MLB Top 5: New York Yankees Middle Infielders

This is the third article in a series that looks at the five best players at each position for the New York Yankees. In this installment are second basemen and shortstops.

The Best Second Basemen and Shortstops in New York Yankees History

The list of best middle infielders for the Yankees includes a mix of speed, defense, power and timely hitting and features players who have played prominent roles in some of the greatest moments in franchise history.

Second Basemen

Honorable Mentions – Aaron Ward spent 10 years with the Yankees (1917-26), totaling 840 hits, 390 RBIs and 1,200 total bases in 908 games. He appeared in four World Series and 19 postseason games. Ward had his best season in 1923, batting .284 with a career-high 81 RBIs, then had 10 more hits in the championship series victory over the Giants. He spent one year each with the White Sox and Indians, then worked for an oil refinery and was the reading clerk for the Arkansas State Senate. Ward passed away in 1961 at age 64.

After a stint in Japan that ended in contractual issues and brief callups in his first two seasons in the U.S., Alfonso Soriano broke onto the scene in 2001, finishing in third place in Rookie of the Year voting then pounding out 16 hits and driving in seven runs during the postseason to lead the Yankees to the World Series. The following year, Soriano finished third in the MVP voting and won his first silver slugger after posting a .300-39-102 stat line, leading the league with 128 runs, 209 hits and 41 stolen bases, amassing 51 doubles (third in team history) and registering his first of a record three seasons with at least 35 doubles, homers and steals.

A two-time All-Star in New York, Soriano ended his Yankees tenure with 385 runs, 677 hits, 147 doubles, 121 home runs, 343 RBIs and 130 stolen bases in 626 games. He was sent to the Rangers in the Alex Rodriguez trade before the 2004 season and spent time with the Nationals and Cubs before returning to the Bombers. The free-swinging Soriano played second base at Yankee Stadium for his final two of seven seasons (1999-2003 and 13-14). He appeared in two World Series (both losses) and totaled 14 runs, 34 hits, four homers, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 38 playoff games. He retired after the 2014 season, finishing his career with 412 home runs.

Gil McDougald also spent time at two other infield positions and was the 1951 American League Rookie of the Year as a third baseman. In his 10 seasons (1951-60), he was a part of eight pennant-winning teams and won five titles. McDougald was a six-time All-Star, three times as a second baseman, and he won the fielding title at the position in 1955. The 1958 Lou Gehrig Award winner batted .276 with 697 runs, 1,291 hits, 112 home runs and 576 RBIs in 1,336 games, and he added 23 runs, 45 hits, seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 53 postseason contests. However, McDougald is best known for one negative incident. In 1957, he hit a line drive up the middle that struck promising young Indians pitcher Herb Score in the right eye, shattering several bones in his face. While the lefty recovered, he was never the same, and the moment haunted McDougald for the rest of his life until he passed away from prostate cancer in 2010.

5. Bobby Richardson – He spent his entire 12-year career with the Yankees (1955-66), earning eight All-Star selections and five gold gloves. Richardson’s best season was 1962, when he was the MVP runner-up after setting career highs with a .302 average 99 runs, a league-leading 209 hits, eight home runs and 59 runs batted in. The 1963 Lou Gehrig Award winner appeared in seven World Series and was a part of three title-winning teams.

Richardson finished his career with 643 runs, 1,432 hits (reaching 150 in a season six times), 196 doubles, 34 homers and 390 RBIs while striking out only 243 times in 1,412 games. However, he was at his best in October. He appeared in 36 postseason games (including a record 30 in a row), totaling 16 runs, 40 hits and 15 RBIs. Despite his counterpart from Pittsburgh, Bill Mazeroski, hitting the championship-winning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, Richardson was named MVP, amassing eight runs, 11 hits and a record 12 RBIs against the Pirates, including a grand slam in the first inning of Game 3.

Following his playing career, Richardson ran a ministry and was a coach at South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Liberty University. He also made a failed run for Congress in 1976 and has spent the time since coaching, preaching and being a public speaker.

