X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Every MLB Team's Greatest Shortstop of All Time - All 30 Franchises

RotoBaller digs into baseball history by naming every MLB team's greatest shortstop of all time. Analysis and stats for every MLB team's greatest shortstop in history.

Derek Jeter - New York Yankees, MLB

Every MLB Team's Greatest First Shortstop of All Time

Shortstop has long been the position for some of baseball’s most iconic – and electric – players. Read ahead as we highlight the greatest shortstop of all time for all 30 MLB teams. Will you agree with our selections?

Arizona Diamondbacks - MLB Team Logo

Arizona Diamondbacks

Stephen Drew (Time w/ Team: 2006-12)

We wish we could kick our list off with a sexier name, but alphabetical order is what it is, and so is the Diamondbacks rather spotty history of game-changing shortstops. Two-time Gold Glove winner Nick Ahmed certainly earned consideration here, but ultimately, Drew was the vastly superior offensive player while being rock-solid in the field during his time in the desert.

ATHLETICS - MLB TEAM LOGO, A's

Athletics

Bert Campaneris (1964-76)

A five-time All Star, Campaneris remains the A’s all-time hits leader with 1,882. A blazer on the base paths, he led the AL in stolen bases six times and stands second on the all-time A’s list behind only Rickey Henderson. Campaneris was a key member of three World Series-winning A’s squads.

ATLANTA BRAVES - MLB TEAM LOGO

Atlanta Braves

Johnny Logan (1951-60)

As a child of the 80s and 90s, Jeff Blauser will always hold a special place in my heart, and Rafael Furcal burned bright for a short time in the early 2000s. However, Johnny Logan held the shortstop position down with consistency and leadership for a decade. A four-time All Star, Logan contributed to two NL Pennant-winning clubs and a Worlds Series championship when the Braves were still in Milwaukee.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES - MLB TEAM LOGO

Baltimore Orioles

Cal Ripken Jr. (1981-2001)

The easiest decision on this list, there’s not ample enough space here to encapsulate Ripken’s greatness. He’ll always be remembered for breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak – a record that was long thought to be unbreakable – but it’s not like he was simply showing up to the ballpark, as Ripken played at a Hall of Fame level for close to two decades. He helped lead the O’s to a World Series title in 1983, was a two-time AL MVP, and 19-time All Star.

BOSTON RED SOX - MLB TEAM LOGO

Boston Red Sox

Nomar Garciaparra (1996-2004)

Though injuries shortened his prime, Garciaparra’s peak remains unmatched by any other Red Sox shortstop in history. The AL Rookie of the Year in 1997, he won back-to-back AL batting titles in 1999-2000 and finished in the top 10 of AL MVP voting five times during his Boston tenure. A five-time All Star for Boston, Garciaparra finished with a .323 AVG, 178 HRs, 1,281 hits, and a career WAR of 41.8 in his 966 games with the Red Sox.

CHICAGO CUBS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Chicago Cubs

Ernie Banks (1953-71)

The most beloved figure in franchise history, “Mr. Cub” remains a Chicago icon well past his playing days and passing in 2015. Banks won back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1958-59 and was named to 14 All-Star teams during his illustrious career. His offensive production far exceeds any shortstop that’s every suited up in the Windy City. Banks still stands second on the all-time Cubs list in HRs, RBIs, and Runs.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX - MLB TEAM LOGO

Chicago White Sox

Luke Appling (1930-50)

Appling was the first player in White Sox history to have his number retired, and the honor was well deserved. He was a hitting machine on the South Side, winning two AL batting titles and earning seven All Star nods. Appling remains Chicago’s all-time leader in hits and he trails just Frank Thomas in walks. He is also the all-time White Sox leader in WAR.

CINCINNATI REDS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Cincinnati Reds

Barry Larkin (1986-2004)

The hometown kid turned into a franchise cornerstone for nearly two decades while establishing the gold standard for modern shortstops. Larkin’s combination of elite defense, speed, and hitting prowess helped the Reds to a World Series title in 1990, and later propelled him to being named the NL MVP in 1995. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, Larkin remains a Cincy icon.

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Cleveland Guardians

Lou Boudreau (1938-50)

It really pains me to not have Omar Vizquel here, but Boudreau’s track record is pretty unassailable. An eight-time All Star, Boudreau was Cleveland’s player/manager in 1948 when he was named the AL MVP and helped the franchise win its most recent World Series title.

