Name Your 5 Favorite MLB Shortstops of All-Time

[Henwatcher]

Name your 5 favorite that you've seen play. Here are mine:
1. Derek Jeter
2. Ozzie Smith
3. Cal Ripken, Jr.
4. Luis Aparicio
5. Alex Rodriguez

[Go...gate]

1. Luis Aparicio

2. Mark Belanger

3. Cal Ripken

4. Larry Bowa

5A. Dave Concepcion

5B. Bud Harrelson

[Gil Dobie]

Phil Rizzuto
Ozzie Smith
Bert Campanaris
Ernie Banks
Pee Wee Reese

[ngineer]

1. Ernie Banks
2. Luis Aparicio
3. Cal Ripken
4. Larry Bowa
5. Ozzie Smith

I also like Jimmy Rollins alot, but he isn't in this league, yet...

[Ivytalk]

]Phil Rizzuto[/B]
Ozzie Smith
Bert Campanaris
Ernie Banks
Pee Wee Reese


Gil, you old fossil!:p

How old are YOU? As old as buckp?

I call bullschatt!xliarx xnonox :p

[poly51]

Ozzie Smith
Pee Wee Reese
Ernie Banks
Cal Ripken
Maury Wills

[Mr. C]

Some personal favorites:

Alex Rodriguez, the best in MLB history (Derek Jeter's ego is the ONLY reason A-Rod isn't playing SS for the Yankees).

Maury Wills, he revolutionized the game in the 1960s. Should be in the Hall of Fame for that fact alone.

Omar Vizquel, the best defensive SS of his generation. If Ozzie Smith is in the Hall of Fame, Vizquel deserves to be there, too.

Honus Wagner, the A-Rod of his generation. One of the greatest players of all-time. I'd love to own one of his 1910 baseball cards. I'd sell it and be set for life.

Pee Wee Reese, the heart and soul of the great 1940s and 50s Dodgers. Team leader, great defensively. Loved to listen to him and Dizzy Dean doing the Major League Baseball Game of the Week.

Some of my other favorites are Ernie Banks (one of the all-time, all-around best), Nomar Garciaparra (love his passion on the field), Ozzie Smith (probably the best ever defensively), Jose Reyes (he's going to be great, love how he always smiles on the field) and Luis Aparicio (slick fielder and base stealer).

Five great SS most people now know nothing about:

Marty Marion, St. Louis Cardinals. The best SS of the 1940s. Should be in the Hall of Fame. Played on a bunch of World Series teams.

Glenn Wright, Pittsburgh Pirates. The next great Pirate SS after Wagner. He was one of the best at his position in the 1920s and 30s. If Travis Jackson of the New York Giants is in the Hall of Fame, Wright should be, too. In reality, his career probably falls just short. Wright taught me as much about what to look for when watching a game as anyone I've ever been around. He was a great scout in his second career and was a pleasure to be around.

Arky Vaughan, another great Pittsburgh Pirate SS, was one of the better offensive SSs of his time. He would be like a Nomar Garciaparra now.

Luke Appling, this great Chicago White Sox was considered one of the best of all-time by the esteemed Bill James in his Baseball Historical Abstract. Hit a Home Run at the age of about 70 in one of those old-timer games a few years back.

Lou Boudreau, was not only one of the best AL SS in the 1940s, he also managed the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 World Championship.



The five most OVERRATED SS of all-time:

Phil Rizzuto, Made it the Hall of Fame largely because he was a Yankee. Compared a lot to the great Pee Wee Reese of the Dodgers. When you study their records, Rizzuto couldn't wear Reese's jock.

Derek Jeter, A very good player, but gets way too much credit for the Yanks' success. Is not anywhere as good defensively (particularly in range) as most people think. Largely a media creation.

Rabbitt Maranville, Outstanding defensive SS, cool name, offensively he wasn't good enough to warrant his induction into the Hall of Fame).

Travis Jackson, New York Giants SS really doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. Very good player, but wouldn't make it if he were playing today. He had some friends voting for him on the Veteran's Committee.

Miguel Tejeda, Baltimore Orioles, has done little since signing that big contract. Have been a lot of rumors about him and steroids.

The five best I've actually seen (in all aspects):

1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Ernie Banks
3. Pee Wee Reese
4. Maury Wills
5. tie, Robin Yount, Alan Trammell, & Nomar Garciaparra

The five best defensively that I've seen:

1. Ozzie Smith
2. Omar Vizquel
3. Mark Belanger
4. Cesar Izturis
5. Rey Ordonez

[Gil Dobie]

Maury Wills, he revolutionized the game in the 1960s. Should be in the Hall of Fame for that fact alone.

