{"id":90,"date":"2023-03-08T15:53:02","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T19:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/?p=90"},"modified":"2025-10-24T12:27:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T16:27:50","slug":"the-10-greatest-second-basemen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/2023\/03\/the-10-greatest-second-basemen\/","title":{"rendered":"The Greatest Second Basemen of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on October 24, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second base is known as the Keystone because it\u2019s in the middle of the field, joining the right side and left side. Its importance in the field is shared by the player associated with it … the second baseman. Although typically thought of as a good glove, light bat position, some of the best second basemen in the history of the game have proven this assumption wrong. Not only have they provided consistently reliable defense, but many of them have been a source of offensive production from a position where it\u2019s not usually expected. Below are some of the best second basemen in baseball history. Spoiler alert: Rod Carew<\/a> isn\u2019t on the list. His 81.2 career WAR, 3,053 hits, and .393 career OBP put him near the top of any discussion of second basemen, but he actually started almost 100 more games at first than he did at second. So here are the top 10 second basemen, presented alphabetically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tEddie Collins<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n

\n Position:<\/strong>\n Second Baseman\n \n<\/p>\n\n

\n\tBats: <\/strong>Left\n  \u2022 \n\tThrows: <\/strong>Right\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

5-9<\/span>, 175lb<\/span> (175cm, 79kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n May 2<\/a>, 1887<\/a>\n <\/span>\n\n \n \n \n in Millerton, NY<\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Died:<\/a><\/strong>\n March 25<\/a>, 1951<\/a>\n (Aged 63-327d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n \n in Boston, MA<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n Buried<\/a>:<\/strong>\n \n \n Linwood Cemetery, Weston, MA\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n

High School:<\/strong> Washington Irving HS (New York, NY)<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n

School:<\/strong> Columbia University (New York, NY)<\/a><\/p>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Debut:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n September 17, 1906\n <\/a>\n (Age 19-138d,\n 2,888th in major league history)\n
   vs. CHW<\/a> 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB\n \n <\/p>\n\n \n

Last Game:<\/a><\/strong>\n August 5, 1930<\/a>\n (Age 43-095d)\n
   vs. BOS<\/a> 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n

\n Hall of Fame<\/a>:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 1939.\n (Voted by BBWAA on 213\/274 ballots)\n \n
   View Eddie Collins’s Page<\/a><\/strong> at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n\n

\n Rookie Status:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n Exceeded rookie limits during 1908 season\n \n \n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n

\n Full Name:<\/strong> Edward Trowbridge Collins \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n

\n Nicknames:<\/strong>\n Cocky<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n

\n View Player Info<\/a> \n from the B-R Bullpen<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n

\n View Player Bio<\/a> \n from the SABR BioProject<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n

Relatives<\/strong>: Father of Eddie Collins<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n