Shortstops 18.1

1917 Rogers Hornsby. Before he was a second baseman he was a shortstop. Played 144 games at short.

327/385/484 slugging (led league)/868 ops (led league)/169 ops+ (led league)

Hornsby SS-3e54
Strat could probably mitigate some of the errors, but he'd be a 3.

Hornsby SS-3e54
Strat could probably mitigate some of the errors, but he'd be a 3.

Yeah, I don't endorse this one. We have enough great Hornsby cards.

1956 Harvey Kuenn .332

1956 Harvey Kuenn .332

He’d be a SS-3e24. Would he get used as a SS?

1897 George Davis, SS, Giants .353 10 135 .410 .509 .918. Led the league in RBI. This was Davis' first year as a full time SS and these are by far his best offensive numbers in 12 seasons with shortstop as his primary position. Davis was widely regarded to be the best defensive shortstop of his day. Like many deadball era infielders, he made a ton of errors, 62 to be exact. His only other card, from 1901, is an e26, although he made 45 errors that season. SOM adjusts errors for deadball fielders. For the 1901 card, his errors were about 58% of his actual total. If the same percentage is used for the 1897 card, Davis would be about an e36. We should have this HOFer's best card.

1966 Gene Alley, Pirates .299 7 43 .334 .418 .752 Gold Glove
1967 Gene Alley, Pirates .287 6 55 .337 .391 .728 Gold Glove
Hard to believe that it's been 50+ years since the nearly forgotten Gene Alley was in his prime. The slick fielding Alley had his career highs in every major offensive category during 1966 & 1967. The Pirates are in desperate need of both a Post WWII and Expansion Era shortstop, and these two Alley cards fit the bill.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/30147/1660/1/60

1969 Don Kessinger, Cubs .273 4 53 .332 .366 .698. Career highs in ABs (bulletproof!) DO (38!), RBI, SLG, OPS, OPS+ & TBs and near career highs in BA, OBP & SBs; Kessinger helped form the defensive backbone with former Gold Glove winners Ron Santo and Glenn Beckert of the ill fated '69 Cubs. Kessinger won the first of his 2 Gold Gloves in 1969 and as a switch hitter, was an above average hitter compared to other shortstops of his era.

1969 Mark Belanger, Orioles .287 2 50 .351 .345 .696 Career highs in HITS, RBI, BA, OPS; 2nd career high in OBP. Gold Glove. This card would be a big improvement over any other Belanger card.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/730727/1670/1/70.

1970 Bert Campaneris, A's .279 22 64 .321 .448 .769 42 SB Career highs in R, HR, SLG, RBI, TB, & OPS; 2nd career high in HITS, BA & OPS+. Campy averaged 3-4 HRs a season over the rest of his career, but muscled up to hit 22 HRs in 1970! Led the league in SB 6 times and had 649 in his career, 14th all time. A better Campaneris card is in order.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/731722/1670/1/70

1970 Luis Aparicio, White Sox .313 5 43 .372 .404 .776 HOF SS, best season, career highs in BA, SLG, OBP, OPS & OPS+. Last of 9 Gold Gloves. Most HOFers have their best card, but not Aparicio. CWS desperately need expansion SS.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/730257/1670/1/70

1975 Larry Bowa, Phillies .305 2 38 .334 .377 .711, 24 SBs; Career highs in BA, OBP, SLG & OPS. A 16 year switch hitting perennial 1 fielding SS, with just 2 cards, neither being among his two best seasons. Great card against lefties, with lots of triples, and usable against righties. A good Bowa card would give the Phillies franchise expansion team a viable alternative to the terrible and under performing Rollins card.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/731139/1670/1/70

1980 Garry Templeton, Cardinals .319 4 43 .342 .417 .759 31 SBs. Career high OBP, 2nd career high in BA, SBs. A switch hitting, flashy, but erratic, fielder with great range, 1e42.
http://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/841939/1680/1/80

would like to second Chacon and Hollocher and DeJesus

1962 Tom Tresh, SS, Yankees .286/.359/.441/.800 OPS+ 116, Switch Hitter, RoY-1

This was the year when Tony Kubek was in the military and Tresh came in and played SS. He hit a lot better than Tony would have. Maybe Andy can tell us what his fielding rating would be.

1962 Tom Tresh, SS, Yankees .286/.359/.441/.800 OPS+ 116, Switch Hitter, RoY-1

This was the year when Tony Kubek was in the military and Tresh came in and played SS. He hit a lot better than Tony would have. Maybe Andy can tell us what his fielding rating would be.

SS-3e24 Probably not worth it based on what the offense should bring..........

1962 Tom Tresh, SS, Yankees .286/.359/.441/.800 OPS+ 116, Switch Hitter, RoY-1

This was the year when Tony Kubek was in the military and Tresh came in and played SS. He hit a lot better than Tony would have. Maybe Andy can tell us what his fielding rating would be.

SS-3e24 Probably not worth it based on what the offense should bring..........

I'd like to see the '62 Tresh ROY card added...SS and LF...