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[[Image:Baseball_ss.png|thumb|right|The position of the shortstop]]
  
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[[Image:Baseball_shortstop_2004.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Anderson Machado]], a '''shortstop''', moving to his left to field a [[Types of batted balls in baseball|ground ball]].]]
  
 
'''Shortstop''', abbreviated ''SS'', is the [[baseball positions|baseball fielding position]] between [[second base|second]] and [[third base]]. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more [[right-handed]] hitters in baseball than [[left-handed]] hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.
  
'''Shortstop''', abbreviated ''SS'', is the [[baseball positions|baseball fielding position]] between [[second base|second]] and [[third base]]. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more [[right-handed]] hitters in baseball than [[left-handed]] hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.
   
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Shortstops are required to [[covering a base|cover second base]] in [[double play]] situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman, [[first baseman]], [[pitcher]], or [[catcher]]. They often cover second when a runner is attempting a [[stolen base]]. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a [[sacrifice bunt]] is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the [[infielder|infield]] as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an [[outfielder]].
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Shortstops are required to [[covering a base|cover second base]] in [[double play]] situations when the ball is hit to the [[second baseman]], [[first baseman]], [[pitcher]], or [[catcher]]. They cover second when a runner is attempting a [[stolen base]], but only when a left-handed hitter is batting. This is because the chances of a ball being hit to the left side of the infield are almost cut in half. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a [[sacrifice bunt]] is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the [[infielder|infield]] as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an [[outfielder]].''' The shortstop also has to back up a throw from the catcher to the third baseman when the runner is attempting to steal third base. (Normally this action is not done at the major league level because the catcher is better at throwing, the third baseman is better at catching the ball, and the left fielder is there to back up third base. This action is usually performed in [[Little League Baseball]].)'''
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Traditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well. It is an exclusively right-handed position, as a righty can easily throw to first or second without having to physically turn after playing a ground ball, the most common type of hit directed at the shortstop.
  
Traditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well. It is an exclusively right-handed position, as a righty can easily throw to first or second without having to physically turn after playing a ground ball, the most common type of hit directed at the shortstop.
   
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==Significant shortstops:==
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==Significant shortstops==
 
===[[Baseball Hall of Fame]] members===
  
===[[Baseball Hall of Fame]] members===
 
*[[Luis Aparicio]]
  
*[[Luis Aparicio]]
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*[[Rabbit Maranville]]
  
*[[Rabbit Maranville]]
 
*[[Pee Wee Reese]]
  
*[[Pee Wee Reese]]
  +
*[[Cal Ripken, Jr.]]
 
*[[Phil Rizzuto]]
  
*[[Phil Rizzuto]]
 
*[[Joe Sewell]]
  
*[[Joe Sewell]]
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*[[Honus Wagner]]
  
*[[Honus Wagner]]
 
*[[Bobby Wallace (baseball)|Bobby Wallace]]
  
*[[Bobby Wallace (baseball)|Bobby Wallace]]
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*[[Monte Ward]]
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*[[John Montgomery Ward]]
 
*[[Willie Wells]] *
  
*[[Willie Wells]] *
  +
*[[George Wright (sportsman)|George Wright]] (elected as a pioneer, but also starred as a shortstop in the 1860s & 70s)
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*[[Robin Yount]]
  
  +
*[[Robin Yount]] (moved to the outfield for his last nine seasons)
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* Negro Leagues
  
  +
[[Image:Jetershortstop.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Derek Jeter]], a shortstop, getting ready to field his position in 2007]]
   
