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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There are so many greats.
Best up and coming are Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, Giants Brandon Crawford and Dodgers Corey Seager along with a few others.
Harold Reese was the first to embrace Jackie. Defended him on
and off the field. Historic in baseball.
Omar Vizquel was good. Probably the best or tops for many many years. You have to get a stat and just go with that. These lists are fun but even stats don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes a ss like someone posted Buckey Dent...no one even really heard of him until October and whamo he was a household name and Yankees starter.
The choices here are all outstanding but my personal opinion is that they cannot be compared. Too much difference in the times, equipment, training, pitching, and even the ball itself. Nonetheless my hat is off to all the greats mentioned on this thread.
Throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s, it was pretty much the consensus that Mantle was a superior player to Mays. It was only in the mid-1960s when Mantle's injuries really caught up to him that people started to talk about Mays being Mantle's equal. In their best days, I'd take Mantle any day over Mays (but obviously given my screen name, I'm not unbiased in this debate). Of course, because of his longer career, Mays put up superior career numbers. However, in that match, both are beaten by Hank Aaron who played during the same era.
Carlos Correa(Astros) too.
Glove only: Ozzie Smith by a mile.
Batting: Honus Wagner
Value to Team: Name your favorite."
Best answer ever!
Concepcion was a marvel to me.
Ozzie Smith was a wizard.
Honus Wagner could do it all, even with those ridiculous little gloves they used.
All 3 of those were tough outs.
Omar Vizquel was money in the field and came just short of 3000 hits.
Derek Jeter was more than just a great 2-way player, he’s a splendid human being.
Yes another great. I think Carlos Correa is outstanding.
Babe Ruth was the most famous baseball player in history.
“Babe Ruth was the most famous baseball player in history.”
My young son once asked me if I ever saw Babe Ruth play in person..
That’s Bucky Effing Dent if you are in New England.
“Ozzie wore Number 1 for a reason.”
As Jesse Stone will attest...
I saw Mr. Mays and he was, obviously, great. My vote, however, goes to Roberto Clemente.
I remember reading the sports magazines at the time. They showed that the Yankees win/lost percentage without Mantle in the line up was startling. Not so much what he did with the bat particularly, but just by the players watching him playing through such pain gave them motivation.
I know that from 1961 onwards, it WAS painful just to WATCH him batting from the left side, and it only got worse.
Mike Schmidt played third base.
Just to drop another name that belongs in the mix; Alan Trammell. Four Gold Glove awards, won three Silver Slugger awards. And of course he was a Tiger.
If you are 100, could be. Even 99.
“-———all I knew was that the Sox weren’t destined to play in October.”
“Wait until next year.”
Probably the most repeated sentence in Boston history.
.
See my post #29 this thread.
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