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Who are the top shortstops in MLB history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Alan Trammell: one half of a terrific double-play duo for the Detroit Tigers for nearly two decades (along with second baseman Lou Whitaker), Trammell was a 6x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, and 4x Gold Glover who had over 2,300 career hits.
9. Barry Larkin: consistently one of the best players in baseball during his nearly two decade-long career with the Cincinnati Reds, Larkin was a 12x All-Star, 9x Silver Slugger, and 3x Gold Glover who won the NL MVP in 1995 and also led the Reds to the their most recent World Series title (1990).
8. Arky Vaughan: the longtime shortstop of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1930s, Vaughan made nine straight All-Star appearances in his prime and won a batting title in 1935 with a career-high .385 average en route to a .318 career batting average.
7. Ozzie Smith: perhaps the greatest defensive shortstop ever, Smith won 13 straight Gold Gloves in his prime; the 15x All-Star was no slouch at the plate either, accumulating nearly 2,500 career hits and stealing 580 career bases.
6. Robin Yount: an underrated star who only had three career All-Star Game selections, Yount was a 2x MVP who amassed 3,142 career hits during his 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers.
5. Ernie Banks: arguably the greatest player in Chicago Cubs history, Banks was a 14x All-Star who won back-to-back MVP awards in 1958-1959; at one point the all-time home run leader for shortstops, he blasted 512 dingers during his career.
4. Derek Jeter: the heart and soul of the New York Yankees for two decades, Jeter was a 14x All-Star who led the Yankees to five World Series titles and is sixth all-time and first among shortstops with 3,465 career hits.
3. Cal Ripken Jr.: in addition to breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak, Ripken could do it with both his bat and his glove – a 19x All-Star, 2x MVP, 8x Silver Slugger, and 2x Gold Glover, he holds the record for most home runs by a shortstop.
2. Alex Rodriguez: with 3,115 hits, 696 home runs, 329 stolen bases, a 40-40 season (42 home runs and 46 stolen bases in 1998), and two Gold Gloves at shortstop in his career, Rodriguez could do everything on the baseball field, but steroid usage has clouded his legacy.
1. Honus Wagner: a member of baseball’s inaugural Hall of Fame class, Wagner was one of the game’s first superstars – with a career .328 batting average, he racked up 3,420 career hits and won an NL-record eight batting titles.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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