4. Joe Gordon – He took over for the top player on this list and made an immediate impact for his hitting prowess and smooth fielding. Gordon scored 80 or more runs in each of his first six seasons, hit at least 20 home runs four times and drove in 100 or better on three occasions. He was also the American League MVP in 1942 (despite Ted Williams winning the Triple Crown) when he batted a career-best .322 with 18 home runs and 103 runs batted in. Gordon missed two years flying and playing baseball in the Army Air Force and had an off year when he returned (despite earning his sixth All-Star selection), so he was traded to the Indians for pitcher Allie Reynolds.

In his seven seasons with the Yankees (1938-43 and ’46), “Flash” batted .271 with 596 runs, 186 doubles, 153 home runs, 617 RBIs and 1,000 hits in 1,000 games. He was a member of five pennant winners and four championship teams, amassing nine runs, 21 hits, three homers and 14 RBIs in 23 contests. With Cleveland, Gordon made three All-Star teams in four years and helped Larry Doby acclimate to his new surroundings as the first black player in the American League.

Following his retirement in 1950, Gordon managed in the minors and ended up back with the Indians in a contentious relationship with general manager Frank Lane. In a rare move, Gordon and Tigers manager Jimmy Dykes were traded for one another in 1960. He also managed with the Athletics and Royals and ended his baseball career as a scout. Gordon later sold real estate until his passing in 1978. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 2009.

3. Willie Randolph – The great-grandson of slaves during the Civil War, he was traded from the Pirates to the Yankees after his rookie season in 1975. Over his next 13 years in pinstripes (1976-88), Randolph earned five All-Star selections and was a consistent presence in the New York lineup. His best season was 1980, when he won his lone silver slugger after batting .294 with 141 hits, 46 RBIs, 30 steals, and career highs with 99 runs and 119 walks, which also led the American League.

Randolph finished his time with the Yankees ranked fourth in franchise history in stolen bases (251), sixth in walks (1,005) and ninth in runs (1,027, including seven seasons with 80 or more). He also batted .275 with 1,731 hits, 259 doubles, 58 triples, 48 home runs, 549 RBIs and 2,250 total bases in 1,694 games. Randolph was a member of a Bombers squad that won three straight pennants in the late 1970s (including a World Series title in 1977), and he had 17 runs, 29 hits, four homers and 11 RBIs in 37 postseason games.

In 1989, Randolph signed with the Dodgers, and he also played with the Athletics, Brewers and Mets before retiring in 1992. He managed the Mets from 2005-08, amassing a 302-253 record and leading the team to the NLCS in 2006. Following his time as a manager, Randolph was a coach in Milwaukee and Baltimore, as well as with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

2. Robinson Cano – He was a two-time MLB Futures Game participant who became one of the best power hitters at his position. Cano began his career in 2005 and finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. He went on to earn five All-Star selections, five silver sluggers, two gold gloves and two Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards in his nine seasons with the Yankees (2005-13).

During his time in pinstripes, Cano topped the .300 mark seven times, had five seasons with 25 or more home runs, four with at least 100 runs scored, and he drove 100 or more runs three times. He had at least 150 hits in every season with the Yankees and reached 200 twice. Cano’s best season was 2010, when he finished third in the MVP race after batting .319 with 29 homers, 109 RBIs, 103 runs scored and 200 hits. The following year, he won the All-Star Home Run Derby with his father, Jose, as his pitcher.

“Robbie” ranks eighth in franchise history with 375 doubles (with his 48 in both 2009 and ’12 tied for fourth on the team list) and sits ninth with a .309 average. He also amassed 799 runs, 1,649 hits, 204 home runs, 822 RBIs and 2,692 total bases in 1,374 games. Cano appeared in 51 playoff contests, totaling 22 runs, 45 hits, 20 doubles, eight home runs (four in the 2010 ALCS) and 33 RBIs. He had three hits and an RBI to help the Yankees win the World Series in 2009.

Cano finished in the top six of the MVP voting in his final four seasons in New York and was also the MVP in the 2013 World Baseball Classic after leading the Dominican Republic to the title. He turned down a big contract from the Yankees and signed a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Mariners in the offseason. Cano earned three All-Star selections and jumped into second place among second basemen in home runs in 2018, but he also was suspended for half the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation.

After four years in the Pacific Northwest, he was traded back to New York, this time to the Mets in a deal that also involved closer Edwin Diaz. He was suspended for the entire 2021 season after a second PED violation and was released the following year after hitting just .195. Cano spent time with the Padres and Braves, as well as the Dubai Wolves in Baseball United. He signed on to play in Mexico in 2024.

1. Tony Lazzeri – He worked at the iron plant with his father and overcame epilepsy to become a star on one of the most dominant teams of the early 20th century. Lazzeri made his name in Salt Lake City of the Pacific Coast League where, in 1925, he played in 192 games (the PCL employed a unique 197-game schedule at the time), hit 60 home runs and drove in an astonishing 225 runs. He joined the Yankees in 1926 and, while there was no Rookie of the Year Award yet, he earned MVP consideration after amassing 162 hits and knocking in 117 runs.

Lazzeri was beloved by Italian fans in New York, who would yell, “Poosh-‘Em Up,” imploring him to get a hit. The cry would become his nickname and he lived up to it during his 12 seasons with the Yankees (1926-37), totaling at least 150 hits and 100 RBIs seven times each and hitting .300 or better on five occasions. Lazzeri drove in 104 runs in 1933 and was selected to play in the first All-Star Game.

Known as an excellent leader, a great fielder and a quick thinker, Lazzeri was regarded by players, fans and reporters as the best second baseman in the league. In a May 1936 game, he had three home runs (including two grand slams) and a triple to set a record (since broken) with 11 RBIs. Later in the month, he set another mark by hitting seven home runs over a four-game stretch. He was released after the 1937 season and spent time with the Cubs, Dodgers and Giants over the next two years.

Lazzeri ranks fifth in franchise history in triples (115) and ninth in RBIs (1,157), walks (830) and strikeouts (821). He also batted .293 with 952 runs, 1,784 hits, 327 doubles, 169 home runs, 147 stolen bases and 2,848 total bases in 1,659 games. Lazzeri was quite successful in the playoffs as well, totaling 16 runs, 28 hits, four homers and 19 RBIs in 32 postseason contests. His best moments include hitting a grand slam in the 1932 win over the Cubs and driving in seven runs to help the Yankees win the title against the Giants four years later. Overall, he was a member of seven pennant-winners and five championship teams.

Despite all the accolades, Lazzeri is best remembered for one moment of failure as a rookie in the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals. In Game 7, St. Louis was up 3-2 in the seventh inning, but the Yankees had the bases loaded with two outs. Starter Jesse Haines was forced out of the game due to a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand that burst. Player-manager Rogers Hornsby called upon usual starter Grover Alexander, who was either asleep or hung over (depending on the story) in the bullpen. Lazzeri swung and missed badly on a curveball to strike out and end the threat. Alexander shut down the Yankees over the final two innings and the Cardinals won the championship. The moment is immortalized on Alexander’s Hall of Fame plaque.

Lazzeri managed and played in the minor leagues until officially retiring in 1943. He owned and operated a tavern in California. In 1946, his wife returned home from an out-of-town trip to find him dead of a heart attack at age 42. Lazzeri was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1991.

Shortstops

Honorable Mentions – Russell “Bucky” Dent had a solid start to his career in Chicago, finishing second in the Rookie of the Year balloting in 1974 and earning his first All-Star selection the following season. He was traded from the White Sox to the Yankees in 1977 and continued his typical play: a low average, solid run production and great fielding. Despite having little power, it was in this area where his career highlight occurred. In 1978, the Red Sox held a 14½-game lead in mid-July, but the Yankees began chipping away. New York and Boston found themselves with identical 99-63 records, forcing a one-game playoff. Trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning, the Yankees got two runners on and Dent, who had just 40 career home runs, delivered a three-run blast off Mike Torrez that put his team in front. Reggie Jackson added a solo shot in the eighth and New York held on for a 5-4 win. He went on to win the World Series MVP Award after batting .417 with seven RBIs against the Dodgers.

