Posted on 10/14/2016 4:13:30 PM PDT by EveningStar
While he’s no longer rocking pinstripes on a regular basis, it’s hard to think about the New York Yankees and not turn your attention to the great Derek Jeter. Even after his retirement from Major League Baseball in 2014, the captain of all captains continues to remain a permanent fixture in the city with which he spent his entire career. And really, that shouldn’t be a surprise. That’s usually what happens when you’re an all-time great shortstop.
Throughout his incredible career, Jeter showed himself to be one of the greatest shortstops to ever step on a diamond. While there have been better offensive shortstops, and better defensive shortstops, no one equaled his impressive balance of offense and defense. Which is why we feel the need to compile this particular list. Therefore, with that in mind, here’s a look the five best all-around shortstops to ever play the game from the bottom to the top, taking into account more than any single facet of the game.
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I agree.
Wrong. Babe Ruth could hit and was a pretty damn good pitcher.
Babe Ruth is the best. Period.
Three parts to the question.
Glove only: Ozzie Smith by a mile.
Batting: Honus Wagner
Value to Team: Name your favorite.
I proudly used my Peewee Reese glove in Little League.
Maury Wills.
Pumpsie Green was an outfielder.
How about Don Buddin (was he on 3rd, at least until Malzone came along?)?
CA....
Babe Ruth was an anomaly.
I think 1956 proved Mantle was better than Mays. IF Mantle could have stayed healthy there would be no debate.
It said, best defensive player ever, not best defensive shortstop.
For that I'd take the Wizard of Oz, or Belanger who played exclusively on natural turf.
Nope. Ty Cobb.
Compared to everyone else at the time, Babe Ruth was Superman!
I agree.
You're BOTH wrong.
That'd be Barack Obama. Just ask him.
...hey, this *is* Free Republic, after all.
What? Where is Ray Oyler!?!!!
Chipper came up as a blue chip shortstop.
Torn ACL as a rookie forced a move to third.
If not for that injury, he’d have been among the best at the position.
As it is he will settle for being among the best third baseman.
Green had the distinction of being the first black player to play for the Red Sox, the last pre-expansion major-league club to integrate.
Belanger played on grass at memorial stadium in Baltimore.
IIRC he played 2B and SS with the Red Sox.
Rey Ordonez was a great defensive shortstop.
I first became interested in baseball (and thus the Sox) in '61.I was too young to know anything about the race stuff...all I knew was that the Sox weren't destined to play in October.
Mark Belanger - I got his autograph when I was nine! #7 is still my favorite number!
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