The Best Shortstop in Each MLB Franchise's History

Years With Team: 1999-2003
Stats With Team: .269 BA, 21 HR, 200 RBI, 182 SB
Fielding Percentage: .964
162-Game Average: .269 BA, 5 HR, 52 RBI, 47 SB

After making a splash with the Pirates early on in his career, as he was an All-Star in his rookie year in 1997, Womack was acquired by the D-Backs for a pair of minor leaguers.

He immediately became the team's leadoff hitter and a catalyst at the top of the lineup, as he led the National League in steals in 1999 with a whopping 72.

The next year he led the National League in another speed category, as he had an impressive 14 triples.

His 182 steals, as well as his 80 percent success rate, show just what a game-changer Womack was.

Stephen Drew, still just 26 years old and in his fourth big league season, should be a staple at shortstop for the next decade if all goes according to plan.

Years With Team: 2000-2005
Stats With Team: .286 BA, 57 HR, 292 RBI, 189 SB
Fielding Percentage: .966
162-Game Average: .286 BA, 11 HR, 58 RBI, 37 SB
Accolades: 1x All-Star, Rookie of the Year

On the surface, it seems like the Braves would have had a better shortstop at some point in their history, so let's take a look at the other choices.

Jeff Blauser had 109 HR and a .268 BA in his 11 seasons with the Braves, but if you are making a team, who wouldn't take Furcal and his speed/cannon arm over Blauser?

Then there are a trio of deadball guys.

Herman Long was my pick originally, with a career line of .280 BA, 88 HR, 964 RBI, 431 SB. That was until I looked at his fielding percentage, an astoundingly bad .906. I don't care what era you played in—making an error 10 percent of the time does not cut it.

Two others, Hall of Famer Rabbit Maranville and Johnny Logan, were adequate but unimpressive, and I can't see how Maranville is in the HOF with a .258 BA, 28 HR, 884 RBI line.

So that left me with Furcal, the table-setting, slick-fielding Rookie of the Year who left Atlanta after only six years but still made his mark.

Years With Team: 1981-2001
Stats With Team: .276 BA, 431 HR, 1695 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .979
162-Game Average: .276 BA, 23 HR, 91 RBI
Accolades: 19x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove, 8x Silver Slugger, 2x MVP, Hall of Fame

Simply put, Ripken was the definition of a gamer, and his 2,632 consecutive games streak speaks to how much he truly loved to play the game.

Ripken was an All-Star in all but his rookie season of 1982, a year in which he hit 28 HR with 93 RBI and took home the Rookie of the Year Award.

He also won a pair of MVP awards, the first of which came in 1983 at just 22 years old. He hit .318 BA, 27 HR, 102 RBI and led the AL in Hits (211), Runs (121), and Doubles (47).

His second MVP came 1991, when he set career highs across the board with a .323 BA, 34 HR, 114 RBI season, as he also took home the Silver Slugger and the Gold Glove.

Overall, Ripken is one of the best shortstops the game has ever seen, and he was a deserving Hall of Famer.

Mark Belanger, who won seven Gold Gloves during the 1970s and eight for his career, is one of the top defensive shortstops of all time and worthy of mention here.

Hall of Famer Bobby Wallace racked up 1,424 hits and 607 RBI in his 15 seasons with the St. Louis Browns and also deserves mention.

Years With Team: 1996-2004
Stats With Team: .323 BA, 178 HR, 690 RBI, 84 SB
Fielding Percentage: .968
162-Game Average: .323 BA, 30 HR, 116 RBI
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 1x Silver Slugger, ROY

It is easy to forget just how great Nomar was, as he took the game by storm as a 23-year-old rookie in 1997.

He took home the Rookie of the Year Award thanks to a .306 BA, 30 HR, 98 RBI season in which he also led the AL in Hits (209) and Triples (11). Along with the ROY Award, he also took home the Silver Slugger and finished eighth in MVP voting.

The next season, he put up the best power numbers of his career with 35 HR and 122 RBI, as he was runner-up for the AL MVP.

The 1999 and 2000 seasons would both end in batting titles for the budding star, as he hit .357 and .372 during those two seasons.

While his trade to the Cubs signaled the end of his time in Boston, it also was the beginning of a wave of injuries that would keep Nomar from being the spectacular player he once was.

Hall of Famer Joe Cronin had some of his best seasons with the Red Sox, as he carried a .300 BA during his 11 seasons with the team while hitting 119 HR with 737 RBI.

Rico Petrocelli, John Valentin, Johnny Pesky, and Rick Burleson all earn a mention here, as the Red Sox have had some great ones through the years.

Years With Team: 1953-1971
Stats With Team: .274 BA, 512 HR, 1636 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .969
162-Game Average: .274 BA, 33 HR, 105 RBI
Accolades: 14x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove, 2x MVP, Hall of Fame

Who else would be the choice here besides Mr. Cub? Although he played more games at first base in his career, he is in the Hall of Fame as a shortstop, and that is where I will put him.

He won back-to-back MVP awards in 1958 and 1959 despite playing on some less than stellar Cubs teams.

In 1958, he hit .313 BA, 47 HR, 129 RBI as he led the NL in HR, RBI, and slugging percentage while playing in every game.

The next season he put up a .304 BA, 45 HR, 143 RBI season, again leading the league in RBI and again playing in every game.

Hall of Famer Joe Tinker, as well as perennial All-Star Don Kessinger, are worthy of mention here. Shawon Dunston was always fun to watch as well.

Years With Team: 1930-1950
Stats With Team: .310 BA, 45 HR, 1116 RBI, 179 SB
Fielding Percentage: .948
162-Game Average: .310 BA, 3 HR, 75 RBI, 12 SB
Accolades: 7x All-Star, Hall of Fame

The choice between Appling and Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio was a tough one, but in the end, Appling's hitting outweighed Aparicio's fielding.

Aparicio was a seven-time Gold Glove winner and stole 318 bases in his 10 seasons with the team.

However, Appling racked up 2,749 hits in his 20 seasons with the Sox, hitting over .300 in 15 different seasons, including winning a pair of batting titles.

His best season came in 1936, when he hit an impressive .388 with 204 hits and a .474 OBP as he finished second in AL MVP voting.

His second batting title came in 1943 at the age of 36, as he hit .328 and also led the AL in OBP at .419. He again finished second in MVP voting that season.

Three-time All-Star and current manager Ozzie Guillen deserves a mention here, as he also won the Rookie of the Year Award.

Years With Team: 1986-2004
Stats With Team: .295 BA, 198 HR, 960 RBI, 379 SB
Fielding Percentage: .975
162-Game Average: .295 BA, 15 HR, 71 RBI, 28 SB
Accolades: 12x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 8x Silver Slugger, 1x MVP

This choice came down to Larkin and Dave Concepcion, and while they were both great, Larkin tops him across the board.

Concepcion had an impressive Reds career with a line of .267 BA, 101 HR, 950 RBI, 321 SB, while winning five Gold Gloves and making nine All-Star teams.

Larkin topped .300 BA nine times and stole more than 20 bases nine times. He also took home the 1995 NL MVP.

He posted a line of .319 BA, 15 HR, 66 RBI while stealing a career-high 51 bases to win the MVP along with the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove.

He also had a breakout power season in 1996, when he had 33 HR and 89 RBI, both career highs.

All-Stars Roy McMillan and Leo Cardenas are worthy of a mention here as well, as there have been a number of good Reds at the shortstop position.

Years With Team: 1920-1930
Stats With Team: .320 BA, 30 HR, 869 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .951
162-Game Average: .320 BA, 3 HR, 93 RBI
Accolades: Hall of Fame

This was a tough choice, as Omar Vizquel and Lou Boudreau were both great, but one thing set Sewell apart from the rest.

Sewell is, hands down, the best contact hitter to ever play the game. In 6,576 at-bats with the Indians, Sewell struck out only 99 times! That is once every 66 at-bats and an average of nine times a year.

He finished with a batting average over .300 nine different times and was a doubles machine, hitting 375 in his time with the team, and over 40 five times.

Years With Team: 1996-2001
Stats With Team: .282 BA, 43 HR, 281 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .977
162-Game Average: .282 BA, 10 HR, 68 RBI
Accolades: 1x Gold Glove

As a Cubs fan, I have trouble believing Perez was anything but the lazy utility infielder he was with the Cubs, but he actually posted some solid seasons with the Rockies.

He had a pair of .280 BA, 10 HR, 70 RBI-type seasons, which is all you can ask out of a shortstop offensively most of the time.

He also had some speed, as he racked up 49 triples in his time with the team, breaking double digits three times.

I also considered Walt Weiss at this spot, but Perez beat him across the board and won a Gold Glove to boot.

Years With Team: 1977-1996
Stats With Team: .285 BA, 185 HR, 1003 RBI, 236 SB
Fielding Percentage: .977
162-Game Average: .285 BA, 13 HR, 71 RBI, 17 SB
Accolades: 6x All-Star, 4x Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger

Trammell was solid throughout his impressive 20-year career, and in my opinion he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.

If he were in the Hall right now, he would rank 10th in BA, fifth in HR, and ninth in RBI among the 21 Hall of Fame shortstops. That alone is reason enough for him to be in.

His best season came in 1987, when he hit .343 BA, 28 HR, 105 RBI, 21 SB and finished second in AL MVP voting.

He was also instrumental in the Tigers' 1984 World Series title, as he hit .450 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI in the five-game World Series to take home MVP honors.

Seven-time All-Star Harvey Kuenn is worthy of mention here, as he also won the Rookie of the Year award.

Years With Team: 2006-Now
Stats With Team: .314 BA, 93 HR, 267 RBI, 149 SB
Fielding Percentage: .965
162-Game Average: .314 BA, 28 HR, 80 RBI, 44 SB
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year

Only 25 years old and halfway through his fourth season, Ramirez is already one of the best shortstops in the game and the best the Marlins have had in their short history.

After coming to the Marlins in the trade that sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox, Ramirez immediately became the team's starting shortstop and produced from Day One.

He finished his 2006 rookie season with a line of .292 BA, 17 HR, 59 RBI to go along with 51 SB, 46 doubles, and 11 triples.

Last season he hit 33 home runs but only drove in 67 runs because he was hitting in the leadoff spot.

Now that he has moved down in the order, he is on pace to smash his career high of 81 RBI, with 60 RBI already through 78 games.

Edgar Renteria and Alex Gonzalez are worthy of mention for their roles on the Marlins' two World Series teams.

Years With Team: 1981-1987
Stats With Team: .270 BA, 33 HR, 172 RBI, 94 SB
Fielding Percentage: .965
162-Game Average: .270 BA, 9 HR, 49 RBI, 27 SB
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x Silver Slugger

Heading into the 1983 season, the Astros had never had a true shortstop of any ability, but that all changed when they handed the job over to Thon.

He exploded for a .286 BA, 20 HR, 79 RBI, 34 SB season, winning the Silver Slugger and seemingly solving the franchise's issues at shortstop.

That was until the next season, when a pitch from Mets pitcher Mike Torres beaned Thon in the head and permanently altered his vision.

His season was over, and while he came back and even managed to play nine more seasons, he was nothing more than a backup the rest of his career.

Still, he gets the nod here for his one big season and what could have been.

Years With Team: 1971-1979
Stats With Team: .241 BA, 28 HR, 382 RBI, 336 SB
Fielding Percentage: .962
162-Game Average: .241 BA, 4 HR, 50 RBI, 44 SB
Accolades: 3x All-Star

Patek was the clear winner in an incredibly weak field, as I actually considered Kurt Stillwell and Angel Berroa, but only briefly.

Patek, who stood all of 5'5", got the most out of his small frame, as he was a slick fielder and a decent hitter as well.

In 1971, his first season with the Royals, he hit .267 BA, 6 HR, 36 RBI while swiping 49 bases and leading the AL with 11 triples. He finished sixth in MVP voting that season.

He also stepped his game up in the postseason, hitting .277 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBI in 14 career postseason games.

Years With Team: 1961-1971
Stats With Team: .268 BA, 115 HR, 548 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .963
162-Game Average: .268 BA, 13 HR, 62 RBI
Accolades: 6x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove

As Matt Welch points out, from the time Ernie Banks played his last game until Robin Yount started his career, there was probably no shortstop more consistently productive then Fregosi.

He topped double digits in HR five times, with nine HR in three other seasons, as he had a decent amount of power for a shortstop.

His best power numbers came in 1970, when he had 22 HR and 82 RBI, both career highs.

His batting average was never terrific, but he played in an era dominated by pitching, and the fact that he hit over .275 five times is actually something worth talking about.

Gary DiSarcina and David Eckstein are worth a mention but are a ways from Fregosi in terms of production.

Years With Team: 1940-1942, 1946-1958
Stats With Team: .269 BA, 126 HR, 885 RBI, 232 SB
Fielding Percentage: .962
162-Game Average: .269 BA, 9 HR, 66 RBI, 17 SB
Accolades: 10x All-Star, Hall of Fame

A fantastic player who was at the center of the great Dodger teams of the late 1940s and early 1950s, Reese could have even better numbers if not for his time serving our country that cost him four years in his prime.

He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting eight times in his career, showing that despite his average offensive numbers, the voters realized what he meant to his team.

His best finish in the voting was fifth place in 1949, when he set a career high with 16 HR to go along with 73 RBI and a .279 BA.

Maury Wills is deserving of mention here, as the speedster stole 490 bases in his time with the Dodgers, including an astounding 104 in 1962 that earned him the NL MVP.

Three-time All-Star Bill Russell also is worthy of mention, as he was a staple throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He had a .294 BA and 18 RBI in the postseason as well.

Years With Team: 1974-1993
Stats With Team: .285 BA, 251 HR, 1406 RBI, 271 SB
Fielding Percentage: .964
162-Game Average: .285 BA, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 15 SB
Accolades: 3x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove, 1x Silver Slugger, 2x MVP, Hall of Fame

The fact that Yount only made three All-Star teams surprised me, but that was the story of his career. He never posted mammoth numbers in any season, just above average numbers for 20 seasons.

He had double-digit HR 11 times, including over 20 four times. His best season overall came in 1982, when he won his first MVP.

With a line of .331 BA, 29 HR, 114 RBI, Yount posted career highs across the board. He also had NL highs in hits (210) and doubles (46).

All that led to the Brewers' one and only World Series appearance, and Yount hit .414 during the seven-game series.

His 3,142 hits rank him 17th all time, as he averaged 178 hits a season. Simply put, he was a model of consistency.

He did log a lot of time in center field but played more games at shortstop (1,479 to 1,218), so that was where I put him.

J.J. Hardy may never be Robin Yount, but he is one of the game's top shortstops right now and is worthy of mention.

Also, Dale Sveum had a fluke 25 HR, 95 RBI season in 1987 that is worth mentioning.

Years With Team: 1959-1967
Stats With Team: .250 BA, 87 HR, 406 RBI, 85 SB
Fielding Percentage: .956
162-Game Average: .250 BA, 13 HR, 59 RBI, 12 SB
Accolades: 2x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove, 1x MVP

An above average hitter his entire career, Versalles had a great season across the board in 1965.

He had a line of .273 BA, 19 HR, 77 RBI, 27 SB while leading the AL in runs (126), doubles (45), triples (12), and total bases (308), landing him the AL MVP.

He also led the AL in triples in 1963 with 13 and 1964 with 10, as he displayed a great combination of speed and power.

Years With Team: 2003-Now
Stats With Team: .286 BA, 63 HR, 325 RBI, 301 SB
Fielding Percentage: .974
162-Game Average: .286 BA, 13 HR, 67 RBI, 62 SB
Accolades: 2x All-Star, 1x Silver Slugger

The unquestioned top base-stealing threat in baseball right now when he is healthy, Reyes has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the game.

He has led the NL in steals three times with 60, 64, and 78 from 2005-2007. He has also led the NL in triples three times, with a high of 19 last season.

At only 26, Reyes has the potential, if he can improve his average a bit and stay healthy, to be one of the best of all time at the position.

Bud Harrelson deserves a mention for his longevity and slick fielding.

Years With Team: 1995-Now
Stats With Team: .316 BA, 216 HR, 1036 RBI, 292 SB
Fielding Percentage: .975
162-Game Average: .316 BA, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 23 SB
Accolades: 10x All-Star, 3x Gold Glove, 3x Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year

As much as Phil Rizzuto means to Yankees history, Derek Jeter is the Yankees of the 1990s and 2000s, and he is the best shortstop the team has ever had without question.

Regular season numbers aside, and they are fantastic, Jeter would get this spot on postseason stats alone.

With a career playoff line of .309 BA, 17 HR, 49 RBI and an astounding 153 postseason hits, Jeter has done it when it mattered most.

Little more needs to be said, as Jeter will go down as one of the best ever, not just at the shortstop position, but overall.

Tony Kubek and Frankie Crosetti made multiple All-Star teams and earn a mention, though they had no chance at the top spot.

Hall of Famer Hughie Jennings also deserves mention, as he carried a .359 BA in his seven seasons with the then-Baltimore Orioles, including .401 in 1896.

Years With Team: 1997-2003
Stats With Team: .270 BA, 156 HR, 604 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .972
162-Game Average: .270 BA, 27 HR, 104 RBI
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x MVP

One of the big four shortstops that ushered in a new wave of power-hitting middle infielders, Tejada was among the best in the game.

His 2002 season earned him the AL MVP, as he posted a line of .308 BA, 34 HR, 131 RBI. He also had 204 hits and 108 runs.

He, like most other big names, was allowed to walk in free agency because the small market A's could not afford to keep him, or his numbers here would be that much better.

Bert Campaneris got some serious consideration, as he was among the best of the 1960s and 1970s, making five All-Star appearances and swiping 398 bases in his 12 seasons with the team.

Eddie Joost, a two-time All-Star during the 1950s, tallied 116 HR in his A's career and also earns a mention.

Years With Team: 2000-Now
Stats With Team: .274 BA, 132 HR, 576 RBI, 306 SB
Fielding Percentage: .983
162-Game Average: .274 BA, 16 HR, 70 RBI, 37 SB
Accolades: 3x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove, 1x Silver Slugger, 1x MVP

Despite his struggles this season, Rollins is the pick here, and as much for his defense as his offense, as he can do it all.

His MVP season of 2007 was incredible, as he really filled up the stat sheet. He finished with a line of .296 BA, 30 HR, 94 RBI and added 139 runs, 212 hits, 38 doubles, 20 triples, and 41 SB.

Rollins has stolen over 30 bases seven times, with a high of 47 last season.

Provided he can turn things around this season, he should have several more great years in him, as he is only 30.

Larry Bowa and Granny Hamner were both named to multiple All-Star teams and deserve mention here.

Years With Team: 1900-1917
Stats With Team: .328 BA, 82 HR, 1475 RBI, 639 SB
Fielding Percentage: .940
162-Game Average: .328 BA, 5 HR, 99 RBI, 43 SB
Accolades: Hall of Fame

No disrespect to Arky Vaughn, a Hall of Famer and one of the best shortstops of all time, but Wagner is the greatest shortstop of all time in my eyes.

In his 18 seasons with the team, Wagner hit over .300 in 14 of those seasons and won a whopping eight batting titles.

From 1900-1909, there was no better player than Wagner, as he won seven batting titles, four RBI titles, and five SB titles.

His best average came in 1900, his first season with the Pirates, when he won the batting title with a .381 average. He also led the NL in Doubles (45), Triples (22), and Slugging (.573).

Although he did not have a lot of HR, he tallied 551 doubles and 232 triples in his time with the Pirates, with his triples total being the third highest of all time.

Dick Groat, who won the 1960 NL MVP, is also worthy of a mention here, as is Jay Bell.

Years With Team: 1982-1991
Stats With Team: .252 BA, 43 HR, 427 RBI, 101 SB
Fielding Percentage: .961
162-Game Average: .252 BA, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 13 SB
Accolades: 1x All-Star, 1x Silver Slugger

Templeton joined the Padres in the trade that sent Ozzie Smith to the Cardinals, and while Templeton was at his best with the Cardinals, and a far cry from Smith either way, he is the best the Padres have had.

While he was not the hitter he was with the Cards, he stepped up in the 1984 playoffs, as he went 11-for-34 in 10 games.

He did make one All-Star appearances with the Padres in 1985, with a line of .282 BA, 6 HR, 55 RBI and 16 SB.

Ozzie Smith won a pair of Gold Gloves and made an All-Star appearance in his four seasons with the Padres, but his best was yet to come.

Years With Team: 1922-1936
Stats With Team: .291 BA, 135 HR, 929 RBI
Fielding Percentage: .952
162-Game Average: .291 BA, 13 HR, 91 RBI
Accolades: 1x All-Star, Hall of Fame

Jackson was one of the first shortstops that could be considered a power threat, as he tallied double-digit home runs in six different seasons.

He also hit over .300 six different times and managed to finish in the top 10 in MVP voting four different times.

He was not all offense, however, as he earned the nickname "Stonewall" for his superior range at shortstop.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, and his .433 slugging percentage is the fifth highest among the 21 shortstops in the Hall of Fame.

George Davis, also a Hall of Famer, was a close second here, as he racked up 815 RBI and stole 354 bases in his nine seasons with the team.

Rich Aurilia has enjoyed a solid career with the Giants, including a .324 BA, 37 HR, 97 RBI season in 2001.

Years With Team: 1994-2000
Stats With Team: .309 BA, 189 HR, 595 RBI, 133 SB
Fielding Percentage: .977
162-Game Average: .309 BA, 39 HR, 122 RBI, 27 SB
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger

A 20-year-old Rodriguez took the game by storm in 1996, as he won the batting title with a .358 average to go along with 36 HR and 123 RBI.

From 1998-2000, there was no better shortstop in the league, as he averaged .305 BA, 41 HR, 122 RBI, 27 SB.

In 1998 he became a member of the 40-40 club with 42 HR and 46 SB, while also leading the league in hits with 213.

Simply put, Rodriguez was hands down the best offensive shortstop in an era renowned for its great hitting shortstops.

Years With Team: 1982-1996
Stats With Team: .272 BA, 27 HR, 664 RBI, 433 SB
Fielding Percentage: .978
162-Game Average: .272 BA, 2 HR, 54 RBI, 35 SB
Accolades: 14x All-Star, 11x Gold Glove, 1x Silver Slugger, Hall of Fame

Smith is one of the few men that could have hit .100 for his career and still would be talked about as one of the best of all time.

That said, he did manage some solid offensive numbers throughout his career, with his best season coming in 1987.

He hit .303 BA, 0 HR, 75 RBI, winning the Silver Slugger and finishing second in NL MVP voting.

He also hit perhaps the most clutch home run in Cardinals history with his Game Five bomb in the 1985 NLCS that prompted the famed "Go Crazy, Folks" call.

He was also a great base stealer with over 20 steals in 12 straight seasons, with a high of 57 in 1988.

Seven-time All-Star and 1944 MVP Marty Marion deserves a mention here, as do Edgar Renteria and Garry Templeton.

Years With Team: 2003-2006
Stats With Team: .287 BA, 40 HR, 212 RBI, 88 SB
Fielding Percentage: .963
162-Game Average: .287 BA, 13 HR, 68 RBI, 28 SB

As disappointing as he has been, it's easy to forget what a hot commodity Lugo was when he first left Tampa.

He seemed to have a solid combination of speed and average that could help any team, and the Red Sox paid the big bucks to get him.

He hit at least .275 in each of his seasons with the Rays and stole double-digit bases in each season as well, making him by far the best to play the position.

In 2005 he hit .295 and stole 39 bases, both career highs, in his final full season with the team.

Jason Bartlett has a solid chance of winning the batting title this year if he can keep hitting the way he has, and he could easily take this spot in the next couple years.

Years With Team: 2000-2009
Stats With Team: .301 BA, 125 HR, 682 RBI, 73 SB
Fielding Percentage: .977
162-Game Average: .301 BA, 16 HR, 86 RBI, 9 SB
Accolades: 5x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove

After taking home his first Gold Glove last season, the Rangers rewarded him with a move to third base, but he has not missed a beat.

A perennial .300 hitter, Young won the batting title in 2005 with a .331 average and also led the AL with 221 hits.

He has gone over the 200-hit mark six times in his career and is on pace to do it for a seventh this season.

If he can keep performing at his current rate through his 30s, he has an outside chance at 3,000 hits, which would make him a lock for the Hall.

A-Rod's monster seasons with the Rangers after he signed his record contract are worth mention, as he had 156 HR and led the league in that category all three of his years with the team.

Three-time All-Star Toby Harrah had 108 HR and 140 SB in his time with the Rangers and is also worth mentioning.

Years With Team: 1983-1990, 1998-1999
Stats With Team: .297 BA, 60 HR, 613 RBI, 172 SB
Fielding Percentage: .980
162-Game Average: .297 BA, 7 HR, 68 RBI, 19 SB
Accolades: 4x All-Star, 4x Gold Glove

After breaking into the majors in the early 1980s and enjoying some success with the Blue Jays, as he won four straight Gold Gloves from 1986-1989, Fernandez bounced around from team to team.

He ended up back in Toronto in 1998 and hit .321 BA, 9 HR, 72 RBI at the age of 36.

He actually managed to improve on that the next season as he posted a .328 BA, 6 HR, 75 RBI line and made the All-Star team.

While his longevity is part of what makes him the choice here, he was also a fantastic fielder and a great contact hitter.

Years With Team: 1997-2004
Stats With Team: .267 BA, 66 HR, 381 RBI, 93 SB
Fielding Percentage: .978
162-Game Average: .267 BA, 12 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB
Accolades: 1x Gold Glove

While he made a name for himself with the Red Sox in the 2004 playoffs, Cabrera was one of the game's better defensive shortstops in his time with the Expos, and a solid hitter as well.

Cabrera came to the Red Sox as part of the deal that sent Nomar to the Cubs prior to the trade deadline in 2004.

He had his best season in 2003 with a .297 BA, 17 HR, 80 RBI season to place him among the top shortstops in the game.

Mark Grudzielanek was an All-Star with the Expos and carried a .281 BA in his four seasons with the team.

As my readers have pointed out, two-time All-Star Hubie Brooks deserves at least a mention here and may have been the better choice over Cabrera.