Second baseman

Second base, or "2B", is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base. Also called "2B", or "second bagger", the second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on a double play. In addition, shortstops and second basemen are usually right-handed as this is preferential for turning a double play. Second base is also known as the "keystone sack". In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.

Second basemen must be quick on their feet to hold the runner on base, back up the shortstop on all throws from the catcher, cover first base on bunted balls, and to field the position to either side. Good second basemen need to have very good range, since they have to field balls closer to the first baseman who is often holding runners on, or moving towards the base to cover. Good range is also helpful since many balls are hit to this position. On a batted ball to right field, the second baseman goes out towards the ball for the relay. Due to these requirements, second base is sometimes a primarily defensive position in the modern game, but there are hitting stars, too.

For baserunners, second is the easiest base to steal, because the catcher must throw a farther distance.

National Baseball Hall of Fame second basemen

: Note: Year of induction included in parentheses. cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/lists/pos&2B.htm
title=Hall of Fame Second Baseman
publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame]
*Rod Carew (1991) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Carew_Rod.htm
title=Rod Carew - National Baseball Hall of Fame] (later played first base)
* Eddie Collins (1939) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Collins_Eddie.htm
title= Eddie Collins - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Bobby Doerr (1946) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Doerr_Bobby.htm
title=Bobby Doerr - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Johnny Evers (1956) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Evers_Johnny.htm
title=Johnny Evers - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Nellie Fox (1967) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Fox_Nellie.htm
title=Nellie Fox - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Frankie Frisch (1947) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-14
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Frisch_Frankie.htm
title=Frankie Frisch - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Charlie Gehringer (1949) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Gehringer_Charlie.htm
title=Charlie Gehringer - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Frank Grant (2006) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Grant_Frank.htm
title=Frank Grant - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Billy Herman (1975) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Herman_Billy.htm
title=Billy Herman - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Rogers Hornsby (1942) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Hornsby_Rogers.htm
title=Rogers Hornsby - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Nap Lajoie (1937) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Lajoie_Nap.htm
title=Nap Lajoie - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Tony Lazzeri (1991) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Lazzeri_Tony.htm
title=Tony Lazzeri - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Bill Mazeroski (2001) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Mazeroski_Bill.htm
title=Bill Mazeroski - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Bid McPhee (2000) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/McPhee_Bid.htm
title=Bid McPhee - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Joe Morgan (1990) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Morgan_Joe.htm
title=Joe Morgan - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Jackie Robinson (1962) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Robinson_Jackie.htm
title=Jackie Robinson - National Baseball Hall of Fame] (began his career at 1B then moved to 2B, and occasionally the outfield)
* Ryne Sandberg (2005) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/sandberg_ryne.htm
title=Ryne Sandberg - National Baseball Hall of Fame]
* Red Schoendienst (1989) [cite web|accessdate=2007-05-15
url=http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Schoendienst_Red.htm
title=Red Schoendienst - National Baseball Hall of Fame]

Currently active second basemen

As of the 2007 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) active 2nd basemen include:
* Josh Barfield
* Ronnie Belliard
* Miguel Cairo
* Robinson Canó
* Jamey Carroll
* Jose Castillo
* Luis Castillo
* Alex Cora
* Ray Durham
* Mark DeRosa
* Mark Ellis
* Marcus Giles
* Ruben Gotay
* Tony Graffanino
* Mark Grudzielanek
* Brendan Harris
* Aaron Hill
* Orlando Hudson
* Tadahito Iguchi
* Akinori Iwamura (began career as third baseman)
* Kelly Johnson
* Howie Kendrick
* Jeff Kent
* Ian Kinsler
* Adam Kennedy
* José Celestino López
* Jose Lopez
* Mark Loretta
* Kazuo Matsui
* Dustin Pedroia
* Brandon Phillips
* Plácido Polanco
* Brian Roberts
* Dan Uggla
* Chase Utley
* José Valentín
* José Vidro
* Rickie Weeks
* Josh Wilson

References