Collecting a Legendary Position
While it’s fun to discuss the list of best players of all-time, modern statistical analysis has made it possible to almost automate player rankings. As a result, any list of the best shortstops of all-time is going to be reflected in their WAR rating and look very nearly the same as every other list.
Thinking about the most impressive cards for players by position is a different project, because (for instance) although Alex Rodriguez’s career numbers put him in a stratosphere that was previously approached only by Ernie Banks, A-Rod’s cards are generally not so rare.
With this distinction in mind, here’s a look at 10 of the most impressive baseball cards for players who spent the better part of their careers at shortstop.
10. Vern Stephens – 1952 Topps #84
If there ever was a blueprint for players like Banks and A-Rod, it was the power hitting Vern Stephens, an eight-time All-Star who played his best ball in the 1940s. In Stephens’ 1949 season with Boston, he hit .290 with 39 HRs and an astounding 159 RBIs.
Because Stephens was in his twelfth season with his best days behind him when the 1952 Topps set was released, he has flown under the radar of most collectors, but he certainly deserves mention.
9. Harvey Kuenn – 1954 Topps #25
Harvey Kuenn won the Rookie of the Year award in 1953 and went on to bat over .300 for each of his first four seasons. He was never a power hitter, but his consistent play made him a 10-time All-Star.
In his best season with Detroit, 1959, he finished the year with a .353 average. His rookie card is the red-orange 1954 Topps #25, which is not extraordinarily pricey, but is difficult to find in mint condition.
8. Alan Trammell – 1978 Topps #707
Speaking of Detroit, Alan Trammell was, along with his 2nd baseman sidekick Lou Whittaker, the foundation of the 1984 Tigers World Series team. Throughout the ’80s, Trammell was an All-Star regular, and in 2018, he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
His rookie card is exceptional, because he shares it with fellow HoF electee, Paul Molitor. At PSA-9, it’s a card that requires significant investment.
7. Ozzie Smith – 1979 Topps #116
“The Wizard of Oz,” as he was aptly nicknamed, was one of baseball’s great defensive showmen. The starting NL All-Star shortstop every year of the 1980s, Ozzie’s hand-springing, back-flipping entrance delighted fans.
Though his hitting was only passable, he was an effective base-stealer. If anyone ever earned his way into the Hall of Fame with defense, it was this 13-time Gold Glove winner. Smith’s rookie card is the 1979 Topps #116.
6. Cal Ripken, Jr. – 1982 Topps Traded #98T
If all Cal Ripken had done was play 2,632 consecutive games, it might have been enough for honorable mention, but he did it at one of the most difficult positions in the game and at consistent All-Star quality.
Ripken won Rookie of the Year in 1982 and MVP the following season. He won two Gold Glove awards and finished his Hall of Fame career with 431 HRs. Without a doubt, his most sought-after rookie card is the 1982 Topps Traded #98T, though it does mark him as a 3rd basemen instead of a shortstop.
5. Robin Yount – 1975 Topps #223
Yount played 20 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1974 to 1993, winning two MVP awards along the way. With career totals of 3,142 hits and 251 HRs, Yount was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999.
His 1975 Topps rookie card is also available in a parallel “mini” version, and in near perfect condition, it is a very highly prized card.
4. Pee Wee Reese – 1941 Play Ball #54
The shortstop for one of the most famous teams of all time, the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, Reese was teammates with Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, and Sandy Koufax. A 10-time All-Star, he walked far more often than he struck out, and his career .269 average only hints at how much impact he had as a baserunner.
He missed the 1943-45 seasons due to military service, but his 1941 Play Ball #54 card is a remarkable find.
3. Luis Aparicio – 1956 Topps #292
Born in Venezuela in 1934, “Little Louie” earned a Rookie of the Year award in 1956 and went on to win nine Gold Gloves. A 13-time All-Star, Aparicio’s defensive prowess and base-stealing abilities made him an easy fit in Cooperstown.
His 1956 Topps rookie card features a grinning portrait in the foreground and an action shot of Aparicio leaping in the background.
2. Ernie Banks – 1954 Topps #94
Throughout his 19-year career with the Chicago Cubs, Ernie Banks rarely missed a game. Famous for his “Let’s play two!” quip, Banks was a 14-time All-Star and two-time MVP.
His 512 career HRs and 1636 RBIs represented power numbers rarely seen from the shortstop position. His 1954 rookie card with its striking white background will remain a pricey standout.
1. Honus Wagner – 1909-1911 T206 American Tobacco Company
The card has long been famous as the rarest, most sought-after card in The Hobby. With an estimated 50 cards in existence, it has been sold in auctions for more than a million dollars on numerous occasions.
Strangely, the card itself has eclipsed the player, and Wagner’s contributions to the game are often overlooked. He won 8 batting titles and finished his career with a .328 average. In 21 seasons in the National League, Wagner posted 3,420 career hits and 723 stolen bases.