COLORADO ROCKIES - MLB TEAM LOGO

Colorado Rockies

Troy Tulowitzki (2006-15)

“Tulo” reached rarified air in the Mile High City, and stands out as the greatest Rockies shortstop we’ve seen. While it’s easy to wonder “what might have been” if not for all the injuries, Tulowitzki still put forth an elite career in Colorado while largely struggling to stay healthy for extended periods. Part of a 2007 Rockies team that reached the World Series, he won two Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves, while also earning five All-Star selections during his Colorado tenure.

DETROIT TIGERS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Detroit Tigers

Alan Trammell (1977-96)

An elite two-way player, Trammell was a franchise cornerstone for two decades. A six-time Gold Glove award winner, he helped the Tigers capture the 1984 World Series and earned WS MVP honors while hitting .450. Trammell teamed with second baseman Lou Whitaker to form one of the greatest double-play duos in baseball history.

HOUSTON ASTROS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Houston Astros

Carlos Correa (2015-21)

The 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, Correa combined power, elite defense, and leadership to Houston to six playoff appearances and the 2017 World Series title. He led all players in defensive WAR in 2021, a season for which he earned Gold Glove & Platinum Glove awards.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Kansas City Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. (2022-Present)

Sure, Witt’s career is still in its infancy. However, the 25-year-old has already accomplished things that haven’t been done by anyone wearing a Royals uniform. Witt was the first shortstop in MLB history to record two seasons of 30+ HRs & 30+ SBs, and the first player at any position to record multiple 30-30 campaigns through his age-24 season. The future is bright for Witt, as he’ll look to continue his assault on the KC record books.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Los Angeles Angels

Jim Fregosi (1961-71)

Debuting as a teenager in the upstart franchise’s second season, Fregosi was the first star player in Angels history. A six-time All Star, he was an elite defensive player who won the 1967 Gold Glove. Fregosi leads all shortstops in Angels history in WAR by a large margin. He would go on to manage the Angels (and other teams) following his playing days, and the Halos retired his number in 1998.

Los Angeles Dodgers - MLB Team Logo

Los Angeles Dodgers

Pee Wee Reese (1940-42; 1946-58)

Even though he missed three seasons while serving in the Navy during WWII, Reese managed to put together the greatest career by a shortstop in Dodgers history. The heart and soul of seven pennant-winning teams and the 1955 World Series champions, Reese earned 10 All-Star nods and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Among his many contributions to the game, Reese’s public support of teammate Jackie Robinson helped pave the way for integration of the major leagues.

MIAMI MARLINS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Miami Marlins

Hanley Ramirez (2006-12)

One of the most complete players to ever wear a Marlins uniform, Ramirez burst on the scene by winning the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year award. He put together arguably the greatest stretch in Marlins history between 2006-2010, winning the 2009 NL batting title with a .342 average, and earning two Silver Slugger awards.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Milwaukee Brewers

Robin Yount (1974-92)

Yount is the landslide winner here, as he’s not just the greatest shortstop in Brewers history, but the greatest overall player. He transitioned to centerfield later in his career, but Yount won the AL MVP and a Gold Glove while playing shortstop in 1982. He tallied over 3,000 hits in his career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999.

MINNESOTA TWINS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Minnesota Twins

Roy Smalley (1976-82; 1985-87)

When you dig into Twins history at the shortstop position, there’s not a lot of greatness to be found. However, Smalley was really good for a really long time, which is enough to earn the nod here. An All Star in 1979, he flashed power at the plate during an era when that was a genuine rarity for shortstops.

NEW YORK METS - MLB TEAM LOGO

New York Mets

Jose Reyes (2003-11; 2016-18)

The greatest leadoff hitter in Mets history, Reyes was a certified electric factory during his time in Flushing. The four-time All Star won the NL batting title in 2011 and a Silver Slugger award in ’06. Reyes remains the Mets all-time leader in triples and stolen bases, while trailing only David Wright in hits and runs in the franchise record book.

