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26 shortstops have reached the Hall of Fame. How many of those players made this list? How about modern-day stars — are any good enough to earn a spot amongst the greatest shortstops to play the game? Let’s take a look.
25. Hanley Ramirez
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At his peak, Hanley Ramirez was one of the most electric players in baseball. Ramirez debuted with the Red Sox at the age of 21, but was traded to the Florida Marlins after appearing in just two games with the Sox. As a rookie in 2006, Ramirez appeared in 158 games and slashed .292/.353/.480 with 17 HR en route to winning the NL Rookie of the Year. Han-Ram was sensational the next four years — earning three top-10 MVP finishes including a runner-up effort in ’09 that saw him hit .342 with 24 HR, 106 RBI and 27 SB. While injuries slowed his career as he aged, Ramirez was undoubtedly one of the most talented shortstops the game has ever seen. In total, Han-Ram hit .289 with 271 HR and 281 SB and was a three-time All-Star.
24. Phil Rizzuto
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New York fans were waiting on this one. Phil ‘Scooter’ Rizzuto was a tiny man standing at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, but his impact on the franchise was certainly felt. Rizzuto was a member of seven World Series winning Yankee teams and earned five All-Star nods during his career. Scooter was the MVP runner-up in 1949 and he wouldn’t be denied the following year. In ’50, Rizzuto won the MVP while slashing .324/.418/.439.
23. Pee Wee Reese
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It is hard to compare players that haven’t taken the diamond in more than 60 years to stars of the past 30 years. Pee Wee Reese doesn’t have numbers that compare to players of the modern era — including Hanley Ramirez who came in at No. 25. Reese played 16 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers and was famously Jackie Robinson’s double play partner. Reese had a tremendous eye at the plate. He finished his career with 1,210 walks and only 890 strikeouts. The Dodger great also had eight top-10 MVP finishes and was a 10-time All-Star. If he hadn’t missed three years while serving in the military, Reese’s numbers would have been even better.
22. Luke Appling
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Here is another example of a player that was great for his time but is difficult to rank among more recent players. Luke Appling was a star at the same time as Pee Wee Reese. His career began 10 years earlier (1930) and he played until 1950. Appling was a star for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. The shortstop hit .322 in his third full-season and his batting average fell below .301 just two times the rest of his career. Appling was a two-time runner-up for the MVP — both of those seasons he won the Batting Title, hitting .388 in 1936 and .328 in 1943. Overall, the Chicago legend tallied 2,749 hits and posted a .310 career BA.
21. George Davis
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George Davis starred at shortstop nearly 40 years before Luke Appling made his debut. Davis debuted in 1890 with the Cleveland Spiders and spent three years with the club. Then, Davis joined the New York Giants and became one of the best hitters in baseball. From 1893 to 1901, Davis slashed .332/.394/.468 and stole 357 bases. In addition to being a prolific hitter, Davis had an advanced eye in the box — drawing 402 walks compared to only 180 strikeouts during that time. A Hall of Famer, Davis finished his career with 2,665 hits.
20. Arky Vaughan
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For starters, Arky Vaughan is a great name. A California native, Vaughan was a star from the moment he debuted in the Majors. The 5-foot-10 shortstop played his first game with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1932. As a 20-year-old, Vaughan hit .318 and earned MVP votes. In 10 years with the Pirates, Vaughan slashed .324/.415/.472 and was an eight-time All-Star. During his Pittsburgh tenure, Vaughan led baseball in triples and walks three times, paced baseball in runs twice, and finished third for the MVP on two occasions. Vaughan finished his career in Brooklyn but he wasn’t able to match his absurd production from his time with the Pirates.
