The MLB's Top 10 Second Basemen Since 1980

Number four in my Best of...from 1980-Present, second base was another tough one.

While the top four guys are on this list, without question, it gets tough after that, and where to rank numbers one-four was also tough.

As always I look forward to your hearing your take on my list, so let's get started with number 10...

#10: Ray Durham

.277 Batting Average, 192 Home Runs, 875 RBIs, 273 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 2
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 0
20+ Home Run Season: 2
100+ Run Seasons: 6
30+ Stolen Base Seasons: 7

Durham found his power stroke late in his career with the Giants, but early on he was your prototypical leadoff hitter for the White Sox.

His combination of speed and ability to make contact netted him a pair of All-Star appearances with the South Siders.

#9: Chuck Knoblauch

.289 Batting Average, 98 Home Runs, 615 RBIs, 407 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 4
Silver Sluggers: 2
Gold Gloves: 1
.300+ Batting Average Season: 3
20+ Home Run Season: 0
100+ Run Season: 6
30+ Stolen Base Seasons: 7
1991 AL ROY

Knoblauch played a huge role in the Twins 1991 World Series title, as he not only won the Rookie of the Year, but also hit a combined .326 in the playoffs with eight runs scored at the age of 22.

He fell apart in New York, but Knoblauch was actually an above average second basemen in his time with the Twins.

#8: Carlos Baerga

.291 Batting Average, 134 Home Runs, 774 RBIs, 59 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 3 (one start)
Silver Sluggers: 1
.300+ Batting Averages: 4
20+ Home Run Seasons: 2
100+ RBI Seasons: 2

During a five year stretch with the Indians from 1991-1995, Baerga averaged .310, 17, 92 a season and was arguably the best offensive second basemen in baseball.

Diamondbacks fans will remember his stellar .343, 4, 39 season off of the bench in 2003 at the age of 34 and after not playing since 1999.

#7: Bret Boone

.266 Batting Average, 252 Home Runs, 1021 RBIs, 94 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 3 (one start)
Silver Sluggers: 2
Gold Gloves: 4
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 2
20+ Home Run Seasons: 6
100+ RBI Seasons: 3

Whether or not his monster .331, 37, 141 season in 2001 was a result of juicing is still up for debate, but Boone was a stellar second basemen regardless.

As his four Gold Gloves can attest, Boone has more to show for his career than that one big season.

#6: Lou Whitaker

.275 Batting Average, 238 Home Runs, 982 RBIs, 143 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 5 (three starts)
Silver Sluggers: 4
Gold Gloves: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 2
20+ Home Run Seasons: 4
100+ Run Seasons: 2

The Lou Whitaker-Alan Trammel double play combo is one of the best baseball has ever seen and the fact that they played together from 1977-1995 is equally impressive.

Whitaker remains one of the best second basemen not in the Hall of Fame, and was certainly the best second basemen in the American League during the 1980s.

#5: Chase Utley

.299 Batting Average, 139 Home Runs, 514 RBIs, 62 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 3 (three starts)
Silver Sluggers: 3
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 2
20+ Home Run Seasons: 4
100+ RBI Seasons: 4

While his career has only spanned 7+ seasons, if Utley retired today he would still be considered one of the best offensive second basemen of all time.

You simply do not see very many second basemen that hit in the three spot and challenge for Home Run Titles. Utley is a rare breed, and should give Jeff Kent's career home run record at the position a legitimate run.

#4: Jeff Kent

.290 Batting Average, 377 Home Runs, 1518 RBIs, 94 Steals
All-Time Second Base Home Run Leader
All-Star Appearances: 5 (four starts)
Silver Sluggers: 4
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 3
20+ Home Run Seasons: 11
100+ RBI Seasons: 8
2000 NL MVP

The previoulsy mentioned Kent was solid throughout the 1990s, but it was not until his trade to the Giants that he really came into his own,

You can attribute some of that to hitting in front of Barry Bonds, but his MVP numbers in 2000 of .334, 33, 125 speak to what a hitter Kent was.

#3: Craig Biggio

,281 Batting Average, 291 Home Runs, 1175 RBIs, 414 Steals
3,060 Career Hits
All-Star Appearances: 7 (four starts)
Silver Sluggers: 5
Gold Gloves: 4
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 4
20+ Home Run Seasons: 8
100+ Run Seasons: 8
30+ Stolen Base Seasons: 5

To put it simply, Biggio was the definition of a ball player. From the dirty helmet to the dirt stained knees he was what the game is all about.

The fact that he transitioned from catcher to second base so smoothly shows what a tremendous athlete he was.

He is a first ballot Hall of Famer in my opinion and a deserving one.

#2: Ryne Sandberg

.285 Batting Average, 282 Home Runs, 1061 RBIs, 344 Steals
Hall of Fame
All-Star Appearances: 10 (nine starts)
Silver Sluggers: 7
Gold Gloves: 9
.300+ Batting Average Seasons: 5
20+ Home Run Seasons: 6
100+ Run Seasons: 8
30+ Stolen Base Seasons: 5
1984 NL MVP

Being a Cubs fan it was hard not to put Ryno number one, and truth be told that was exactly where I had him until I compared him to Alomar.

All the same, Sandberg was a great ballplayer, and a great second basemen.

He was, for a short time, the positions home run leader, and his 1990 season of .306, 40, 100 is one of the best ever by a second basemen.

#1: Roberto Alomar

.300 Batting Average, 210 Home Runs, 1134 RBIs, 474 Steals
All-Star Appearances: 12 (nine starts)
Silver Sluggers: 4
Gold Gloves: 10
300+ Batting Average Seasons: 9
20+ Home Run Seasons: 3
100+ Run Seasons: 6
30+ Stolen Base Seasons: 8

Alomar just edges out Sandberg for the top spot. He had one more Gold Glove, a better career average, more career RBIs, and more career steals, earning him the number one spot.

Alomar was at the center of the Blue Jays back to back World Series winning teams and is a deserving Hall of Famer when the time comes.

Honorable Mention

Frank White- Royals
WIllie Randolph- Yankees
Steve Sax- Yankee
Edgardo Alfonso- Mets
Tom Herr- Cardinals
Johnny Ray- Pirates
Dustin Pedroia- Red Sox
Juan Samuel- Dodgers
Eric Young- Rockies
Julio Franco- Indians
Delino DeShields- Expos
Joey Cora- Mariners
Brandon Phillips- Reds