The 25 Greatest Second Basemen in MLB History

The WAR number is a combination of B-Ref and Davenport, the best WAR that exists for historical comparison.  Additional numbers are OPS+, plate appearances, WAR/Plate appearance, and the number of Most Valuable Player Quality Seasons (8 WAR seasons - 8 WAR is an MVPQ, 10 WAR is an EMVPQ, 12 WAR an EEMVPQ, 14 WAR an EEEMVPQ)

I've got each position carried out to 32 slots for a project that I don't believe fits this space, so I'll just include the top 25 here.  I'll also include last player out.  For some players, it's hard to slot them at a particular position (where does King Kelly go, for example) so I just chose one (if you don't see a first baseman in the top 25 who you know should be there, maybe he's a third baseman instead). 

Each player is only listed with one team - the team that is most representative of his MLB performance.  This is just merit, that's the only way I rank stuff - it's not social impact or the quality of their character.  It's performance.

1. Rogers Hornsby  (1915-37, Cardinals) WAR 115.8 OPS+ 175 PA 9480 (WAR/PA  .0122) EMVPQ: 24, 21 MVPQ: 29, 25, 27, 22, 17, 20, 28, 

2. Nap Lajoie (1896-16, Naps) WAR 107.8, OPS+ 150 PA 10461 (.0103) MVPQ: 06, 01, 10, 04, 03,

3. Eddie Collins (1906-30, White Sox) WAR 114.6 OPS+ 142 PA 12046 (.095) MVPQ: 10, 09, 15, 13, 12, 20

4. Joe Morgan (1963-84, Reds) WAR 98.25, OPS+ 132 PA 11329 (87) EMVPQ: 75 MVPQ: 76, 72, 73, 74

5. Bobby Grich (1970-86, Angels) WAR 80.5 OPS+ 125 PA 8220  (98) MVPQ: 73, 74, 75,

6. Robinson Cano (2005-, Yankees) WAR 75.95 OPS+ 126 PA 8493 (89) MVPQ: 12, 10,

7. Lou Whitaker (1977-95, Tigers) WAR 80 OPS+ 117 PA 9967 (80)

8. Rod Carew (1967-85, Twins) WAR 77.75 OPS+ 131 PA 10550 (74) MVPQ: 77,

9. Charlie Gehringer (1924-42, Tigers) WAR 76.3 OPS+124 PA 10245 (74) MVPQ: 34, 37, 36,

10. Roberto Alomar (1988-04, Blue Jays) WAR 75.6 OPS+116 PA 10400 (73)

11. Jackie Robinson (1947-56, Dodgers) WAR 61.9 OPS+ 132 PA 5804 (107) MVPQ: 51, 49, 52,

12. Chase Utley (2003-, Phillies) WAR 62.35 OPS+ 118 PA 7676 (81) MVPQ: 08,

13. Ryne Sandberg (1981-97, Cubs) WAR 70.45 OPS+ 114 PA 9282 (76) MVPQ: 84, 92,

14. Willie Randolph (1975-92, Yankees) WAR 70.65 OPS+104 PA 9461 (75)

15. Jeff Kent (1992-2008, Giants) WAR 63.95 OPS+ 123 PA 9537 (67)

16. Frankie Frisch (1919-37, Cardinals) WAR 69.65 OPS+110 PA 10999 (63) MVPQ: 27,

17. Ian Kinsler (2006-, Rangers) WAR 61.45 OPS+ 109 PA 7484 (82) MVPQ:11

18. Joe Gordon (1938-50, Yankees) WAR 57.55 OPS+ 120 PA 6535 (88)

19. Bobby Doerr (1937-51, Red Sox) WAR 60.75 OPS+ 115 PA 8028 (76)

20. Craig Biggio (1988-2007, Astros) WAR 64.05 OPS+ 112 PA 12504 (51) MVPQ: 97

21. Dustin Pedroia (2006-, Red Sox) WAR 53.65 OPS+ 114 PA 6743 (80)

22. Billy Herman (1931-47, Cubs) WAR 59.05 OPS+ 112 PA 8638 (68)

23. Tony Phillips (1982-99, Tigers) WAR 56.6 OPS+ 109 PA 9110 (62)

24. Hardy Richardson (1879-92), Bisons) WAR 47.6 OPS+ 131 PA 6044 (79)

25. Ben Zobrist (2006-, Rays) WAR 46.2 OPS+ 114 PA 6140 (75) MVPQ: 09

(last out - Bid McPhee)