I played a lot of second base during my years. So I was always fond of the position and the big leaguers who played second. Some of the favorite players Of My Lifetime manned the keystone position and second base has seen its fair share of great players. We’ve witnessed the position evolve somewhat over the years from light hitting, defensive oriented players into a position fielded by more offensively capable players. I think my list reflects this shift. So let’s get into it with my list of The Top Second Basemen…Of My Lifetime.

10. Mark Lemke

One of the aforementioned light hitting second basemen, Mark Lemke only sported a .246 career batting average and 32 career homers. However, he hit heavily when it mattered the most, with the Atlanta Braves in the postseason. He became a Braves legend with his postseason performances, which included a .417 average in the 1991 World Series. Lemke didn’t just merely hit in the playoffs, he seemed to always deliver clutch hits in pressure packed situations. Lemke is unlikely to show up on many all-time lists, but he makes mine because he was an unlikely hero who is likely a favorite of Braves fans everywhere.

9. Jason Kipnis

Jason Kipnis was always a personal favorite of mine. His career stats might not jump off the page but I always liked his combination of speed and power. Kipnis had separate seasons with career highs of 23 hrs, 31 stolen bases and a .303 batting average. Stats such as these would see Kipnis named to 2 All-Star teams and his do-it-all offense is why he was a favorite and number 9 on my list.

8. Ian Kinsler

Moving into the more offensive oriented players of the position, we have Ian Kinsler. Kinsler was a five-tool guy who did everything well. He hit for power (257 career hrs), hit for average (.269 career average), he could run (243 career stolen bases) and he played great defense (4 Gold Glove Awards). Kinsler put his tools to work with two 30-30 seasons and 4 All-Star selections. Kinsler was one of the key cogs of the great Texas Rangers teams of the early 2010’s that made the postseason 3 straight seasons but could never get over the hump to win it all. However, Kinsler would go on to win a World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.

7. Jeff Kent

The man with Superman’s surname, Jeff Kent’s heroics may best be remembered by perfectly playing Robin to Barry Bond’s Batman. As it were, Kent was pretty super in his own rite. Kent smashed hulking homers that left the park in a flash. 377 for his career to go along with a career .290 batting average is quite the marvel. The height of Kent’s career was highlighted by a fantastic four year span from 1999-2002 in which he made 3 All-Star teams, won 3 Silver Sluggers and was a human torch in his MVP season in 2000.

6. Dan Uggla

Equipped with forearms that would’ve made Popeye jealous, Dan Uggla was somewhat of an outlier at the second base position. Uggla was a pure power hitter at second. This fact can be supported by his MLB record 5 consecutive 30 HR seasons by a second baseman. Uggla’s career would see him gradually evolve into a three true outcome (HR, Walk, Strikeout) player as his batting average fell and his home run total rose from year to year. So, it was somewhat surprising and sensationally exciting to watch his hit-streak during his first season with the Atlanta Braves in 2011. Uggla would run the streak up to 33 games before it ultimately ended. Uggla’s streak made the Braves must-see tv as I tuned in every night to see if he could record a hit and extend the excitement for another day. The streak and his prodigious power at the position is why Uggla checks in at number 6 on my list.

5. Chase Utley

Even though Chase Utley played most of his career for the Braves division rival Phillies, he is still very deserving of inclusion on my list. Utley was another well-rounded second baseman that could do it all on the diamond. “The Silver Fox” broke into the bigs with the Phillies in 2003 and after a couple of growing pain years, he broke out big time in 2006. Beginning that season, Utley would be named to 5 consecutive All-Star teams and win 4 straight Silver Sluggers. Utley won a ring as part of the Phillies 2008 World Series Champion team. That 2008 team was full of stars and Utley was their unquestioned leader. It was easy to see why. He led by example and played the game with a relentless determination. It’s also easy to see why Utley comes in at number 5 on my list.

4. Dustin Pedroia

Speaking of playing the game the right way, Dustin Pedroia did exactly that. That is one of the main reasons Pedroia is one of the most beloved Boston Red Sox players of all-time. That admiration extended far beyond New England as Pedroia is one of my favorite players as well. “The Laser Show” played at the college baseball factory of Arizona State, whose alumni also includes the number 9 entrant on this list, Jason Kipnis as well as the all-time MLB home run leader, Barry Bonds and many more major leaguers. The Boston Red Sox selected Pedroia in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft and he made his Major League debut two years later in 2006. Pedroia would man the keystone position for Boston for the next 14 years and rack up numerous milestones while doing so. Rookie of the Year in 2007, MVP in 2008, 4 All-Star games, a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and 2 World Series rings in 2007 and 2013. Pedroia played his entire career for the Red Sox and is understandably one of the all-time Boston greats. I remember Pedroia for his eye-black, pine tar smeared helmet and always dirty uniform. The latter being further proof that he was a grinder who hustled his way to an amazing career.

3. Jose Altuve

Bang the drum slowly isn’t just a baseball movie starring Robert De Niro. All trashcan, sign stealing jokes aside, Jose Altuve is a great second baseman. The Astros have a strong legacy at the second base position, a little foreshadowing for the next entry on the list. But looking back a little on the previous entry, Altuve and Pedroia are cut from a similar cloth. Both are undersized guys who played above everyone’s expectations. Also, much like Pedroia, Altuve has a litany of accolades and achievements adorning his career. 8 All-Star selections, 6 Silver Sluggers, a Gold Glove, 3 batting titles, the AL MVP in 2017 and 2 World Series Championships. Big time numbers and recognition for a player who is smaller in stature.

2. Craig Biggio

Wait a minute, I thought this was a second baseman list? Pretty, impressive that a player who debuted and played the first four years of his career at catcher comes in at number 2 on the Top Second Basemen list. But Biggio was not just your average catcher, he was fast and athletic. The Astros, wanting to preserve that athleticism, decided to move Biggio to second base before the 1992 season. Despite the fact that he’d been selected to the All-Star game as a catcher the previous season. It proved to be a wise decision as Biggio would go on to be elected to 6 more All-Star games, and win 4 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers while playing second base in Houston. Altogether Biggio played 20 seasons for the Astros and after his retirement was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

1. Ryne Sandberg

It was the summer of 1990. When I was growing up we lived in “the sticks”. Which meant we didn’t have access to cable tv. My dad had bought a satellite dish a few months prior so we could now watch all kinds of channels previously unknown to me. One of those channels was WGN. Television home to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs had finally installed lights at Wrigley Field two years prior in 1988 but stayed with tradition and still played the majority of their games during the day. This meant that when I wasn’t fighting with my siblings over the remote, I got to watch the Cubs and Ryne Sandberg play baseball most afternoons. I quickly fell in love with The Cubs, Wrigley Field, Harry Caray, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch and above all Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg was enjoying a career year that summer which saw him hit .306 and belt an amazing 40 homers. A number previously unreached by a second baseman Of My Lifetime. Although my fondness for the Cubs was never strong enough to supplant the home team Atlanta Braves, I still cheer for the Cubs and hope to someday soon take a trip to Wrigley Field to see the hallowed ground that was once roamed by The Top Second Baseman…Of My Lifetime.