{"id":762,"date":"2008-10-15T17:29:56","date_gmt":"2008-10-16T00:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/10\/15\/the-25-shortstops-with-the-best-careers\/"},"modified":"2008-10-15T17:34:21","modified_gmt":"2008-10-16T00:34:21","slug":"the-25-shortstops-with-the-best-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2008\/10\/15\/the-25-shortstops-with-the-best-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"The 25 Shortstops With the Best Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

For a shortstop, a NEWS score of 250 is required to say that he has obvious HOF numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 There are seventeen shortstops who posted these numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 The only other position that has more players with HOF numbers is left field (with eighteen).<\/p>\n

Please keep in mind that a player may not have obvious HOF numbers <\/strong>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 Shortstops with Hall of Fame Numbers (NEWS = 250)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\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>\nHonus Wagner<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n1897-1917 <\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n655<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n422<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n480<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/em><\/td>\nAlex Rodriguez<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1994- <\/font><\/em><\/td>\n369<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		332<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		341<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nArky Vaughan<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n1932-1948<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n356<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n308<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n320<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nRobin Yount<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1974-1993<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n423<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n278<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n314<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nCal Ripken Jr.<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1981-2001<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n427<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n276<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n314<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/strong><\/td>\nLuke Appling<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1930-1950<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n378<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n275<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n301<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.<\/strong><\/td>\nGeorge Davis<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1890-1909<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n398<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n255<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n291<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.<\/strong><\/td>\nJoe Cronin<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1926-1945<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n333<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n275<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n290<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.<\/td>\nBill Dahlen<\/font><\/td>\n1891-1911<\/font><\/td>\n394<\/font><\/td>\n250<\/font><\/td>\n286<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.<\/td>\nBarry Larkin<\/font><\/td>\n1986-2004<\/font><\/td>\n347<\/font><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/td>\n280<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.<\/em><\/td>\nDerek Jeter<\/font>
\n<\/em><\/td>\n		1995-<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n301<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n264<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n273<\/font><\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.<\/strong><\/td>\nErnie Banks<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1953-1971<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n332<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n247<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n268<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.<\/strong><\/td>\nPee Wee Reese<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1940-1958<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n314<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n246<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n263<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.<\/strong><\/td>\nLou Boudreau<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1938-1952<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n277<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n255<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n261<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.<\/td>\nAlan Trammell<\/font><\/td>\n1977-1996<\/font><\/td>\n318<\/font><\/td>\n238<\/font><\/td>\n258<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16.<\/strong><\/td>\nBobby Wallace<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1894-1918<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n345<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n227<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n257<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17.<\/strong><\/td>\nOzzie Smith<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		1978-1996<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n325<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n226<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n251<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

As the numbers indicate, Honus Wagner<\/strong> is in a league of his own as far as shortstops are concerned.\u00c2\u00a0 If Alex Rodriguez<\/strong> continues to play at the rate that he has so far in his career, there is a slight possibility that he might challenge Honus as the #1 shortstop of all time \u00e2\u20ac\u201c although that is a real longshot.<\/p>\n

Twelve of these seventeen shortstops are in the Hall of Fame.\u00c2\u00a0 And ARod and Derek Jeter<\/strong> should be first round choices when they become eligible.\u00c2\u00a0 I also think that Barry Larkin <\/strong>will be elected by the writers within his first few years of eligibility.<\/p>\n

Bill Dahlen<\/strong> has been overlooked for years.\u00c2\u00a0 He was not even on the ballot for the Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee in 2007.\u00c2\u00a0 You will notice that he has 394 career win shares and every player with 400 is in the Hall of Fame.\u00c2\u00a0 Happily, those who chose the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pre-1943\u00e2\u20ac\u009d candidates for the Veterans ballot in 2008 recognized his accomplishments and have included him.\u00c2\u00a0 Hopefully, he will be elected this year.<\/p>\n

That would leave only Alan Trammell<\/strong> as a retired shortstop with HOF numbers but with very little chance of being elected to the Hall any time soon.\u00c2\u00a0 He was still on the BBWAA ballot in 2007 but he got only 18% of the vote \u00e2\u20ac\u201c so, his chances do not look good.<\/p>\n

It is interesting to note the balance in era of these players.\u00c2\u00a0 Eight of these seventeen outstanding shortstops played the bulk of their careers before 1950 and eight played during the second half of the century \u00e2\u20ac\u201c while Pee Wee Reese essentially straddled the mid-century mark.<\/p>\n

The Other Shortstops in the Top 25<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are the other eight players who ranked among the top 25 shortstops of the century in terms of career value.<\/p>\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
18.<\/td>\nVern Stephens<\/font><\/td>\n265<\/font><\/td>\n239<\/font><\/td>\n246<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19.<\/strong><\/td>\nJoe Sewell<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n277<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n233<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n244<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20.<\/td>\nJim Fregosi<\/font><\/td>\n261<\/font><\/td>\n226<\/font><\/td>\n235<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21.<\/strong><\/td>\nDave Bancroft<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n269<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n222<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n234<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22.<\/td>\nTony Fernandez<\/font><\/td>\n280<\/font><\/td>\n219<\/font><\/td>\n234<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23.<\/strong><\/td>\nRabbit Maranville<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		302<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n206<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n230<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24.<\/td>\nBert Campaneris<\/font><\/td>\n280<\/font><\/td>\n210<\/font><\/td>\n228<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25.<\/td>\nMaury Wills<\/font><\/td>\n253<\/font><\/td>\n218<\/font><\/td>\n227<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Three of these players are already in the Hall of Fame: Joe Sewell<\/strong>, Dave Bancroft<\/strong> and Rabbit Maranville<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tony Fernandez<\/strong> was on the 2007 BBWAA ballot but got only 1% of the vote so he will not appear there again.\u00c2\u00a0 Dave Concepcion<\/strong> was on the 2008 BBWAA ballot and got 16% of the vote but his numbers are not as good as Fernandez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dave Concepcion<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		269<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		205<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n221<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

It does not appear that either of these players has any real chance of election to the Hall.<\/p>\n

There were also three shortstops on the 2007 Veteran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Committee ballot.\u00c2\u00a0 Maury Wills <\/strong>got 40.2% of the vote \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a respectable showing.\u00c2\u00a0 He is also on the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153After-1943\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Veterans Committee ballot for 2008 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c but his numbers do not really merit serious consideration.<\/p>\n

Cecil Travis<\/strong> and Marty Marion<\/strong> (see below) did not come close to our top 25 but were also on the 2007 Veterans ballot.\u00c2\u00a0 They got 14.6% and 13.4%, respectively, and appear to have no chance of being elected to the Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cecil Travis<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		169<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		167<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n168<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marty Marion<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		177<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		164<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n167<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Finally, here are four other shortstops who are in the Hall of Fame but who did not make it into the top 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nCV<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\nNEWS<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joe Tinker<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		258<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		211<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n223<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phil Rizzuto<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		231<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		218<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n221<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luis Aparicio<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		293<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		193<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n218<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Travis Jackson<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		211<\/font>
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		191<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n196<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Whether any of these four shortstops really belongs in the Hall of Fame is, of course, a matter of continuing debate among fans of the game.<\/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 shortstops 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-762","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\/762","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=762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/762\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}