Second base has traditionally been a position manned by the smaller players usually with arms not quite strong or accurate enough for shortstop. With the exception, of Rogers Hornsby it wasn’t until Joe Morgan in the 1970s and Ryne Sandberg in the 1980s changed the idea of an offensive second baseman and paved the way for the next generation of offensive second baseman: Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Jeff Kent, Chase Utley, Robinson Cano, and Dustin Pedroia.

Honorable Mention

• Eddie Collins, Philadelphia Athletics, 1909
• Rogers Hornsby, Chicago Cubs, 1929
• Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds, 1975
• Rogers Hornsby, New York Giants, 1927
• Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1923

• 10. Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds, 1976



Joe Morgan was the offensive leader on a teams that won 102 games and it’s second consecutive World Series. He led the majors in WAR, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, finished second in runs, rbi, and walks, third in steals, tied with Reggie Jackson and Sal Bando for sixth in home runs, and ninth in batting average. He was also selected to the NL all-star team and won his second consecutive NL MVP.




Joe Morgan Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.6	141	472	113	151	30	5	27	111	60	9	114	41	.320	.444	.576	1.020

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• 9. Nap Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics, 1901



In the first year of the American League Nap Lajoie was its best player. He was the leader on hall of fame manager Connie Mack’s A’s. During the inaugural AL campaign Lajoie led the majors in WAR, runs, hits, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, finished second in home runs and rbi. In a year when 50 players hit .300 or better Lajoie was the best.




Nap Lajoie Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
8.4	131	544	145	232	48	14	14	125	27		24	9	.426	.463	.643	1.106

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• 8. Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1920



This is Rogers Hornsby’s first of seven appearances in the top 10. This may be one of the best offensive seasons by a second baseman but as you’ll see the 24-year old Hornsby’s was just getting warmed up. He finished tied for second with Shoeless Joe Jackson in triples, third in WAR and doubles, tied for third in hits with Shoeless Joe Jackson, fifth in slugging and OPS, and sixth in batting average and on-base percentage. This was Hornsby’s introduction to the big leagues.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.6	149	589	96	218	44	20	9	94	12	15	60	50	.370	.431	.559	.990

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• 7. Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1921



In 1921 Hornsby’s led the Cardinals to 87 wins and had an even better season than the year before. He led the majors in batting average, tied with four other players led the majors in triples, finished second in baseball in WAR, doubles, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, tied with six other players for second in games played, finished third in runs scored and hits, fifth in rbi, and sixth in home runs.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
10.8	154	592	131	235	44	18	21	126	13	13	60	48	.397	.458	.639	1.097

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• 6. Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Naps, 1910



Lajoie was the best player on what can best be described as a less than steller roster. Yes, they had future hall of famers Cy Young and Addie Joss but Young was 43 and Joss was playing out the final year of his career. And offensively there was a young 22-year old Shoeless Joe Jackson but he was on the bench. In 1910, Lajoie led all of baseball in games played, hits, doubles, batting average, tied with Sherry Magee for second in on-base percentage, finished second in slugging and OPS, third in WAR, and seventh in runs scored.




Nap Lajoie Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.8	159	591	94	227	51	7	4	76	26		60	18	.384	.445	.514	.960

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• 5. Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Naps, 1904



Lajoie makes his final appearance on this list. His 1904 season is the greatest offensive season by a second baseman not named Rogers Hornsby. He led all of baseball in WAR, hits, doubles, rbi, batting average, slugging, , and OPS, third in on-base percentage, tied with Tommy Leach and Roy Thomas for eighth in runs scored, and tied for ninth with George Davis in triples.




Nap Lajoie Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
8.6	140	553	92	208	49	15	5	102	29		27	19	.376	.413	.546	.959

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• 4. Rogers Hornsby, Boston Braves, 1928



In his only season in Boston Hornsby continued to shine on the field even though the Braves lost 103 games. He led the majors in batting average and on-base percentage, finished second in walks and OPS, third in WAR and slugging, seventh in home runs, and tied with Carl Lind and Jim Bottomley for seventh in doubles.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
8.8	140	486	99	188	42	7	21	94	5		107	41	.387	.498	.632	1.130

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• 3. Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1922



The 26-year old Hornsby seemed to be hitting his stride in 1922. He led all of baseball in WAR, runs scored, hits, home runs, slugging, OPS, finished second in doubles, rbi, and batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, seventh in at bats, and tied with Johnny Motsil and Cotton Tierney for ninth in triples.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
10.0	154	623	141	250	46	14	42	152	17	12	65	50	.401	.459	.722	1.181

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• 2. Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1925



Hornsby may have missed 18 games during the 1925 season but that didn’t stop him from pacing the majors. He led baseball in WAR, home runs, rbi, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, third in runs scored, tied with Lu Blue for sixth in walks, tied for seventh with Dick Burrus and George Burns in doubles, and tied for ninth with Earle Combs in hits.
He also won the first of his two MVP awards.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
10.2	138	504	133	203	41	10	39	143	5	3	83	39	.403	.489	.756	1.245

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• 1. Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 1924



Hornsby 1924 season is the best season by a second baseman ever. The 28-year old Cardinal led the majors in WAR, hits, and batting average, finished second in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, tied with Frankie Frisch for second in runs scored, finished third in doubles, fourth in home runs, tied for fourth in walks with Eddie Collins, and tied with Sam Rice and Hughie Critz for ninth in triples. So historic was this season that it is the highest single season batting average since 1901 and the fifth highest single season WAR total trailing only Babe Ruth’s 1923, 1921, and 1927 seasons’s and Carl Yastrzemski’s 1967 season. Truly, one of the greatest seasons of all time.




Rogers Hornsby Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
12.1	143	536	121	227	43	14	25	94	11	5	124	85	.361	.487	.662	1.148

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Published by Dave Franks

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