70. ‘S All Good
From 1978 to 1983, while there was no one dominant player at the position, almost every major league team had a quality second baseman. At least two of these players, Willie Randolph and Lou Whitaker, were of Hall of Fame or near-Hall of Fame quality. Davey Lopes had an outstanding career. Joe Morgan, while not the MVP-anytime-you-choose-to-focus-on-him player that he was from 1972 to 1976, was still an extremely effective player. Phil Garner was a good player. Paul Molitor and Bill Madlock, while we don’t remember them as second basemen, had good seasons while playing second base.
Frank White won eight Gold Gloves, had over 2,000 hits, twice hit 22 homers in a season, batted cleanup in the World Series for a World Championship team and was in double figures in stolen bases every season. He barely makes any of the lists. Manny Trillo was in the majors for 17 seasons, played in four All-Star games, won three Gold Gloves, hit .280 and better several times as a regular, had one of the best throwing arms I have ever seen at second base, and was the MVP of the National League Championship Series for a team that then won the World Series. I’m not sure if he ever makes a list.
Part of the problem for the long-time quality players like White and Trillo is that there were also several players who were really good for a period of two or three years and then vanished, like Bump Wills and Tony Bernazard. Dommo Garcia was pretty good, and Johnny Ray was, and Tommie Herr, and Phil Garner.
Randolph and Whitaker and Grich may have been good enough to have been dominant players with lesser competition. There was no dominant second baseman from 1960 to 1966, and there was no dominant second baseman from 1978 to 1983, but these eras are not the same. In 1961 and 1964 no second baseman rates at 18.00—a number which would indicate a weak All Star. In 1978 18.00 wouldn’t make the list of top second basemen; in several other years it would barely make the list.
Another point relating here is that the second basemen of this era are far better than the shortstops. The second basemen are great; the shortstops are weak. Probably related somehow.
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1978
|
1
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
3
|
42
|
.279
|
.381
|
.357
|
24.55
|
1978
|
2
|
Bill
|
Madlock
|
15
|
44
|
.309
|
.378
|
.481
|
23.82
|
1978
|
3
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
13
|
75
|
.236
|
.347
|
.385
|
23.36
|
1978
|
4
|
Davey
|
Lopes
|
17
|
58
|
.278
|
.355
|
.421
|
22.75
|
1978
|
5
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
6
|
42
|
.251
|
.357
|
.329
|
22.49
|
1978
|
6
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
10
|
66
|
.261
|
.345
|
.400
|
20.20
|
1978
|
7
|
Bump
|
Wills
|
9
|
57
|
.250
|
.331
|
.347
|
18.26
|
1978
|
8
|
Jorge
|
Orta
|
13
|
53
|
.274
|
.340
|
.421
|
18.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1979
|
1
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
30
|
101
|
.294
|
.365
|
.537
|
24.98
|
1979
|
2
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
5
|
61
|
.270
|
.374
|
.368
|
24.55
|
1979
|
3
|
Paul
|
Molitor
|
9
|
62
|
.322
|
.372
|
.469
|
22.90
|
1979
|
4
|
Davey
|
Lopes
|
28
|
73
|
.265
|
.372
|
.464
|
22.19
|
1979
|
5
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
9
|
32
|
.250
|
.379
|
.376
|
21.41
|
1979
|
6
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
11
|
59
|
.293
|
.359
|
.441
|
19.43
|
1979
|
7
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
3
|
42
|
.286
|
.395
|
.378
|
18.36
|
1979
|
8
|
Bump
|
Wills
|
5
|
46
|
.273
|
.340
|
.350
|
17.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1980
|
1
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
7
|
46
|
.294
|
.427
|
.407
|
26.97
|
1980
|
2
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
14
|
62
|
.271
|
.377
|
.408
|
23.17
|
1980
|
3
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
11
|
49
|
.243
|
.367
|
.373
|
22.20
|
1980
|
4
|
Paul
|
Molitor
|
9
|
37
|
.304
|
.372
|
.438
|
21.96
|
1980
|
5
|
Bump
|
Wills
|
5
|
58
|
.263
|
.322
|
.360
|
18.05
|
1980
|
6
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
5
|
58
|
.259
|
.315
|
.358
|
17.26
|
1980
|
7
|
Davey
|
Lopes
|
10
|
49
|
.251
|
.321
|
.344
|
17.01
|
1980
|
8
|
Jorge
|
Orta
|
10
|
64
|
.291
|
.379
|
.403
|
16.84
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1981
|
1
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
22
|
61
|
.304
|
.378
|
.543
|
24.83
|
1981
|
2
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
8
|
31
|
.240
|
.371
|
.377
|
21.72
|
1981
|
3
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
24
|
.232
|
.336
|
.305
|
18.78
|
1981
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
5
|
36
|
.263
|
.340
|
.373
|
18.22
|
1981
|
5
|
Rich
|
Dauer
|
4
|
38
|
.263
|
.317
|
.369
|
15.15
|
1981
|
6
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
1
|
26
|
.248
|
.326
|
.310
|
14.49
|
1981
|
7
|
Julio
|
Cruz
|
2
|
24
|
.256
|
.332
|
.324
|
14.47
|
1981
|
8
|
Tony
|
Bernazard
|
6
|
34
|
.276
|
.367
|
.380
|
13.95
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1982
|
1
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
14
|
61
|
.289
|
.400
|
.438
|
26.25
|
1982
|
2
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
19
|
65
|
.261
|
.371
|
.449
|
22.71
|
1982
|
3
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
15
|
65
|
.286
|
.341
|
.434
|
21.97
|
1982
|
4
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
3
|
36
|
.280
|
.368
|
.349
|
20.19
|
1982
|
5
|
Tony
|
Bernazard
|
11
|
56
|
.256
|
.337
|
.396
|
17.54
|
1982
|
6
|
Damaso
|
Garcia
|
5
|
42
|
.310
|
.338
|
.399
|
17.48
|
1982
|
7
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
13
|
83
|
.274
|
.320
|
.423
|
17.48
|
1982
|
8
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
7
|
63
|
.281
|
.318
|
.382
|
16.71
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1983
|
1
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
12
|
72
|
.320
|
.380
|
.457
|
25.79
|
1983
|
2
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
16
|
62
|
.292
|
.414
|
.460
|
22.41
|
1983
|
3
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
8
|
48
|
.261
|
.316
|
.351
|
21.71
|
1983
|
4
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
16
|
59
|
.230
|
.370
|
.403
|
20.66
|
1983
|
5
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
38
|
.279
|
.361
|
.348
|
19.36
|
1983
|
6
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
5
|
53
|
.283
|
.323
|
.399
|
18.32
|
1983
|
7
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
2
|
31
|
.323
|
.403
|
.412
|
18.24
|
1983
|
8
|
Damaso
|
Garcia
|
3
|
38
|
.307
|
.336
|
.390
|
17.64
|
Joe Morgan is the dominant player at the position from 1969 to 1977—comparable to Lajoie, Collins, Hornsby or Gehringer—but also had off-peak seasons when he was the #1 man at the position four years BEFORE his peak (1965) and five years after (1982). I don’t know of any other player who did that. He ranked as the best second baseman in baseball for at least one season in the 60s, the 70s and the 80s.
