Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Top Ten List: Second Basemen

Look son, no hands Tom Cruise proves to his 11-year old son, Connor, that he is "all man" by getting to second base with his girlfriend at a 2006 baseball game.


By Will-he-M


After doing the list of First Basemen, I figured that no list could prove tougher to make. Holy Hell was I wrong. Doing this one made doing the first basemen seem like doing the Catchers List.

Of the eighteen obvious candidates for history's greatest Second Baseman, only two failed to score 1000 Runs (Tony Lazzeri and Jackie Robinson); only two failed to get 1000 RBI (Nellie Fox and Jackie Robinson); only three failed to steal 100 Bases (Bobby Doerr, Nellie Fox and Jeff Kent); and only five failed to hit 400 Doubles (Bobby Doerr, Nellie Fox, Tony Lazzeri, Bid McPhee and Jackie Robinson).

Additionally, eight candidates scored over 1500 Runs, seven had over 200 Home Runs, six had over 500 Doubles, six had over 400 Stolen Bases, four had over 3000 Hits, and three had over 1500 RBI. It wasn't easy, but here is my Top Ten List for Second Basemen.



10. Craig Biggio (Houston Astros 1988-2007)
2850 GP, 10876 AB, 1844 R, 3060 H, 668 D, 55 T, 291 RBI, 1175 RBI, 414 SB, .281 AVG, .984 FPCT

4x Gold Glove Award Winner (1994-1997)
5x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)
7x All-Star (1991, 1992, 1994-1998)







9. Jeff Kent (Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers 1992-2008)
2298 GP, 8498 AB, 1320 R, 2401 H, 560 D, 47 T, 377 HR, 1518 RBI, 94 SB, .290 AVG, .980 FPCT

2000 NL MVP
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (2000-2002, 2005)
5x All-Star (1999-2001, 2004, 2005)







Tom Cruise would approve of that collar8. Eddie "Cocky" Collins (Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox 1906-1930)
2826 GP, 9949 AB, 1821 R, 3315 H, 438 R, 187 T, 47 HR, 1300 RBI, 744 SB, .333 AVG, .970 FPCT

1914 AL MVP
Hall of Fame 1939



7. Rodney "Rod" Carew (Minnesota Twins, California Angels 1967-1985)
2469 GP, 9315 AB, 1424 R, 3053 H, 445 D, 112 T, 92 T, 1015 RBI, 353 SB, .358 AVG, .973 FPCT

1967 Rookie of the Year Award Winner
1977 AL MVP
18x All-Star (1967-1984)
Hall of Fame 1991







6. Joe Morgan (Houston Colt .45's, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics 1963-1984)
2649 GP, 9277 AB, 1650 R, 2517 H, 449 D, 96 T, 268 HR, 1133 RBI, 689 SB, .271 AVG, .981 FPCT

2x NL MVP (1975, 1976)
2x World Series Champion (1975, 1976)
10x All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972-1979)
Hall of Fame 1990







5. Ryne "Ryno" Sandberg (Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs 1981-1997)
2164 GP, 8385 AB, 1318 R, 2386 H, 403 D, 76 T, 282 HR, 1061 RBI, 344 SB, .285 AVG, .989 FPCT

1984 NL MVP
9x Gold Glove Award Winner (1983-1991)
7x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1984, 1985, 1988-1992)
10x All-Star (1984-1993)
Hall of Fame 2005







4. Jack "Jackie" Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers 1947-1956)
1382 GP, 4877 AB, 947 R, 1518 R, 273 D, 54 T, 137 HR, 734 RBI, 197 SB, .311 AVG, .983 FPCT

1947 MLB Rookie of the Year Award Winner
1949 NL MVP
World Series Champion (1955)
6x All-Star (1949-1954)
Hall of Fame 1962







3. Roberto Alomar (San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks 1988-2004)
2329 GP, 9073 AB, 1508 R, 2724 H, 504 D, 80 T, 210 HR, 1134 RBI, 474 SB, .300 AVG, .984 FPCT

10x Gold Glove Award Winner (1991-1996, 1998-2001)
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1992, 1996, 1999, 2000)
2x World Series Champion (1992, 1993)
12x All-Star (1990-2001)







2. Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie (Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Bronchos, Cleveland Naps 1896-1916)
2480 GP, 9589 AB, 1504 R, 3242 H, 657 D, 163 T, 83 HR, 1599 RBI, 380 SB, .338 AVG, .963 FPCT

Triple Crown Winner (1901)
Hall of Fame 1937







1. Rogers "Rajah" Hornsby (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns 1915-1937)
2259 GP, 8173 AB, 1579 R, 2930 H, 541 D, 169 T, 301 HR, 1584 RBI, 135 SB, .358 AVG, .965 FPCT

2x Triple Crown Winner (1922, 1925)
2x NL MVP (1925, 1929)
World Series Champion (1926)
Hall of Fame 1942






[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 28th, 2009]





7 comments:

  1. I'm surprised Hornsby only had 135 SB. It takes him less than three seconds to reach second base on a double.

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  2. I LOVE that pic that highlights the list lol solid addition to the list.

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  3. If by weird - you mean he's gonna wanna go to second base with women....

    The roots in Scientology should really help keep him grounded and having a step mom that's like a sister can only help.

    Not to get away from the Tom Cruise family talk - but in the list of 2B - I always loved Ryne Sandberg - and he's getting more than his fair share of love being ranked as high as he is in this list.

    I think (if I'm remembering correctly) that his HOF selection was short of a no-brainer and that some critized that selection - I forget on what basis and could be completely off.

    Anyhow, Joe Morgan was unbelievable - and although his color commentary ires many - I would consider him up among the top 3 of all time.

    Granted - I did no research and probably won't unless there's interest - but really in the Nepean-Wil he M and Guru webspace - the comment alone may be sufficient.

    In the words of Jimmy V - "Never Give Up" = we're gonna keep going until somebody else makes a comment!

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  4. Yeah, there's nothing creepy about a 45 year old man lifting his 25 year old girlfriend up onto the bar so she wraps her legs around him, as they go at it like teenagers - that's what Connor wanted to look at when his Dad said he'd take him to the ball game.

    I mean, just look at his expression.

    Never mind his age. If I went to a baseball game with a couple and they started making out like that beside me, I too would feel weird.

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  5. I wish the McCain's commercial with Roberto Alomar could be re-shot (Note to Nepean: If this can be created...)

    Roberto Alomar pouring a glass of orange juice, taking a sip and spitting it out - "accidentally" hitting John Hirschbeck (who happened to be walking by in full umpire garb) in the face.

    Then Hirschbeck pouring a glas of McCain's - "Hey Roberto Alomar, try this"

    Alomar taking a sip and nodding "that's more like it - sorry about that John"

    "Just don't let it happen a third time...

    And fade out as the two are laughing a back slapping...

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  6. Back to the Cruise family - why is the kid wearing a tuque while in the luxury box which is warm enough for the summer blouse?

    Next question, how short is that kid, or is that kid about the size of the money you could be saving with Geico, just the googly eyes with no torso?

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