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Today, Vince Jankoski continues his “deep dive” into double plays. In Part Three of this series, he uncovers players who he calls “Double Play Superstars.” I found it interesting and I think you will too. Then stay tuned for the finale of the series when Vince compares these “Superstars” to other great shortstops of the past. And check out the photo gallery to see some real baseball “acrobats” around second base!

Vince Jankoski’s Deep Dive Into Double Plays, Part Three

As I indicated in the previous essay, research may identify certain players who are exceptional at turning the double play. Starting with team “double play machines” and assuming that the key players in the ground ball double plays are the second baseman and the shortstop, let’s examine the middle infielders on the “double play machines”.  Chronologically first are the 1949-1951 Philadelphia A’s, the Yanks’ predecessor as American League double-play leaders.

Year            Second Baseman    Shortstop               

1949             Suder                      Joost                      

1950             Hitchcock               Joost                      

1951             Suder                      Joost    

Joost is the constant.  As far as I can tell, Joost never led his league in any fielding category.  However, he played for 17 years with a .239 batting average.  So, you’ve got to figure he brought his glove to the ballpark.  While acknowledging Joost, he simply does not stand out when compared to others evaluated.  He was a regular for only six seasons.  His lifetime double-play numbers are inflated by years in which he only played part-time.  So, he does not make my list of “DP Superstars”.  You may disagree. 

Next chronologically are the Dodgers of 1949 to 1953.  Their middle infield personnel for the years under study was:

Year             Second Baseman    Shortstop               

1949             Robinson               Reese                    

1950             Robinson               Reese                    

1951             Robinson               Reese                    

1952             Robinson               Reese                    

1953             Gilliam                   Reese                    

 Reese and Robinson are the constants here.  They count as “DP Superstars.” Moving to the Yankees of 1952 to 1958, their middle infielders were:

Year            Second Baseman     Shortstop              

1952             Martin                    Rizzuto                     

1953             Martin                    Rizzuto                 

1954             McDougald            Rizzuto                 

1955             McDougald            Rizzuto/Hunter     

1956             Martin                    McDougald           

1957             Richardson/            McDougald           

                     Coleman/

                     Martin         

1958             McDougald            Kubek                   

 Phil Rizzuto and Gil McDougald are the most constant factors here.  They,  too, make the cut as “DP Superstars”.

But there is one more double-play machine: the Pirates from 1958 to 1968. The constant there is Bill Mazeroski.  With Maz at the keystone (arguably the most important spot in the double play execution), the Pirates were second in the National League in double plays in 1958 (the year after he became their regular second baseman). They led an unprecedented nine straight seasons, then one year in which they missed leading the league.  The following year, Maz went to part-time. 

(In the featured photo above, we see Maz turning a double play in 1965).

Even with Mazeroski as a part-time player, the Pirates were at or near the top of the double-play numbers for the next several seasons before falling into the middle of the pack after his retirement.  All this occurred whether the Pirates were winning the pennant (1960) or finishing last (1963)  or anywhere in between, first or second division.  Plus, Maz played with lots of different shortstops not all of which were the greatest of double play partners: Dick Groat from 1957 to 1962; Dick Schofield from 1963 to 1964; Gene Alley from 1965 to 1968.  Alley was the only Gold Glove winner in the group. Mazeroski surely makes the cut as a “DP Superstar.” Indeed, we may crown him the “King of the DP Superstars,” and possibly the greatest fielding second baseman of all time.  But I digress.

 We are left with five “DP Superstars”: Robinson, Reese, Rizzuto, McDougald, and Mazeroski.  In our last installment, we will look at the numbers of Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Phil Rizzuto, Gil McDougald, and Bill Mazeroski in order to see how good they really were in comparison to one another and to other great infielders of all time.  Two of our superstars were shortstops (Reese and Rizzuto), two were second basemen (Robinson and Mazeroski) and one (McDougald) played both positions.  The results will be revealing.

Vince Jankoski

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