In your mind who was the best shortstop in baseball for the past twenty-years plus?

Question

For instance Walt Weiss and or "The OZ" Ozzie Smith.

Answer 1

Cal Ripken Jr. of the Orioles.  Without a doubt.

Answer 2

Cal Ripken Jr

Answer 3

Ozzie Smith in a class by himself.

Answer 4

Barry Larkin.  Oz was a wizard on the field, but marginal at best with the stick.  Ripkin was great with the stick, marginal with the glove.  Larkin had a great bat AND he was an excellent fielder  all others mentioned have weaknesses, Larkin was a five tool shortstop before the five tool shortstop was the trend.

Answer 5

Defensively, it has to be either Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel.

Whole package wise, Cal Ripken.

Hanley Ramirez is going to be something special if he stays healthy his whole career.

Answer 6

The best shortstop was Ozzie Smith. No ball would go through that area when Smith was there.  As for batting, then that would be Barry Larkin.

Answer 7

Best Defensive SS - Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel

Best Offensive SS - Alex Rodriguez

Best All-Around SS - Cal Ripken Jr.

Answer 8

Barry Larkin, Ozzie Smith, and the fan favorite Giant, Omar Vizquel.