The best second basemen in baseball history

The less-celebrated half of the middle infield, second base, is in the spotlight today, as we make our selections for the top five greatest second basemen of all-time. Did your favorite make the list?

5. Rod Carew

Carew led the majors in batting average four times during his 19-year career, including his 1977 AL MVP season, in which he hit .388 for the Twins. The 1967 Rookie of the Year was voted to the All-Star game an astonishing 18 times.

The biggest knock against Carew, compared to the four men ahead of him on this list, is that he didn’t play second base enough. From 1976 to 1985 he was primarily a first baseman.

4. Roberto Alomar

Unlike most Hall of Famers, Alomar changed teams numerous times over 17 seasons, but the slick-fielding second baseman never failed to make an impression. He did his best work as a member of the Blue Jays, during their 1992 and 1993 championship campaigns, when he hit .310 and .326, respectively. He also earned the American League Championship Series MVP in 1992.

Alomar garnered 12 All-Star nominations, 10 Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers while he split time with the Padres, Jays, Orioles, Indians, Mets, White Sox, and Diamondbacks.

3. Nap Lajoie

Part of the second Hall of Fame class in 1937, Lajoie was a standout in the "dead-ball era." Lajoie won the Triple Crown in 1901, with 14 home runs and 125 RBIs to go with his .426 batting average.

He led the majors in average twice more over an illustrious 21-year career that saw him amass 3,243 hits.

2. Rogers Hornsby

Hornsby may not be the most well-rounded second baseman in MLB history, but it’s hard to argue against the claim that Hornsby was the best offensive player at the position.

Hornsby won two Triple Crowns and two MVPs over his 23-year career, and he led the National League in batting average seven times (including a six-year run from 1920 to 1925). He also led the NL in OPS 11 times, for four different teams (Cardinals, Giants, Braves, and Cubs). Hornsby holds the NL record for career batting average at .359.

1. Joe Morgan

There was very little Morgan couldn’t do as a player. He played 10 of his 22 seasons in Houston but is best known for his work in Cincinnati, where he won consecutive MVP Awards in 1975 and 1976 as a member of the Reds. Morgan led the majors in OPS on both occasions.

"The Little General" was also a prodigious base stealer. He retired with 689 swiped bags, good for 11th all-time. The 10-time All-Star was also a stellar fielder and earned five Gold Gloves.

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