MLB Network's Top 9 Shortstops of All Time

[Warner2BruceTD]

Where would you put Cal?

Behind Larkin for sure.

Behind Arky Vaughn for sure.

Arky Vaughn once led the league in BA, OBA, SLG, & OPS in the same season. As a SS, before the 90's. Think about that. He led the league in major categories 17 times!

Larkin beats Ripken in the slash lines, and was a superior fielder and baserunner.

The only edge Ripken has on guys like this are HR's. And despite the huge HR edge, he falls behind in OPS, OPS+, and even SLG he is pretty much even or behind.

[FirstTimer]

Behind Larkin for sure.

Behind Arky Vaughn for sure.

Arky Vaughn once led the league in BA, OBA, SLG, & OPS in the same season. As a SS, before the 90's. Think about that. He led the league in major categories 17 times!

Larkin beats Ripken in the slash lines, and was a superior fielder and baserunner.

The only edge Ripken has on guys like this are HR's. And despite the huge HR edge, he falls behind in OPS, OPS+, and even SLG he is pretty much even or behind.

I was shocked it took so long for Vaughn to make the HOF. They said it was because of a tragic early death. Which I found odd because most other greats who died so young MLB was falling all over themselves to shove into the HOF. Meanwhile Vaughn was forgotten about for 30 some years.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Smith and Ripken ahead of Arky Vaughn is mental to me. Especially Smith.

Vaughn slash: .318/.406/.453/.859.

Plus, look at all the extra outs Cal produced with his massive GDP numbers. Vaughn never hit into ten in a single season!

When you factor in Cal's hidden outs with his GDP and horrendous SB%, his adjusted OBA drops even further.

[FirstTimer]

Smith and Ripken ahead of Arky Vaughn is mental to me. Especially Smith.

Vaughn slash: .318/.406/.453/.859.

Plus, look at all the extra outs Cal produced with his massive GDP numbers. Vaughn never hit into ten in a single season!

When you factor in Cal's hidden outs with his GDP and horrendous SB%, his adjusted OBA drops even further.

I see your point on offense..but how was Vaughn regarded on defense?

Just curious more than anything. My lame baseball ass hadn't heard much on him before the show. I knew who he was and that he was really fucking good..but not much in the details.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I have no clue.

He has a positive number for his fWAR, and his Fld% and RF/G were both higher than the league average. Based on those numbers, I guess we should assume he was, at minimum, a good fielder.

Of course, those same numbers will tell you Clint Barmes is a good fielder (blech!), so who knows, but it's really all we have to work with. I think it's safe to say he wasn't a bad fielder.

[FirstTimer]

I was trying to think if anyone got snubbed and left off the list...but I can't think of anyone. Nomar's career/peak was too short....Reyes might sneak in some day...............?

[Warner2BruceTD]

I see no snubs.

You could drop Ozzie Smith off of there and add Alan Trammell of something if you are so inclined, I suppose.

[FirstTimer]

I see no snubs.

You could drop Ozzie Smith off of there and add Alan Trammell of something if you are so inclined, I suppose.

Ouch.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Actually Joe Cronin was snubbed.

.300 lifetime, .850 OPS, HOF, played forever.

Robin Yount is curious. He's as much of a SS as Banks or A-Rod, no?

[FirstTimer]

Actually Joe Cronin was snubbed.

.300 lifetime, .850 OPS, HOF, played forever.

Robin Yount is curious. He's as much of a SS as Banks or A-Rod, no?

Croninis really interesting....from the looks of it he did get snubbed.

Would you drop Smith off the lsit for him.

Yount is interesting. I didn't realize he played SS for some long. I always identified him more with the OF.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Smith would not make my top 9, no. Cronin probably would. Maybe over Appling. They are close.

I would definitely drop Smith, and maybe Appling. Add Cronin and either Yount, Nomar, maybe Trammell. Have to look closer when im not at work.

[nflman2033]

I see no snubs.

You could drop Ozzie Smith off of there and add Alan Trammell of something if you are so inclined, I suppose.

Being the best fielding SS of all time is enough to make list, its not like his career numbers are down there with Paul janish.

Trammel is a bit of a different story, he is just all around good enough to squeak into top 10. Since this is top 9 #10 works for me.

As far as Ripken goes, you know I love Larkin and actually never liked Cal, but cal had more power, 2 MVP, 7 SS awards, more Allstars, and a ROY. So power and awards go to cal, fielding speed, and hitting go to Barry. It's close, but cal hit his milestones, and took Gehrigs record, so I gotta go with cal

[FirstTimer]

Smith would not make my top 9, no. Cronin probably would. Maybe over Appling. They are close.

I would definitely drop Smith, and maybe Appling. Add Cronin and either Yount, Nomar, maybe Trammell. Have to look closer when im not at work.

That's a suprise to me.

He really only had 6 full seasons at SS then got shuffled around to other places.

When he was healthy and good he was really good. But there's just not enough longevity there for me to put him in. Even over a guy like Smith...who I'd leave in the Top 9

[nflman2033]

It is really close though

CR .276/.340/.447/.788
BL .295/.371/.444/.815

[Senser81]

Actually Joe Cronin was snubbed.

.300 lifetime, .850 OPS, HOF, played forever.

Robin Yount is curious. He's as much of a SS as Banks or A-Rod, no?

Yount was a nice player, and he is as much of a SS as Banks or A-Rod (career split about evenly between SS and OF), but I don't think he was a top 10 player. He is in a way very similar to Cal...I think Yount actually won two MVP awards (82 & 89) which is very impressive, yet his other years don't really come close to being of MVP quality. Just many solid seasons. As a fielding SS, he was pretty good, but nothing spectacular.