New York Yankees - MLB Team Logo Stock

New York Yankees

Derek Jeter (1995-2014)

One of the greatest Yankees of them all, “The Captain” was a consistent hitter, excellent defensive player, and clutch postseason performer. Jeter was the cornerstone of New York’s late-’90s dynasty and was the captain of five World Series title teams. His 3,465 career hits are the most in Yankees history and he was elected to the Hall of Fame with 99.75% of the vote – the highest vote percentage ever for a position player.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - MLB TEAM LOGO

Philadelphia Phillies

Jimmy Rollins (2000-14)

A legend in the City of Brotherly Love, “J-Roll” was a force for the Phillies at the shortstop position. Philadelphia’s all-time leader in hits, Rollins was the 2007 NL MVP and Silver Slugger award winner. The most impactful leadoff hitter in team history and a four-time Gold Glove winner, he helped the Phillies to the 2008 World Series title.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES - MLB TEAM LOGO

Pittsburgh Pirates

Honus Wagner (1900-17)

“The Flying Dutchman” is perhaps best known to the current generations of fans for the value of his baseball card. Well kids… it’s worth that much for a reason, as Wagner was one of baseball’s first-ever superstars and is considered by many to be the greatest shortstop to ever play. He won eight batting titles and a World Series with the Pirates. Wagner was one of five players in the Hall of Fame’s first class.

SAN DIEGO PADRES - MLB TEAM LOGO

San Diego Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. (2019-Present)

The Padres history at shortstop is strange to say the least. Ozzie Smith and Khalil Greene spent brief time there, while Garry Templeton was the team’s everyday shortstop for a decade, posting solid, if unspectacular numbers. As a result, will give this to Tatis almost by default due to his unrivaled offensive production. Though he’s now shifted to right field, his time at the position for the Padres was historic, as he led the NL with 42 homers in 2021, the only time that feat has been accomplished by a San Diego shortstop.

San Francisco Giants - MLB Team Logo

San Francisco Giants

Brandon Crawford (2011-23)

With all due respect to Travis Jackson, Crawford is the best defensive shortstop in Giants history, was a key player on two World Series-winning teams, and provided enough pop in the bat to be dangerous at the plate. Crawford became the first Giants player since Barry Bonds to win a Gold Glove & Silver Slugger award in the same season. He totaled four Gold Gloves in his career and holds the franchise record for most games played at shortstop.

SEATTLE MARINERS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Seattle Mariners

Alex Rodriguez (1994-2000)

Despite the controversial later years of his career, Seattle-era A-Rod was pure baseball greatness. The most talented player to ever play the position for the Mariners, between the ages of 20-24, Rodriguez developed into a generational superstar. He won the AL batting title in 1996 – a season in which he hit .358 with 36 HRs and led the league in doubles, runs, and total bases. His WAR in seven seasons with the Mariners – 38.1 – rivals that of full careers for some very good shortstops.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS - MLB TEAM LOGO

St. Louis Cardinals

Ozzie Smith (1982-96)

The “Wizard of Oz” is arguably the greatest defensive shortstop in history. In his 15 years with the Cardinals, Smith was named to 14 All-Star teams, won 11 Gold Gloves, and one Silver Slugger award. He helped St. Louis to three World Series appearances and the World Title in 1982. While the Hall of Famer is best known for his spectacular defensive ability, Smith became a consistently-solid presence at the plate, amassing 1,944 hits during his tenure with the Cardinals.

TAMPA BAY RAYS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Tampa Bay Rays

Julio Lugo (2003-06)

With no offense to Julio Lugo, Tampa’s franchise history at shortstop is pretty thin. That said, Lugo is clearly at the top of the heap, as he’s the all-time Rays leader in hits, runs, doubles, RBIs, and stolen bases at the shortstop position.

TEXAS RANGERS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Texas Rangers

Elvis Andrus (2009-20)

This was one of the most difficult decisions on the list, as the Rangers history at the shortstop position is complicated. Alex Rodriguez put forth monster production during his time in Texas but was only with the club for three seasons. Michael Young is rightly considered one of the greatest players in Rangers history but only played shortstop from 2004-08. That brings us to Andrus, who was a franchise cornerstone at short for over a decade, was the best defensive player at the position in Rangers history, and was a leader of two AL-pennant-winning clubs.

