{"id":704,"date":"2008-09-19T06:00:54","date_gmt":"2008-09-19T13:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/19\/the-25-second-basemen-with-the-best-careers\/"},"modified":"2008-09-19T06:01:36","modified_gmt":"2008-09-19T13:01:36","slug":"the-25-second-basemen-with-the-best-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/09\/19\/the-25-second-basemen-with-the-best-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 Second Basemen With the Best Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 second basemen who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).<\/em><\/p>\n

For a second baseman, a NEWS score of 260 is required to say that he has obvious HOF numbers<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 There are thirteen second basemen who posted these numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 However, as I will explain below, there is one other second baseman who has HOF numbers by virtue of a short but great career<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 This means that there are fourteen second basemen with HOF numbers according to the NEWS Gauge.\u00c2\u00a0 Keep in mind that a player may not have obvious HOF numbers but may still be a deserving Hall of Famer for other reasons.<\/p>\n

All numbers include the 2007 season.
\nBold print = Hall of Famer<\/strong>
\nItalic = active player in 2008<\/em>
\nCWS = Career Win Shares
\nCV\u00c2\u00a0 =\u00c2\u00a0 Core Value (sum of win shares for 10 best seasons)
\nNEWS = Career Value\u00c2\u00a0 =\u00c2\u00a0 CV\u00c2\u00a0 +\u00c2\u00a0 .25(CWS – CV)<\/p>\n

The Second Basemen with Hall of Fame Numbers (NEWS = 260)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n Years<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.<\/strong><\/td>\nEddie Collins<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1906-1930 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n574<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n376<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n426<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nRogers Hornsby<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1915-1937 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n502<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		381<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		411<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nJoe Morgan<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1963-1984<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n512<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n341<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n384<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nNap Lajoie<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1896-1916<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n496<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n334<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n375<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/td>\nCraig Biggio<\/font><\/td>\n1988-2007<\/font><\/td>\n428<\/font><\/td>\n294<\/font><\/td>\n328<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/strong><\/td>\nCharlie Gehringer<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1924-1942<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n383<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n280<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n306<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.<\/td>\n<\/font>Roberto Alomar<\/font><\/td>\n1988-2004<\/font><\/td>\n375<\/font><\/td>\n278<\/font><\/td>\n302<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/font>Ryne Sandberg<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1954-1975<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n346<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n278<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n295<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.<\/strong><\/td>\nRod Carew<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1967-1985<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n384<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n289<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.<\/strong><\/td>\nFrankie Frisch<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1919-1937<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n366<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n256<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n284<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.<\/td>\nBobby Grich<\/font><\/td>\n1970-1986<\/font><\/td>\n329<\/font><\/td>\n253<\/font><\/td>\n272<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.<\/em><\/td>\nJeff Kent<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1992-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n331<\/em><\/font><\/td>\n252<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n272<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.<\/td>\nLou Whitaker<\/font><\/td>\n1977-1995<\/font><\/td>\n351<\/font><\/td>\n232<\/font><\/td>\n262<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/em><\/td>\n <\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		 <\/font><\/em><\/td>\n <\/em><\/font><\/td>\n <\/font><\/em><\/td>\n <\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16.<\/strong><\/td>\nJackie Robinson<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1947-1956<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n257<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n257<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n257<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

How is it that Jackie Robinson<\/strong> (who did not reach the 260 benchmark) is listed as having HOF numbers?\u00c2\u00a0 It is because the NEWS Gauge recognizes that there are a few<\/strong> position players (very few) who had short but exceptional careers.\u00c2\u00a0 Consider this: there are only eleven position players<\/strong> in the 20th century who achieved a NEWS score of 255 in a career of fewer than 1800 games \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and every one of them is in the Hall of Fame<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 The NEWS Gauge says they definitely have HOF numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 Jackie Robinson is one of these players.\u00c2\u00a0 Here are the others: Joe DiMaggio, Elmer Flick, Earl Averill, Hank Greenberg, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Kirby Puckett, Bill Terry, Mickey Cochrane and Bill Dickey.<\/p>\n

As all fans know, Robinson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s contribution to the game in leading the integration of major league baseball in 1947 is perhaps his greatest achievement.\u00c2\u00a0 But it is significant to note that he is not in the Hall of Fame for this accomplishment alone<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 His numbers show that he was indeed a great ballplayer and his numbers alone would justify his enshrinement at Cooperstown.<\/p>\n

Of the fourteen second basemen with obvious HOF numbers, only nine are already in the Hall of Fame: Eddie Collins<\/strong>, Rogers Hornsby<\/strong>, Joe Morgan<\/strong>, Nap Lajoie<\/strong>, Charlie Gehringer<\/strong>, Ryne Sandberg<\/strong>, Rod Carew<\/strong>, Frankie Frisch<\/strong> and Jackie Robinson<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0 And in my view, Roberto Alomar<\/strong> and Craig Biggio<\/strong> should be easy choices for the Hall when they become eligible.<\/p>\n

