The 24 Second Basemen Baseball Won’t Stop Arguing About

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2026 by Jake Cain

There are so many positions that people love to talk about in baseball. A lot of the time, they will skip over the second base position. I don't know if it's the contrarian in me, but second base has always been my favorite position to play. There is something about being the quieter contributor that gives me excitement. Historically, having a second basemen who excels is exponentially valuable for a team. Let's celebrate the ones who absolutely excelled at this position on this list.

How We Made This List

Qualifying for this list can be a little tricky because we're talking about a position where players often transition to or play as part of their repertoire.

We want a minimum of 300 MLB games played at the position, which probably isn't much, but I think it's enough for us to consider, given how much these players could make a difference at the position.

24. Nellie Fox (HOF)

Let's talk about a player who played this position almost 100% of his career. Nellie Fox is one of the quintessential second basemen to put on this list, as he has the skill set that probably many managers would love to have at the position throughout history.

He was a contact hitter with the ability to get the job done in whatever way possible. He was a 15-time All-Star with three Gold Gloves, and he won the 1959 MVP Award as one of the spark plugs of a pennant-winning White Sox team.

Nellie Fox — Career	Total
G	2367
AB	9232
H	2663
HR	35
RBI	790
SB	76
AVG	.288
OBP	.348
SLG	.363
OPS	.711
MVP	1
All-Star selections	12
Gold Gloves	3

23. Dustin Pedroia

Let's go to another MVP-winning second baseman. Dustin Pedroia had as good a start to a career as any player could have. He won the Rookie of the Year in 2007 and then followed that up with a hot 2008 where he won the MVP by leading all of baseball in hits with 213 and doubles with a whopping 54.

All 14 years of his career were spent in Boston, and I'm sure there are very few players that the city of Boston would rather have in that spot than Dustin Pedroia.

Dustin Pedroia — Career	Total
G	1512
AB	6031
H	1805
HR	140
RBI	725
SB	138
AVG	.299
OBP	.365
SLG	.439
OPS	.804
MVP	1
All-Star selections	4
Gold Gloves	4
Silver Sluggers	1
World Series titles	2
Rookie of the Year	1

22. Bobby Doerr (HOF)

Here is one of the very few players that Boston would rather have than Dustin Pedroia. It depends on who you ask, but those who watched Bobby Doerr in the 1940s will swear that he is one of the best they've ever seen at second.

The Hall of Famer earned nine All-Star selections as he was one of the great sluggers at the position up until that point. He even led the league in slugging percentage in 1944 when he hit .325 with 15 home runs, 30 doubles, and 10 triples. His OPS+ that year was a gaudy 165.

Bobby Doerr — Career	Total
G	1865
AB	7093
H	2042
HR	223
RBI	1247
SB	54
AVG	.288
OBP	.362
SLG	.461
OPS	.823
All-Star selections	9

21. Red Schoendienst (HOF)

There are a few guys in history who bleed Cardinal Red. For Schoendienst, it's literally in his name. The St. Louis icon earned 10 All-Star selections in his 19-year career. He won two World Series championships as one of the most consistent at the position for that time.

Later, he became a respected coach and manager for the organization, something that you actually don't see a lot of second basemen transition to.

Red Schoendienst — Career	Total
G	2216
AB	8479
H	2449
HR	84
RBI	773
SB	89
AVG	.289
OBP	.337
SLG	.387
OPS	.724
All-Star selections	10
World Series titles	2

20. Bid McPhee (HOF)

Bid McPhee is a late recognition of an outstanding second baseman. Inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame in 2000, McPhee played from 1882 to 1899. He was one of the fastest players in all of baseball, as he led the league in triples in 1887 with 19.

He also stole 95 bases that season. Fielding was his strength, as he would consistently lead all others at the position in fielding percentage. That led to him being the all-time leader in second base putouts.

Bid McPhee — Career	Total
G	2135
AB	8291
H	2250
HR	53
RBI	1067
SB	568
AVG	.271
OBP	.355
SLG	.372
OPS	.727

19. Jeff Kent (HOF)

Maybe the most powerful second baseman of all time, Jeff Kent, wasn't just leading the position with his slugging ability; he was one of the premier anchors of his time.

The San Francisco Giants leaned on him when Barry Bonds would be intentionally walked for the millionth time. Kent is the all-time home run leader for second basemen with 377 career home runs.