Arky Vaughan, another great Pittsburgh Pirate SS, was one of the better offensive SSs of his time. He would be like a Nomar Garciaparra now.

Lou Boudreau, was not only one of the best AL SS in the 1940s, he also managed the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 World Championship.

Wills is moving up on my list of favorites. He spends his summers in Fargo working for the FM Redhawks, Northern League.

Vaughn, I have an old Arizona Annual with the Pittsburgh Pirates pictured playing the college team. A couple pictures of Vaughan in action.

Just bought a Boudreau autograph today, coinkydink.

[Cobblestone]

1. Luis Aparicio. <<-- tremendous fielder.
2. Bert Campanaris <<-- forget his bat throwing incident the guy was great.
3. Mark Belanger
4. Cal Ripken
5. Rick Burleson.

[Mr. C]

It is a crime that a player as significant as Wills is not in the Hall of Fame. In the 1960s, when you talked about the Dodgers, you talked about Koufax, Drysdale and Wills. He was the team captain and was the center of that speed-oriented offense.

[Mr. C]

1. Luis Aparicio. <<-- tremendous fielder.
2. Bert Campanaris <<-- forget his bat throwing incident the guy was great.
3. Mark Belanger
4. Cal Ripken
5. Rick Burleson.

Lerrin LeGrow had it coming when Campaneris threw the bat at him. Billy Martin was a (fill in your expletive of choice here) for having his guy throw at Campy's leg, just because he couldn't stop him on the bases. And LeGrow was gutless for hitting Campy in the ankle. Joe Cronin was an idiot for suspending Campaneris for as long as he did and slapping LeGrow on the wrist. They should have kicked the drunk Martin out of baseball for his repeated crap like this.

[poly51]

It is a crime that a player as significant as Wills is not in the Hall of Fame. In the 1960s, when you talked about the Dodgers, you talked about Koufax, Drysdale and Wills. He was the team captain and was the center of that speed-oriented offense.

The Dodgers of that era were one of the worst hitting teams to win the World Series and they did in more than once. Wills was not the fastest on the basepaths but was probably the most exciting base stealer ever. Everybody in the stadium knew he was going and they still couldn't stop him.

[JoltinJoe]

The five most OVERRATED SS of all-time:

Phil Rizzuto, Made it the Hall of Fame largely because he was a Yankee. Compared a lot to the great Pee Wee Reese of the Dodgers. When you study their records, Rizzuto couldn't wear Reese's jock.

Derek Jeter, A very good player, but gets way too much credit for the Yanks' success. Is not anywhere as good defensively (particularly in range) as most people think. Largely a media creation.

Don't let your anti-Yankee bias show, there, Mr. C.xrolleyesx

Let's see. Ted Williams said that Phil Rizzuto was the difference between the Yankees winning all those titles in the 40's and the 50's and the Red Sox winning. Who to believe? Mr. C? Or Ted Williams? :p

Derek Jeter is going to easily surpass 3,000 hits for his career (at a young age for such an accomplishment) with very respectable power numbers for a shortstop. He routinely gets 200 hits a year and routinely scores well in excess of a 100 runs. As for his defense, he is well above average (yes, I know what the nerdy stat heads say but that's why those guys sit in a room somewhere with a sliderule and protractor playing with numbers and giving us meaningless data).

He is among the best in the game ranging into the hole and probably the best going back on the ball. His range to his glove side is the only aspect of his defense that is below average. His arm is also well above average. He is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Largely a media creation?

[Gil Dobie]

It is a crime that a player as significant as Wills is not in the Hall of Fame. In the 1960s, when you talked about the Dodgers, you talked about Koufax, Drysdale and Wills. He was the team captain and was the center of that speed-oriented offense.

I also bought a Wills model baseball bat. Probably shine it up a little with a little tongue oil on it, and get him to sign it.

[NoCoDanny]

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/tony_bernazard_autograph.jpg

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/ul_washington_autograph.jpg

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/larry_bowa_autograph.jpg

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/fred_patek_autograph.jpg

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/buddy_biancalana_auto.jpg

[Ivytalk]

Nobody's picked Mario Mendoza yet: a man whose baseball legacy may be the greatest of all of them!:p

[spelunker64]

http://www.nlfan.com/fargo/bobbleheads/wills.jpg http://www.nlfan.com/fargo/bobbleheads/wills-back.jpg

[bandl]

Some personal favorites:

Alex Rodriguez, the best in MLB history (Derek Jeter's ego is the ONLY reason A-Rod isn't playing SS for the Yankees).

Maury Wills, he revolutionized the game in the 1960s. Should be in the Hall of Fame for that fact alone.

Omar Vizquel, the best defensive SS of his generation. If Ozzie Smith is in the Hall of Fame, Vizquel deserves to be there, too.