71. The Sandberg Time
From 1984 to 1992 the best second baseman in baseball was Ryne Sandberg.
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1984
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
19
|
84
|
.314
|
.367
|
.520
|
30.36
|
1984
|
2
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
13
|
56
|
.289
|
.357
|
.407
|
24.32
|
1984
|
3
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
15
|
69
|
.272
|
.307
|
.442
|
22.18
|
1984
|
4
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
4
|
49
|
.276
|
.335
|
.346
|
21.49
|
1984
|
5
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
31
|
.287
|
.377
|
.348
|
21.28
|
1984
|
6
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
6
|
67
|
.312
|
.354
|
.434
|
20.06
|
1984
|
7
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
18
|
58
|
.256
|
.357
|
.452
|
19.76
|
1984
|
8
|
Frank
|
White
|
17
|
56
|
.271
|
.311
|
.445
|
18.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1985
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
26
|
83
|
.305
|
.364
|
.504
|
27.68
|
1985
|
2
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
8
|
110
|
.302
|
.379
|
.416
|
24.77
|
1985
|
3
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
21
|
73
|
.279
|
.362
|
.456
|
23.86
|
1985
|
4
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
19
|
74
|
.264
|
.303
|
.436
|
22.63
|
1985
|
5
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
5
|
40
|
.276
|
.382
|
.356
|
21.34
|
1985
|
6
|
Bill
|
Doran
|
14
|
59
|
.287
|
.362
|
.434
|
19.49
|
1985
|
7
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
7
|
70
|
.274
|
.325
|
.375
|
18.67
|
1985
|
8
|
Tony
|
Bernazard
|
11
|
59
|
.274
|
.361
|
.404
|
17.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1986
|
1
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
6
|
56
|
.332
|
.390
|
.441
|
24.13
|
1986
|
2
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
14
|
76
|
.284
|
.330
|
.411
|
23.89
|
1986
|
3
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
16
|
78
|
.266
|
.302
|
.448
|
23.19
|
1986
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
20
|
73
|
.269
|
.338
|
.437
|
21.63
|
1986
|
5
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
5
|
50
|
.276
|
.393
|
.346
|
20.69
|
1986
|
6
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
2
|
61
|
.252
|
.342
|
.331
|
20.01
|
1986
|
7
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
7
|
78
|
.301
|
.363
|
.394
|
19.15
|
1986
|
8
|
Tony
|
Bernazard
|
17
|
73
|
.301
|
.362
|
.456
|
18.97
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1987
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
16
|
59
|
.294
|
.367
|
.442
|
23.08
|
1987
|
2
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
28
|
100
|
.272
|
.335
|
.502
|
23.07
|
1987
|
3
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
7
|
67
|
.305
|
.411
|
.414
|
22.30
|
1987
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
16
|
59
|
.265
|
.341
|
.427
|
21.98
|
1987
|
5
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
6
|
46
|
.280
|
.331
|
.369
|
21.33
|
1987
|
6
|
Bill
|
Doran
|
16
|
79
|
.283
|
.365
|
.406
|
19.01
|
1987
|
7
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
5
|
69
|
.289
|
.334
|
.374
|
18.22
|
1987
|
8
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
2
|
83
|
.263
|
.346
|
.331
|
17.63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1988
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
19
|
69
|
.264
|
.322
|
.419
|
24.32
|
1988
|
2
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
12
|
55
|
.275
|
.376
|
.419
|
23.21
|
1988
|
3
|
Julio
|
Franco
|
10
|
54
|
.303
|
.361
|
.409
|
23.14
|
1988
|
4
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
5
|
57
|
.277
|
.325
|
.343
|
22.50
|
1988
|
5
|
Johnny
|
Ray
|
6
|
83
|
.306
|
.345
|
.429
|
20.14
|
1988
|
6
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
12
|
67
|
.243
|
.298
|
.380
|
19.64
|
1988
|
7
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
9
|
41
|
.266
|
.328
|
.382
|
19.50
|
1988
|
8
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
34
|
.230
|
.322
|
.300
|
18.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1989
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
30
|
76
|
.290
|
.356
|
.497
|
28.78
|
1989
|
2
|
Julio
|
Franco
|
13
|
92
|
.316
|
.386
|
.462
|
27.80
|
1989
|
3
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
28
|
85
|
.251
|
.361
|
.462
|
24.71
|
1989
|
4
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
7
|
56
|
.295
|
.347
|
.376
|
21.96
|
1989
|
5
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
5
|
63
|
.315
|
.364
|
.387
|
20.61
|
1989
|
6
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
36
|
.282
|
.366
|
.326
|
19.76
|
1989
|
7
|
Robby
|
Thompson
|
13
|
50
|
.241
|
.321
|
.400
|
18.76
|
1989
|
8
|
Jody
|
Reed
|
3
|
40
|
.288
|
.376
|
.393
|
18.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1990
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
40
|
100
|
.306
|
.354
|
.559
|
33.03
|
1990
|
2
|
Julio
|
Franco
|
11
|
69
|
.296
|
.383
|
.402
|
26.80
|
1990
|
3
|
Paul
|
Molitor
|
12
|
45
|
.285
|
.343
|
.464
|
26.52
|
1990
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
18
|
60
|
.237
|
.338
|
.407
|
23.92
|
1990
|
5
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
6
|
60
|
.287
|
.340
|
.381
|
22.95
|
1990
|
6
|
Bip
|
Roberts
|
9
|
44
|
.309
|
.375
|
.433
|
20.61
|
1990
|
7
|
Gregg
|
Jefferies
|
15
|
68
|
.283
|
.337
|
.434
|
18.92
|
1990
|
8
|
Jody
|
Reed
|
5
|
51
|
.289
|
.371
|
.390
|
18.76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1991
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
26
|
100
|
.291
|
.379
|
.485
|
34.03
|
1991
|
2
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
23
|
78
|
.279
|
.391
|
.489
|
26.23
|
1991
|
3
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
9
|
69
|
.295
|
.354
|
.436
|
26.22
|
1991
|
4
|
Julio
|
Franco
|
15
|
78
|
.341
|
.408
|
.474
|
25.70
|
1991
|
5
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
11
|
69
|
.288
|
.346
|
.398
|
20.23
|
1991
|
6
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
0
|
54
|
.327
|
.424
|
.374
|
19.53
|
1991
|
7
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
10
|
56
|
.304
|
.345
|
.414
|
18.95
|
1991
|
8
|
Robby
|
Thompson
|
19
|
48
|
.262
|
.352
|
.447
|
18.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1992
|
1
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
26
|
87
|
.304
|
.371
|
.510
|
30.36
|
1992
|
2
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
8
|
76
|
.310
|
.405
|
.427
|
30.04
|
1992
|
3
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
6
|
39
|
.277
|
.378
|
.369
|
28.07
|
1992
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
19
|
71
|
.278
|
.386
|
.461
|
24.99
|
1992
|
5
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
20
|
105
|
.312
|
.354
|
.455
|
24.52
|
1992
|
6
|
Tony
|
Phillips
|
10
|
64
|
.276
|
.387
|
.388
|
23.48
|
1992
|
7
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
2
|
56
|
.297
|
.384
|
.358
|
20.89
|
1992
|
8
|
Bip
|
Roberts
|
4
|
45
|
.323
|
.393
|
.432
|
19.65
|
72. The A and B options at Second Base
Craig Biggio came to the majors in 1988 as a catcher. As a catcher he was a mixed blessing, a singles-hitting catcher who ran exceptionally well for a C but couldn’t throw out Orrin Hatch stealing second base. He led the league in stolen bases allowed every season; in 1991 he led in passed balls as well. In 1992 he moved to second base. I was skeptical that this would work, but in his second season at second he hit 21 homers and 41 doubles, and emerged as one of the top second basemen in baseball.
Roberto Alomar also came to the majors in 1988, as a Padre. After the 1990 season he was traded to Toronto in a two-for-two trade of four players of near-Hall of Fame quality: Alomar, Joe Carter, Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. I am not sure there has ever been any other trade in major league history with four stars of that magnitude.
By 1993 Biggio and Alomar were the two best second basemen in baseball. Alomar would help the Blue Jays to two World Series championships. Craig Biggio was my favorite player in the years after the Royals ceased to be interesting and before I worked for the Red Sox, and this method shows Biggio to be the stronger of the two Hall of Famers. But I should also point out that Alomar had enormous impact on pennant races. I once did a study of pennant race impact which showed that the two position players who had the most impact on pennant races, post-1900, were Babe Ruth and Roberto Alomar. It is really not clear to me who was the greater player, Alomar or Biggio.
Note that Lou Whitaker, who was the #1 second baseman in baseball for a year before Sandberg, survived to be one of the top men at the start of the Alomar/Biggio era.
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1993
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
21
|
64
|
.287
|
.373
|
.474
|
28.05
|
1993
|
2
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
17
|
93
|
.326
|
.408
|
.492
|
27.90
|
1993
|
3
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
21
|
114
|
.321
|
.355
|
.486
|
24.97
|
1993
|
4
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
9
|
67
|
.290
|
.412
|
.449
|
21.42
|
1993
|
5
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
9
|
45
|
.309
|
.359
|
.412
|
21.39
|
1993
|
6
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
2
|
41
|
.277
|
.354
|
.346
|
20.25
|
1993
|
7
|
Jeff
|
Blauser
|
15
|
73
|
.305
|
.401
|
.436
|
19.59
|
1993
|
8
|
Robby
|
Thompson
|
19
|
65
|
.312
|
.375
|
.496
|
17.76
|
1993
|
9
|
Delino
|
DeShields
|
2
|
29
|
.295
|
.389
|
.372
|
16.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1994
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
6
|
56
|
.318
|
.411
|
.483
|
30.46
|
1994
|
2
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
5
|
51
|
.312
|
.381
|
.461
|
24.60
|
1994
|
3
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
8
|
38
|
.306
|
.386
|
.452
|
22.37
|
1994
|
4
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
19
|
80
|
.314
|
.333
|
.525
|
22.34
|
1994
|
5
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
14
|
68
|
.292
|
.341
|
.475
|
17.27
|
1994
|
6
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
5
|
24
|
.238
|
.312
|
.390
|
15.27
|
1994
|
7
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
12
|
43
|
.301
|
.377
|
.491
|
14.65
|
1994
|
8
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
12
|
68
|
.320
|
.368
|
.491
|
14.60
|
1994
|
9
|
Jeff
|
Blauser
|
6
|
45
|
.258
|
.329
|
.382
|
14.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1995
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
22
|
77
|
.302
|
.406
|
.483
|
31.47
|
1995
|
2
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
11
|
63
|
.333
|
.424
|
.487
|
27.69
|
1995
|
3
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
13
|
66
|
.300
|
.354
|
.449
|
21.95
|
1995
|
4
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
15
|
90
|
.314
|
.355
|
.452
|
19.89
|
1995
|
5
|
Eric
|
Young
|
6
|
36
|
.317
|
.404
|
.473
|
17.47
|
1995
|
6
|
Mike
|
Lansing
|
10
|
62
|
.255
|
.299
|
.392
|
15.31
|
1995
|
7
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
20
|
65
|
.278
|
.327
|
.464
|
15.13
|
1995
|
8
|
Joey
|
Cora
|
3
|
39
|
.297
|
.359
|
.372
|
14.80
|
1995
|
9
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
15
|
68
|
.267
|
.326
|
.429
|
14.69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1996
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
15
|
75
|
.288
|
.386
|
.415
|
33.05
|
1996
|
2
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
13
|
72
|
.341
|
.448
|
.517
|
29.28
|
1996
|
3
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
22
|
94
|
.328
|
.411
|
.527
|
26.45
|
1996
|
4
|
Eric
|
Young
|
8
|
74
|
.324
|
.393
|
.421
|
19.44
|
1996
|
5
|
Mike
|
Lansing
|
11
|
53
|
.285
|
.341
|
.406
|
17.11
|
1996
|
6
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
10
|
65
|
.275
|
.350
|
.406
|
17.06
|
1996
|
7
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
25
|
92
|
.244
|
.316
|
.444
|
16.69
|
1996
|
8
|
Joey
|
Cora
|
6
|
45
|
.291
|
.340
|
.417
|
16.17
|
1996
|
9
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
12
|
66
|
.254
|
.293
|
.381
|
15.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1997
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
22
|
81
|
.309
|
.415
|
.501
|
35.41
|
1997
|
2
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
14
|
60
|
.333
|
.390
|
.500
|
25.92
|
1997
|
3
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
9
|
58
|
.291
|
.390
|
.411
|
25.62
|
1997
|
4
|
John
|
Valentin
|
18
|
77
|
.306
|
.372
|
.499
|
21.52
|
1997
|
5
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
29
|
121
|
.250
|
.316
|
.472
|
21.11
|
1997
|
6
|
Eric
|
Young
|
8
|
61
|
.280
|
.359
|
.397
|
19.02
|
1997
|
7
|
Tony
|
Phillips
|
8
|
57
|
.275
|
.392
|
.391
|
18.66
|
1997
|
8
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
11
|
53
|
.271
|
.337
|
.382
|
18.50
|
1997
|
9
|
Jeff
|
Blauser
|
17
|
70
|
.308
|
.405
|
.482
|
18.36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1998
|
1
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
20
|
88
|
.325
|
.403
|
.503
|
33.26
|
1998
|
2
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
31
|
128
|
.297
|
.359
|
.555
|
25.76
|
1998
|
3
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
14
|
56
|
.282
|
.347
|
.418
|
24.50
|
1998
|
4
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
17
|
64
|
.265
|
.361
|
.405
|
23.63
|
1998
|
5
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
19
|
67
|
.285
|
.363
|
.455
|
21.14
|
1998
|
6
|
Jose
|
Offerman
|
7
|
66
|
.315
|
.403
|
.438
|
20.28
|
1998
|
7
|
Damion
|
Easley
|
27
|
100
|
.271
|
.332
|
.478
|
19.49
|
1998
|
8
|
Eric
|
Young
|
8
|
43
|
.285
|
.355
|
.396
|
17.30
|
1998
|
9
|
Todd
|
Walker
|
12
|
62
|
.316
|
.372
|
.473
|
17.24
|
1998
|
10
|
Fernando
|
Vina
|
7
|
45
|
.311
|
.386
|
.427
|
16.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
1999
|
1
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
24
|
120
|
.323
|
.422
|
.533
|
29.76
|
1999
|
2
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
16
|
73
|
.294
|
.386
|
.457
|
29.56
|
1999
|
3
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
23
|
101
|
.290
|
.366
|
.511
|
27.49
|
1999
|
4
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
18
|
68
|
.292
|
.393
|
.454
|
22.17
|
1999
|
5
|
Randy
|
Velarde
|
16
|
76
|
.317
|
.390
|
.455
|
21.08
|
1999
|
6
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
13
|
60
|
.296
|
.373
|
.435
|
20.36
|
1999
|
7
|
Jose
|
Offerman
|
8
|
69
|
.294
|
.391
|
.435
|
18.79
|
1999
|
8
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
20
|
63
|
.252
|
.310
|
.416
|
18.15
|
1999
|
9
|
Damion
|
Easley
|
20
|
65
|
.266
|
.346
|
.434
|
17.84
|
1999
|
10
|
Tony
|
Womack
|
4
|
41
|
.277
|
.332
|
.370
|
16.82
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000
|
1
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
33
|
125
|
.334
|
.424
|
.596
|
32.16
|
2000
|
2
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
19
|
89
|
.310
|
.378
|
.475
|
25.49
|
2000
|
3
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
8
|
35
|
.268
|
.388
|
.393
|
21.48
|
2000
|
4
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
24
|
97
|
.330
|
.379
|
.540
|
21.00
|
2000
|
5
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
17
|
75
|
.280
|
.361
|
.450
|
20.84
|
2000
|
6
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
19
|
74
|
.251
|
.326
|
.421
|
20.67
|
2000
|
7
|
Eric
|
Young
|
6
|
47
|
.297
|
.367
|
.399
|
16.65
|
2000
|
8
|
Delino
|
DeShields
|
10
|
86
|
.296
|
.369
|
.444
|
16.31
|
2000
|
9
|
Damion
|
Easley
|
14
|
58
|
.259
|
.350
|
.416
|
15.87
|
2000
|
10
|
Tony
|
Womack
|
7
|
57
|
.271
|
.307
|
.384
|
15.69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2001
|
1
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
20
|
100
|
.336
|
.415
|
.541
|
29.15
|
2001
|
2
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
22
|
106
|
.298
|
.369
|
.507
|
28.67
|
2001
|
3
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
37
|
141
|
.331
|
.372
|
.578
|
27.47
|
2001
|
4
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
20
|
70
|
.292
|
.382
|
.455
|
22.35
|
2001
|
5
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
15
|
59
|
.319
|
.371
|
.486
|
21.60
|
2001
|
6
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
20
|
65
|
.267
|
.337
|
.466
|
20.82
|
2001
|
7
|
Todd
|
Walker
|
17
|
75
|
.296
|
.355
|
.459
|
18.31
|
2001
|
8
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
18
|
73
|
.268
|
.304
|
.432
|
17.33
|
2001
|
9
|
Fernando
|
Vina
|
9
|
56
|
.303
|
.357
|
.418
|
15.86
|
2001
|
10
|
Eric
|
Young
|
6
|
42
|
.279
|
.333
|
.393
|
15.77
|
73. Clark Kent’s Younger Brother
The Jeff Kent Era overlaps with the end of the Biggio/Alomar era. 2000 and 2001 you could put in either era:
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
2002
|
1
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
37
|
108
|
.313
|
.368
|
.565
|
27.87
|
2002
|
2
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
24
|
107
|
.278
|
.339
|
.462
|
25.54
|
2002
|
3
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
39
|
102
|
.300
|
.332
|
.547
|
23.88
|
2002
|
4
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
19
|
96
|
.315
|
.378
|
.490
|
23.13
|
2002
|
5
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
15
|
70
|
.289
|
.374
|
.450
|
21.33
|
2002
|
6
|
Junior
|
Spivey
|
16
|
78
|
.301
|
.389
|
.476
|
19.87
|
2002
|
7
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
11
|
53
|
.266
|
.331
|
.376
|
19.39
|
2002
|
8
|
Todd
|
Walker
|
11
|
64
|
.299
|
.353
|
.431
|
18.96
|
2002
|
9
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
15
|
58
|
.253
|
.330
|
.404
|
18.24
|
2002
|
10
|
Mark
|
Bellhorn
|
27
|
56
|
.258
|
.374
|
.512
|
17.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2003
|
1
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
22
|
93
|
.297
|
.351
|
.509
|
24.70
|
2003
|
2
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
35
|
117
|
.294
|
.366
|
.535
|
24.66
|
2003
|
3
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
38
|
91
|
.290
|
.338
|
.525
|
24.08
|
2003
|
4
|
Marcus
|
Giles
|
21
|
69
|
.316
|
.390
|
.526
|
20.64
|
2003
|
5
|
Michael
|
Young
|
14
|
72
|
.306
|
.339
|
.446
|
20.47
|
2003
|
6
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
15
|
65
|
.310
|
.397
|
.470
|
20.27
|
2003
|
7
|
Todd
|
Walker
|
13
|
85
|
.283
|
.333
|
.428
|
18.97
|
2003
|
8
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
14
|
63
|
.289
|
.352
|
.447
|
18.48
|
2003
|
9
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
8
|
33
|
.285
|
.366
|
.441
|
18.43
|
2003
|
10
|
Luis
|
Castillo
|
6
|
39
|
.314
|
.381
|
.397
|
16.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004
|
1
|
Mark
|
Loretta
|
16
|
76
|
.335
|
.391
|
.495
|
26.49
|
2004
|
2
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
27
|
107
|
.289
|
.348
|
.531
|
24.51
|
2004
|
3
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
28
|
91
|
.280
|
.324
|
.484
|
20.40
|
2004
|
4
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
17
|
65
|
.282
|
.364
|
.484
|
19.70
|
2004
|
5
|
Marcus
|
Giles
|
8
|
48
|
.311
|
.378
|
.443
|
18.71
|
2004
|
6
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
4
|
53
|
.273
|
.344
|
.376
|
18.01
|
2004
|
7
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
17
|
55
|
.298
|
.345
|
.441
|
17.60
|
2004
|
8
|
Ron
|
Belliard
|
12
|
70
|
.282
|
.348
|
.426
|
17.32
|
2004
|
9
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
14
|
60
|
.294
|
.367
|
.454
|
17.07
|
2004
|
10
|
Mark
|
Bellhorn
|
17
|
82
|
.264
|
.373
|
.444
|
16.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
1
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
29
|
105
|
.289
|
.377
|
.512
|
25.62
|
2005
|
2
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
28
|
105
|
.291
|
.376
|
.540
|
23.64
|
2005
|
3
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
18
|
73
|
.314
|
.387
|
.515
|
21.71
|
2005
|
4
|
Mark
|
Loretta
|
3
|
38
|
.280
|
.360
|
.347
|
21.15
|
2005
|
5
|
Marcus
|
Giles
|
15
|
63
|
.291
|
.365
|
.461
|
20.09
|
2005
|
6
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
36
|
104
|
.268
|
.309
|
.512
|
19.48
|
2005
|
7
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
9
|
56
|
.331
|
.383
|
.447
|
18.57
|
2005
|
8
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
12
|
62
|
.290
|
.356
|
.429
|
18.16
|
2005
|
9
|
Ron
|
Belliard
|
17
|
78
|
.284
|
.325
|
.450
|
17.93
|
2005
|
10
|
Mark
|
Ellis
|
13
|
52
|
.316
|
.384
|
.477
|
17.14
|
Kent is the number one second baseman of all time, in terms of dominating the position, who is not in the Hall of Fame.
74. Utley
I would not vote for Jeff Kent for the Hall of Fame, but I might vote for Chase Utley—not that I have a Hall of Fame vote; I don’t, but if I did I might vote for Utley. We used to say about Craig Biggio that he had the best "little stats" in baseball history. There are stats like hit by pitch, caught stealing, sacrifice flies and grounding into a double play which don’t happen often enough, by themselves, to be major areas of the game like hitting homers and hitting for average, but which, if you add them all together, can be quite significant. One player is hit by a pitch 30 times and grounds into 2 double plays while the other reaches on a hit batsmen 2 times and grounds into 30 double plays, that’s a difference of 56 baserunners over the course of a season, which is comparable in impact to a difference of 100 points in batting average.
Biggio had the greatest "little stats" in baseball history, probably, and Utley was the heir to the Craig Biggio crown. He led the league in being hit with a pitch three straight years—25, 27, 24. In 2016 he made it through the entire season without grounding into double play, I believe the first regular since Biggio to do that, and I believe only the third player ever to do that. In 2009 he stole 23 bases without being caught, I believe the only player ever to do that (although Carlos Beltran was 28 for 28 in the National League in 2004, but was caught three times in the American League.) Utley is the major league record holder for career stolen base percentage, 100 or more steals.
In the years of Utley’s prime we were pushing out the envelope of things that we measured. Of course we have been doing that for 40 years, but those were active years. When we figured data on something that we had not studied before, most of the time Utley would turn out to be the best player in the majors at whatever. We would figure which players were best at going from first to third on a single; Utley would turn out to be the best player in the majors at going first to third on a single. We would figure which players were best at turning the double play, based on actual double play opportunities; it was Utley. This happened so often that we just started to assume that the #1 player at whatever we were trying to measure would be Utley.
He was the best offensive second baseman in baseball, he was the best defensive second baseman in baseball, he was the best baserunner in baseball. He led his team to five straight division championships and a World Championship.
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
2006
|
1
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
32
|
102
|
.309
|
.379
|
.527
|
26.75
|
2006
|
2
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
14
|
68
|
.292
|
.385
|
.477
|
21.70
|
2006
|
3
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
10
|
55
|
.286
|
.347
|
.410
|
20.55
|
2006
|
4
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
15
|
78
|
.342
|
.365
|
.525
|
19.13
|
2006
|
5
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
26
|
93
|
.293
|
.360
|
.538
|
18.80
|
2006
|
6
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
27
|
90
|
.282
|
.339
|
.480
|
18.80
|
2006
|
7
|
Freddy
|
Sanchez
|
6
|
85
|
.344
|
.378
|
.473
|
18.70
|
2006
|
8
|
Orlando
|
Hudson
|
15
|
67
|
.287
|
.354
|
.454
|
18.19
|
2006
|
9
|
Mark
|
Loretta
|
5
|
59
|
.285
|
.345
|
.361
|
17.82
|
2006
|
10
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
4
|
52
|
.295
|
.329
|
.364
|
16.67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
1
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
22
|
103
|
.332
|
.410
|
.566
|
29.97
|
2007
|
2
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
12
|
57
|
.290
|
.377
|
.432
|
22.28
|
2007
|
3
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
31
|
88
|
.245
|
.326
|
.479
|
21.51
|
2007
|
4
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
19
|
97
|
.306
|
.353
|
.488
|
19.78
|
2007
|
5
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
9
|
67
|
.341
|
.388
|
.458
|
19.75
|
2007
|
6
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
20
|
61
|
.263
|
.355
|
.441
|
19.32
|
2007
|
7
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
8
|
50
|
.317
|
.380
|
.442
|
18.42
|
2007
|
8
|
Freddy
|
Sanchez
|
11
|
81
|
.304
|
.343
|
.442
|
18.34
|
2007
|
9
|
Orlando
|
Hudson
|
10
|
63
|
.294
|
.376
|
.441
|
18.14
|
2007
|
10
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
20
|
79
|
.302
|
.375
|
.500
|
17.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
1
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
33
|
104
|
.292
|
.380
|
.535
|
30.46
|
2008
|
2
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
18
|
71
|
.319
|
.375
|
.517
|
24.04
|
2008
|
3
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
17
|
83
|
.326
|
.376
|
.493
|
23.17
|
2008
|
4
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
32
|
92
|
.260
|
.360
|
.514
|
22.91
|
2008
|
5
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
9
|
57
|
.296
|
.378
|
.450
|
22.22
|
2008
|
6
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
21
|
78
|
.261
|
.312
|
.442
|
19.05
|
2008
|
7
|
Placido
|
Polanco
|
8
|
58
|
.307
|
.350
|
.417
|
18.85
|
2008
|
8
|
Jose
|
Lopez
|
17
|
89
|
.297
|
.322
|
.443
|
18.11
|
2008
|
9
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
3
|
37
|
.306
|
.333
|
.421
|
17.65
|
2008
|
10
|
Kelly
|
Johnson
|
12
|
69
|
.287
|
.349
|
.446
|
17.62
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
1
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
31
|
93
|
.282
|
.397
|
.508
|
30.90
|
2009
|
2
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
15
|
72
|
.296
|
.371
|
.447
|
23.77
|
2009
|
3
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
31
|
86
|
.253
|
.327
|
.488
|
23.74
|
2009
|
4
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
27
|
91
|
.297
|
.405
|
.543
|
23.60
|
2009
|
5
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
31
|
90
|
.243
|
.354
|
.459
|
22.11
|
2009
|
6
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
25
|
85
|
.320
|
.352
|
.520
|
21.15
|
2009
|
7
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
16
|
79
|
.283
|
.356
|
.451
|
21.09
|
2009
|
8
|
Aaron
|
Hill
|
36
|
108
|
.286
|
.330
|
.499
|
20.55
|
2009
|
9
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
20
|
98
|
.276
|
.329
|
.447
|
19.57
|
2009
|
10
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
10
|
61
|
.291
|
.334
|
.444
|
18.73
|
75. Bringing Us Up to Date
From 2010 to 2014 the best second baseman in baseball was Robinson Cano:
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
2010
|
1
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
29
|
109
|
.319
|
.381
|
.534
|
29.01
|
2010
|
2
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
16
|
65
|
.275
|
.387
|
.445
|
28.46
|
2010
|
3
|
Rickie Jr.
|
Weeks
|
29
|
83
|
.269
|
.366
|
.464
|
24.46
|
2010
|
4
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
33
|
105
|
.287
|
.369
|
.508
|
22.69
|
2010
|
5
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
12
|
41
|
.288
|
.367
|
.493
|
21.24
|
2010
|
6
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
9
|
45
|
.286
|
.382
|
.412
|
20.04
|
2010
|
7
|
Martin
|
Prado
|
15
|
66
|
.307
|
.350
|
.459
|
19.65
|
2010
|
8
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
18
|
59
|
.275
|
.332
|
.430
|
19.63
|
2010
|
9
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
10
|
75
|
.279
|
.313
|
.407
|
18.98
|
2010
|
10
|
Marco
|
Scutaro
|
11
|
56
|
.275
|
.333
|
.388
|
18.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011
|
1
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
28
|
118
|
.302
|
.349
|
.533
|
30.97
|
2011
|
2
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
20
|
91
|
.269
|
.353
|
.469
|
27.01
|
2011
|
3
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
21
|
91
|
.307
|
.387
|
.474
|
24.03
|
2011
|
4
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
11
|
44
|
.259
|
.344
|
.425
|
23.49
|
2011
|
5
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
18
|
82
|
.300
|
.352
|
.457
|
21.36
|
2011
|
6
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
36
|
82
|
.233
|
.311
|
.453
|
20.72
|
2011
|
7
|
Rickie Jr.
|
Weeks
|
20
|
49
|
.269
|
.350
|
.468
|
20.65
|
2011
|
8
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
32
|
77
|
.255
|
.355
|
.477
|
20.53
|
2011
|
9
|
Starlin
|
Castro
|
10
|
66
|
.307
|
.341
|
.432
|
20.38
|
2011
|
10
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
12
|
83
|
.273
|
.334
|
.408
|
19.87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012
|
1
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
33
|
94
|
.313
|
.379
|
.550
|
33.70
|
2012
|
2
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
14
|
69
|
.280
|
.342
|
.426
|
22.39
|
2012
|
3
|
Jason
|
Kipnis
|
14
|
76
|
.257
|
.335
|
.379
|
21.45
|
2012
|
4
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
15
|
65
|
.290
|
.347
|
.449
|
21.03
|
2012
|
5
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
11
|
45
|
.256
|
.365
|
.429
|
20.60
|
2012
|
6
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
18
|
77
|
.281
|
.321
|
.429
|
20.43
|
2012
|
7
|
Aaron
|
Hill
|
26
|
85
|
.302
|
.360
|
.522
|
20.39
|
2012
|
8
|
Starlin
|
Castro
|
14
|
78
|
.283
|
.323
|
.430
|
19.89
|
2012
|
9
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
6
|
65
|
.291
|
.332
|
.403
|
19.47
|
2012
|
10
|
Rickie Jr.
|
Weeks
|
21
|
63
|
.230
|
.328
|
.400
|
18.74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
2013
|
1
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
27
|
107
|
.314
|
.383
|
.516
|
33.37
|
2013
|
2
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
12
|
71
|
.275
|
.354
|
.402
|
25.01
|
2013
|
3
|
Jason
|
Kipnis
|
17
|
84
|
.284
|
.366
|
.452
|
23.55
|
2013
|
4
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
9
|
84
|
.301
|
.372
|
.415
|
22.51
|
2013
|
5
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
16
|
53
|
.251
|
.339
|
.418
|
22.40
|
2013
|
6
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
18
|
69
|
.284
|
.348
|
.475
|
22.14
|
2013
|
7
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
13
|
78
|
.286
|
.319
|
.415
|
21.39
|
2013
|
8
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
13
|
72
|
.277
|
.344
|
.413
|
21.13
|
2013
|
9
|
Brandon
|
Phillips
|
18
|
103
|
.261
|
.310
|
.396
|
20.73
|
2013
|
10
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
13
|
54
|
.297
|
.335
|
.439
|
18.48
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
1
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
14
|
82
|
.314
|
.382
|
.454
|
31.90
|
2014
|
2
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
7
|
59
|
.341
|
.377
|
.453
|
26.27
|
2014
|
3
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
17
|
92
|
.275
|
.307
|
.420
|
23.03
|
2014
|
4
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
9
|
57
|
.289
|
.332
|
.403
|
22.86
|
2014
|
5
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
23
|
76
|
.271
|
.342
|
.467
|
22.82
|
2014
|
6
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
7
|
75
|
.293
|
.347
|
.397
|
22.33
|
2014
|
7
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
10
|
52
|
.272
|
.354
|
.395
|
21.13
|
2014
|
8
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
11
|
78
|
.270
|
.339
|
.407
|
20.94
|
2014
|
9
|
Brian
|
Dozier
|
23
|
71
|
.242
|
.345
|
.416
|
19.86
|
2014
|
10
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
7
|
53
|
.278
|
.337
|
.376
|
19.68
|
And since then, of course, it has been Jose Altuve:
YEAR
|
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
Value
|
2015
|
1
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
15
|
66
|
.313
|
.353
|
.459
|
28.92
|
2015
|
2
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
21
|
79
|
.287
|
.334
|
.446
|
26.09
|
2015
|
3
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
14
|
73
|
.281
|
.322
|
.449
|
24.19
|
2015
|
4
|
Brian
|
Dozier
|
28
|
77
|
.236
|
.307
|
.444
|
23.41
|
2015
|
5
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
11
|
73
|
.296
|
.342
|
.428
|
22.70
|
2015
|
6
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
16
|
71
|
.269
|
.328
|
.427
|
22.51
|
2015
|
7
|
Dee
|
Gordon
|
4
|
46
|
.333
|
.359
|
.418
|
22.22
|
2015
|
8
|
Jason
|
Kipnis
|
9
|
52
|
.303
|
.372
|
.451
|
20.48
|
2015
|
9
|
Howie
|
Kendrick
|
9
|
54
|
.295
|
.336
|
.409
|
19.65
|
2015
|
10
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
13
|
56
|
.276
|
.359
|
.450
|
19.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016
|
1
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
24
|
96
|
.338
|
.396
|
.531
|
32.66
|
2016
|
2
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
25
|
104
|
.347
|
.390
|
.595
|
28.15
|
2016
|
3
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
39
|
103
|
.298
|
.350
|
.533
|
25.62
|
2016
|
4
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
28
|
83
|
.288
|
.348
|
.484
|
23.84
|
2016
|
5
|
Brian
|
Dozier
|
42
|
99
|
.268
|
.340
|
.546
|
23.46
|
2016
|
6
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
23
|
55
|
.282
|
.347
|
.476
|
20.73
|
2016
|
7
|
Cesar
|
Hernandez
|
6
|
39
|
.294
|
.371
|
.393
|
20.62
|
2016
|
8
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
15
|
74
|
.318
|
.376
|
.449
|
19.12
|
2016
|
9
|
Jean
|
Segura
|
20
|
64
|
.319
|
.368
|
.499
|
19.12
|
2016
|
10
|
DJ
|
LeMahieu
|
11
|
66
|
.348
|
.416
|
.495
|
19.06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017
|
1
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
24
|
81
|
.346
|
.410
|
.547
|
30.77
|
2017
|
2
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
23
|
93
|
.322
|
.384
|
.543
|
24.00
|
2017
|
3
|
Brian
|
Dozier
|
34
|
93
|
.269
|
.357
|
.496
|
22.89
|
2017
|
4
|
Jonathan
|
Schoop
|
32
|
105
|
.293
|
.338
|
.503
|
22.75
|
2017
|
5
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
23
|
97
|
.280
|
.338
|
.453
|
21.04
|
2017
|
6
|
Jed
|
Lowrie
|
14
|
69
|
.277
|
.360
|
.448
|
19.38
|
2017
|
7
|
Whit
|
Merrifield
|
19
|
78
|
.288
|
.324
|
.460
|
18.65
|
2017
|
8
|
DJ
|
LeMahieu
|
8
|
64
|
.310
|
.374
|
.409
|
17.58
|
2017
|
9
|
Cesar
|
Hernandez
|
9
|
34
|
.294
|
.373
|
.421
|
16.79
|
2017
|
10
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
14
|
49
|
.265
|
.362
|
.439
|
15.99
|
76. Second Base Summary
There are 66 second basemen in history who have earned at least 20 points on the Years of Position Dominance Index. Hall of Famers highlighted.
