From modern legends like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez to mid-1900s sensations Luis Aparicio and Ernie Banks, MLB’s first 120 years have been filled with elite shortstops. But, which players should be considered the greatest MLB shortstops of all time? Here’s our top five.
Related: Who are the greatest MLB third basemen of all time?
5. Ernie Banks
“Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks would be higher on our list of the greatest MLB shortstops had he not spent the second half of his career at first base. But even though Banks played at short for less than a decade, his impact at the position was profound. The Cubs icon won back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1958-59, as Banks led the National League in RBI in both campaigns and hit a combined 92 home runs over that span.
Per Baseball-Reference, Banks hit 269 recorded home runs as a shortstop, fourth-most among players shortstops and ahead of players like Jimmy Rollins and Barry Larkin — both of whom played there for over 15 seasons. And as far as OPS is concerned, Banks’ .914 OPS as a shortstop is second-most among hitters with at least 4,000 PA at the position. Only Alex Rodriguez (.963) had a higher one.
4. Luke Appling
A stalwart of the White Sox during the 1930s, Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling proved to be one of the best pure hitters at the shortstop position. A career .314 hitter, Appling sits in the top ten in total hits (2,271) as a shortstop and ranks 45th all-time in career bWAR among MLB players.
Appling’s longevity — he recorded 140+ hits in his age 40-24 campaigns — and overall prowess is why he makes it on this list.
3. Ozzie Smith
Cardinals legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith wasn’t an offensive force — he only had a career OPS+ of 87 — but his bat, speed, and glove were plenty enough to make a sizeable impact on the game of baseball. The 15-time All-Star ranks in the top ten in both runs scored (1,250) and hits (2,448) as a shortstop, and his clutch hitting in the 1982 and 1985 NLCS helped St. Louis make it to the World Series in both campaigns.
Nicknamed the “Wizard of Oz,” Smith could be considered the greatest defensive shortstop thanks in large part to his outstanding range at the position. The Cardinals legend won 15 Gold Gloves at the position, the most of any player in MLB history.
2. Derek Jeter
Yankees legend Derek Jeter was critical to the Bronx Bombers’ renaissance in the 1990s. The 1996 AL Rookie of the Year and a 14-time All-Star, Jeter’s prowess at the plate helped him reach the 3,000-hit plateau. The five-time World Series champion could also get it done in the playoffs, as he was well known for making big plays both on the field and at the plate come October. In 158 postseason games, Jeter with .308 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI.
Jeter was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, as his name was checked on 396 of 397 ballots. His 99.7% vote rate was the second-highest in Hall history, behind only his ex-Yankee teammate Mariano Rivera.
1. Cal Ripken Jr.
Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. spent time both at the beginning and end of his career at third base, but the Maryland native has a strong case to be considered the greatest MLB shortstop in MLB history. No shortstop in MLB history hit as many home runs (345) at the position as Ripken Jr., and just three — Jeter, Omar Vizquel, and Luis Aparicio — had as many hits (2,479).
However, arguably Ripken Jr.’s greatest feat was his “Iron Man” streak. The O’s icon surpassed Lou Gehrig for the longest consecutive games played streak in 1995, one that lasted 2,632 contests. It’s a feat that will likely never be broken.
Note: All stats and achievements are as of 1903 or later. All stats and split values from Baseball-Reference. Data may not be completely accurate due to the lack of game logs from the early 1900s.