Over the last year, the writers of Sports Unbiased (and several invited guests) have created the Sports Unbiased MLB Hall of Fame. In this Hall of Fame, the ballot a player is inducted on matters – so there is a difference between first-ballot and second-ballot Hall of Famer and there is a difference between fifth-ballot and tenth. For further information regarding the particulars about the Sports Unbiased MLB Hall of Fame, please read the Introduction.
We’ve already listed the catchers, the first basemen and the second basemen. Now we move around the diamond to shortstop. Which shortstops made it to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot? Which shortstops received unanimous induction? When did your favorite shortstop gain induction? This article tells you all that.
Above each plaque you will see the player’s name and a link; the link will take you to the player’s Baseball Reference page so you can see all their statistics and other information for their career.
24 second basemen gained induction on the first 13 ballots. If you don’t see a ballot listed (say the 4th), then that means no shortstops were inducted on that ballot.
We’ll start with those shortstops inducted on the 13th ballot and work our way to the greatest of the great, the first-ballot Hall of Famers.
13th Ballot
Two shortstops were inducted on the 13th ballot – Rabbit Maranville and Joe Sewell.
12th Ballot
Five shortstops were inducted on the 12th ballot – Dave Bancroft, Travis Jackson, Hugh Jennings, John “Monte” Ward, and Willie Wells.
11th Ballot
Three shortstops were inducted on the 11th ballot – Joe Tinker, Alan Trammell, and Bobby Wallace.
10th Ballot
Three shortstops were inducted on the 10th ballot – Lou Boudreau, George Davis, and Pop Lloyd.
9th Ballot
Four shortstops were inducted on the 9th ballot – Luke Appling, Joe Cronin, Phil Rizzuto, and Arky Vaughan.
8th Ballot
Two shortstops were inducted on the 8th ballot – Luis Aparicio and Robin Yount.
7th Ballot
One shortstop was inducted on the 7th ballot – Pee Wee Reese.
3rd Ballot
One shortstop was inducted on the 3rd ballot – Barry Larkin.
2nd Ballot
Two shortstops were inducted on the 2nd ballot – Cal Ripken Jr. and Ozzie Smith.
1st Ballot
One shortstop was inducted on the 1st ballot. He was also a unanimous selection and is considered the greatest shortstop of all-time. Of course this player is Honus Wagner.
Over the next few weeks we will unveil the rest of the positions along with the 2014 class, so please come back frequently and look for those.
So, how do you think we did? Do you agree or disagree where a player was inducted? Which inductions surprised you? Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.
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