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Deep in the hole
American League blessed with golden era of shortstops
Posted: Wednesday February 28, 2001 3:33 AM
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Nomar Garciaparra (left) and Derek Jeter size each other up. David Seelig/Allsport |
A-Rod. Jeter. Nomar. The American League is loaded with outstanding young shortstops, perhaps more so than at any time in history.
With Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra, baseball is in the middle of a golden age of shortstops. In all, 12 shortstops have been named Most Valuable Player since the award was instituted in 1931, including Cal Ripken and Hall of Famer Ernie Banks twice.
Banks is arguably the greatest offensive shortstop in history, winning consecutive MVP awards in 1958-59. He hit .313 in 1958 and led the league with 47 homers and 129 RBI. He followed that up by hitting .304 with 45 homers and a league-leading 143 RBI in 1959. In the '80s, Ripken defined the power-hitting shortstop by hitting 20 or more home runs in 12 seasons. But he hit more than 30 once, a career-high 34 in 1991 when he won his second MVP Award.
But never have three shortstops had such an impact at the same time as the "Holy Trinity" -- Rodriguez, Jeter and Garciaparra. Here's a look at some of the best shortstop trios in baseball history.
-- Compiled by CNNSI.com staff
| 2000 American League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS |
.372 |
104 |
21 |
96 |
5 |
| Derek Jeter, NYY |
.339 |
119 |
15 |
73 |
22 |
| Alex Rodriguez, SEA |
.316 |
132 |
41 |
132 |
15 |
| Combined Totals |
.342 |
355 |
77 |
301 |
42 |
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| 1983 American League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Cal Ripken, BAL |
.318 |
121 |
27 |
102 |
0 |
| Robin Yount, MIL |
.308 |
102 |
17 |
80 |
12 |
| Alan Trammell, DET |
.319 |
83 |
9 |
66 |
30 |
| Combined Totals |
.315 |
306 |
53 |
248 |
42 |
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| 1977 National League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Larry Bowa, PHI |
.280 |
93 |
4 |
41 |
32 |
| Garry Templeton, STL |
.322 |
94 |
8 |
79 |
28 |
| Dave Concepcion, CIN |
.271 |
59 |
8 |
64 |
29 |
| Combined Totals |
.292 |
246 |
20 |
184 |
89 |
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| 1960 National League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Ernie Banks, CHI |
.271 |
94 |
41 |
117 |
1 |
| Maury Wills, LA |
.295 |
75 |
0 |
27 |
50 |
| Dick Groat, PIT |
.326 |
85 |
2 |
50 |
0 |
| Combined Totals |
.297 |
254 |
43 |
194 |
51 |
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| 1948 American League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Lou Boudreau, CLE |
.355 |
116 |
18 |
106 |
3 |
| Vern Stephens, BOS |
.271 |
114 |
29 |
137 |
1 |
| Phil Rizzuto, NYY |
.252 |
65 |
6 |
50 |
6 |
| Combined Totals |
.294 |
295 |
53 |
293 |
10 |
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| 1933 American League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Joe Cronin, WAS |
.309 |
89 |
5 |
118 |
5 |
| Luke Appling, CHI |
.322 |
90 |
6 |
85 |
6 |
| Dib Williams, PHI |
.289 |
52 |
11 |
73 |
1 |
| Combined Totals |
.309 |
231 |
22 |
276 |
12 |
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| 1905 National League |
|---|
| Shortstop |
Avg. |
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
| Bill Dahlen, NYG |
.242 |
67 |
7 |
81 |
37 |
| Honus Wagner, PIT |
.363 |
114 |
6 |
101 |
57 |
| Joe Tinker, CHI |
.247 |
70 |
2 |
66 |
31 |
| Combined Totals |
.285 |
251 |
15 |
248 |
125 |
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