Jeff Kent — Career	Total
G	2298
AB	8498
H	2461
HR	377
RBI	1518
SB	94
AVG	.290
OBP	.356
SLG	.500
OPS	.856
MVP	1
All-Star selections	5
Silver Sluggers	4

18. José Altuve

If we are going to highlight a current player, that means they have been doing so well throughout their career that they are already in legendary status. That is exactly Jose Altuve.

He has led the league in hits four times while winning the batting title three times. He already has 2,500 hits in his career and is looking for more. There is no doubt that we are watching a legend currently play the game.

Jose Altuve — Career	Total
G	2070
AB	8248
H	2477
HR	268
RBI	923
SB	327
AVG	.300
OBP	.358
SLG	.463
OPS	.821
MVP	1
All-Star selections	9
Gold Gloves	1
Silver Sluggers	7
World Series titles	2

17. Joe Gordon (HOF)

You can say that he was carried by an all-time franchise in the New York Yankees. But Joe Gordon certainly held his own in the lineup, as he had a 120 career OPS+. He also held his own out on the field as he consistently led the league in assists.

That combination of offense and defense culminated in an MVP year in 1942. He ended up totaling nine All-Star selections while winning five World Series championships as one of the premier second basemen of his time.

Joe Gordon — Career	Total
G	1566
AB	5707
H	1530
HR	253
RBI	975
SB	89
AVG	.268
OBP	.357
SLG	.466
OPS	.823
MVP	1
All-Star selections	9
World Series titles	5

16. Bobby Grich

Grich is the perfect example of how I view a great player at the position. He has every right to be considered for the Hall of Fame, but he was so under the radar that he has not made it yet. It pains me and excites me to say that he quietly earned six All-Star selections with four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award.

He just put his head down and went to work every day, proving to be more valuable than the average second baseman, as only eight of them in history have accumulated more WAR than he has in their careers.

Bobby Grich — Career	Total
G	2008
AB	6890
H	1833
HR	224
RBI	864
SB	104
AVG	.266
OBP	.371
SLG	.424
OPS	.795
All-Star selections	6
Gold Gloves	4
Silver Sluggers	1

15. Billy Herman (HOF)

The Cubs have seen so many elite infielders play at Wrigley throughout the years, and Billy Herman was one of them. The Hall of Famer batted .304 for his career, leading to 10 All-Star selections.

Defensively, he was one of the best of his time. He led all second basemen in putouts, assists, and fielding percentage for three or more years in each category.

Billy Herman — Career	Total
G	1922
AB	7707
H	2345
HR	47
RBI	839
SB	67
AVG	.304
OBP	.367
SLG	.407
OPS	.774
All-Star selections	10

Career Achievements:

14. Chase Utley

There was just a certain way that Chase Utley played that made so many fans gravitate towards him. You could say that his style was no-frills, no-nonsense, and hard-nosed. That's what people loved about him.

He was a cornerstone of those great Philadelphia Phillies teams of the late 2000s, earning six All-Star selections, with five of them coming in consecutive years. He also earned four straight Silver Sluggers as one of the premier offensive second basemen in all of baseball.

Chase Utley — Career	Total
G	1937
AB	6857
H	1885
HR	259
RBI	1025
SB	154
AVG	.275
OBP	.358
SLG	.465
OPS	.823
All-Star selections	6
Silver Sluggers	4
World Series titles	1

13. Lou Whitaker

Like Bobby Grich, Lou Whitaker is up there for one of the most puzzling Hall of Fame snubs at this position. He was a five-time All-Star with three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. That was after he won Rookie of the Year in 1978. He had an impressive .984 career fielding percentage as he spent all but 32 games of his 19-year career at the position.

He also spent every single year of his career in Detroit, much like his double-play partner and Hall of Famer, Alan Trammell. I think they deserve to be in Cooperstown together, not just one separately.

Lou Whitaker — Career	Total
G	2390
AB	8570
H	2369
HR	244
RBI	1084
SB	143
AVG	.276
OBP	.363
SLG	.426
OPS	.789
All-Star selections	5
Gold Gloves	3
Silver Sluggers	4
World Series titles	1
Rookie of the Year	1

12. Jackie Robinson (HOF)

It's hard to put into words what Jackie Robinson meant to the game of baseball. Luckily, I feel like I don't have to, as his impact has reached so many baseball fans across every generation. The 1949 MVP hit .311 across a 10-year MLB career.

