There are many reasons to love the game of baseball, but one of the things that makes baseball different from other sports is the spectacular defense that is frequently on display. Just think of how often you see a web gem on ESPN’s top 10 plays of the day.
Although defense is an integral component of all team sports, the great defensive plays in other sports just don’t have the same mojo as they do in baseball.
How many times have you seen the replay of Willie Mays’ back to the plate over the shoulder catch of Vic Wertz’s 480’ drive in the 1954 World Series? How about Derek Jeter’s sprint to the 1st base line to cut off an off-line throw from the outfield with the ensuing backhanded flip to the catcher to nab the runner at the plate in the 2001 ALDS vs. Oakland?
And then there is what is arguably the greatest defensive play ever with the Angels Jim Edmonds one upping Willie Mays by doing a full body extension to make an over the head diving catch against Kansas City in 1997. These plays are all etched in the minds of baseball fans forever.
In fact, defense in baseball is so special that back in 1957 the Rawlings Corporation started awarding gold gloves to the best defensive player at each position.
What makes a player a great defensive player? First, they make all of the routine plays. Second, they make difficult plays look routine. Third, they make the impossible plays possible. They make the plays very few other players can make.
Which takes us to who are the all-time greatest defensive players at each position. Before we get to the answers, let’s keep in mind that it is difficult to fairly judge players who played before 1957. Not just because gold gloves weren’t awarded before then but because we don’t have as much video of players from back in those days. Plus back in the early days of baseball players used much smaller gloves, hence fewer spectacular plays.
OK, let the arguments begin.
But let’s start with the 2 players who I consider the 2 greatest defensive players of all time regardless of position. For these 2 players I will hear no arguments for other players.
The Wizard of Oz, Ozzie Smith, is the best defensive shortstop ever. Go check YouTube for his plays, as words can’t do him justice. Quick & athletic, he’s made more spectacular plays than any player that I can remember. He was both fundamentally sound and flashy. And as an added bonus, who can forget his backflips when coming onto the field.
Ozzie won 13 gold gloves, the most ever for a shortstop. Other great fielders at the position were Luis Aparicio (9 gold gloves), Mark Belanger (8) and Omar Vizquel (9). All elite fielders to be sure, but none were Ozzie.
Then there was the Human Vacuum Cleaner, Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson. Unlike Smith, he wasn’t fast or overly athletic. But he made every play. You couldn’t get anything by him either to his left or his right. And don’t try bunting on him as his scoop and throw in one motion nailed every bunter. Once again, go to YouTube and check out his multitude of great plays in the 1970 World Series where he was the Series MVP. Robinson over his career won 16 gold gloves!
Other great third sackers were Mike Schmidt (10 gold gloves) and Nolan Arenado (9).
How about the best fielding pitcher, a position often overlooked when thinking of defense, but important when it comes to fielding comebackers & bunts. I only have one comment when it comes to pitchers. Greg Maddox won 18 gold gloves. Enough said.
First base is a position that is often taken for granted defensively, as all you have to do is catch an infielders throw, right? Uh-uh. A first baseman needs to dig wayward throws out of the dirt, field bunts and cover ground to his right. The player who did this best was ex Cardinal & Met (and sometime Seinfeld actor) Keith Hernandez.
Hernandez won 11 gold gloves vs. 9 for Don Mattingly and 8 for George Scott.
Second base is a key defensive position in baseball and there have been many excellent fielders over the years, but none better than Roberto Alomar. His range, arm strength and ability to make the spectacular play were unmatched.
Alomar won 10 gold gloves compared to the 9 won by Ryan Sandberg and 8 each for Bill Mazeroski and Frank White.
The catching position is unique as it encompasses many defensive abilities unlike other positions in baseball. Catchers have to call the pitches, block pitches in the dirt, field bunts, handle throws from the outfield on plays at the plate and throw out runners trying to steal. Many of those variables are tough to measure and can’t be appreciated unless you see the player play on a consistent basis.
Ivan Rodriguez won 13 gold gloves and Yadier Molina has won 9, but the best catcher I ever saw was the Reds’ Johnny Bench who won 10 gold gloves. He had a rocket arm and soft hands.
Picking the 3 outfielders may be the most challenging because there have been so many great ones. It also gets complicated because centerfielders are traditionally the best fielders as they have more ground to cover. But you can’t just ignore the corner outfielders, where there have been many great fielders.
I’ll go with one corner outfielder and 2 centerfielders with Pirate great Roberto Clemente being my corner outfielder selection. He was extremely athletic and covered a lot of ground in addition to having a superb throwing arm.
Clemente won 10 gold gloves, the same as Ichiro Suzuki. Other great corner outfielders were Al Kaline (10), Dwight Evans (8) and Carl Yastrzemski (7).
It’s tough to pick just 2 centerfielders, but I’ll start with Giants great Willie Mays. Many people consider Mays as the greatest all around player to ever play the game and a lot of it had to do with his stellar defensive play. He had the elite speed to cover a lot of ground to go with a strong arm. Mays won 12 gold gloves.
As for the 2nd centerfielder, many people may go with 10-time gold glove winner Ken Griffey Jr., which is an excellent choice, but I’m going with the Orioles Paul Blair. I saw Blair play a lot over the years and he just caught everything that came his way. He was known for playing a shallow centerfield which took away a lot of singles, but yet I never saw anyone hit a ball over his head. He also lept many a fence robbing a frustrated hitter of a home run. Blair won 8 gold gloves.
So there you have it. The best all-time fielder at each position. To summarize:
1B – Keith Hernandez
2B – Roberto Alomar
SS – Ozzie Smith
3B – Brooks Robinson
OF – Willie Mays, Paul Blair and Roberto Clemente
C – Johnny Bench
P – Greg Maddux
There have been so many great defensive players over the years, you could probably select another 9 players who were nearly as good, and you wouldn’t get much of an argument from me. Except for Ozzie & Brooks.
