Dodgers: Top 5 shortstops in franchise history

Who are the best shortstops in Dodgers history? We rank the top five.

Throughout the Dodgers’ illustrious history, there have been several impact players to captain the infield. We ranked the best second baseman in franchise history earlier this month. Today, we will focus on the other side of the infield.

While the shortstop position has become offensively-minded recently, it is also a position that demands defense and leadership. In ranking the best shortstop in franchise history, we considered all the different aspects that make the middle infield position special.

Before we get into our ranking, let’s review some honorable mentions.

If you haven’t heard of Ivy Olson, you were probably born in the last hundred years. Olson played a long time ago, swung at a lot of pitches, and made a lot of contact. As the Dodgers’ regular shortstop from 1916 through 1922, Olson holds the Dodger record for at bats per strikeout with 26.8, despite his Dodger days coming at the tail end of his career. He never walked more than 35 times in a season, but he was a consistent contact hitter in an era devoid of power.

On the more contemporary side, Cesar Izturis had some solid years in his four-year tenure as the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop. The switch-hitting Venezuelan was always a slick fielder, but put it all together in 2004, hitting .288 with 32 doubles and 25 steals, and winning a Gold Glove. Izturis was named to the All-Star team after a red hot first half the following year, but an elbow injury derailed his Dodger career and he found himself replaced in 2006. Overall he brought quality speed and glove work, but slashed a paltry .260/.296/.322 in LA.

Now let’s get into the list of the top five shortstop in Dodgers history.

Best Dodgers shortstops: Long-time Dodgers

3. Bill Russell

Although not even the most notable athlete of his era named Bill Russell, his name is still written all over the Dodger’s record book. After the departure of longtime Dodger Maury Wills, Russell took over as the regular shortstop in 1972. The converted outfielder became a mainstay, starting at short on opening day until 1984, and along with Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, and Ron Cey, Russell cemented himself as a key member of the legendary Dodger infield of the 70’s and 80’s.

The former ninth-round shortstop spent his entire 18-year career with the Dodgers and played more games (2,181) than anyone since the club moved to Los Angeles. The three-time All-Star wasn’t a prodigious hitter (.648 career OPS), but his dependability and the integral role he played on some great Dodger teams (including the 1981 World Series champs) have established Russell’s legacy as a fan favorite.

2. Maury Wills

Bill Russell’s predecessor, Maury Wills reestablished the validity of the stolen base in the early 60’s. He became the first National League player to steal 50 bases in a season in almost 40 years, and broke Ty Cobb’s record of 96 steals by stealing 104 bases in 1962. The ‘62 season was the pinnacle of Wills’ career, as he took home the MVP award, hit .299, won a Gold Glove, and led the league in triples, in addition to setting the single season stolen base record. Injuries and a somewhat abrupt decline led the Dodgers to trade Wills to the Pirates in 1966, but after short stints in Pittsburgh and Montreal, Wills found his way back to LA for four more seasons.

Overall, Wills spent 12 seasons in Los Angeles, five of which were of the All-Star variety, and totaled 490 steals and a .281 average during his Dodger tenure. He also served as the Dodgers’ captain from 1963-1966.  Wills’ Hall of Fame candidacy has been a controversial topic. He is credited with helping revolutionize the strategy of stealing bases, but his less than elite hitting (88 career OPS+) and off the field issues have kept him from being enshrined. Hall or not, Wills is a Dodger legend whose baserunning prowess played a role in three World Series winning teams.

Best Dodgers shortstop in franchise history

1. Pee Wee Reese

Pee Wee Reese is a baseball legend. Few players have eclipsed his combination of achievement, both on and off the field. An All-Star in ten consecutive seasons (excluding the three seasons he forfeited fighting in World War II), Reese was an MVP finalist every year from 1942 to 1956.

He was a considerable power threat for a shortstop at the time, walked more than he struck out, and stole as many as 30 bases in a season. He was also essential to the only Dodger World Series win in Brooklyn in 1955. Despite being a lackluster defender early in his career, Reese later garnered a reputation as a stellar defender, and ranks in the top-ten all time in putouts and double plays among shortstops.

As impressive as his on field accomplishments were, we remember Pee Wee Reese more for what he did off the field. He is perhaps best known for his long standing friendship with Jackie Robinson. Reese refused to sign the petition forcing management to trade players who didn’t want to play with Robinson when he was called up. The team stayed intact when Robinson came up, but he was tormented by fans and thrown at by other pitchers.

Pee Wee famously put his arm around Robinson before a game in Cincinnati as a symbol of courage and teamwork. Pee Wee standing up for Jackie helped the rookie settle into the major leagues. Baseball today might look a lot different if it weren’t for Pee Wee. The Dodgers retired Reese’s number 1 on 1984, the same year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.