Hold the Phone!

There is a poll on ESPN's Baseball index that asks, "Which player is the greatest shortstop of all time?" Their options are Ernie Banks, Alex Rodriguez, Ozzie Smith, and Honus Wagner. Never mind that Banks was a first baseman for half of his career and played short like a slug. Never mind that more deserving players like Cal Ripken (how soon they forget), Robin Yount (I know he was a CF for half his career), Monte Ward (I know that it wasn't his sole position), George Davis, Bil Dahlen, Arky Vaughan, Bobby Wallace, and Joe Cronin, all of whom appear above Banks, Rodriguez, and Smith in the all-time Win Shares leaders, are not even included.

Mind the fact that A-Rod is winning with 36.1%, then Smith 30.4, then Wagner 19.7%, and finally Banks 13.6%. This is not witha small group of Texas fans. This is a poll with over 11,000 responses. Look in twenty years, maybe we can discuss who was better A-Rod or Wagner. A-Rod has not yet put in the time. Smith was a great defensive player and that gives people a hook to remember him by, kind of like Nolan Ryan being overvalued by all those dazzling strikeouts. Oh, and Banks wanted to play two everyday.

Let's get this clear. Wagner is not only the greatest shortstop ever, one could make an argument for him being the best player ever, or at least in the top handful. Anyone who does not know that should not be allowed to watch the sport.