The Top 10 National League Shortstops of All Time

Shortstop is a fielding first position. It used to be that a player who played the position wasn’t expected to have much power. That’s because there weren’t many tall shortstops. As the position changed, and more shortstops started hitting the long ball, it fortified the lineups but in the end, you have to be able to turn two or you’re not helping your team enough. Here is my top 10.

Honus Wagner

“The Flying Dutchman” was one of the great players to ever play the sport. He had a .328 lifetime average with over 3,400 hits! He led the NL in hitting eight times! He was a run producer and a run saver mainly for the Pirates. He was in the top 10 defensive WAR nine times. 

Ernie Banks

“Mr. Cub” won two MVP Awards at the position so that negates the time he spent at first base. Shortstops didn’t hit over 40 home runs, and he led the league twice with 47 and 41. Banks did one gold glove award.

Arky Vaughn

Another great Pirates player who hit .318 lifetime and had a .406 on-base percentage lifetime. He missed time after a disagreement with Leo Durocher, and he gave the Brooklyn Dodgers manager his unform to dispose of this and retired to his ranch after leading the league in steals with 20. Three years later he came back as a utility player for the Brooklyn Dodgers because Durocher was suspended.

Barry Larkin

He won three gold glove awards and was one of the top-hitting shortstops of his time leading the Reds to a World Series win. Larkin was an MVP winner and had a .295 career batting average.

Ozzie Smith

The “Wizard of Oz” was a run saver and a turf hitter. This Cardinals legend won 13 gold gloves and perfected the bounce of the ball to first base deep in the hole. He had 2,460 hits and 580 steals.

Jimmy Rollins

“J-Roll” led the Phillies to a World Series win in 2008 and another appearance in 2009. He won an MVP Award and four gold glove awards. His speed was exceptional.

Dave Concepcion

This good hitting shortstop was a key member of the “Big Red Machine”. His 950 RBI are more than a lot of great shortstops. He won five gold gloves.

Pee Wee Reese

“The Little Colonel” was the emotional and sometimes on the field leader for the Brooklyn Dodgers. They did one World Series in 1955 and were in six others. He lost three years in the military and was in the top 10 in defensive war 14 times.

Troy Tulowitzki

“Tulo” was a terrific hitter and a good fielder for the Colorado Rockies until the bad AstroTurf in Toronto destroyed his back. His lifetime .290 average, 225 home runs, and two gold gloves made him dangerous.

Rey Ordonez

The Cuban defector helped revolutionize the New York Mets infield, playing in one of the best of all time in 1999. They only made 27 all year! He turned 102 double plays in 1995 and three consecutive gold glove awards. His pop-up slides in the field helped revolutionize the position. He was thought to be older than his baseball age.