Honus Wagner, the A-Rod of his generation. One of the greatest players of all-time. I'd love to own one of his 1910 baseball cards. I'd sell it and be set for life.

Pee Wee Reese, the heart and soul of the great 1940s and 50s Dodgers. Team leader, great defensively. Loved to listen to him and Dizzy Dean doing the Major League Baseball Game of the Week.

Some of my other favorites are Ernie Banks (one of the all-time, all-around best), Nomar Garciaparra (love his passion on the field), Ozzie Smith (probably the best ever defensively), Jose Reyes (he's going to be great, love how he always smiles on the field) and Luis Aparicio (slick fielder and base stealer).

Five great SS most people now know nothing about:

Marty Marion, St. Louis Cardinals. The best SS of the 1940s. Should be in the Hall of Fame. Played on a bunch of World Series teams.

Glenn Wright, Pittsburgh Pirates. The next great Pirate SS after Wagner. He was one of the best at his position in the 1920s and 30s. If Travis Jackson of the New York Giants is in the Hall of Fame, Wright should be, too. In reality, his career probably falls just short. Wright taught me as much about what to look for when watching a game as anyone I've ever been around. He was a great scout in his second career and was a pleasure to be around.

Arky Vaughan, another great Pittsburgh Pirate SS, was one of the better offensive SSs of his time. He would be like a Nomar Garciaparra now.

Luke Appling, this great Chicago White Sox was considered one of the best of all-time by the esteemed Bill James in his Baseball Historical Abstract. Hit a Home Run at the age of about 70 in one of those old-timer games a few years back.

Lou Boudreau, was not only one of the best AL SS in the 1940s, he also managed the Cleveland Indians to the 1948 World Championship.



The five most OVERRATED SS of all-time:

Phil Rizzuto, Made it the Hall of Fame largely because he was a Yankee. Compared a lot to the great Pee Wee Reese of the Dodgers. When you study their records, Rizzuto couldn't wear Reese's jock.

Derek Jeter, A very good player, but gets way too much credit for the Yanks' success. Is not anywhere as good defensively (particularly in range) as most people think. Largely a media creation.

Rabbitt Maranville, Outstanding defensive SS, cool name, offensively he wasn't good enough to warrant his induction into the Hall of Fame).

Travis Jackson, New York Giants SS really doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. Very good player, but wouldn't make it if he were playing today. He had some friends voting for him on the Veteran's Committee.

Miguel Tejeda, Baltimore Orioles, has done little since signing that big contract. Have been a lot of rumors about him and steroids.

The five best I've actually seen (in all aspects):

1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Ernie Banks
3. Pee Wee Reese
4. Maury Wills
5. tie, Robin Yount, Alan Trammell, & Nomar Garciaparra

The five best defensively that I've seen:

1. Ozzie Smith
2. Omar Vizquel
3. Mark Belanger
4. Cesar Izturis
5. Rey Ordonez


OK, I'll bite. After such a long shpeal, you obviously want someone to question why you didn't include Cal Ripken. A-Rod probably wouldn't have ever played SS if it wasn't for Cal...so why no mention? xconfusedx

[Mr. C]

OK, I'll bite. After such a long shpeal, you obviously want someone to question why you didn't include Cal Ripken. A-Rod probably wouldn't have ever played SS if it wasn't for Cal...so why no mention? xconfusedx
Just wasn't a big fan of Cal's. I thought the streak was overblown and that he put that ahead of his team. Lou Gehrig took himself out of the lineup when he was playing as badly as Ripken was at one point. Ripken was a very good player and was a transition in the prototype of what people look for from a SS offensively now. Hall of Famer, yes. Not one of my favorite SSs.

I really wasn't trying to get people to ask me about Ripken. If I had wanted to do that, I would have put him on my most overrated list, like I did Derek Jeter. :D xrotatehx xlolx xnodx :) :p

[gmoney55]

When all is said and done, I think Reyes and Ramirez will be able to make a case for this list. NL is loaded at short with those two and Hardy.

[Go...gate]

1. Luis Aparicio. <<-- tremendous fielder.
2. Bert Campanaris <<-- forget his bat throwing incident the guy was great.
3. Mark Belanger
4. Cal Ripken
5. Rick Burleson.


I can't forget that. That is as bad as Marichal hitting Roseboro with the bat in '65.

[Dukie95]

Man, there are some really old people posting here.. ;)

In my baseball memory, which goes back to about 1985...

The best all-around is A-Rod.
Best devensively is Omar Vizquel
Most exciting is Jose Reyes
The one I'd pick if I was starting a new team today is Derek Jeter.
With apologies to Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken, I just want to give props to Rey Ordonez, he was simply amazing on the field in his brief career...too bad he couldn't hit a lick.