Baseball Mastermind: Hull: All-Time Greats Baseball Team - The Offense

Now, I have to consider which shortstop I’d want. The candidates, as I see it, are Honus Wagner, Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr. Bill James has Arky Vaughan as his #2 greatest shortstop based on his incredible five-year peak seasons citing 1933-1937 or 1934-1938 but as neither an above-average defensive shortstop and having a relatively short career (WWII cut into the latter portion), I like the others. I think this is going to come down to “The Flying Dutchman” (Wagner) and A-Rod. Let’s consult some numbers:

Cal Ripken Jr.: WARP3: 172.4, EQA: .282, FRAA: +162.
Alex Rodriguez: WARP3: 138.2, EQA: .322, FRAA: -26.
Honus Wagner:   WARP3: 191,   EQA: .308, FRAA: +228.

 

We have a resounding winner: Honus Wagner. We may have to look back once A-Rod’s career is over, but he will have long been displaced from shortstop and will be riding on his offensive numbers. Rodriguez has a pretty good chance at passing Wagner but there is no guarantee at this point.

Not with Alberto Gonzalez possibly on his way…damn.