Who is the Best Dodgers Shortstop of All Time?
Last month, we released a poll asking who the best Dodgers shortstop of all-time was.
Who was the best #Dodgers shortstop of all time? #DNPoll
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 1, 2020
There were some interesting write-ins, to say the least. Ranging from Rafael Furcal, to Jose Offerman, to Justin Sellers.
On a more serious note, there’s really only a few guys who are even under consideration. By looking at career fWAR with the Dodgers, only three players have accumulated above 25 wins.
| Career WAR with Dodgers | |
| Pee Wee Reese | 61.3 |
| Maury Wills | 29.5 |
| Bill Russell | 28.2 |
While Reese was never a terrific hitter, his speed and defense escalated his value to more than Wills’ and Russell’s combined. His all-around approach to the game scored him a place in Cooperstown, as well as his number being retired by the Dodgers.
While we’re here, let’s take a look at some other Dodger shortstops who may not be the best in franchise history, but stick out for various reasons.
Names You Know, and One You Probably Don’t
Corey Seager, despite just four full seasons, is already 5th on the all-time WAR list, and poised to pass Bill Dahlen for 4th.
If you don’t know who Bill Dahlen is, don’t feel bad. He played for the Brooklyn Superbas from 1899 to 1903, which would later become the Brooklyn Dodgers.
While WAR is a cumulative stat, looking from a rate perspective, Hanley Ramirez is actually the most productive Dodger shortstop of all time. He was only with the team for two and a half seasons, but during that time sported a whopping 147 wRC+. If Hanley re-signed with the Dodgers and continued a shell of this pace, he’d surely crack the top three.
Other Dodgers of note include Chris Taylor, who is a fifth of a win shy of the top ten. Lower on the list are names who stick out due to their time with other teams. Examples are Manny Machado and Jimmy Rollins. Also, the beloved fan-favorite: Alex Cora.
A few other Dodger shortstops who may bring back feelings of nostalgia: Jamey Carroll, Nick Punto, Cesar Izturis, Luis Cruz, Ivan Dejesus, Miguel Rojas, and Charlie Culberson.
While taking a stroll down memory lane is fun, there’s no debate when it comes to who the greatest Dodger shortstop of all time is: Pee Wee Reese.
It Was Always Reese
The legendary Brooklyn shortstop Reese played 16 seasons with the Dodgers, earning 10 All-Star selections and a World Series ring along the way. In close to 2,200 games, Harold Henry Reese triple slashed .269/.366/.377 while hitting 126 home runs and driving in 885. Moreover, he was instrumental in nurturing Jackie Robinson as he broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.
NEXT: Ranking the Best Third Basemen in Dodgers History