Since he broke the color barrier when he was 28 years old, you have to wonder what his stats could have built up to had baseball been more accepting when he was younger.

Jackie Robinson — Career	Total
G	1419
AB	5010
H	1568
HR	141
RBI	765
SB	203
AVG	.313
OBP	.410
SLG	.477
OPS	.887
MVP	1
All-Star selections	6
World Series titles	1
Rookie of the Year	1

11. Robinson Canó

Naturally, when you play in the Bronx, there are a lot of eyes on you. It takes a special player to be able to handle that kind of pressure. Robinson Cano was that special of a player from day one. He debuted at 22 years old and didn't look back.

He earned eight All-Star selections with five Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves. I know there's a little bit of controversy woven in between some of those years in his career, but let's just choose to celebrate how great he was when he played.

Robinson Canó — Career	Total
G	2267
AB	8773
H	2639
HR	335
RBI	1306
SB	51
AVG	.301
OBP	.351
SLG	.488
OPS	.839
All-Star selections	8
Gold Gloves	2
Silver Sluggers	5
World Series titles	1

10. Frankie Frisch (HOF)

Frankie Frisch was such an impactful second baseman that he was able to be a key cog on four different World Series championship teams across two different franchises. He led all of baseball in hits in 1923 with the New York Giants after leading in stolen bases in 1921.

Then he would go to St. Louis, where he would lead the league in steals twice more and win the MVP in 1931. His career .316 batting average shows how much of a table-setter he was to spark some all-time teams.

Frankie Frisch — Career	Total
G	2311
AB	9112
H	2880
HR	105
RBI	1244
SB	419
AVG	.316
OBP	.369
SLG	.432
OPS	.801
MVP	1
All-Star selections	3
World Series titles	4

9. Ryne Sandberg (HOF)

It seemed like the city of Chicago stopped on July 28, 2025. Their beloved Ryne Sandberg had passed away, and all of the memories came flooding back to so many fans across multiple generations. Sandberg's play and overall attitude inspired so many to be just like him.

He did all of that at a position that isn't really considered one of the starring positions in baseball. However, he made second base a position to shine a spotlight on in Chicago forever.

Ryne Sandberg — Career	Total
G	2164
AB	8385
H	2386
HR	282
RBI	1061
SB	344
AVG	.285
OBP	.344
SLG	.452
OPS	.796
MVP	1
All-Star selections	10
Gold Gloves	9
Silver Sluggers	7

8. Craig Biggio (HOF)

Craig Biggio is easily my favorite player on this list. Let's go over how he filled up the stat sheet on a daily basis: He is in the always-coveted 3,000-hit club. He is in the equally impressive 600 doubles club where he's actually sixth all-time.

He also led the league in stolen bases one year and defensively led the league in putouts and assists perennially. Heck, Biggio was even a catcher at the start of his career. There wasn't anything this man couldn't do.

Craig Biggio — Career	Total
G	2850
AB	10876
H	3060
HR	291
RBI	1175
SB	414
AVG	.281
OBP	.363
SLG	.433
OPS	.796
All-Star selections	7
Gold Gloves	4
Silver Sluggers	5

7. Charlie Gehringer (HOF)

I love doing quizzes of lists in baseball history. Anytime it comes to hits, I always have to remind myself that Charlie Gehringer is probably going to be there.

Having only played 13 games across his first two seasons of his career, Gehringer really only played 17 years and still racked up over 2,800 career hits. He also totaled 574 career doubles and 146 career triples, catalyzed by a .320 career batting average. He just put his bat to the ball on such a crazily consistent basis.

Charlie Gehringer — Career	Total
G	2323
AB	8860
H	2839
HR	184
RBI	1427
SB	181
AVG	.320
OBP	.404
SLG	.480
OPS	.884
MVP	1
All-Star selections	6
World Series titles	1

6. Roberto Alomar (HOF)

In the 1990s, there was no better second baseman than Roberto Alomar. He defined the position in an era where home runs were sought after by bigger players. Alomar played a little smaller and a lot quicker.