Jeff Kent<\/strong> is still active and will improve on his numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 But will that be enough to get him elected to the Hall when he is eligible?\u00c2\u00a0 We can only wait and see.<\/p>\n

But what of Bobby Grich<\/strong> and Lou Whitaker<\/strong>?\u00c2\u00a0 Grich was on the HOF ballot for only one year (1992) when he received only eleven votes or 2.6%.\u00c2\u00a0 A similar fate befell Whitaker.\u00c2\u00a0 He also was on the ballot for only one year (2001) when he received fifteen votes or 2.9%.\u00c2\u00a0 It is difficult to understand how these two outstanding second basemen could have been treated so badly – but then Hall of Fame voting is sometimes very difficult to fathom.<\/p>\n

Eddie Collins<\/strong> and Rogers Hornsby<\/strong> are easily the best second basemen to ever play the game.\u00c2\u00a0 Only thirteen position players in the 20th century have a NEWS score better than 400 and these two are among them.<\/p>\n

Note that five of these fourteen second basemen played during the first half of the century and eight during the second half \u00e2\u20ac\u201c with Jackie Robinson straddling the mid-century mark.<\/p>\n

The Other Second Basemen among the Top 25<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are the other players that I have found who are among the top 25 second basemen of the 20th century.\u00c2\u00a0 There is a tie among three players for 25th place so there are thirteen players on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.<\/strong><\/td>\nNellie Fox<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		304<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n242<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.<\/strong><\/td>\nBilly Herman<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n298<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n243<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17.<\/td>\n<\/font>Larry Doyle<\/font><\/td>\n289<\/font><\/td>\n240<\/font><\/td>\n252<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18.<\/td>\nWillie Randolph<\/font><\/td>\n312<\/font><\/td>\n220<\/font><\/td>\n243<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19.<\/strong><\/td>\nBobby Doerr<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		281<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n223<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n238<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20.<\/strong><\/td>\nJohnny Evers<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		268<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n226<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n237<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21.<\/td>\n<\/font>Joe Gordon<\/font><\/td>\n242<\/font><\/td>\n233<\/font><\/td>\n235<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/font>Tony Lazzeri<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n252<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n215<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n224<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23.<\/td>\n<\/font>Chuck Knoblauch<\/font><\/td>\n229<\/font><\/td>\n219<\/font><\/td>\n222<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24.<\/strong><\/td>\nRed Schoendienst<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n262<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n204<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n219<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25.<\/td>\nJim Gilliam<\/font><\/td>\n247<\/font><\/td>\n208<\/font><\/td>\n218<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\nBuddy Myer<\/font><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/td>\n205<\/font><\/td>\n218<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\nDel Pratt<\/font><\/td>\n242<\/font><\/td>\n210<\/font><\/td>\n218<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The names of Larry Doyle, Buddy Myer and Del Pratt will probably be virtually unknown to all but the most ardent of fans.\u00c2\u00a0 And many may question the inclusion of Chuck Knoblauch among the top 25 second basemen of the century.\u00c2\u00a0 But that is the beauty of this sort of research \u00e2\u20ac\u201c every so often, a surprise pops up.<\/p>\n

And here is the only second baseman who is in the Hall of Fame who did not make the list of the top 25.\u00c2\u00a0 Of course, there are those who consider Bill Mazeroski to be the best fielding second baseman of all time and deserving of the Hall for that reason alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bill Mazeroski<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		219<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		173<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n185<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

As you can see, there are seven second basemen in the Hall of Fame who do not appear to have HOF numbers (NEWS = 260): Nellie Fox, Billy Herman, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Evers, Tony Lazzeri, Red Schoendienst and Bill Mazeroski.\u00c2\u00a0 Of these, both Fox (258) and Herman (257) were very close to the NEWS benchmark.<\/p>\n

Joe Gordon was on the ballot for the 2007 Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee but he received only 12% of the vote.\u00c2\u00a0 This would usually mean that he would have virtually no chance of being elected.\u00c2\u00a0 However, for some reason, he is one of only ten players selected to be on the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pre-1943\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee ballot in 2009 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so, we will have to see if that will make any difference to his chances.\u00c2\u00a0 In any case, he does not seem to have HOF numbers.<\/p>\n

For more information on the NEWS <\/st1>HOF<\/st1> Gauge, see BASEBALL\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S BEST: The TRUE Hall of Famers<\/a> <\/strong>on this site.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are the 25 second basemen who had the best careers during the 20th century (as measured by the NEWS HOF Gauge).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prof-hobans-hall-of-fame-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}