19. Troy Tulowitzki
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There are two things that may have people overlooking Troy Tulowitzki — the end of his career and the fact that he played for the Rockies. A first-round pick out of Long Beach State, Tulowitzki reached the Majors at the age of 21. As a rookie in 2007, Tulo smacked 24 HR, drove in 99 runs and slashed .291/.359/.479 en route to a runner-up finish for the Rookie of the Year. In 10 years with the Rockies, Tulo was a five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time Silver Slugger. He had three top-8 MVP finishes, as well. Tulo wasn’t the same player after he was traded to Toronto, but he still managed to hit over 220 HR before hanging up his spikes.
18. Jose Reyes
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At his best, Jose Reyes was simply electric. A native of the Dominican Republican, Reyes made his Major League debut one day before his 20th birthday. In just 69 games in 2003, Reyes tallied 84 hits, stole 13 bases and batted .307 for the Mets. The speedster became an everyday player in ’05 and instantly became a star. From 2005 to 2008, Reyes led baseball in triples three times (65 total over four years), had an NL-high 204 hits in ’08, and was the stolen base leader three times, as well — racking up 258 SB including 78 steals in ’07. Reyes would go on to win a Batting Title in ’11 (.337) and stole 517 bases during his career before retiring at the age of 35.
17. Miguel Tejada
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This pick will likely cause some debate — and I welcome it. Miguel Tejada was suspended for 105 games in 2013 for violating the MLB drug policy. Tejada’s suspension hangs over his accomplishments, but I am not going to ignore the impact he had during his peak. Beginning his career in Oakland, Tejada blossomed into a star shortstop in 2000. That season, Tejada hit 30 HR and drove in 115 runs. From 2000 to 2007, Tejada played in 1,152 consecutive games and hit .297 with 224 HR during that time. In ’02, Tejada won the AL MVP — 34 HR, 131 RBI, .308/.354/.508. Overall, Tejada was a six-time All-Star and also won an All-Star Game MVP.
16. Omar Vizquel
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Omar Vizquel making it to the Hall of Fame would be a major win for all of the great defenders in the game’s history. While scoring runs is ultimately the goal of baseball, preventing the other team from scoring runs is equally important. Few in the sport’s history were more sure-handed than Vizquel. The defensive wizard started an MLB-record 2,709 games at shortstop and was awarded 11 Gold Gloves for his efforts. He wasn’t just a one-dimensional player, either. While Vizquel wouldn’t be confused with teammate Jim Thome at the plate, he was a solid contact hitter who registered a .333 batting average in 1999 and finished his career at a respectable .272 clip. He finished 123 hits shy of 3,000.
15. Carlos Correa
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Carlos Correa is a controversial figure due to his involvement with the Houston Astros cheating scandal and subsequent comments about the situation, but there is no denying his talent. The No. 1 overall pick in 2012, Correa debuted with the Astros as a 20-year-old in ’15. That year, he hit 22 home runs and won the American League Rookie of the Year. In ’17, Correa hit .315 and earned his first All-Star nod — and then hit five HR in the postseason en route to a World Series title. One of the best defensive shortstops of his era, Correa owns a Platinum Glove. In 85 postseason games, Correa has hit 18 HR and has an impressive slash line of .282/.352/.508.
14. Alan Trammell
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Before becoming the manager of the Detroit Tigers in the early 2000s, Alan Trammell became a franchise legend in the 80s. The Hall of Famer spent his entire 20-year career with the Tigers and he starred on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Trammell won four Gold Gloves at shortstop. At the plate, Trammell was a three-time Silver Slugger and hit above .300 seven times. In ’84, Trammell hit three home runs and slashed .419/.500/.807 en route to winning the World Series MVP. Three years later, the Tiger great enjoyed the best season of his career — slugging 28 HR with 105 RBI and a .343 BA en route to finishing runner-up for the MVP.