Dent’s newfound fame from the playoff heroics included magazines, television commercials, posters and a spot in a made-for-TV movie about the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. He was a two-time All-Star with the Yankees but missed the 1981 postseason with a torn ligament in his right hand. Dent was traded to the Rangers the following year and finished his career by playing 11 games with the Royals in 1984. He managed in the minors, coached in the majors with the Cardinals, Rangers and Reds and was the skipper for the Yankees for parts of two seasons, amassing a 36-53 record in 1989-90. Dent was an instructor at a baseball school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2011.

5. Roger Peckinpaugh – He was one of the best fielders and had arguably the strongest arm at the position during his era. Peckinpaugh was traded to the Yankees in 1913 and, not only was the starter in the field, but the following year, he became the manager as well. While he was excellent in the field, he was a pull hitter, so defenses were able to shift effectively against him.

Peckinpaugh had his moments offensively, stealing 38 bases in 1914 and batting a career-high .305 five years later. He put up his best season at the plate in 1921, posting a .288 average, driving in 72 runs while setting personal bests with 128 runs, 166 hits and eight home runs. He had five hits and scored two runs in a loss to the Giants in the World Series.

After nine years with the Yankees (1913-21), “Peck” was traded to Boston and then Washington in the offseason in the same series of moves that brought Dugan to New York. Peckinpaugh won a title in 1924 with the Senators and took home the MVP Award the following year, but his fielding suffered due to multiple injuries to his legs. He played with the White Sox in 1927, then retired and managed the Indians for seven seasons, compiling a 490-481 record. Peckinpaugh passed away in 1977 at age 81.

4. Tony Kubek – The Milwaukee native was a jack-of-all-trades in his first few seasons and hit .297 in the 1957 campaign, which ended with him winning the Rookie of the Year Award. Kubek hit two home runs against the Braves in Game 3 of the World Series, but his error contributed to a 5-0 loss in Game 7. His numbers declined the following year and he slumped during the Fall Classic, but New York avenged the loss to Milwaukee the previous season.

Kubek was a four-time All-Star before neck and back issues began to take their toll. He had a ball hit him in the throat in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series and was on his way to the hospital when the Pirates came back to win. Nerve damage at the top of his spinal column, which may have come from a football game during his time in the National Guard in 1961, led to him retiring in 1966 when he was just 29 years old. Kubek finished his nine-year career (1957-65) with a .266 average, 522 runs, 1,109 hits, 178 doubles, 57 homers, 373 RBIs and 1,518 total bases in 1,092 games. He also won three World Series in six attempts and had 16 runs, 35 hits and 10 RBIs in 37 postseason contests.

Following his playing career, Kubek found success as a broadcaster, most notably with NBC and its Game of the Week coverage. He covered 11 World Series and 10 All-Star Games during his 24 years with NBC and spent time as a color commentator with the Blue Jays and Yankees. Kubek earned the Ford C. Frick Award for his broadcasting contributions to baseball in 2009.

3. Frank Crosetti – He was an excellent defender who, like many other Yankees, was overshadowed by the bigger names on the club. However, Crosetti earned his reputation as a solid fielder, good teammate and vocal leader, which led to his “Crow” nickname. He made the cross-country move from the Pacific Coast League’s San Francisco Seals to the Yankees, but he struggled early in his career and missed about half of the 1935 season after tearing cartilage in his knee.

Crosetti showed his potential the following year, earning his first All-Star selection and setting career highs with a .288 average, 137 runs, 182 hits, 15 home runs and 78 runs batted in. Although his average was on the low end at times (as was typical for a shortstop in that era), he was excellent at getting on base, leading the league in getting hit by a pitch eight times. He also masted the “hidden ball trick” in the field and caught several runners napping on the basepaths.

“Crow” had 1,006 runs, 1,541 hits, 260 doubles, 65 triples, 98 home runs 649 RBIs and 2,225 total bases in 1,683 games, and he ranks tenth in franchise history in walks (792) and strikeouts (799). The two-time All-Star was on eight pennant-winning teams, getting seven rings (he did not play in 1941). In the 1938 World Series against the Cubs, Crosetti had four hits, drove in six runs and made several key defensive plays.