Toronto Blue Jays - MLB Team Logo Stock

Toronto Blue Jays

Tony Fernandez (1983-90; 1993; 1998-99; 2001)

The winner of four Gold Gloves and the 1993 World Series with Toronto, Fernandez remains the definitive shortstop in Blue Jays history. A dazzling defensive player with seemingly limitless range, he was also a rock-solid presence at the plate. Fernandez remains Toronto’s all-time leader in games played, hits, and triples. Though he tragically passed away at just 57 in 2020, Fernandez will always be remembered in Toronto as a beloved member of the Blue Jays.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS - MLB TEAM LOGO

Washington Nationals

Trea Turner (2015-21)

Though Turner has spent the latter portion of his career in L.A. and Philadelphia, he did enough during his tenure with the Nationals to earn the honors here. Turner hit .300 across his 637 games with Washington, stealing 192 bases with a WAR of 19.6. What sets him apart from his closest competitor, Ian Desmond, is his crucial role as a member of the Nationals only World Series title-winning team in 2019.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

San Francisco Giants

Tony Vitello Named New Manager of the Giants
Anthony Edwards

Active Against Trail Blazers
Grayson Allen

Active for Suns’ Opening Night Game
Kevin Porter Jr.

Won't Return on Wednesday Evening
Anthony Edwards

a Game-Time Decision for Wednesday
Daniel Gafford

Ruled Out for Mavericks Season Opener
Alexander Romanov

Expected to Miss Two More Games
Pierre Engvall

Ruled Out for the Season
Luguentz Dort

Questionable for Thursday Versus Pacers
Adin Hill

Out Week-to-Week
Patrik Laine

Sits Out Another Game Wednesday
Caris LeVert

Cleared for Wednesday's Game
Marco Rossi

Available Wednesday Night
Cody Glass

Out on Wednesday
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Starting on Wednesday
Stefan Noesen

Makes Season Debut Wednesday
Jaylen Brown

Available Versus Philadelphia
OG Anunoby

Available to Play in Season Opener
Alex Caruso

Placed in Concussion Protocol Wednesday
Joel Embiid

on a Minutes Cap Versus Boston
Kel'el Ware

Available for Season Opener
De'Andre Hunter

Absent on Wednesday
Karl-Anthony Towns

to Play in Season Opener
Jaylen Waddle

Dolphins Don't Have Plans to Trade Jaylen Waddle
Francisco Lindor

has Elbow Surgery, Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Mike Conley

Moves to Bench to Start Season
Aaron Jones Sr.

Considered Questionable to Play on Thursday
Donte DiVincenzo

Opening Season as a Starter
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Dowgraded to Probable on Wednesday
Karl-Anthony Towns

Upgraded to Questionable For Season Opener
PGA

Alex Noren is a Smash Play at Bank of Utah Championship
Jalen Suggs

Good to Go on Wednesday Night
Karl-Anthony Towns

Now Doubtful for the Opener
Mike Evans

Could be Back in Under Eight Weeks
Bucky Irving

Will Not Play in Week 8
Jayden Daniels

Will Not Play on Monday Night Against Chiefs
Darren Waller

Dolphins Place Darren Waller on Injured Reserve
Maverick McNealy

Look Out For Maverick McNealy This Week in Utah
Justin Lower

Unlikely to Flip The Script at Bank of Utah Championship
Stephan Jaeger

Looking for Repeat Performance in Utah
CFB

Behren Morton Will be Listed as Questionable on Wednesday
Max McGreevy

a Longer Shot to Contend in Utah
Jackson Suber

on the Bubble for the PGA in 2026
Greyson Sigg

Improving at the Right Time This Fall
Seamus Power

Hopes to Make More Birdies This Week
Patton Kizzire

May Struggle Once Again in Utah
Beau Hossler

Up and Down Heading to Bank of Utah Championship
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Find the Weekend in Utah
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Enjoying the Fall Golf Season
Brad Marchand