13. Francisco Lindor
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By the time his career comes to an end, Francisco Lindor will be ranked at least a few spots higher on this list. At just 30 years old, Lindor has numbers that compare with some of the best shortstops to play the game. A four-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and three-time Silver Slugger, Lindor has launched 215 HR and has stolen 156 bases through the first nine years of his career. While in Cleveland, Lindor had three-straight seasons with 32+ HR and finished in the top-6 for the AL MVP twice. Now with the Mets, Lindor is coming off a 30/30 season (31 HR, 31 SB) and remains an elite shortstop in the league.
12. Corey Seager
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The only thing that can slow down Corey Seager is his health. Approaching his 30th birthday, Seager is currently the best shortstop in baseball — Mookie Betts is a better player but let’s see how long he remains at the position — and is just entering his prime. As a rookie with the Dodgers in 2016, Seager won the NL Rookie of the Year and finished third for the MVP. In ’20, Seager was unstoppable en route to a World Series triumph — slashing .328/.425/.746 with eight HR en route to winning NLCS and WS MVP honors. As a member of the Rangers in ’23, Seager was the MVP runner-up (33 HR, 42 doubles, .327 BA in 119 games) and won his second WS MVP after slugging three HR against Arizona.
11. Nomar Garciaparra
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Nomar Garciaparra is not talked about enough. Often overshadowed by Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, Garciaparra was an elite player in the late 1990s and early 2000s before injuries derailed his career. As a rookie in 1997, Garciaparra led the American League with 209 hits and 11 triples — and added 30 HR and 22 SB en route to the Rookie of the Year. The following year, Garciaparra was the MVP runner-up thanks to his 35 HR, 122 RBI and .323 BA. He won consecutive Batting Titles in ’99 (.357) and ’00 (.372). Overall, Garciaparra finished his career with a .313 BA, 229 HR, and six All-Star nods.
10. Jimmy Rollins
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While Garciaparra’s peak was arguably better than Jimmy Rollins’, Rollins was an impact player for a longer time than Nomar — thus earning the No. 10 spot. In 2001, Rollins made an immediate impact for the Phillies with his speed. The 22-year-old was named an All-Star and went on to lead the league in triples (12) and stolen bases (46). Rollins would go on to lead the league in triples four times. 2007 was Rollins’ greatest individual season. En route to winning the NL MVP, Rollins slashed .294/.344/.531 with 30 HR, 94 RBI, and 41 SB — he also led the NL with 139 runs and 20 triples. Philadelphia’s shortstop helped lead the team to a World Series victory in ’08 and a second NL Pennant in ’09. Rollins was also strong defensively as he earned four Gold Gloves.
9. Joe Cronin
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Joe Cronin won over 1,000 games as a manager and reached two World Series, but his playing career was even better. Over 20 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators, and Boston Red Sox, Cronin compiled 2,285 hits and a .301 BA. A seven-time All-Star, Cronin won the MVP in 1930 after knocking in 126 runs while batting .346. Cronin finished in the top-7 of MVP voting six times, including a runner-up finish in ’33. If Cronin had come along at a later time, his power numbers likely would have spiked and resulted in much better counting numbers.
8. Ozzie Smith
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The Wizard of Oz. If you earn a nickname like that, there’s a pretty good chance that you are great at your job. Ozzie Smith was never a power threat — his single-season high for HR was six — but he was a terror on the bases. Blessed with a great eye, Smith drew 1,072 walks and only struck out 589 times. Once on the bases, Smith swiped 580 bags. Of course, Smith’s place in history is cemented by his defensive mastery. The greatest defensive shortstop of all-time, Smith won 13 Gold Gloves with the Cardinals and Padres. A 15-time All-Star, Smith also won the NLCS MVP in 1985 and helped St. Louis win the World Series in ’82.
7. Barry Larkin
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Barry Larkin was a stud. While he arrived a decade after Cincinnati’s back-to-back World Series triumphs, Larkin was able to etch his name in Reds lore with a title of his own. Larkin’s Reds won the World Series in 1991 — his sixth season — and capped off his fourth consecutive All-Star season in grand fashion. Larkin would go on to win the NL MVP in ’95. The all-time great was a 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger, and three-time Gold Glove winner. In 19 years with the Reds, Larkin hit .295 with 198 HR and 379 stolen bases.
