The history of Major League Baseball is long, detailed and filled with great baseball players all around the diamond. As you start to look around at the various positions and look at the greatest players of MLB history, the second base position has produced a solid list of players including multiple MLB Hall of Famers.

The big question many baseball fans have is which second basemen are deserving of a spot among the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings list.

When you look at the greatest second baseman of All-Time, many different aspects and components of the game must be analyzed to determine who is one of those players.

These skills, accolades, and performance on the field include their performance at the plate, their performance in the field as well as their performance on the base paths.

In addition, their key contribution to the success of their teams. As you look at the top second baseman the group includes the likes of Joe Morgan, Roberto Alomar, and Roger Hornsby to name just a few. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings. 

Honorable Mention

Lou Whitaker

Team(s): Detroit Tigers

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings list is the longtime Detroit Tigers All-Star second baseman Lou Whitaker.

Whitaker, who played his entire 19-year career in Detroit, racked up 2,390 career games played and 8,570 career at bats while playing at least 100 games in all but three MLB seasons.

Over his career Whitaker racked up 2,369 hits, 420 doubles, 244 home runs, and 1,084 runs batted in. Whitaker also stole 143 bases, won three Gold Glove awards, four Silver Slugger awards, and the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year award.

Accolades:

• 5× All-Star (1983–1987)

• World Series champion (1984)

• AL Rookie of the Year (1978)

• 3× Gold Glove Award (1983–1985)

• 4× Silver Slugger Award (1983–1985, 1987)

• Detroit Tigers No. 1 retired

Nap Lajoie

Team(s): Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics & Cleveland Naps

Sometimes over the long history of sports players are often forgotten about or looked past. That is the case with Nap Lajoie who was one of the best pure hitting second basemen of All-time.

Over his long baseball career, Lajoie posted a .339 career batting average while also taking home the 1901 Triple Crown award. In five different seasons, Lajoie would lead all hitters in batting average while also leading in runs batted in during three different seasons.

When the former Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Naps second baseman retired he had accumulated 3,252 career hits, 82 home runs and 1,599 runs batted in.

Accolades:

• Triple Crown (1901)

• 5× AL batting champion (1901–1904, 1910)

• AL home run leader (1901)

• 3× RBI leader (1898, 1901, 1904)

• Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame

Top 10 MLB Second Basemen

10. Robinson Cano

Team(s): New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres & Atlanta Braves

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings list is Robinson Cano as he looks to continue his MLB career.

Cano, who made his debut for the New York Yankees on May 3rd, 2005, put together some of the best numbers among second baseman from 2005 to 2018.

Through September 2022, Cano was a career .301 hitter while amassing 2,639 career hits to go along with 335 home runs.

His performance on the field earned Cano eight All-Star appearances, five Silver Slugger awards, two Gold Gloves, and a World Series Championship.

Accolades:

• 8× All-Star (2006, 2010–2014, 2016, 2017)

• World Series champion (2009)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (2006, 2010–2013)

• 2× Gold Glove Award (2010, 2012)

• World Baseball Classic MVP (2013)

• All-World Baseball Classic Team (2013)

9. Eddie Collins

Team(s): Philadelphia Athletics & Chicago White Sox

Often overlooked by many historians of the game of baseball due to his low quantity of home runs, Eddie Collins is well deserving of a spot among the greatest second basemen of All-Time.

The former Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox second baseman racked up 3,315 career hits while maintaining a career .333 batting average over his entire baseball career.

Collins would finish his career leading baseball in stolen bases in four different seasons, win six World Series Championships, and take home the 1914 MVP award.

Accolades:

• 6× World Series champion (1910, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1929, 1930)

• AL MVP (1914)

• 4× AL stolen base leader (1910, 1919, 1923, 1924)

• Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame

• Athletics Hall of Fame

• Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame

8. Jeff Kent

Team(s): Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros & Los Angeles Dodgers

One of the biggest power hitters among the second base position was Jeff Kent who bounced around between six baseball teams over his MLB career.

Kent, who made his MLB debut during the 1992 MLB season, would call his career quits in 2008. Over his career Kent made five different All-Star teams, won the 2000 NL MVP award, and took home four Silver Slugger awards at second base.

Over his career, Kent racked up 2,461 career hits to go along with 1,518 runs batted in and 377 career home runs. The 377 home runs rank first among all second baseman in the history of Major League Baseball.

Accolades:

• 5× All-Star (1999–2001, 2004, 2005)

• NL MVP (2000)

• 4× Silver Slugger Award (2000–2002, 2005)

• San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame

7. Craig Biggio

Team(s): Houston Astros

While Craig Biggio wasn’t always a second baseman, he still spent the majority of his career at the position after moving full time in 1992.

Once making the move, Biggio ranked among the best second baseman in baseball through most of the 1990’s and early 2000’s before retiring in 2007.

The 2015 MLB Hall Of Fame inductee finished his career with 414 stolen bases, four Gold Glove awards, one NL stolen base leader, the Roberto Clemente award, five Silver Slugger awards, and seven trips to the MLB All-Star game.

Biggio added 3,060 career hits to go along with 291 career home runs and 1,175 runs batted in.

Accolades:

• 7× All-Star (1991, 1992, 1994–1998)

• 4× Gold Glove Award (1994–1997)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)

• Roberto Clemente Award (2007)

• NL stolen base leader (1994)

• Houston Astros No. 7 retired

• Houston Astros Hall of Fame

6. Ryne Sandberg

Team(s): Philadelphia & Chicago Cubs

The Ryno aka Ryne Sandberg would go on to finish his career as one of the most recognized players in the history of the Chicago Cubs franchise.