Rank
|
From
|
To
|
First
|
Last
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
YOPDI
|
1
|
1963
|
1984
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
11
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
152
|
2
|
1906
|
1930
|
Eddie
|
Collins
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
147
|
3
|
1915
|
1937
|
Rogers
|
Hornsby
|
12
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
134
|
4
|
1896
|
1916
|
Nap
|
Lajoie
|
12
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
118
|
5
|
1988
|
2007
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
106
|
6
|
1981
|
1997
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
8
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
103
|
7
|
1988
|
2004
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
99
|
8
|
1924
|
1942
|
Charlie
|
Gehringer
|
8
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
96
|
9
|
1992
|
2008
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
90
|
10
|
1977
|
1995
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
1970
|
1986
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
86
|
11
|
2005
|
2017
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
86
|
13
|
1888
|
1901
|
Cupid
|
Childs
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
81
|
14
|
1967
|
1985
|
Rod
|
Carew
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
80
|
14
|
1919
|
1937
|
Frankie
|
Frisch
|
3
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
80
|
16
|
1947
|
1965
|
Nellie
|
Fox
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
79
|
17
|
1937
|
1951
|
Bobby
|
Doerr
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
75
|
18
|
1975
|
1992
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
74
|
19
|
2003
|
2017
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
72
|
20
|
1938
|
1950
|
Joe
|
Gordon
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
64
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
1931
|
1947
|
Billy
|
Herman
|
0
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
63
|
22
|
1879
|
1892
|
Hardy
|
Richardson
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
62
|
23
|
1880
|
1891
|
Fred
|
Dunlap
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
61
|
24
|
1947
|
1956
|
Jackie
|
Robinson
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
60
|
25
|
1907
|
1920
|
Larry
|
Doyle
|
0
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
54
|
26
|
1960
|
1975
|
Dick
|
McAuliffe
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
52
|
27
|
1991
|
2002
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
48
|
28
|
1943
|
1953
|
Eddie
|
Stanky
|
0
|
5
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
47
|
29
|
2000
|
2013
|
Michael
|
Young
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
45
|
30
|
1882
|
1899
|
Bid
|
McPhee
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
2006
|
2017
|
Ian
|
Kinsler
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
43
|
31
|
2006
|
2017
|
Dustin
|
Pedroia
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
43
|
33
|
1912
|
1924
|
Del
|
Pratt
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
42
|
33
|
2006
|
2017
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
42
|
35
|
1900
|
1915
|
Danny
|
Murphy
|
0
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
41
|
35
|
1945
|
1963
|
Red
|
Schoendienst
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
41
|
37
|
2011
|
2017
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
38
|
37
|
1876
|
1891
|
Jack
|
Burdock
|
2
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
38
|
39
|
1926
|
1939
|
Tony
|
Lazzeri
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
37
|
40
|
1951
|
1960
|
Gil
|
McDougald
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40
|
1982
|
1999
|
Tony
|
Phillips
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
36
|
42
|
1995
|
2008
|
Ray
|
Durham
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
35
|
42
|
1956
|
1972
|
Bill
|
Mazeroski
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
35
|
44
|
1956
|
1967
|
Jerry
|
Lumpe
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
34
|
44
|
1925
|
1941
|
Buddy
|
Myer
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
34
|
46
|
2001
|
2014
|
Brian
|
Roberts
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
33
|
47
|
1876
|
1884
|
Bob
|
Ferguson
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
32
|
47
|
2008
|
2017
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
32
|
47
|
2006
|
2015
|
Dan
|
Uggla
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
32
|
50
|
1882
|
1892
|
Yank
|
Robinson
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51
|
1992
|
2005
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
30
|
52
|
1965
|
1978
|
Davey
|
Johnson
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
29
|
52
|
1972
|
1987
|
Davey
|
Lopes
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
29
|
52
|
1943
|
1952
|
Snuffy
|
Stirnweiss
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
29
|
55
|
1990
|
2005
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
28
|
55
|
1983
|
1998
|
Juan
|
Samuel
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
28
|
55
|
2009
|
2017
|
Neil
|
Walker
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
28
|
58
|
1879
|
1889
|
Jack
|
Farrell
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
27
|
59
|
1966
|
1973
|
Mike
|
Andrews
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
25
|
59
|
1995
|
2009
|
Mark
|
Loretta
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
59
|
1981
|
1994
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
25
|
62
|
1902
|
1929
|
Johnny
|
Evers
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
23
|
62
|
1920
|
1934
|
Marty
|
McManus
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
5
|
1
|
23
|
64
|
1973
|
1988
|
Phil
|
Garner
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
22
|
64
|
1997
|
2008
|
Jose
|
Vidro
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
22
|
66
|
1886
|
1892
|
Hub
|
Collins
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
21
|
And these are the top 50 second basemen by Peak Value, Hall of Famers in gold:
Rank
|
First
|
Last
|
YEAR
|
HR
|
RBI
|
Avg
|
OBA
|
SPct
|
OPS
|
Peak
|
1
|
Rogers
|
Hornsby
|
1922
|
42
|
152
|
.401
|
.459
|
.722
|
1.181
|
42.30
|
2
|
Joe
|
Morgan
|
1975
|
17
|
94
|
.327
|
.466
|
.508
|
.974
|
42.19
|
3
|
Eddie
|
Collins
|
1914
|
2
|
85
|
.344
|
.452
|
.452
|
.904
|
38.82
|
4
|
Nap
|
Lajoie
|
1901
|
14
|
125
|
.426
|
.463
|
.643
|
1.106
|
38.21
|
5
|
Craig
|
Biggio
|
1997
|
22
|
81
|
.309
|
.415
|
.501
|
.916
|
35.41
|
6
|
Jackie
|
Robinson
|
1951
|
19
|
88
|
.338
|
.429
|
.527
|
.957
|
35.08
|
7
|
Ryne
|
Sandberg
|
1991
|
26
|
100
|
.291
|
.379
|
.485
|
.865
|
34.03
|
8
|
Robinson
|
Cano
|
2012
|
33
|
94
|
.313
|
.379
|
.550
|
.929
|
33.70
|
9
|
Charlie
|
Gehringer
|
1934
|
11
|
127
|
.356
|
.450
|
.517
|
.967
|
33.32
|
10
|
Jose
|
Altuve
|
2016
|
24
|
96
|
.338
|
.396
|
.531
|
.928
|
32.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Rod
|
Carew
|
1975
|
14
|
80
|
.359
|
.421
|
.497
|
.919
|
32.17
|
12
|
Jeff
|
Kent
|
2000
|
33
|
125
|
.334
|
.424
|
.596
|
1.021
|
32.16
|
13
|
Chase
|
Utley
|
2009
|
31
|
93
|
.282
|
.397
|
.508
|
.905
|
30.90
|
14
|
Bobby
|
Grich
|
1974
|
19
|
82
|
.263
|
.376
|
.431
|
.807
|
30.67
|
15
|
Roberto
|
Alomar
|
1992
|
8
|
76
|
.310
|
.405
|
.427
|
.832
|
30.04
|
16
|
Chuck
|
Knoblauch
|
1996
|
13
|
72
|
.341
|
.448
|
.517
|
.965
|
29.28
|
17
|
Snuffy
|
Stirnweiss
|
1944
|
8
|
43
|
.319
|
.389
|
.460
|
.849
|
29.05
|
18
|
Frankie
|
Frisch
|
1923
|
12
|
111
|
.348
|
.395
|
.485
|
.880
|
29.02
|
19
|
Billy
|
Herman
|
1936
|
5
|
93
|
.334
|
.392
|
.470
|
.862
|
28.30
|
20
|
Daniel
|
Murphy
|
2016
|
25
|
104
|
.347
|
.390
|
.595
|
.985
|
28.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
Larry
|
Doyle
|
1911
|
13
|
77
|
.310
|
.397
|
.527
|
.924
|
27.96
|
22
|
Julio
|
Franco
|
1989
|
13
|
92
|
.316
|
.386
|
.462
|
.848
|
27.80
|
23
|
Johnny
|
Evers
|
1908
|
0
|
37
|
.300
|
.402
|
.375
|
.777
|
27.74
|
24
|
Joe
|
Gordon
|
1942
|
18
|
103
|
.322
|
.409
|
.491
|
.900
|
27.72
|
25
|
Bret
|
Boone
|
2001
|
37
|
141
|
.331
|
.372
|
.578
|
.950
|
27.47
|
26
|
Nellie
|
Fox
|
1957
|
6
|
61
|
.317
|
.403
|
.415
|
.818
|
27.34
|
27
|
Buddy
|
Myer
|
1935
|
5
|
100
|
.349
|
.440
|
.468
|
.907
|
27.21
|
28
|
Dick
|
McAuliffe
|
1967
|
22
|
65
|
.239
|
.364
|
.411
|
.775
|
27.18
|
29
|
Bobby
|
Doerr
|
1944
|
15
|
81
|
.325
|
.399
|
.528
|
.927
|
27.10
|
30
|
Ben
|
Zobrist
|
2011
|
20
|
91
|
.269
|
.353
|
.469
|
.822
|
27.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
Willie
|
Randolph
|
1980
|
7
|
46
|
.294
|
.427
|
.407
|
.834
|
26.97
|
32
|
Duke
|
Kenworthy
|
1914
|
15
|
91
|
.317
|
.372
|
.525
|
.896
|
26.61
|
33
|
Paul
|
Molitor
|
1990
|
12
|
45
|
.285
|
.343
|
.464
|
.807
|
26.52
|
34
|
Mark
|
Loretta
|
2004
|
16
|
76
|
.335
|
.391
|
.495
|
.886
|
26.49
|
35
|
Tony
|
Lazzeri
|
1929
|
18
|
106
|
.354
|
.430
|
.561
|
.992
|
26.27
|
36
|
Lou
|
Whitaker
|
1991
|
23
|
78
|
.279
|
.391
|
.489
|
.881
|
26.23
|
37
|
Danny
|
Murphy
|
1904
|
7
|
77
|
.287
|
.320
|
.440
|
.760
|
26.17
|
38
|
Eddie
|
Stanky
|
1950
|
8
|
51
|
.300
|
.460
|
.412
|
.872
|
25.79
|
39
|
Pete
|
Rose
|
1966
|
16
|
70
|
.313
|
.351
|
.460
|
.811
|
25.36
|
40
|
Gil
|
McDougald
|
1955
|
13
|
53
|
.285
|
.361
|
.407
|
.768
|
24.98
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41
|
Carlos
|
Baerga
|
1993
|
21
|
114
|
.321
|
.355
|
.486
|
.840
|
24.97
|
42
|
Tom
|
Daly
|
1899
|
5
|
88
|
.313
|
.409
|
.428
|
.837
|
24.92
|
43
|
Tom
|
Herr
|
1985
|
8
|
110
|
.302
|
.379
|
.416
|
.795
|
24.77
|
44
|
Frank
|
LaPorte
|
1914
|
4
|
107
|
.311
|
.361
|
.436
|
.797
|
24.73
|
45
|
Red
|
Schoendienst
|
1953
|
15
|
79
|
.342
|
.405
|
.502
|
.907
|
24.54
|
46
|
Rickie Jr.
|
Weeks
|
2010
|
29
|
83
|
.269
|
.366
|
.464
|
.830
|
24.46
|
47
|
Del
|
Pratt
|
1913
|
2
|
87
|
.296
|
.341
|
.402
|
.743
|
24.40
|
48
|
George
|
Grantham
|
1929
|
12
|
90
|
.307
|
.454
|
.533
|
.987
|
24.21
|
49
|
Steve
|
Sax
|
1986
|
6
|
56
|
.332
|
.390
|
.441
|
.830
|
24.13
|
50
|
Alfonso
|
Soriano
|
2003
|
38
|
91
|
.290
|
.338
|
.525
|
.863
|
24.08
|
We could say, in general terms and with some lack of precision, that the best second baseman in baseball in 1900 was Nap Lajoie, then Eddie Collins, then Rogers Hornsby, then Charlie Gehringer, then Joe Gordon, then Bobby Doerr, then Jackie Robinson, then Nellie Fox, then Bill Mazeroski, then Dick McAuliffe, then Joe Morgan, then Ryne Sandberg, then Craig Biggio or Robbie Alomar, then Jeff Kent, then Chase Utley, then Robinson Cano, and now Jose Altuve.
77. 19th Century Third Basemen
The top third baseman of the 19th century, as measured by the Years of Position Dominance Index, was Ezra Sutton:
From
|
To
|
First
|
Last
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
YOPDI
|
1876
|
1888
|
Ezra
|
Sutton
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
59
|
1878
|
1890
|
Ned
|
Williamson
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
56
|
1890
|
1898
|
Bill
|
Joyce
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
41
|
1876
|
1890
|
Deacon
|
White
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
41
|
1884
|
1898
|
Billy
|
Nash
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
40
|
1880
|
1909
|
Arlie
|
Latham
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
38
|
1891
|
1906
|
John
|
McGraw
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
36
|
1880
|
1892
|
Tom
|
Burns
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
21
|
1895
|
1908
|
Jimmy
|
Collins
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
19
|
1884
|
1893
|
George
|
Pinckney
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
15
|
Three Hall of Famers there. John McGraw was elected more as a manager than as a player, although he was a tremendously effective player in a short career. Jimmy Collins was still a young player at the end of the 19th century. The only actual 19th century third baseman in the Hall of Fame was Deacon White, who was not elected until 2013.