baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

and

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the infield, between

second The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of U ...

and first base. 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, second basemen are usually right-handed; only four left-handed throwing players have ever played second base in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

since 1950. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4. 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. 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 as well. Second base is often referred to as the "Keystone". This is due to its position on the infield at the top of the diamond, similar to the keystone block in architecture.

Functions

The second baseman catches line drives or pop flies hit near them, and fields ground balls hit near them and then throws the ball to a base to force out a runner. In this case, if the runner is to be forced out at second base then that base is

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...

by the

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...

. With a runner on first base, on a ground ball to the shortstop or

third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the Baseball scorekeep ...

the second baseman will cover second base to force out the runner coming from first. Moreover, if there are fewer than two outs they will attempt to turn the double play: that is, they will receive the throw from the other player with their foot on second base (to force out the runner coming from first base), and in one motion pivot toward first base and throw the ball there (to force out the batter before they get there). If a runner on first base attempts to steal second base, or if the pitcher attempts to pick off a runner already at second base, then either the second baseman or the shortstop will cover second base.

National Baseball Hall of Fame second basemen

The following second basemen have been elected to the

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United St ...

: * Roberto Alomar *

Craig Biggio Craig Alan Biggio (; born December 14, 1965) is an American former baseball second baseman, outfielder, and catcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, from 1988 to 2007. A seven-time National League (baseball), ...

* Rod Carew * Eddie Collins * Bobby Doerr * Johnny Evers * Nellie Fox * Frankie Frisch * Charlie Gehringer * Joe Gordon * Frank Grant * Billy Herman * Rogers Hornsby * Nap Lajoie * Tony Lazzeri * Bill Mazeroski * Bid McPhee * Joe Morgan * