MLB Power Rankings: Comparing Roberto Alomar to the Greatest Second Basemen Ever

The Toronto Blue Jays retired Roberto Alomar's No. 12 on Sunday in front of over 46,000 people.

Alomar helped the Blue Jays win back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, making Toronto the first city outside of the United States to win a title.

The Blue Jays organization stated Alomar is the greatest second baseman ever to play the game.

Whenever a player is deemed the greatest ever, there is always debate of who is.

Let's compare Alomar to some other great second basemen.

Ryne Sandberg

1,318 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,386 H (Alomar 2,724)

403 2B (Alomar 504)

76 3B (Alomar 80)

282 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,061 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

344 SB (Alomar 474)

.285 AVG (Alomar .300)

.344 OBP (Alomar .371)

.452 SLG (Alomar .443)

One MVP, nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, 10 All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Overall edge goes to Alomar.

Joe Morgan

1,650 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,517 H (Alomar 2,724)

449 2B (Alomar 504)

96 3B (Alomar 80)

268 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,133 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

689 SB (Alomar 474)

.271 AVG (Alomar .300)

.392 OBP (Alomar .371)

.427 SLG (Alomar .443)

Two MVPs, two World Series, five Gold Gloves, one Silver Slugger, 10 All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Both are tied in overall individual stats but Morgan played five more seasons. Alomar still pulls ahead with Gold Gloves and more All-Star appearances, giving him the edge.

Roger Hornsby

1,579 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,930 H (Alomar 2,724)

541 2B (Alomar 504)

169 3B (Alomar 80)

301 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,584 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

135 SB (Alomar 474)

.358 AVG (Alomar .300)

.434 OBP (Alomar .371)

.577 SLG (Alomar .443)

Two MVPs, zero Gold Gloves (came in 1957 but had .965 fielding percentage), zero Silver Sluggers (came in 1980), two Triple Crowns, zero All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves .984 fielding percentage, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

He played six more seasons but the stats aren’t that far apart for that many seasons apart. This comparison is closer and I would give Hornsby the slight edge.

Nap Lajoie

1,504 R (Alomar 1,508)

3,242 H (Alomar 2,724)

657 2B (Alomar 504)

163 3B (Alomar 80)

82 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,599 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

380 SB (Alomar 474)

.338 AVG (Alomar .300)

.380 OBP (Alomar .371)

.466 SLG (Alomar .443)

Zero Gold Gloves (came in 1957 but had .963 fielding percentage), zero Silver Sluggers (came in 1980), one triple crown, zero All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves .984 fielding percentage, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

He played four more seasons than Alomar but Alomar is the more all-around player.

Nellie Fox

1,279 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,663 H (Alomar 2,724)

355 2B (Alomar 504)

112 3B (Alomar 80)

35 HRs (Alomar 210)

790 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

76 SB (Alomar 474)

.288 AVG (Alomar .300)

.348 OBP (Alomar .371)

.363 SLG (Alomar .443)

One MVP, three Gold Gloves (came in 1957 but had .984 fielding percentage), zero Silver Sluggers (came in 1980), two Triple Crowns, 12 All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves .984 fielding percentage, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Alomar was the more all-around player.

Lou Whitaker

1386 R (Alomar 1508)

2369 H (Alomar 2724)

420 2B (Alomar 504)

65 3B (Alomar 80)

244 HRs (Alomar 210)

1084 RBI (Alomar 1134)

143 SB (Alomar 474)

.276 AVG (Alomar .300)

.363 OBP (Alomar .371)

.426 SLG (Alomar .443)

One Rookie of the Year, one World Series, three Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, five All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Edge to Alomar as well.

Charlie Gehringer

1,774 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,839 H (Alomar 2,724)

574 2B (Alomar 504)

184 3B (Alomar 80)

82 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,427 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

181 SB (Alomar 474)

.320 AVG (Alomar .300)

.404 OBP (Alomar .371)

.480 SLG (Alomar .443)

One MVP, one World Series, zero Gold Gloves (came in 1957 but had .976 fielding percentage), zero Silver Sluggers (came in 1980), six All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves .984 fielding percentage, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Like Hornsby, this one is closer and I would give it a tie.

Frankie Frisch

1,532 R (Alomar 1,508)

2,880 H (Alomar 2,724)

466 2B (Alomar 504)

138 3B (Alomar 80)

105 HRs (Alomar 210)

1,244 RBI (Alomar 1,134)

419 SB (Alomar 474)

.316 AVG (Alomar .300)

.369 OBP (Alomar .371)

.432 SLG (Alomar .443)

One MVP, zero Gold Gloves (came in 1957 but had .974 fielding percentage), zero Silver Sluggers (came in 1980), one Triple Crown, 3 All-Star appearances.

Alomar: two World Series, ALCS MVP, 10 Gold Gloves .984 fielding percentage, four Silver Sluggers, 12 All-Star appearances.

Another close race but overall edge to Alomar.

Conclusion

Alomar comes out on top over everyone but Horsnby as the best overall second baseman in MLB history.

Gehringer and Alomar tied for second-best with the rest coming in behind.

Rod Carew played more games at first base, though he went into the Hall of Fame as a second baseman, which is why he was not included.