VOTE FOR TWO

Nap Lajoie- You know you’re good when you have a team named after you. Nap Lajoie, the Cleveland Naps’ superstar, was incredible both defensively and offensively. He was considered an equal to Honus Wagner by many. Nap hit for a record .426 batting average one season, still the highest ever since the turn of the century. Lajoie also was considered the premier defensive second baseman in the American League. He ended his career with a .338 batting average, 83 home runs and 380 steals.

Rogers Hornsby- He holds the record for highest lifetime average as a second baseman. He holds the record for most home runs as a second baseman. He holds the record for the highest batting average in the new rules era. The Cardinals second baseman is most likely the best hitting second baseman in the history of the game. Hornsby was probably the only perennial batting champion other than Barry Bonds that could hit for that much power. There was a five-year period where he averaged over a .400 batting average. He ended his career with a .358 career average and over 300 home runs.

Eddie Collins- A member of the old $100,000 Philadelphia A’s infield from the early 1900’s xD. Eddie stole more bases than any other second baseman ever with 744. He could also hit for an incredibly high average, which was .333 over his life. He draws a lot of connections to Ty Cobb, who was also a slap hitter that stole a lot of bases.

Charlie Gehringer- Gehringer was renowned for his consistency. He lead all second basemen in fielding percentage 7 times, hit over .300 13 times and lead his Tigers to three penants. He ended his career with a .320 average and around 180 home runs.

Jackie Robinson- Everyone knows the wonders he did for the game. The Dodgers’ second baseman was the first black player in league history. He put up with all the crap he got from all the racist fans and players and was as great a human being as he was a ballplayer. Robinson hit about 15 home runs and stole 20 bases a year and ended with a .311 lifetime average. Most talented second baseman ever? Probably not. But most important? Definitely.

Joe Morgan- Not just an ESPN analyst, Joe Morgan was known for his role as the leadoff hitter on the Big Red Machine. Morgan was an excellent fielder too, as he had a .981 lifetime fielding percentage.

Pete Rose- Gambling and expulsion from baseball aside, Rose was one of the greatest contact hitters the game was ever known. Known for his hustle and drive (he sprinted out walks), Rose stole about 200 bases over 24 seasons. His greatest accomplishment was his hit total of 4256, the highest in league history.

Roberto Alomar- Roberto Alomar, very possibly a future hall of famer, was one of the most complete second basemen in recent years. Robbie could hit, run, field, and even had some power. While he bounced from team to team, Alomar compiled 2700 hits, 480 SB’s, a .984 fielding percentage, and a .300 lifetime average.

Craig Biggio- One of the Astro’s Killer B’s, Biggio has numbers that are very much like Roberto Alomar’s. Biggio has 407 stolen bases, 260 home runs and has a surprisingly high .985 fielding percentage, although it’s somewhat inflated from his years as a catcher and outfielder. Biggio is about 175 hits away from 3000 and if he hits it, he’ll be a surefire hall of famer. He also is very close to the record for getting hit by the most pitches in baseball history if that counts for anything.

Other- If you vote this write the name of the player you voted for in a post.

My votes go to Rogers Hornsby and Charlie Gehringer

I said Hornsby and Lajoe, though I wanted to say Lazzeri, I knew he wouldn't deserve it

I can understand people saying Hornsby but I would say Morgan just because he played the majority of his games there.

Rogers Hornsby and Jackie Robinson

Tony Womack

Hornsby and Rose. It is said that Roger Hornsby is the greatest right-handed batter of all-time. Rose? Well he is the all-time hit leader.

Dude, that's faulty, Hornsby hit .424, and Nap hit .422, the other two highest are Cobb and Sisler, both with .420 in 1911 and 1922. But yeah, Nap's the best IMO, he played in an era where you couldn't really get ahold of the ball. He wasn't a great power hitter like Hornsby was, but he was significantly faster, and played defense.

No it isn't. Every stat there is correct except for ones I rounded off and said he hit 'approximately' or 'about'.

Nap Lajoie actually hit .426 in 1901 (232/544) - the highest of baseball since the 20th century.

Hornsby hit .424 in 1924 (227/536), though he was also hitting 40+ homers. It's also important to keep in mind though, that the mid 20's into the early 30's were the most hitter friendly years in baseball history.

That being cleared up, Rogers Hornsby is clearly, far and away the best player on that list. He is perhaps the best righty to ever play the game.

And BaseballKnowledge, as far as Hornsby's speed goes, that shouldn't really be a factor. Lajoie played in an era in which everybody who wasn't squatting everyday was stealing a ton of bases. Lajoie's stolen base numbers as compared to other players of his day are actually a little below average.

And defensively, Lajoie played at a time when he was getting alot more opportunities to make plays in the field as the ball rarely left the infield. There's really nothing that says Hornsby was a bad defensive second baseman, just as there is nothing to make Lajoie stand out as being good defensively.

I voted for Pete Rose. I don't care if he gambled, yes he should not be in the Hall-Of-Fame, but he was the best second baseman ever, he could hit the ball anywhere on the field, and he was one hell of a defensive player especially in his early days. My second one I voted for, Roberto Alomar, probably the best defensive second baseman of all time, and he was in his prime hitting around what .300? So I voted for Rose and Alomar.

I voted other, for Ryne Sandberg. He was great hitter and fielder for the Cubs back in the 80's, and he earned my vote.

Actually it's 229/543 ;) I believe it was recently changed, a lot of stats were changed, like Radbourn won 60 and lost 11, not won 59 and lost 12.

Pete Rose.

According to seven sources of statistics...

it's actually 232/544.

I voted for Pete Rose the all-time hit leader. Pete Rose may not of been anywhere near the talent these others had, but no one played the game as hard as he did. How u can fault someone after there done playing is beyond me. Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the field. Kicking him out of baseball was the right thing to do he broke the number one rule. But to kick him out of the hall is crazy. He bet on baseball when he was a manager not a player.

I'd say Roberto Alomar and Rogers Hornsby.

Rogers Hornsby and Jakie Robinson