He had a great all-around game, as he earned 12 consecutive All-Star selections with 10 Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. He was a big part of the reason why the Toronto Blue Jays were able to win back-to-back World Series championships, providing immense value out of a quieter position.

Roberto Alomar — Career	Total
G	2379
AB	9073
H	2724
HR	210
RBI	1134
SB	474
AVG	.300
OBP	.371
SLG	.443
OPS	.814
All-Star selections	12
Gold Gloves	10
Silver Sluggers	4
World Series titles	2

5. Joe Morgan (HOF)

You could say that Joe Morgan was the catalyst for one of the most iconic offenses in baseball history. The funny thing is, he actually spent more years with a different franchise.

For 10 seasons, Morgan was a great player on some mediocre teams in Houston. Then he joined the Big Red Machine, and the rest is history. The back-to-back MVP led all of baseball with a .974 OPS in 1975 and an amazing 1.020 OPS in 1976. When it came to getting on base in front of those great sluggers, the Reds couldn't have asked for a better second baseman.

Joe Morgan — Career	Total
G	2649
AB	9277
H	2517
HR	268
RBI	1133
SB	689
AVG	.271
OBP	.392
SLG	.427
OPS	.819
MVP	2
All-Star selections	10
Gold Gloves	5
Silver Sluggers	1
World Series titles	2

4. Nap Lajoie (HOF)

There is only one player in baseball history who was so good that the team literally named itself after him. The city of Cleveland was so enthralled by his play after he was traded to them in 1902 that the local newspaper held a naming contest for the team, and the Cleveland Naps were born.

They weren't wrong in their thinking, as he was one of the most prolific hitters of all time and certainly of all second basemen. He racked up 3,243 career hits with a huge 150 career OPS+. It's a wonder why they didn't keep the name longer.

Nap Lajoie — Career	Total
G	2480
AB	9589
H	3252
HR	82
RBI	1599
SB	380
AVG	.339
OBP	.381
SLG	.466
OPS	.847

3. Rod Carew (HOF)

Power hitting was already a big part of the game by the time Rod Carew started his MLB career, but he chose to stay the tried-and-true course of collecting hits and driving them into the gaps. He did that at an all-time level as he won the batting title seven times while also leading in on-base percentage four times.

One of the coolest stats I can say about Rod Carew is that he was a contact hitter who led the league in intentional walks three times in his career. He hit the ball so consistently that he was feared as one of the best sluggers in the game.

Rod Carew — Career	Total
G	2469
AB	9315
H	3053
HR	92
RBI	1015
SB	353
AVG	.328
OBP	.393
SLG	.429
OPS	.822
MVP	1
All-Star selections	18
Rookie of the Year	1

2. Eddie Collins (HOF)

As many old-school fans would say, Eddie Collins played the game the right way. He collected hits, totaling 3,315 for his career. He played hard as he stole over 700 bases in his career, leading the league five times.

But there is one category that you could point to as a sign of how he really played the game in that old-school fashion. He is the all-time leader in sacrifice hits at 512 for his career.

Eddie Collins Sr. — Career	Total
G	2827
AB	9949
H	3314
HR	47
RBI	1300
SB	745
AVG	.333
OBP	.424
SLG	.429
OPS	.853

1. Rogers Hornsby (HOF)

You could say that this is a tough choice, but for historians who have followed this great game, it is hardly an argument as to who is the greatest second baseman of all time.

Rogers Hornsby didn't just make an impact from a position where impact is less expected; he was the best player of his era across all positions. There are many categories that I can point to where he led the league on a yearly basis. To put it all together, let's just go with WAR. Hornsby led the league in WAR an astonishing 11 times in his career.

He finished with a career batting average of .358 and a mind-boggling 1.010 career OPS. You can imagine his career OPS+ was high as well, and you would be right. He finished with an astronomical 175 career OPS+. Oh yeah, and he won two MVPs during his illustrious 23-year career. He was simply the best.

Rogers Hornsby — Career	Total
G	2259
AB	8173
H	2930
HR	301
RBI	1584
SB	135
AVG	.358
OBP	.434
SLG	.577
OPS	1.011

Keep reading

• Who Are Baseball’s 20 Greatest Second Basemen?
• First-Ballot Misses: 23 Hall of Famers Who Had to Wait
• The 20 Third Basemen Who Fundamentally Changed the Position