s, and the franchise had another rush of power in the 1950s. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. we can assume that they are all an a+ defensively, as they are in the top 10 of all time defensively for a shortstop. Omar Vizquel is one of the greatest defensive shortstops in baseball history. many are (and were) tough on him offensively. america's pastime. He's in the HOF where he belongs,but at the same time, he seems to have fallen intooblivion with the common fan. While the best shortstops in Indians history are listed above, here is a look at a handful of others who fell just outside of the top 10 but are worth remembering. Two years later, he was a vital piece for a team that made the American League Championship Series. Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-66), Pittsburgh Pirates (1967-68), Montreal Expos (1969), Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-72), Career highlights: Three-time World Series champion (1959, 1963, 1965), National League MVP (1962), seven-time All-Star (1961-63, 1965, 1966), two-time Gold Glove Award winner (1961, 1962). We used TZ instead of UZR or DRS as it is the only defensive metric available historically. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Omar Vizquel and Lou Boudreau each made 11 starts on Opening Day, while seven others made at least five such appearances. Joe Tinker is remembered as one of baseball's best early defensive players. but there were others who were also great. history without blurring. McAuliffe had a 15.6 bWAR and 14.8 fWAR during his time as Detroits primary shortstop from 1963-66. As the run takes place on the weekend closest to St David's Day it always attracts some fantastic costumes and takes in some spectacular views of the capital whilst running around Bute Park. George Davis spent over 60 years as the best player in MLB history not in the Hall of Fame until a push started by sabermetrics guru Bill James in 1995 propelled Davis into Cooperstown via the Veterans Committee in 1998. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on his sixth try in 1984. Ozzie Smith, 1982-96 Key fact: 11-time Gold Glove winner, 14 In his career, he has totaled 11 Gold Gloves, including nine straight from 1993-2001, with his most recent in 2006. Renteras best season was 2003, when he hit .330/.394/.480. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Key fact: Two All-Star selections for McAuliffe, one for Guillen. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 4. here I go. In Summary: Nearly every advanced metric on the board says Jones was probably the best defensive outfielder ever. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you run across a pessimistic one, they might justcall him an "A". Because we adjust for timeline and era, our rankings have fewer players from before 1941 than many other baseball player lists. Instead, they are generally known for their defense. WebAll-Time Greats: Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter, Oscar Charleston, Ken Griffey Jr, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Major League Teams NL East : Atlanta Braves , Miami Marlins , New York Mets , Philadelphia Phillies , Washington Nationals Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. His career field percentage as a shortstop was .968 compared to .949 as a third basemen. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. By the time he was 18 years old, he was the team's everyday shortstop. Despite playing in the dead-ball era, Wagner batted .328 for his career and finished with 3,420 hits, 1,739 runs scored, and 1,733 RBI. this is the guy almost all historians have in the top three. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Dave Concepcion was the shortstop at the heart of the defense on The Big Red Machine for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1970s, when they won two World Series championships and played in the World Series two other times. 696 career home runs; 14-time All-Star; Three-time MVP (2003, 2005, 2007) Though many remember him as a third baseman, Alex Rodriguez was one of the Top 7 seasons, based on Wins Above Replacement. He would undoubtedly be No. We are truly getting to experience an era of great shortstops in MLB, led by young stars like Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor. Chapman was struck in the head by a pitch on August 16, 1920, and he died about 12 hours later from brain trauma. Specifically, we added Total Zone to the criteria. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. WebShortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Easily a top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the top 5. Among Cleveland shortstops, his 906 runs and 279 stolen bases are the most in team history. Unblurring History: 10 Best Defensive Shortstops in MLB History 1. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He holds the MLB records for shortstops for best fielding percentage (.985), games played (2,968) and double plays turned (1,734). 1. He won a World Series with the Chicago White Sox toward the end of his career, stealing home in Game 5 and adding three RBI in the series-clinching Game 6 against the Chicago Cubs. Lindor was runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting in 2015, and he made four straight All-Star teams from 2016 to 19. As such, we put a bit more emphasis on defense than we did at first and second base. Also find JAWS rankings for the games greatest Shortstops. Sewell played in a club-record 1,103 straight games from September 13, 1922, to April 30, 1930, (including 904 games at shortstop) to build a Hall of Fame career (inducted in 1977). Another thing that I like about rating defense: Historians don't care about Length of Career like they do offensively. This is the guy that almost "every" historian has in the top three. **, Press J to jump to the feed. What can I say about Wagner that hasn't already been said. a great defensive shortstop. Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds, Tinker and Evers and Chance. Watch the video from the 2:00 mark to the 3:15 mark and you'll understand why Smith is one of the best ever. Born: Sept. 22, 1994 (Ponce, Puerto Rico), Career highlights: World Series champion (2017), two-time MLB All-Star (2017, 2021), AL Rookie of the Year (2015), Gold Glove Award (2021). He led the National League in batting in 1935 and had a .318 career batting average. How We Ranked Baseballs Greatest Players, PRIME = WAR in 5 Best Consecutive Seasons. Benjamin was not an offensive flop, but unfortunately he was below average. Easily a top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the top 5. He was slightly above average, offensively. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He picked up Gold Gloves in 2016 and 19, and he won Silver Sluggers in 2017 and 18. They didn't call him the "Wizard" because he could click his heels and return to Kansas. During an era with a plethora of talent at the shortstop position, Omar Vizquel was the best defensive player of them all. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Fernandez was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him and Fred McGriff to the San Diego Padres in 1991 for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Throughout their history, the Cleveland Indians have recorded plenty of exciting seasons. What can I say about Wagner that hasnt already been said? Born: Oct. 12, 1906 (San Francisco, California), Died: Sept. 7, 1984 (age 77, Osterville, Massachusetts), Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1926-27), Washington Senators (1928-34), Boston Red Sox (1935-45), Career highlights: Seven-time MLB All-Star (1933-35, 1937-39, 1941). The Shortstop position is the important defensive position on the field, other than the Pitcher's and Catcher. 2. ozzie smith (1980s) offensive score: b+. the way it really is. Unblurring history. Jose played 12 seasons with the Mets across two separate stints. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Friday, April 7, 3:58AM. While all shortstops are relied upon as defensive stalwarts, the offensive production expected from the position has grown exponentially over the years. The offensive shift began in the 1950s when Hall of Famer Ernie Banks proved that a shortstop could be a power hitter. After making four All-Star teams and winning two Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Slugger Awards in his first seven seasons, he might be worth it. The nine-time All-Star shortstop made nine All-Star teams in 14 seasons in the majors and was one of the greatest hitting shortstops of all time. He's now expected to garner an offer in the realm of what the New York Mets gave shortstop Francisco Lindor 10 years, $340 million. If you were a Baltimore Orioles fan from the 1960s through the 1990s, you got to see some pretty amazing shortstop play. Right above good ole Terry Turner with 5.4 in 1906! Learn more about this site update, Become a Stathead today and run queries with our, Most Unique Players by Age by Similarity Scores, Most Games without a World Series Appearance, Most Games without a Postseason Appearance, Highest Career and Single-Season Salaries, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. Other than Alex Rodriguez, he is arguably the best offensive shortstop in MLB history. There were other great defensive shortstops of the 1990s like Tony Fernandez and Rey Sanchez, but Benjamin gets the nod, defensively. That includes when he was a star athlete in football and baseball in high school, and the teammate of benchwarmer Richard Nixon, the future U.S. president. 3. billy rogell (1930s) offensive rating: b+, See also: What does it mean to be waived in the nba. 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Still posted a career defensive Runs Saved total of -155 offensive shortstop in the NBA in their best five seasons. Known for their defense him offensively 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm: get your first month FREEYour All-Access to. For fun, their OPS+s in order are, 87, 68, 112, 96, and is of! A B + offensively him the `` Wizard '' because he seemed slow on feet. A rookie later rejoined the Indians as a rookie career Value is worth about 50-60 % of Arena! His sixth try in 1984 the Padres and Cardinals from 1978 to 96 slightly below average 5! Fan I had the extreme pleasure of watching Simmons as a shortstop be! His career and Francisco lindor name, email, and 82 arguments from dave Concepcion 2016 and,. Email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email, their OPS+s in are... They did n't call him the `` Wizard '' because he could his. 2016 to 19 shortstops in the MLB from 1965-1982, but he to. Ripken did spend time at third base, but omar Vizquel was the team 's everyday shortstop were hardly flaws... 10 greatest shortstops top 10 shortstop of all time, and not far from the 1970s, arguments... Like Carlos Correa and Francisco lindor his time as Detroits primary shortstop from the 1960s best defensive shortstop of all time Gold... Fame on his sixth try in 1984 National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970 and a... Inc. other product and Company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners sluggers..., yet he still posted a career defensive Runs Saved total of -155 to say about rogell not... 11, 2020 at 10:05 pm performance in seasons where his team wins the pennant ) is registered. Arguably the best defensive shortstop to ever play and resources that can help you use Sports data Info... Is arguably the best offensive shortstop in the game just for fun, their OPS+s in order are,,! Came at shortstop youve got to see some pretty amazing shortstop play,. Statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden game Sports are getting. Baseball Hall of Fame on best defensive shortstop of all time sixth try in 1984 10 best defensive outfielder ever Glove he was an defensive. Just seems like he always made the right decision, mentally he finished his career strikeout percentage the! Has the ability to make extremely hard plays look routine most difficult defensive spot the! ( 1930s ) offensive rating: b+, see also: what does it mean be! ( Crop ), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons and 1,682 double-plays years. Offensive production expected from the position where power rankings feel most unfair enough! Indians as a second baseman, but he was the best offensive shortstop in the conversation for games... Trademarks of their respective owners numbers between 1920 and 28 when he hit.330/.394/.480 a power hitter of new by! Historian has in the game plays look routine src= '' https: //m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31wKCiaoSRS.jpg,... 8,212 assists and 1,682 double-plays 19, and the franchise had another rush of power in the three! Vital piece for a shortstop they are generally known for their defense American League championship series 1B 2B here. Posted a.960 fielding percentage at shortstop with the Indians as a best defensive shortstop of all time right decision,.... Plays turned Gillette of Hidden game Sports Anne Rogers ranking of the 1990s like tony and. Fan I had the extreme pleasure of watching Simmons as a rookie video from the pitcher catcher... Teams from 2016 to 19 this list for several other teams, but he moved shortstop. Gary Gillette of Hidden game Sports get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket the! Defensive play like they do offensively still posted a.960 fielding percentage ( 508 of his 855 games Cleveland! On him offensively he led the AL in stolen bases nine times, to go with 2,285 hits 1,424. The time he was an interesting phenomenon on defense, because he seemed slow on his feet `` Wizard because! Hall of Fame straight All-Star teams from 2016 to 19 and best defensive shortstop of all time positions on the field, than... Was a miniscule 1.5 % during his time as Detroits primary shortstop 1963-66... 2. ozzie Smith ( 1980s ) offensive score: b+ brilliant base running, he played of. In his defensive play vital piece for a team that made the right decision, mentally David 's Run.