Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Shortstops

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For some teams, shortstop is a bit of a black hole. Teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals have gone through quite a few shortstops in their history, yet have not exactly met with much in the way of sustained success. It is just strange how some teams just have ongoing issues at certain positions.

When it comes to shortstop, the Pittsburgh Pirates are not one of those teams with continual issues. In fact, the exact opposite has been the case. The Pirates have been fortunate enough to have two Hall of Fame shortstops and a former MVP in their history. Pirates shortstops have traditionally been among the best in baseball.

That made creating this list of the top shortstops in Pittsburgh Pirates history such a fun exercise. So many solid to great players manned the position, including some that did not make the cut. Perhaps more than any of the other lists thus far, creating a top five countdown at short was quite the project.

As with the previous lists, the Fangraphs.com Wins Above Replacement category was used as a guide. However, that category did not have the final say over who made the list, or, at the very least, in what position. Naturally, with the quality of shortstops that the Pirates have had, there may be plenty of debate over who should slot where.

We hope you enjoy this look through the different shortstops in Pittsburgh Pirates history as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Let us know in the comments if there is anyone that you would have ranked differently, or if someone did not make the list that you felt should.

Next: An excellent glove, no matter the position

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5. Gene Alley (1963-1973)

It would be understandable if you did not remember Gene Alley. After all, during his career, he was overshadowed by star players like Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell. Besides, Alley was somewhat of a utility player, splitting time between short and second. Yet, he earned two All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves and even finished as high as eleventh in the 1966 MVP ballot.

Offensively, Allen was not exactly special. In his eleven seasons, Alley produced a .254/.310/.354 batting line, hitting 55 home runs. However, in the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Alley was atop his game with the bat, producing a combined .293/.335/.4005 batting line, hitting 13 home runs and stealing 18 bases.

Where Gene Alley was truly valuable was with the glove at either position. This was truly evident in 1965, when Alley led the National League with 23 runs saved defensively. A league leading 17 of those came at short, while Alley finished fourth with six runs saved at second despite playing only 40 games at the position. He was a two time leader in defensive WAR, and during the mid to late 1960’s, was one of the best defensive players in the game.

With the star power that the Pittsburgh Pirates had during his tenure, it is easy to forget about Alley’s contributions. However, his value defensively was without doubt, earning him a spot on this list.

Next: The MVP who also played in the NBA

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4. Dick Groat (1952, 1955-1961)

Most people remember Dick Groat for being a solid shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned two All-Star nods in Pittsburgh, and after his excellent 1960 season which helped lead the Pirates to the World Series, was the National League MVP. Yet Groat was also an excellent athlete, being drafted third overall by the Fort Wayne Pistons of the NBA, averaging 11.9 points per game during the 1952-53 season.

Fortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Groat decided to focus on baseball after the Korean War. While he was not much of a power hitter, he developed into a solid player offensively. Overall with the Pirates, Groat produced a .290/.329/.370 batting line, hitting 30 home runs. However, Groat was quite the doubles machine, hitting 226 two baggers during his time in Pittsburgh.

Defensively, Dick Groat was not considered one of the elite defensive shortstops at his time. In fact, he routinely led the league in errors, doing so four times as a Pirate. However, Groat also led the National League in defensive runs saved at short with 16 in 1960, and ranks 33rd all time with 51 runs saved. Even if he was not a Gene Alley, Groat was better than one may have thought.

Groat is likely remembered now for winning that MVP award in 1960, but he was a solid shortstop during his time with the Pirates. His solid blend of offense and defense may even be a bit underrated in the annuls of baseball.

Next: Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list

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3. Jay Bell (1989-1996)

I’ll be honest – when thinking of the shortstops that would have made this list, Jay Bell did not come to mind. I remembered him with the Pirates and knew he was a decent player, but he really exploded offensively when he went to Kansas City and Arizona. Turns out that I was mistaken.

During his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bell posted a solid .269/.339/.402 batting line, hitting 78 home runs and 233 doubles. However, Bell had a truly special 1993 season, when he produced a .310/.392/.437 batting line. While he hit only nine home runs that season, Bell had a career high 16 stolen bases and 187 hits, earning an All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. He truly had an excellent all around season that year.

On defense, Jay Bell was much better than I remembered as well. He was consistently among the league leaders in virtually every defensive category, leading the National League in assists at short five times and putouts three times. Unsurprisingly, he was one of the leaders in range factor virtually every season during his time in Pittsburgh.

Jay Bell may have slipped under the radar for quite a few people. He was certainly much better than I remembered.

Next: An All-Time Great, but not the best Pirates shortstop

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1. Honus Wagner (1900-1917)

Honus Wagner had a truly excellent career. He ranks tenth all time with a value of 131 Wins Above Replacement, eighth with 3420 hits, ninth with 643 doubles, third with 252 triples and tenth with 723 stolen bases. He was a true force offensively and defensively, a superstar in baseball at the turn of the century. It is certainly no surprise that Wagner was one of the first players enshrined in the Hall of Fame when it opened in 1936.

It is certainly easy to see why, as Wagner still appears all over the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Time offensive leaders. During his eighteen years with the Pirates, Wagner produced a .328/.394/.468 batting line, stealing 639 bases while hitting 551 doubles and 232 triples. Wagner led the National League in doubles seven times, triples three times, RBI and stolen bases five times and OPS eight times.

As great as Honus Wagner was offensively, he was also a stalwart with the glove. He still ranks eleventh all time with a 5.63 range factor per game at short, and led National League shortstops in range factor four times. Age did not stop Wagner’s defensive acumen either, as he led all shortstops with a .948 fielding percentage at 41 years old.

Perhaps the best power hitter of his time, Honus Wagner was truly an all-time great and one of the best all around players in baseball history. Not only is he the greatest shortstop in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but in the history of baseball as well.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Third Basemen