 
===Multiple [[Gold Glove Award]] winners===
  
===Multiple [[Gold Glove Award]] winners===
   
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*[[Ozzie Smith]] - 13
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*[[Ozzie Smith]]: 13
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*[[Omar Vizquel]] - 11
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*[[Omar Vizquel]]: 11
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*[[Luis Aparicio]] - 9
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*[[Luis Aparicio]]: 9
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*[[Mark Belanger]] - 8
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*[[Mark Belanger]]: 8
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*[[Dave Concepcion]] - 5
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*[[Dave Concepción]]: 5
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*[[Tony Fernandez]] - 4
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*[[Tony Fernández]]: 4
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*[[Alan Trammell]] - 4
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*[[Alan Trammell]]: 4
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*[[Barry Larkin]] - 3
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*[[Derek Jeter]]: 3
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*[[Roy McMillan]] - 3
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*[[Barry Larkin]]: 3
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*[[Rey Ordóñez]] - 3
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*[[Roy McMillan]]: 3
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*[[Gene Alley]] - 2
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*[[Rey Ordóñez]]: 3
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*[[Larry Bowa]] - 2
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*[[Gene Alley]]: 2
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*[[Derek Jeter]] - 3
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*[[Larry Bowa]]: 2
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*[[Don Kessinger]] - 2
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*[[Don Kessinger]]: 2
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*[[Edgar Renteria]] - 2
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*[[Edgar Rentería]]: 2
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*[[Cal Ripken, Jr.]] - 2
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*[[Cal Ripken, Jr.]]: 2
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*[[Alex Rodriguez]] - 2
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*[[Alex Rodríguez]]: 2
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*[[Zolio Versalles]] - 2
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*[[Jimmy Rollins]]: 2
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*[[Maury Wills]] - 2
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*[[Zoilo Versalles]]: 2
  +
*[[Maury Wills]]: 2
  +
  +
===All time single season assist leaders among shortstops===
  +
#[[Ozzie Smith]]: 621 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980)
  +
#[[Glenn Wright]]: 601 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1924)
  +
#[[Dave Bancroft]]: 598 (Philadelphia Phillies/New York Giants, 1920)
  +
#[[Tommy Thevenow]]: 597 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1926)
  +
#[[Iván DeJesús]]: 595 (Chicago Cubs, 1977)
  +
#[[Cal Ripken, Jr.]]: 583 (Baltimore Orioles, 1984)
  +
#[[Whitey Wietelmann]]: 581 (Boston Braves, 1943)
  +
#[[Dave Bancroft]]: 579 (New York Giants, 1922)
  +
#[[Rabbit Maranville]]: 574 (Boston Braves, 1914)
  +
#[[Don Kessinger]]: 573 (Chicago Cubs, 1968)
  +
  +
===All time single season putout leaders among shortstops===
  +
# [[Donie Bush]]: 425 (Detroit Tigers, 1914)
  +
# [[Hughie Jennings]]: 425 (Baltimore Orioles [National League], 1895)
  +
# [[Joe Cassidy (baseball)|Joe Cassidy]]: 408 (Washington Senators, 1905)
  +
# [[Rabbit Maranville]]: 407 (Boston Braves, 1914)
  +
# [[Dave Bancroft]]: 405 (New York Giants, 1922)
  +
# [[Eddie Miller (baseball infielder)|Eddie Miller]]: 405 (Boston Braves, 1940)
  +
# [[Monte Cross]]: 404 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1898)
  +
# [[Dave Bancroft]]: 396 (New York Giants, 1921)
  +
# [[Mickey Doolan]]: 395 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1906)
  +
# [[Buck Weaver]]: 392 (Chicago White Sox, 1913)
   
 
===Other notable stars===
  
===Other notable stars===
  +
*[[Jack Barry]]
 
*[[Dick Bartell]]
  
*[[Dick Bartell]]
 
*[[Larry Bowa]]
  
*[[Larry Bowa]]
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*[[Bert Campaneris]]
  
*[[Bert Campaneris]]
 
*[[Ray Chapman]]
  
*[[Ray Chapman]]
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*[[Jose Concepcion]]
 
*[[Bill Dahlen]]
  
*[[Bill Dahlen]]
 
*[[Alvin Dark]]
  
*[[Alvin Dark]]
  +
*[[Kevin Elster]]
 
*[[Jim Fregosi]]
  
*[[Jim Fregosi]]
  +
*[[Chick Galloway]]
 
*[[Jack Glasscock]]
  
*[[Jack Glasscock]]
 
*[[Dick Groat]]
  
*[[Dick Groat]]
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*[[Herman Long]]
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*[[Bud Harrelson]]
  +
*[[Steve Jeltz]]
  +
*[[Billy Jurges]]
  +
*[[Home Run Johnson]]
  +
*[[Don Kessinger]]
  +
*[[Mark Koenig]]
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*[[Johnny Logan]]
  +
*[[Herman Long (baseball)|Herman Long]]
  +
*[[Lyn Lary]]
  +
*[[Dick Lundy (baseball)|Dick Lundy]] *
 
*[[Marty Marion]]
  
*[[Marty Marion]]
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*[[Roy McMillan]]
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*[[Dobie Moore]] *
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*[[Ivy Olsen]]
  +
*[[Freddy Patek]]
  +
*[[Dickey Pearce]]
 
*[[Johnny Pesky]]
  
*[[Johnny Pesky]]
 
*[[Rico Petrocelli]]
  
*[[Rico Petrocelli]]
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*[[José Reyes (shortstop)|José Reyes]]
  +
*[[Jimmy Rollins]]
  +
*[[Bill Russell]]
  +
*[[Everett Scott]]
 
*[[Vern Stephens]]
  
*[[Vern Stephens]]
 
*[[Garry Templeton]]
  
*[[Garry Templeton]]
  +
*[[Dickie Thon]]
 
*[[Maury Wills]]
  
*[[Maury Wills]]
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<nowiki>*</nowiki> = [[Negro league baseball|Negro Leagues]] player
   
 
===Currently Active Shortstops===
  
===Currently Active Shortstops===
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*[[Angel Berroa]]
  
*[[Angel Berroa]]
 
*[[Yuniesky Betancourt]]
  
*[[Yuniesky Betancourt]]
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*[[Willie Bloomquist]]
 
*[[Orlando Cabrera]]
  
*[[Orlando Cabrera]]
  +
*[[Alex Cintron]]
 
*[[Alex Cora]]
  
*[[Alex Cora]]
  +
*[[Craig Counsell]]
 
*[[David Eckstein]]
  
*[[David Eckstein]]
 
*[[Adam Everett]]
  
*[[Adam Everett]]
 
*[[Rafael Furcal]]
  
*[[Rafael Furcal]]
  +
*[[Nomar Garciaparra]]
  +
*[[Chris Gomez]]
 
*[[Carlos Guillen]]
  
*[[Carlos Guillen]]
  +
*[[Jerry Hairston, Jr.]]
 
