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Roberto Alomar vs. Joe Morgan ESPN.com | |||||||||||||||||
Joe Morgan isn't a clear choice as the greatest second baseman ever. Some claim Rogers Hornsby or Eddie Collins, but we'll go with Little Joe. Player G AVG OBP SLG OPS* OPS+^ Runs RBI TPR# Morgan 2649 .271 .395 .427 .823 133 1650 1133 54.8 Alomar 1877 .304 .378 .448 .827 119 1228 918 33.8* on-base percentage + slugging percentage ^ OPS adjusted for home park and normalized to league average (from "Total Baseball") # Total Player Rating (wins above average player at his position -- from "Total Baseball") Two terrific all-around players who played on great teams throughout their careers. Morgan was the NL MVP both years when the Big Red Machine won back-to-back to World Series in 1975-76, but also played on division winners in Houston and Philadelphia. Alomar played on Toronto's World Series champs in 1992-93 and playoff teams in Baltimore and Cleveland. The two have nearly identical OPS, but once adjusted for ballpark and league, Morgan comes out ahead at plus-33 percent to plus-19 percent. (Morgan's stats were dragged down by his early years in the Astrodome and a tougher hitting era.) Morgan's edge in hitting is also highlighted by his appearances on the leaderboards: he was in the top 10 in OPS six times, twice leading the league. Alomar has never been in the top 10. Morgan also placed first or second seven times in on-base percentage, the last time 1982, when he was 38 years old. Alomar is now 33 and still going strong. In a few years, his lifetime totals will start approaching Morgan's, and he appears to be a player who can play until he's 40. In the end, however, we have to stick with Morgan. And here's a main reason why. In 1992, when the Jays won it all, Alomar finished a respectable sixth in the MVP voting -- behind teammates Joe Carter and Dave Winfield. In 1993, he finished sixth again -- behind teammates Paul Molitor and John Olerud. Alomar didn't win the MVPs. Morgan did. Final tally: Morgan. --David Schoenfield  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | ALSO SEE Best now vs. best ever: Catcher Best now vs. best ever: First base Best now vs. best ever: Third base Best now vs. best ever: Shortstop Best now vs. best ever: Left field Best now vs. best ever: Center field Best now vs. best ever: Right field Best now vs. best ever: Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||