Crosetti became a backup when the next player on this list began his legendary career while also working in a shipyard to avoid going off to war. He was the starter in 1945 but played just 48 games in his final three years. Crosetti was a player-coach in his final two seasons, retiring in 1948 and spending the next two-plus decades as a coach, mostly with the Yankees, but also with the expansion Seattle Pilots, then the Twins, retiring for good in 1971. He coached at the high school level in California and mostly stayed out of the spotlight. Crosetti passed away in 2002 at age 91.

2. Phil Rizzuto – He consistently proved doubters wrong who told him he was too small to play baseball. Rizzuto played on a semipro team in high school under an assumed name and faced off against the great Negro League teams in the New York area. After a failed tryout with the Giants (due to his size), he signed with the Yankees and worked their way through their system, getting his nickname, “Scooter,” and being named The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year in 1940.

Rizzuto joined the Yankees the following year and, after some initial pushback from teammates due his battle with Crosetti for the starting shortstop job, he more than held his own, both at the plate and in the field. Following his first All-Star selection in 1942, he spent the next three years in the U.S. Navy, mostly playing baseball and organizing sports programs in the Philippines and Australia. When he returned, Rizzuto was courted by the Mexican League, but stuck around and had arguably his worst season as a professional before rebounding in 1947.

Two years later, Rizzuto was challenging for the MVP Award, finishing as the runner-up to Ted Williams in 1949 and earning the honor the following year when he set career highs with a .324 average, 125 runs, 200 hits, seven home runs and 66 runs batted in. He also set a record for most errorless chances handled by a shortstop during the season. “Scooter” earned four straight All-Star selections (five overall), led the league in sacrifices four times and was a part of nine pennant winners and seven championship teams. His numbers at the plate fell off over his final three seasons, and he was cut after 31 games in 1956 and retired.

Rizzuto finished his 13-year career (1941-42 and 46-56) with a .273 average, 877 runs, 1,588 hits, 239 doubles, 62 triples, 38 home runs, 563 RBIs, 149 stolen bases and 2,065 total bases in 1,661 games. He also totaled 21 runs, 45 hits, two homers, eight RBIs and 10 steals in 52 playoff contests. Rizzuto had arguably his greatest postseason moment in Game 7 of the 1947 World Series, driving in a run and scoring the go-ahead tally against the Dodgers. The two-time fielding champion also took home the Babe Ruth Award after batting 325 with five runs scored and three RBIs in the 1951 World Series.

Following his playing career, “Scooter” joined the Yankees broadcast booth, forming a legendary trio with Mel Allen and Red Barber. For the next 40 years, he amused listeners and viewers with his stories and his “Holy Cow” catchphrase. Rizzuto was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee in 1994 and received his call by Yogi Berra, his friend and former teammate who was on the committee. He retired from announcing two years later and passed away in 2007 at age 89.

1. Derek Jeter – In a profession where most participants work their entire careers for one defining moment, Jeter had several in a career that spanned 20 years (1995-2014). Following a 15-game stint with the Yankees, he won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1996 after batting .314 with 183 hits and 78 runs batted in. Jeter had his first iconic moment in late September, winning a game against the Red Sox with a 10th-inning single. Four days later, New York clinched a playoff berth. Against Baltimore in Game 1 of the Division Series, he smashed a ball to deep right. The ball would have been caught if not for young fan Jeffrey Maier, who reached over the wall. The umpires ruled the play a game-tying home run (despite the Orioles’ protests) and the Yankees won in extra innings. New York went on to beat Baltimore and win the World Series over Atlanta.