The long-time member of the Cubs finished his career with 1,061 runs batted in and 282 career home runs to go along with 2,386 career hits.

Along with hitting, Sandberg was a great fielding second baseman while taking home nine Gold Glove awards from 1983 to 1991.

In addition, Sandberg led the NL in home runs in 1990, took home seven Silver Slugger awards, won the 1984 NL MVP award and made 10 NL All-Star teams.

Accolades:

• 10× All-Star (1984–1993)

• NL MVP (1984)

• 9× Gold Glove Award (1983–1991)

• 7× Silver Slugger Award (1984, 1985, 1988–1992)

• NL home run leader (1990)

• Chicago Cubs No. 23 retired

5. Rod Carew

Team(s): Minnesota Twins & California Angels

Rounding out the top five on the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings list is the former Minnesota Twins and California Angels second baseman Rod Carew.

Carew who would make his MLB debut during the 1967 MLB seasons made 18 straight All-Star teams including during the 1967 with his only season not making the team coming in 1985.

The Twins and Angels second baseman finished his career as a member of the 3,000-hit club (3,053 career hits) and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Over his career, Carew took home seven AL batting championships, won the AL Rookie of the Year award, and the 1977 AL MVP award.

Accolades:

• 18× All-Star (1967–1984)

• AL MVP (1977)

• AL Rookie of the Year (1967)

• Roberto Clemente Award (1977)

• 7× AL batting champion (1969, 1972–1975, 1977, 1978)

• Minnesota Twins No. 29 retired

• Los Angeles Angels No. 29 retired

• Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame

• Angels Hall of Fame

4. Jackie Robinson

Team(s): Brooklyn Dodgers

One of the pioneers of baseball and a true inspiration, Jackie Robinson is also one of the best second baseman to play the game of baseball.

The former Brooklyn Dodgers star broke the color barrel for professional baseball while also putting together a solid baseball career. Over his career Robinson became the first Rookie of the Year award winner in 1947, led baseball in batting average in 1949, and led baseball in stolen bases in both 1947 and 1949.

Over his career, Robinson would go on to post a career .313 batting average and 141 career home runs while making six All Star games from 1949 to 1954.

Accolades:

• NgL All-Star (1945)

• 6× All-Star (1949–1954)

• World Series champion (1955)

• NL MVP (1949)

• MLB Rookie of the Year (1947)

• NL batting champion (1949)

• 2× NL stolen base leader (1947, 1949)

• Los Angeles Dodgers No. 42 retired

• No. 42 retired by all MLB teams

• UCLA Bruins No. 42 retired[1]

• Monument Park honoree

• Major League Baseball All-Century Team

3. Roger Hornsby

Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs & St. Louis Browns

When it comes to the top three second baseman on our list of the Top 10 MLB Second Baseman All-Time Rankings, each is deserving of the top spot.

One of those players is Hall of Famer Roger Hornsby who was one of the best hitters of his generation and one that ranks near the top all-time in batting average.

Hornsby would finish his career with a lifetime .358 batting average while picking up 2,930 career hits and 301 career home runs.

Over his career Hornsby won two Triple Crown awards, seven batting titles, and two MVP awards. 

Accolades:

• World Series champion (1926)

• 2× NL MVP (1925, 1929)

• 2× Triple Crown (1922, 1925)

• 7× NL batting champion (1920–1925, 1928)

• 2× NL home run leader (1922, 1925)

• 4× NL RBI leader (1920–1922, 1925)

• St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame

• Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame

• Major League Baseball All-Century Team

• Major League Baseball All-Time Team

2. Joe Morgan

Team(s): Houston .45s, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies & Oakland A’s

You could easily slot Joe Morgan atop the list of second baseman as the former two-time NL MVP put together a solid MLB resume.

In addition to the two MVP awards, Morgan would also win five Gold Glove awards, two World Series Titles and be named to 10 MLB All-Star teams over the course of his career. 

Morgan would finish his career with 2,517 hits to go along with 268 home runs, 689 stolen bases, and 1,133 runs batted in.

Accolades:

• 10× All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972–1979)

• 2× World Series champion (1975, 1976)

• 2× NL MVP (1975, 1976)

• 5× Gold Glove Award (1973–1977)

• Silver Slugger Award (1982)

• Cincinnati Reds No. 8 retired

• Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

• Houston Astros Hall of Fame

1. Roberto Alomar

Team(s): San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and Arizona Diamondbacks

One of the slickest fielding among second basemen of All-Time and possibly the best defensive second baseman is Roberto Alomar.

Alomar who bounced around the game of baseball was as good as any second baseman to play the position and one that contained all the tools to be successful.

Alomar had speed, a great eye, power, and great defensive range. This led Alomar to be a career .300 hitter at the plate with 210 home runs while also stealing 474 bases over the course of his career.

His glove spoke for itself as Alomar would take home 10 Gold Glove awards to go along with 12 All-Star appearances over his long MLB career.

Accolades:

• 12× All-Star (1990–2001)

• 2× World Series champion (1992, 1993)

• ALCS MVP (1992)

• 10× Gold Glove Award (1991–1996, 1998–2001)

• 4× Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 1999, 2000)

• Toronto Blue Jays No. 12 retired

• Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame

How would you rank these great Major League Baseball second basemen? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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