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MLB: The 5 Greatest Shortstops to Ever Play the Game
The Cheat Sheet ^ | October 14, 2016 | Michael Laurila

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at cheatsheet.com ...


TOPICS: History; Sports
KEYWORDS: baseball; belanger; calripken; calripkenjr; derekjeter; erniebanks; honuswagner; mlb; ozziesmith; ripken; shortstop; shortstops
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To: poinq; Dilbert San Diego; All
Willie Mays is the greatest all around baseball player. No debate.

I agree.

21 posted on 10/14/2016 4:34:09 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: poinq
Willie Mays is the greatest all around baseball player. No debate.

Wrong. Babe Ruth could hit and was a pretty damn good pitcher.

Babe Ruth is the best. Period.

22 posted on 10/14/2016 4:34:26 PM PDT by eekitsagreek
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To: EveningStar

Three parts to the question.

Glove only: Ozzie Smith by a mile.
Batting: Honus Wagner
Value to Team: Name your favorite.


23 posted on 10/14/2016 4:35:08 PM PDT by lurk (TEat)
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To: EveningStar

I proudly used my Peewee Reese glove in Little League.


24 posted on 10/14/2016 4:35:22 PM PDT by the_Watchman
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To: EveningStar

Maury Wills.


25 posted on 10/14/2016 4:36:18 PM PDT by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Pumpsie Green was an outfielder.

How about Don Buddin (was he on 3rd, at least until Malzone came along?)?

CA....


26 posted on 10/14/2016 4:36:23 PM PDT by Chances Are (Seems I've found that silly grin again....)
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To: eekitsagreek; poinq

Babe Ruth was an anomaly.


27 posted on 10/14/2016 4:37:15 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: poinq

I think 1956 proved Mantle was better than Mays. IF Mantle could have stayed healthy there would be no debate.


28 posted on 10/14/2016 4:37:40 PM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: Gay State Conservative
Yes, and Speaker was Center Field.

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.

29 posted on 10/14/2016 4:39:32 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: EveningStar

Nope. Ty Cobb.


30 posted on 10/14/2016 4:40:00 PM PDT by Salvavida (The restoration of the U.S.A. starts with filling the pews at every Bible-believing church.)
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To: eekitsagreek

Compared to everyone else at the time, Babe Ruth was Superman!


31 posted on 10/14/2016 4:40:16 PM PDT by Karl Spooner
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To: EveningStar
Willie Mays is the greatest all around baseball player. No debate.

I agree.

You're BOTH wrong.

That'd be Barack Obama. Just ask him.

...hey, this *is* Free Republic, after all.

32 posted on 10/14/2016 4:40:51 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: EveningStar

What? Where is Ray Oyler!?!!!


33 posted on 10/14/2016 4:41:19 PM PDT by bobby.223 (Retired up in the snowy mountains of the American Redoubt and it's a great life!)
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To: bobby.223

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.


34 posted on 10/14/2016 4:44:20 PM PDT by roostercogburn
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To: Gay State Conservative; Chances Are
Pumpsie Green's claim to fame (from Wikipedia):
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.

35 posted on 10/14/2016 4:47:00 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: grey_whiskers

Belanger played on grass at memorial stadium in Baltimore.


36 posted on 10/14/2016 4:49:05 PM PDT by Palio di Siena
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To: Chances Are
Pumpsie Green was an outfielder.

IIRC he played 2B and SS with the Red Sox.

37 posted on 10/14/2016 4:49:17 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Rey Ordonez was a great defensive shortstop.


38 posted on 10/14/2016 4:49:40 PM PDT by Third Person
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To: EveningStar
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.

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.

39 posted on 10/14/2016 4:52:26 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables' Lives Matter)
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To: grey_whiskers

Mark Belanger - I got his autograph when I was nine! #7 is still my favorite number!


40 posted on 10/14/2016 4:52:39 PM PDT by Zirondelle ("disce aut discede")
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