Throughout his long tenure in pinstripes, Jeter earned 14 All-Star selections, won five gold gloves, five silver sluggers and finished in the Top 10 of the MVP voting eight times. He was also the heart of seven pennant-winning and five championship teams, and New York won titles in four in his first five seasons. In 1998, Jeter batted .324, was selected to his first All-Star Game, finished third in the MVP race and helped his team win a franchise-record 114 games and sweep San Diego in the World Series. The next year, the Yankees beat the Braves once again and Jeter set career highs with a .349 average, 134 runs, 219 hits, 24 home runs and 103 RBIs. In 2000, the Yankees topped the Mets in the first Subway Series in more than 40 years. Jeter batted .409 (9-for-22 with six runs and two homers to become the first player in baseball history to earn the All-Star Game and World Series MVP Awards in the same season.

In 2001, Jeter had another strong season while his younger sister battled and beat cancer, and in the postseason, he created another fantastic memory. During Game 3 of the ALCS, the Yankees were trailing 2-0 in the series, but the Athletics were threatening in the fifth inning. On a ball hit down the right field line, Jeter ran all the way to the first base line, corralled an errant relay throw, flipped the ball to Jorge Posada on the backhand, and the catcher tagged out Oakland’s Jeremy Giambi before he could cross the plate. The Yankees had their hands full against the Diamondbacks in the World Series. In Game 4, New York tied the score with a home run in the bottom of the ninth off Arizona closer Byung-Hyun Kim and Jeter broke out of a slump with a game-winning blast in the next inning just after the clock struck midnight on November 1, giving him his “Mr. November” nickname. However, the Yankees lost the series in seven games.

Jeter was named captain in 2003 but missed the first two months of the season after dislocating his shoulder on Opening Day. In the ALCS, the Yankees and Red Sox renewed their rivalry, with Jeter’s double starting an eighth-inning rally that tied the score. The game ended with Aaron Boone‘s home run three innings later. The following year, “The Captain” stymied Boston once again. In a game on July 1, the Red Sox had two on with two outs in the 12th inning when Jeter raced back and to his right for a ball that he caught barely in fair territory, but his momentum sent him toppling into the stands. He emerged with the ball and a bloody nose. In 2006, he was the runner-up in the MVP voting after batting .343 with 188 runs, 214 hits, 14 homers, 97 RBIs and a career-high 34 stolen bases.

An elusive fifth title was finally attained in 2009 as Jeter and the Yankees won championship number 27 after a near-decade drought. The following year, he set the franchise hit mark and on July 9, 2011, he had five hits, including the 3,000th of his career, which home run that helped New York defeat Tampa Bay. His return from injury and chasing of the hit mark were chronicled in an HBO documentary Jeter – 3K. Jeter had one final great season in 2012 when he batted .316 and produced a league-leading 216 hits. However, he suffered a broken ankle in the ALCS that would not only finish his season but limit him to 17 the following year and effectively end his days as a productive player. Jeter’s final season in 2014 included farewell ceremonies at each opposing ballpark and the iconic voice of Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard (who had passed away in 2010 but had the announcement recorded to use for the shortstop’s at-bats). Jeter saved his final memorable moment for the Yankee Stadium crowd when he singled in the game-winning run against the Orioles on September 25 in his final home appearance.

“The Captain” ended his remarkable run as the all-time franchise leader in games (2,747), hits (3,465), doubles (544), steals (358) and strikeouts (1,840). He ranks second in runs (1,923), third in total bases (4,921), fourth in walks (1,082), sixth in RBIs (1,311), eighth in average (.310) and ninth in home runs (260), and he also had 66 triples. Jeter’s illustrious career included 13 seasons with 100 or more runs scored, 12 seasons with an average of .300 or better and eclipsing the 200-hit mark eight times. In the postseason, he played nearly a full regular season worth of games (158), batting .308 and totaling 111 runs, 200 hits, 32 doubles, 20 home runs, 61 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. His accolades include two Hank Aaron Awards, the Babe Ruth Award in 2000, the Roberto Clemente Award in 2009 and the Lou Gehrig Award the following year.

Jeter’s off-field resume includes hosting Saturday Night Live, having roles in movies and documentaries and marrying model Hannah Davis in 2016. The following year, he was part of a group formed behind Bruce Sherman who bought the Marlins, with Jeter serving as CEO for more than four years until he left the club and sold his shares. In 2020, he received all but one vote for election into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the second-highest percentage in history.