slugging percentage six times, and doubles seven times. When he retired, he had compiled more hits, runs, total bases, RBIs and stolen bases than any player in history, to that point. To this day, he still has more hits (3,415), doubles (640), triples (252), RBIs (1,732), and stolen bases (722) than any other shortstop who ever played, as well as the highest career batting average (.327). Many who saw him play considered him to be the greatest all-around player they ever saw. He is generally regarded as one of the 10 or 15 greatest players in baseball history.
Ernie Banks was the greatest shortstop of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the game’s most dominant players during the 1950s and 1960s. From 1955 to 1960, he hit more home runs than any other player in baseball, and was one of the top five players in the game. He won back-to-back National League MVP Awards in 1958 and 1959, when, playing for the second-division Chicago Cubs, he averaged 46 home runs and 136 runs batted in, while batting over .300 each season. He also finished in the top five in the league MVP voting two other times and was a perennial All-Star. Banks led the league in both homers and RBIs twice, and in slugging percentage once. He hit over 40 homers five times, finishing his career with 512, and knocked in more than 100 runs eight times. Banks was clearly the best shortstop in baseball from 1955 to 1961 and, after being shifted to first base following the 1961 season, went on to become one of the top players at that position for the next eight seasons.
Cal Ripken Jr.
Equally deserving of a place in Cooperstown is Cal Ripken Jr., the man who, in many ways, revolutionized his position for future generations of players who aspired to play shortstop in the major leagues.
Although he will always be remembered as the man who broke Lou Gehrig’s record for the most consecutive games played, Cal Ripken Jr. was an exceptional player whose list of accomplishments extends far beyond that revered mark.
In his 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken hit 431 home runs, knocked in 1,695 runs, scored another 1,647, and compiled 3,184 hits and 603 doubles, to finish second all-time among major league shortstops in each offensive category. He hit more than 20 homers twelve times, knocked in more than 100 runs four times, scored more than 100 runs three times, and batted over .300 five times, while compiling a lifetime mark of .276.
Ripken is the only shortstop in American League history to win two Most Valuable Player Awards. He earned the honor for the first time in 1983 when he hit 27 home runs, knocked in 102 runs, batted .318, and led the league in runs scored (121), hits (211), and doubles (47), while leading the Orioles to the world championship. He won the award again in 1991, when he established career highs in homers (34), runs batted in (114), and batting average (.323). Ripken was the top shortstop in the American League in virtually every season from 1983 to 1994, with only Alan Trammell’s superb 1987 season for Detroit breaking the string. He was also the best shortstop in baseball in many of those seasons.
Although he is remembered more for his offense, Ripken was also an excellent defensive player, having led A.L. shortstops in fielding twice. Even though he was not particularly quick or overly spectacular, Ripken had exceptional hands and was an expert at studying opposing hitters and positioning himself in the right spot on the field. He also set the mold for other big shortstops of future generations to follow, being credited by others such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter as having been a huge influence on their careers. Ripken is clearly among the four or five greatest shortstops in baseball history. As such, he is most deserving of his 2007 election into Cooperstown.
Ozzie Smith
Ozzie Smith was unquestionably the greatest fielding shortstop in baseball history. While there have been others such as Marty Marion, Luis
Ernie Banks was the greatest shortstop of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the game’s most dominant players during the 1950s and 1960s. From 1955 to 1960, he hit more home runs than any other player in baseball, and was one of the top five players in the game. He won back-to-back National League MVP Awards in 1958 and 1959, when, playing for the second-division Chicago Cubs, he averaged 46 home runs and 136 runs batted in, while batting over .300 each season. He also finished in the top five in the league MVP voting two other times and was a perennial All-Star. Banks led the league in both homers and RBIs twice, and in slugging percentage once. He hit over 40 homers five times, finishing his career with 512, and knocked in more than 100 runs eight times. Banks was clearly the best shortstop in baseball from 1955 to 1961 and, after being shifted to first base following the 1961 season, went on to become one of the top players at that position for the next eight seasons.
Cal Ripken Jr.
Equally deserving of a place in Cooperstown is Cal Ripken Jr., the man who, in many ways, revolutionized his position for future generations of players who aspired to play shortstop in the major leagues.
Although he will always be remembered as the man who broke Lou Gehrig’s record for the most consecutive games played, Cal Ripken Jr. was an exceptional player whose list of accomplishments extends far beyond that revered mark.
In his 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Ripken hit 431 home runs, knocked in 1,695 runs, scored another 1,647, and compiled 3,184 hits and 603 doubles, to finish second all-time among major league shortstops in each offensive category. He hit more than 20 homers twelve times, knocked in more than 100 runs four times, scored more than 100 runs three times, and batted over .300 five times, while compiling a lifetime mark of .276.
Ripken is the only shortstop in American League history to win two Most Valuable Player Awards. He earned the honor for the first time in 1983 when he hit 27 home runs, knocked in 102 runs, batted .318, and led the league in runs scored (121), hits (211), and doubles (47), while leading the Orioles to the world championship. He won the award again in 1991, when he established career highs in homers (34), runs batted in (114), and batting average (.323). Ripken was the top shortstop in the American League in virtually every season from 1983 to 1994, with only Alan Trammell’s superb 1987 season for Detroit breaking the string. He was also the best shortstop in baseball in many of those seasons.
Although he is remembered more for his offense, Ripken was also an excellent defensive player, having led A.L. shortstops in fielding twice. Even though he was not particularly quick or overly spectacular, Ripken had exceptional hands and was an expert at studying opposing hitters and positioning himself in the right spot on the field. He also set the mold for other big shortstops of future generations to follow, being credited by others such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter as having been a huge influence on their careers. Ripken is clearly among the four or five greatest shortstops in baseball history. As such, he is most deserving of his 2007 election into Cooperstown.
Ozzie Smith
Ozzie Smith was unquestionably the greatest fielding shortstop in baseball history. While there have been others such as Marty Marion, Luis
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