*[[Bill Hall]]
  
*[[Bill Hall]]
 
*[[J.J. Hardy]]
  
*[[J.J. Hardy]]
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*[[Jed Lowrie]]
  
*[[Jed Lowrie]]
 
*[[Julio Lugo]]
  
*[[Julio Lugo]]
  +
*[[Tomohiro Nioka]]
 
*[[Derek Jeter]]
  
*[[Derek Jeter]]
 
*[[Jhonny Peralta]]
  
*[[Jhonny Peralta]]
  +
*[[Nick Punto]]
 
*[[Hanley Ramirez]]
  
*[[Hanley Ramirez]]
 
*[[Edgar Renteria]]
  
*[[Edgar Renteria]]
 
*[[Jose Reyes]]
  
*[[Jose Reyes]]
  +
*[[Luis Rivas]]
 
*[[Jimmy Rollins]]
  
*[[Jimmy Rollins]]
 
*[[Miguel Tejada]]
  
*[[Miguel Tejada]]
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*[[Ramon Vazquez]]
  
*[[Ramon Vazquez]]
 
*[[Omar Vizquel]]
  
*[[Omar Vizquel]]
  +
*[[Juan Uribe]]
 
*[[Jack Wilson (baseball player)|Jack Wilson]]
  
*[[Jack Wilson (baseball player)|Jack Wilson]]
 
*[[Michael Young (baseball player)|Michael Young]]
  
*[[Michael Young (baseball player)|Michael Young]]
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{{BaseballPositions}}
  
{{BaseballPositions}}
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[[Category:Positions]]
  
[[Category:Positions]]
 
[[Category:Major league shortstops|*]]
  
[[Category:Major league shortstops|*]]

Latest revision as of 05:44, 14 February 2010

Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.

Shortstops are required to cover second base in double play situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman, first baseman, pitcher, or catcher. They cover second when a runner is attempting a stolen base, but only when a left-handed hitter is batting. This is because the chances of a ball being hit to the left side of the infield are almost cut in half. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the infield as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an outfielder. The shortstop also has to back up a throw from the catcher to the third baseman when the runner is attempting to steal third base. (Normally this action is not done at the major league level because the catcher is better at throwing, the third baseman is better at catching the ball, and the left fielder is there to back up third base. This action is usually performed in Little League Baseball.) Traditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well. It is an exclusively right-handed position, as a righty can easily throw to first or second without having to physically turn after playing a ground ball, the most common type of hit directed at the shortstop.

Significant shortstops

Baseball Hall of Fame members

File:Jetershortstop.JPG

Derek Jeter, a shortstop, getting ready to field his position in 2007

Multiple Gold Glove Award winners

All time single season assist leaders among shortstops

  1. Ozzie Smith: 621 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980)
  2. Glenn Wright: 601 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1924)
  3. Dave Bancroft: 598 (Philadelphia Phillies/New York Giants, 1920)
  4. Tommy Thevenow: 597 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1926)
  5. Iván DeJesús: 595 (Chicago Cubs, 1977)
  6. Cal Ripken, Jr.: 583 (Baltimore Orioles, 1984)
  7. Whitey Wietelmann: 581 (Boston Braves, 1943)
  8. Dave Bancroft: 579 (New York Giants, 1922)
  9. Rabbit Maranville: 574 (Boston Braves, 1914)
  10. Don Kessinger: 573 (Chicago Cubs, 1968)

All time single season putout leaders among shortstops

  1. Donie Bush: 425 (Detroit Tigers, 1914)
  2. Hughie Jennings: 425 (Baltimore Orioles [National League], 1895)
  3. Joe Cassidy: 408 (Washington Senators, 1905)
  4. Rabbit Maranville: 407 (Boston Braves, 1914)
  5. Dave Bancroft: 405 (New York Giants, 1922)
  6. Eddie Miller: 405 (Boston Braves, 1940)
  7. Monte Cross: 404 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1898)
  8. Dave Bancroft: 396 (New York Giants, 1921)
  9. Mickey Doolan: 395 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1906)
  10. Buck Weaver: 392 (Chicago White Sox, 1913)

Other notable stars

* = Negro Leagues player

Currently Active Shortstops

See also

Baseball positions
Outfielders: 80px-Baseball fielding positions tiny Left field | Center field | Right field
Infielders: 3rd base | Shortstop | 2nd base | 1st base

Pitcher | Catcher

Designated hitter
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