6. Robin Yount
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The greatest Brewer of all time checks in at No. 6. A two-time MVP, Robin Yount took a while to come into his own. Over his first six seasons, Yount averaged six HR per season and hit .270. Then, from 1980 to 1983, Yount earned three All-Star nods, hit 79 HR, and won his first MVP. In his first MVP season, Yount led baseball in hits (210), doubles (46), SLG (.578), OPS (.957), and hit .331. The legend would wait seven years for his second MVP and his career dipped after that. Overall, Yount tallied 3,142 hits, 251 HR, and over 1,400 RBI.
5. Derek Jeter
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Derek Jeter is perhaps the toughest player to rank on this list. Some people may argue that he was never the best shortstop at any point in his career. Others would put him at No. 1 all-time and never look back. Jeter is undoubtedly great. He won five World Series with the Yankees and has nearly every accolade other than MVP. He owns five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, a World Series MVP, an All-Star Game MVP, and won Rookie of the Year. In 20 years, Jeter stole 358 bases, hit .310, and compiled 3,465 hits — the sixth-most all-time. Let the debate begin — is Jeter ranked too low?
4. Ernie Banks
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While Ernie Banks finished his career with more games played at first base than shortstop, he still manned the middle of the infield more than 1,100 times. Mr. Cub was ahead of his time. A 14-time All-Star, Banks possessed immense power that resulted in him leading the league in home runs twice. In 1955, his second full season, Banks hit 44 HR. Three years later, Banks launched 47 HR and drove in 129 runs en route to his first MVP. He would go back-to-back the next year after adding 45 HR and 143 RBI. The legend finished his career with 512 HR and over 2,500 hits.
3. Cal Ripken Jr.
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Offensively, the Iron Man is only surpassed by one other shortstop. Cal Ripken Jr. is famous for playing in an MLB-record 2,632 consecutive games and it feels as if his numbers are sometimes overlooked as a result. Rip was a great from the early days of his career. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1982 and won his first MVP in ’83. ’83 also marked his first All-Star appearance — and he would go on to make the ASG the next 18 years, as well. Ripken Jr. won his second MVP at the age of 30 in ’91. That season, Rip slashed .323/.374/.566 with 34 HR and 114 RBI. With 3,184 hits and 431 HR also on his résumé, Ripken has a case for being the best shortstop of all-time.
2. Alex Rodriguez
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Alex Rodriguez is one of the best hitters in MLB history, compiling a .295 BA with 3,115 hits, 696 HR, and 2,086 RBI. A-Rod ranks fifth all-time in homers and fourth in RBI. After a blistering start to his career in Seattle — as a 20-year-old, A-Rod hit .358 with 36 HR and 123 RBI, finishing second in MVP voting — Rodriguez dominated with the Rangers and Yankees. A three-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 10-time Silver Slugger, and World Series champion, Rodriguez excelled everywhere he went. He had three seasons with 50+ homers and eight years of 40+. While not the best defender, Rodriguez still won two Gold Gloves. The PED suspensions will outweigh his numbers for many, but anyone who watched A-Rod play would be lying if they said he isn’t one of the greatest to ever grace the diamond.
1. Honus Wagner
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The duration of his career was in the middle of the dead-ball era, but Honus Wagner still produced absurd numbers. Wagner remains first in WAR among shortstops (130.8). The Pirates legend won eight batting titles, six of which came after turning 30. Blessed with a rocket of an arm and power that many think would translate extremely well to the modern game, Wagner is seen as one of the best all-around players in baseball history. A lifetime .328 hitter, Wagner finished with career totals of 3,420 hits, 101 HR, 1,732 RBI, and 723 SB. ‘The Flying Dutchman’ is also an elite nickname.
