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10 Best Shortstops of All Time: 2023 Edition

Who are the best shortstops of all time? It’s one of the most critical positions in baseball and can make all the difference in a game.

Best Shortstops of All Time

Shortstops have quick reactions and strong arms that can often lead to key double plays and clutch catches.

Over the years many great shortstops have graced the field, but who are the best of the best? From slick-fielding, to powerful hitting, these are the best shortstops of all time. 

10. Robin Yount 

Robin Yount is one of the best shortstops of all time and he spent his entire 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a three-time All-Star, won three Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove, and two MVP awards.

The versatility of Yount allowed him to make a position switch to center field in 1985 as a 29-year-old and he became the third player in MLB history to win MVP at two different positions.

Yount had raw athleticism and an exceptional work rate, finishing his career with 3,142 hits, 251 home runs, and a .285 career batting average. 

In 1999 he became the first ever Brewer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame but unfortunately, Milwaukee is still yet to win a World Series. He remains an ever popular figure for the Brewers where his #19 was retired in 1994. 

9. Arky Vaughan

Arky Vaughan was a star shortstop with a career batting average of .318. He finished his career with the second-highest batting average among shortstops with over 3,000 plate appearances.

Vaughan consistently led the league in walks, OBP, and triples, and he was a speedy runner who could steal bases. Vaughan made the All-Star team for nine consecutive seasons and hit two home runs in the 1941 All-Star game.

He was traded to the Dodgers where he clashed with manager Leo Durocher before retiring for three years. Vaughan returned in 1947 and played in his only World Series before retiring for good.

Vaughan made an impact at the plate despite having fewer than 100 home runs. He finished with a .406 OBP, .453 SLG, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985 as one of the best shortstops of all time. 

8. Luke Appling

Luke Appling was a Chicago White Sox shortstop for 20 years where his jersey #4 is retired. He appeared in 2,218 games at shortstop which is 8th all-time at the position.

Appling had a strong arm, leading the AL in shortstop assists 7 times. His career took off in 1933, hitting over .300 for the first of 9 consecutive seasons. He had a great eye with a lifetime .399 OBP and 9 seasons over .400.

One of the best shortstops of all time, Appling hit .310/.399/.398 for his career, leading the league in hitting twice and was one of only four shortstops to play 100 games at 40 years or older.

7. Barry Larkin

Barry Larkin dominated the National League for over a decade. He won 11 All-Star titles, 9 Silver Sluggers, 3 Gold Gloves, and the NL MVP in 1995.

Despite limited playoff success with the Cincinnati Reds, Larkin remained loyal with the team for 19 years, retiring in 2004 and having his #11 retired by the Reds in 2012.

With a career batting average of .295, Larkin made his hometown club proud and he was the first shortstop in MLB history to have at least 2,000 hits, 170 home runs and 350 stolen bases.

Larkin was one of the greatest leaders in baseball which was recognized when winning the Roberto Clemente Award in 1993 and the Lou Gehrig Award in 1994. 

6. Ozzie Smith

Ozzie Smith is another one of the best shortstops of all time with 13 Gold Gloves and a defensive WAR of 43.4. The switch-hitter continually improved his hitting over his career finishing with a .262 average, 2,460 hits, 402 doubles, 1,257 runs scored and 580 stolen bases. 

Smith was known for his ability to pull off impossible plays and is considered to be one of the greatest defensive shortstops ever. He played for both the Padres and Cardinals, earning 15 All-Star selections and a Silver Slugger award in 1987.

In his first year of eligibility he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and will be remembered for his great reflexes, acrobatics, his hands, speed and footwork. 

5. Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks started his career in 1950 with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues but was sold to the Chicago Cubs in 1953. Banks became a standout shortstop for the Cubs, making 14 All-Star appearances and winning back-to-back MVPs in 1958 and 1959. 

Over a six-year span from 1955 to 1960, he hit over 40 home runs five times, and led the league in home runs twice. Despite his success as a shortstop Banks moved to first base later in 1962 to extend his career as the Cubs were desperate to have him in the batting line-up for the long haul.

Nicknamed “Mr. Cub”,  Banks was one of the best shortstops of all time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977, and his jersey #14 was retired by Chicago in 1982.

4. Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter is a legend of the Bronx and one of the most adored players ever. He made his debut in 1995, quickly became a starting player, won Rookie of the Year and made one of the best sports cities in America, New York, his own.

Jeter was a key player for the Yankees, helping them win five World Series championships, and helping reach the postseason in all but three of his 20-season career.

An amazing 14 All-Star selections, five Silver Sluggers, and five Gold Gloves are among his accolades. He was one of the best contact batters with a career batting average of .310, 3,465 hits, 260 home runs, 1,923 runs and 1,311 RBI.

Jeter was known more for his offensive game but could hold his own defensively. He was able to take his game to the next level in the postseason, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, and his jersey #2 was retired by the Yankees in 2017.

3. Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez’s 22 seasons in the MLB was spent with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and the New York Yankees. Offensively he was one of the most explosive players ever, and he had exceptional range defensively.

One of the greatest shortstops of all time, A-Rod is a 14-time All-Star, earned three AL MVP Awards, 10 Silver Slugger Awards, and two Gold Glove Awards.

Rodriguez finished with a .295 batting average and became the only player in Major League history to score over 600 home runs, score over 2,000 runs and runs batted in, over 3,000 hits, and over 300 stolen bases.

A-Rod holds the record for most career grand slams with 25. He’s also immortalized into baseball history because of his huge contracts, earning more than $441 million in salaries across his career.

2. Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal Ripken Jr. is one of the best shortstops of all time who famously broke Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 consecutive games played. He reached 2,632 straight games, a record unlikely to ever be beaten.

Ripken Jr.  was a two-time MVP, an All-Star from 1983 to 2001, and he won two Gold Gloves and eight Silver Sluggers. He ranks either first or second in games, plate appearances, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and runs among shortstops.

Although his Orioles only made the postseason three times during his career, Ripkin Jr performed well. He jumped up to a batting average of .336 in 124 post-season plate appearances, up from his career average .276.

Ripken finished his career with 3,184 hits, 431 home runs and 1,695 runs batted, but defensively he was a superstar. He ranks third all-time in defensive WAR among shortstops and is one of best players with position awareness ever.

1. Honus Wagner

Honus Wagner, also known as “The Flying Dutchman,” is the best shortstop of all time, dominating the game in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Despite playing in the dead-ball era, Wagner batted .328 for his career and finished with 3,420 hits, 1,739 runs scored, and 1,733 RBI. He was a versatile player and excelled on the field, as well as at the plate, leading the NL in fielding percentage and double plays.

He won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936, tying Babe Ruth – the best baseball player of all time – with 95.1% of the vote.

Wagner had lightning quick speed both as a base runner and defensively, and he could play at any position in the infield. For his era, Wagner had a bulky physique and was renowned for his powerful hitting.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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