Delivers Two Assists on Special Night
Adrian Kempe

Lifts Kings to Victory Tuesday
Justin Brazeau

Records Three Points Against Canucks
Jack Hughes

Pots Third Career Hat Trick
TOR

Chris Tanev Could Miss Time With Upper-Body Injury
Jack McBain

Evaluated for Upper-Body Injury
Tom Hoge

Sputtering into Bank of Utah Championship
Sahith Theegala

On the Upswing Heading into Utah
Andrew Putnam

Looks to Find Form in Utah
Matt McCarty

Looks to Defend Title in Utah
Ben Kohles

a Strong Value Play at Bank of Utah Championship
Max Homa

Trending Up Entering the Bank of Utah Championship
Nick Dunlap

Searching for Spark at Bank of Utah Championship
Quade Cummins

Struggling to Find Form Ahead of Bank of Utah Championship
Maxx Crosby

Raiders Won't Trade Maxx Crosby
Jonathan Marchessault

Remains Absent Against Ducks
Darcy Kuemper

Available Tuesday
Corey Perry

Makes Season Debut Tuesday
Matt Duchene

Misses Tuesday's Action
Alexander Romanov

Unavailable Versus Sharks
Brock Boeser

Remains Out Tuesday
Jared McCann

Out on Tuesday
Jason Day

Making a Spot Start at Bank of Utah Championship
Los Angeles Angels

Kurt Suzuki to be the Angels' Next Manager
Bo Bichette

Plans to be Ready for World Series
Tyrod Taylor

Aaron Glenn "Moving Toward" Naming Tyrod Taylor the Starting QB
Zach Charbonnet

Finds the End Zone Twice on Monday Night
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Continues Elite Production
Chris Godwin

Bucky Irving May Not Play This Week
Michael Penix Jr.

Expected to Be "Good to Go" for Sunday
Nick Foligno

Back With Blackhawks
Nico Collins

Ruled Out Late on Monday Night With Concussion
Nico Collins

Suffers Head Injury on Monday Night
Jahmyr Gibbs

Blows Up For 218 Total Yards, Two Touchdowns in Win
Mike Evans

to Miss Most of the Year With Broken Clavicle
Brandon Woodruff

Expects to Be Ready for Opening Day
Mike Evans

Ruled Out Monday With Concussion, Shoulder Injury
Mike Evans

Making his Return in Primetime Against Detroit
Emeka Egbuka

Officially Active on Monday Night
Michael Penix Jr.

Dealing With Bone Bruise in Foot, Considered Day-to-Day
Jayden Daniels

Avoids Long-Term Injury, Status Unknown for Week 8
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Suffers His First UFC Loss
Brendan Allen

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kevin Holland

Drops Decision
Mike Malott

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Marlon Vera

Loses Third Consecutive Fight
Aiemann Zahabi

Gets A Razor-Thin Split Decision Win
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Manon Fiorot

Gets Back In The Win Column
Davey Grant

Suffers Submission Loss
Charles Jourdain

Gets First-Round Submission Win
Matt Frevola

Gets Dominated At UFC Vancouver
Matt Frevola

Kyle Nelson Dominates Matt Frevola
George Springer

Returns to Lineup for Game 6 of ALCS
CFB

Colorado State Fires Head Coach Jay Norvell After Four Seasons
CFB

Florida Fires Head Coach Billy Napier After Four Years
Chase Elliott

Can Chase Elliott Deliver Another Clutch Win to Make Championship 4?
William Byron

Seeks First Win at Talladega to Overcome Las Vegas Crash
Chase Briscoe

Likely to Finish Worse Than he Starts
Kyle Larson

Despite No Wins on Drafting Tracks, Kyle Larson is Improving
Tyler Reddick

Despite Winning at Talladega, Tyler Reddick's Drafting Record Is Not So Hot
Ross Chastain

Poor Qualifying Makes him a Strong DFS Option at Talladega
Chris Buescher

Excellent Crash Avoidance Could Reap Dividends at Talladega
Ty Gibbs

If Ty Gibbs' Team Executes a Better Strategy, he Could Win at Talladega
Daniel Suarez

Hopes for Clutch Talladega Win to Remain in the NASCAR Cup Series
Josh Berry

Might Contend at Talladega
Austin Dillon

Doesn't Lead Enough at Talladega to Contend for Wins
Brendan Donovan

Undergoes Sports Hernia Surgery
George Springer

Exits Game 5 Early After HBP on his Knee
Jackson Chourio

Back in Game 4 Lineup Against Dodgers
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Has Bone Spurs Removed From his Elbow
Brendan Allen

Set For UFC Vancouver Main Event
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder A Favorite At UFC Vancouver
Mike Malott

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Kevin Holland

Set For UFC Vancouver Co-Main Event
Aiemann Zahabi

Looks For His Seventh Consecutive Win
Marlon Vera

Returns At UFC Vancouver
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Manon Fiorot

Looks To Bounce Back
Aoriqileng

Aori Aoriqileng Looks To Rebound

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP