Captain Jetes, Honus Wagner, and Great Moments in Ignorance

By The Common Man

This Sporting News article, and writer Stan McNeal, purports that Derek Jeter may just be the best shortstop of all time (h/t to Craig Calcaterra).  He also suggests that "Wagner never was regarded as a great defensive player," which is like saying that Lou Gehrig wasn't ever regarded as tough, Ty Cob never seemed cranky, and Stan NcNeal is not a sycophant.  In other words, it's blatantly and demonstrably untrue. 


Perhaps, then, today is a good day to just link to TCM's Top 40 Shortstops in baseball history, and let you read up.  Spoiler alert!  Captain Jetes is not #1.  Enjoy.

40 Greatest Shortstops

By The Common Man

Because the Respendent Jeter deserves to be honored (often with a pilgrimage to hear him hold forth on matters great and insignificant), The Common Man presents the companion to his earlier piece on the 40 greatest Yankees with this look at the 40 greatest shortstops.

A couple of notes about methodology first, however.  One, if a player spent more than half of their career at another position, he is not included on this list with the exception of Ernie Banks (because, c'mon, it's Ernie Banks).  Also, all statistics are based on career totals and value, not on time spent specfiically at SS.  So, Robin Yount, for instance, gets credit here for all of his career, not just his time in the infield.  Frankly, it was easier this way, rather than trying to parse and split hairs.  If TCM ever updates this list, he may revise his methodology, as that would seem to be a legitimate criticism of the rankings.  So without further delay: