As the New York Yankees make their trip back to the Bronx, let’s take a look at the second base excellence that has highlighted their storied franchise.
Second base: a position often times filled with mediocrity and lackluster offensive output; a position of demand. Even the greatest franchises, the New York Yankees included, have been hard pressed to find great talent at the second base position. Given that the spot has produced so many soft-hitting players throughout history, it has become custom.With that being said, the general reputation makes stand-out play at second base an asset. That same stand-out second baseman can separate the men from the boys, the world series winners from the first round exits.
The Yanks have been fortunate enough to have some spectacular players man the position throughout their world championships and even some of their lesser years.
However, a position with as much shortage of talent as second results in a shortage of names. As part of ESNY’s quest around the diamond for baseball’s most illustrious franchise, digging deep is the name of the game.
So, with that, let’s dive in and take at look at the 10 most productive and prominent second baseman to don pinstripes.
10. Del Pratt (1918-1920)
Pratt spent the majority of his career with the then St. Louis Browns but made an impact in three seasons with the Yankees in the prime of his career. He slashed .295/.348/.394 over the three years with a combined 219 runs batted in.
His most notable season with the Yanks was in 1920 when he featured a .314/.372/.427 slash and 108 RBIs while playing in all 154 games on a team that game three games short of the American League Pennant.
Had Pratt stayed in New York, he very well could have been a cornerstone for a franchise that took home its first championship in 1923.
9. Jimmy Williams (1903-1907)
As many know, up until 1913, the New York Yankees were not the New York Yankees. They were referred to as the New York Highlanders when the Baltimore Orioles moved to the Big Apple.
Jimmy Williams was a key piece with the Highlanders for five years, standing out in what was a mediocre time period for the franchise.
He hit .261 with 358 RBIs in five years in New York. He was steady and consistent, never driving in less than 62 runs and never driving in any more than 82. He was a general bright spot on a team that was not quite pennant worthy but had three winning seasons during his tenure.
If you take into account his two prior years with Baltimore in which he hit .315 and drove in a combined 179 runs, it only strengthens his case.
8. Billy Martin (1950-1957)
Most remember Billy Martin for his managing days with the Yankees and constant feuds with owner George Steinbrenner, but he had a relatively successful playing career to his name as well.
He was the everyday second baseman for three Yankee championships (1952, 1953, 1956), came in 25th in the 1953 MVP voting with 15 homers and 75 RBIs, and was named an all-star in 1956.
His playing career was not glamorous or exceptional by any stretch, but producing to any extent was valuable when playing alongside the likes of Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.
7. Snuffy Stirnweiss (1943-1950)
George Henry Stirnweiss, more favorably known as “Snuffy”, was an extremely productive second baseman for the Yanks in the mid-1940s.
He is best known for his 1944 and 1945 seasons where he placed fourth and third in AL MVP voting, respectively. Leading the league in hits, runs, and stolen bases was Stirnweiss in both of those seasons.
He was also the everyday second baseman on an outstanding 1947 team that won 97 games and defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games in the Fall Classic.
6. Alfonso Soriano (1999-2003, 2013-2014)
Alfonso Soriano started his extremely effective career in the Bronx and ended it there is well, with stops in Texas, Washington, and Chicago in between.
He was as good of an offensive second baseman as you could possibly find early in his career. From 2001 to 2003, he jacked 95 home runs, drove in 266 runs, collected 561 hits, scored 319 runs, and swiped 119 bases. He was a focal point of two world series appearances, and would have been a hero in 2001 if Mariano Rivera had held onto Game 7.
His eighth inning go-ahead solo shot off Curt Schilling would have been the difference in a World Series win. Soriano was dealt to Texas in the Alex Rodriguez deal prior to 2004.
He was moved to the left field later in his career and found himself back with the Yanks in 2013 when his late season surge of 50 RBIs in 58 games upon reacquisition nearly lifted the team into the playoffs.
5. Willie Randolph (1976-1988)
Willie Randolph was a long tenured Yankee, spending 13 years in pinstripes. He was a major piece of the 1977 and 1978 championships when he was only 22 and 23 years old.
He swiped 104 bases combined between those two seasons and 251 for his Yankee career, ranking third in franchise history. Randolph also possessed a stellar .374 on-base percentage, walking 1,005 times throughout his 13 seasons.
The speedster is frequently seen at the annual Old-Timer’s day at Yankee Stadium and gets a nice ovation for his contributions.
4. Bobby Richardson (1955-1966)
Richardson played an exclusive, 12 year Yankees career. He was a part of three championship teams in 1958, 1961, and 1962 and was most notably known for his 1962 contributions.
He collected 209 hits, slashed .302/.337/.406, was the runner-up in AL MVP voting, and won a gold glove while helping the Yanks capture their 20th title.
An interesting fact about Richardson was that he was named 1960 World Series MVP when the Yankees lost to the Pirates in seven games and is still the only player to win that award on the losing side. He batted .367 with a home run and an impressive 12 RBIs in the series.
By the time Richardson’s career came to a close, he was a seven time all-star and five-time gold glover.
3. Joe Gordon (1938-1946)
A hall-of-famer and one of the better second baseman the game of baseball has seen, Joe Gordon got the job done. He was burst upon the scene with the Yankees, blasting 153 homers and driving in 617 runs over seven seasons with the team.
He made six all-star teams in his seven years in the Bronx, won four world championships, and ranked in the MVP voting every year but his last.
One of the years he ranked in the MVP voting was 1942 when he took home the award. He jacked 18 homers, drove in 103 runs, and slashed .322/.409/.491 in his best all-around season of his career.
Joe Gordon not only went down as an outstanding player for the New York Yankees; he went down as an all-time great.
2. Tony Lazzeri (1926-1937)
Tony Lazzeri, another hall-of-famer, drove in 1157 runs in his 12 years in the Bronx. He was an integral part of the “Murderers’ Row” teams that crushed all opposition.
On the 1927 championship team that is widely considered to be the best of all-time, Lazzeri drove in 103 runs and .309/.383/.482 in only his sophomore season. Highlighted by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig driving in 165 and 173 runs respectively, Lazzeri was still able to manage superb numbers for a team that went 110-44 in the regular season.
He went on to win five rings with the Yanks, cementing his legacy as one of the better players the franchise has seen.
1. Robinson Cano (2005-2013)
Yankee fans: it may not be what you want to hear, but it is what you need to hear. Feelings of betrayal and pure disappointment may be flowing through your system right now, but let’s take the facts for what they are. Robinson Cano was statistically the best second baseman ever to put on pinstripes.
In 9 years playing in the Bronx, he took home five silver sluggers, made five all-star teams, won two gold gloves, jacked 205 home runs, and slashed an exceptional .309/.355/.504. From his slick glove and tremendous arm in the field, to his silky smooth swing at the plate, Cano was everything you wanted in a second baseman.
Perhaps his best year was in 2010 when he hit .319 with 29 homers and 109 RBIs, coming in third in MVP voting and taking home a gold glove as well.
To put the icing on the already scrumptious cake, he was an integral piece to the 2009 championship team. Although he put pain in the hearts of fans when he took a $240 million contract with the Mariners following 2013, his achievements as a homegrown product were undeniable.
There you have it. The 10-second baseman in New York Yankees history that were truly dependable under the Yankee Stadium spotlight. If you have any personal objections with the players on the list, the order, or have anything you feel worth expressing, feel free to leave a comment and get your voice well heard.