Last Updated: October 15th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
I think every baseball fan has their own personal favorite shortstop in history. It's such a unique name compared to all of the other positions that it naturally has a bit of mystique to it.
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We wanted to focus on the 1980s for this position and talk about who decidedly owned the decade with their smooth play and sweet swings as the superstars they were.
11. Alfredo Griffin – Reliable Defender
Alfredo Griffin was one of the dependable shortstops in the first half of the 1980s for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was a bit of an Iron Man, as he played all 162 games four times in these 10 seasons. He even led all of baseball in triples in 1980.
Earning an All-Star and Gold Glove in this decade, Griffin was seen as a valuable piece to any contending team, and that happened as he was on that great 1988 Dodgers championship squad.
10. Rafael Ramirez – Atlanta’s Iron Man
A steady player throughout the 1980s, Rafael Ramirez was just so dependable for the Braves and then the Astros in this decade. His bat wasn't the best, but he contributed what he could and let his great teammates drive him in.
He earned an All-Star selection in 1984, which is impressive given the fact that each All-Star team only holds two or three shortstops, and there was stiff competition, as evidenced by the entries on this list.
9. Hubie Brooks – Versatile All-Star
You know how Mookie Betts is now known for being a great right fielder who transitioned to being a great shortstop? Well, Hubie Brooks did the opposite. He was a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger at short in this decade and then made the switch to right in the last two years.
That only improves on the value that he had for the Montreal Expos and earns him a spot on this list.
| Hubie Brooks — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1645 |
| AB | 5974 |
| H | 1608 |
| HR | 149 |
| RBI | 824 |
| SB | 64 |
| AVG | .269 |
| OBP | .315 |
| SLG | .403 |
| OPS | .718 |
| All-Star selections | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 2 |
8. Dickie Thon – Houston’s Rising Star
This is a great entry for this list, as Dickie Thon was a shining young star in the 1980s. Unfortunately, that star faded quickly due to injuries, and he never could realize his full potential.
That still doesn't take away from the Silver Slugger year he had in 1983, when he actually led the league in WAR, thanks to his great combination of offense and defense.
7. Garry Templeton – San Diego’s Steady Hand
Garry Templeton was a steady presence throughout his career. His most dynamic moments came in this decade, when he spent most of his time with the San Diego Padres.
He was a part of the team when they made it to the World Series in 1984, showing the rest of the league that they were here to stay and compete with the best of them.
6. Dave Concepcion – Cincinnati’s Veteran Leader
Davey Concepcion was in the back half of his career by the time the 1980s rolled around. We have to talk about his longevity here. While some in the Big Red Machine faded, Concepcion stayed strong and remained a stalwart at short in Cincinnati.
I'm sure many fans who watched him throughout his career will still say that the Reds have never had anyone better. And that's saying something.
5. Tony Fernandez – Toronto’s Defensive Genius
Defense is a big part of this position, and Tony Fernandez was constantly talked about as one of the best at it. When those talks happened, they had to be yelled because they came all the way from Canada.
Either way, Fernandez just played like he was gliding through the diamond and blissfully turning every ball that came his way into an out.
4. Alan Trammell – Detroit’s Double Play Master
Alan Trammell is such a great all-around player that he has to be on a list like this. He's one of those guys where you wouldn't say he was the absolute best at any one thing compared to the other shortstops here, but he was top three in every category.
There is absolutely no way the Tigers make a World Series run as they did in 1984 without him.
3. Ozzie Smith – The Wizard of Oz
Here is maybe the most popular player on this list. Ozzie Smith dazzled fans every time he took the field, and that's not even including his great defensive plays.
He backflipped his way to his position and worked his way to an entire decade of Gold Gloves. He is one of the top players that I would have personally loved to watch play in person.
| Ozzie Smith — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2573 |
| AB | 9396 |
| H | 2460 |
| HR | 28 |
| RBI | 793 |
| SB | 580 |
| AVG | .262 |
| OBP | .337 |
| SLG | .328 |
| OPS | .665 |
| All-Star selections | 15 |
| Gold Gloves | 13 |
| Silver Sluggers | 1 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
2. Robin Yount – Milwaukee’s MVP Shortstop
The great Robin Yount was more of an understated star this decade. He was certainly great with his 1982 MVP season and multiple other awards. But he wasn't as famous as some others on the list.
Maybe it was his personality or the market he played in. But for those who don't know, he definitely has his argument for being the best shortstop of the 1980s.
| Robin Yount — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2856 |
| AB | 11008 |
| H | 3142 |
| HR | 251 |
| RBI | 1406 |
| SB | 271 |
| AVG | .285 |
| OBP | .342 |
| SLG | .430 |
| OPS | .772 |
| MVP | 2 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 3 |
1. Cal Ripken Jr. – The Iron Man Who Changed the Game
Cal Ripken Jr. was simply a legend. From the very start, the 1982 Rookie of the Year followed that up with an MVP in 1983, turning in one of the greatest seasons a shortstop has ever had.
The reason I say that is because he led the Baltimore Orioles to a World Series championship that very season. Then, of course, the Iron Man streak started in this decade and wouldn't end 'til the next.
