Jimmy Rollins, a veteran infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, has expressed his opinion about the greatest player to have ever played his position.
During this year’s World Series, Rollins shared his Mount Rushmore list of the greatest shortstops in MLB history in an interview with baseball and gaming YouTuber SeeHondo. Rollins selected Ozzie Smith, Cal Ripken Jr., Omar Vizquel, and Barry Larkin as his top four all-time shortstops.
Rollins quickly came up with Smith and Ripken as his first two choices.
“There is no ‘obviously,’ but obviously, Ozzie Smith,” Rollins replied. He was a guy who made me want to emulate Ozzie Smith. He would be two because I was Cal Ripken when I felt tall.”
Following some internal deliberation, Rollins decided to include Larkin and Vizquel to complete the group.
“We talkin’ about defense, I’m thinking about this defensively – Omar Vizquel is three,” Rollins stated. “And then when you look at both sides of the ball – cause I’m not gonna put myself in this – gotta go with the other No. 11, Barry Larkin.”
Between 1978 and 1996, Smith played for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals, where he was a 15-time All-Star and 13-time Gold Glove winner. In contrast, Ripken played for the Baltimore Orioles for his whole 21-year career, winning a World Series, eight Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, 19 All-Star selections, and two MVP awards.
After participating in 12 All-Star Games and winning a World Series in 19 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Larkin joined Smith and Ripken in the Hall of Fame.
On the other side, despite winning 11 Gold Gloves, Vizquel has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Rollins, who won four Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, an MVP, and a World Series between 2000 and 2016, is among the most qualified persons on the planet to select the greatest shortstops to have ever played the position.
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