Best Second Basemen Comparison

Real world stepped in a bit but I’ll continue to roll these out. If you need a refresher on how this works look here.

Second base has had a wide range of type of players, from the newer age power hitters to shortstops who couldn’t make the throw back in the day. I think this position has a really interesting and diverse population, as you’ll see by the different lists.  

This list is HEAVILY populated by modern cards. Six of the top ten cards are from the past ten years chart wise and I think just following baseball over that time I can’t say I’m not surprised. Second basemen have become a deep position compared to a historically weak hitting position. Javy’s 2018HR card is a behemoth with 6 HRs, 2 triples and 5 doubles!! Since it’s technically not a full season card you might consider Soriano’s 2002 card to be the best chart out there and it is also extremely impressive with 6 HRs and 5 doubles as well. I had to include the Brett Boone card since it’s from the original set. 4 home runs and 4 doubles? Unfortunately he’s only 6 OB, but damn it’s a fun card.

 

Joe Morgan stands alone here, and at some really solid value of 480 points. 10 OB with 5 defense, 23 speed and only 2 outs, he really is a great lead off card. Jose Altuve takes the next two spots with his All Star and regular season card. Shows you how consistent he was-keeping basically the same card over the entire year. Craig Biggio and Jeff Kent come in next. Jeff Kent was a TOUGH find for the 2001 set and was by far the studliest card in the original sets. Edgardo Alfonso is the next highest card, right with Teddy Shumpert-my buddy’s all-time favorite card. As with other positions, high OB and low outs will lead the way. Pedroia’s 2008 ASU card is the top 9 OB card with 4 HRs, a 3B and 4 doubles.

Hate the Sox, but damn aren't these throwback cards fun?

 Second basemen tend not to have many high point players, with the average player coming in at 250 points and an average of 3.72 runs against an average pitcher. Player one in the line chart is Joe Morgan, a steal even at 480 points. Player 2 is Daniel Murphy’s 2017 All Star Card, whose card is almost identical to Morgans except one more out, an extra double, only +2 defense but for 40 points less. Player 3 is Daniel Robertson’s 2018 card. A 9 OB with only 2 outs, two home runs AND the ability to play SS/3B as well, his card provides great value at only 360 points. Then if you’re looking for value AND cheapness player 4 is the guy for you. At 190 points, Jeff Frye’s 2001 card gives you a 9 OB and only 3 outs. The big issue with his card is that his only extra base hit is a double, so if you’re willing to sacrifice any sort of power and are in a pinch points wise, he’s your guy. 

 

Looking at the bar graph for second basement there is a clear set of top tier cards, as all of the above evidence has shown. This could suggest it’d be worth using your draft capital on a second basemen, and I tend to agree. Who are you most surprised to see on this list, or who do you think got left off?