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Frank Frisch and Eddie Collins

Ranking the Second Basemen

Good things often come in small packages. So it was with our top second baseman, Eddie Collins, shown here with Frankie Frisch, another Hall of Famer, prior to the 1930 World Series. Collins was a winner. He appeared in six World Series, winning four titles. His tremendous World Series performance (.328 with 14 stolen bases) earn Collins the stop spot at the keystone position.

♦  Best player you never heard of, Pratt ⇒
♦  Biggest overachiever, Stanky ⇒
♦  Best at turning the double play, Maz ⇒

1.   Eddie Collins
2.   Joe Morgan
3.   Rogers Hornsby
4.   Nap Lajoie
5.   Charlie Gehringer
6.   Jackie Robinson
7.   Frankie Frisch
8.   Roberto Alomar
9.   Craig Biggio
10.   Ryne Sandberg
11.   Lou Whitaker
12.   Jeff Kent
13.   Larry Doyle
14.   Bobby Grich
15.   Del Pratt
16.   Billy Herman
17.   Joe Gordon
18.   Bill Mazeroski
19.   Bobby Doerr
20.   Johnny Evers
21.   Red Schoendienst
22.   Nellie Fox
23.   Willie Randolph
24.   Davey Lopes
25.   Tony Lazzeri
26.   Frank White
27.   Buddy Myer
28.   Bobby Avila
29.   Tommie Herr
30.   Hardy Richardson
31.   Davey Johnson
32.   Manny Trillo
33.   Tony Taylor
34.   Jim Gilliam
35.   Lonny Frey
36.   Max Bishop
37.   Chuck Knoblauch
38.   Dick McAuliffe
39.   Eddie Stanky
40.   Marty McManus
41.   Hughie Critz
42.   Cupid Childs
43.   Bobby Lowe
44.   Jimmy Williams
45.   Gil McDougald
46.   Robby Thompson
47.   Dave Cash
48.   Miller Huggins
49.   Pete Runnels
50.   Danny Murphy
Negro Leaguers
The only NL second baseman in the Hall of Fame is Frank Grant, who played in the 19th century. Defensive whiz Newt Allen and slugger Piper Davis were both very talented.


*Player/manager
Best of the Unranked
Steve Sax
Carlos Baerga
Phil Garner
Bill Doran
Tony Cuccinello
Kid Gleason
Jimmy Williams
Placido Polanco
Ray Durham
Best Managers
Sparky Anderson
Tony LaRussa
Bucky Harris*
Earl Weaver
Frankie Frisch*
Miller Huggins*
Billy Martin
Davey Johnson
Gene Mauch
Best with the Glove
Bill Mazeroski
Manny Trillo
Frank White
Roberto Alomar
Davey Johnson
Bobby Grich
Glenn Hubbard
Nellie Fox
Jerry Adair
Joe Morgan was the first player to have 200 homers and 500 steals... Ryne Sandberg hit .300 in Wrigley Field, 31 points higher than he hit in other parks... In 1925, Tony Lazzeri slugged 60 homers and drove in 222 runs in the Pacific Coast League... If you're looking for Rod Carew, he's ranked at 1B.
Most Versatile Batting Champion
Barely making our Top 50 list, Pete Runnels was a wonderful hitter who captured two batting titles and nearly won a third. Managers loved to write his name on the lineup card - Runnels played more than 600 games at first and second, and also more than 400 at shortstop. We rate him at 2B even though he played two more games at 1B. Pete Runnels' page ⇒

"You watch Frank at second base every day and you realize how good he is. He's got super range. He's very quick. He has sure hands, and he can throw and make the double play. I don't think anybody, anywhere, is his equal on the artificial turf."
— Whitey Herzog

Frank White's page ⇒
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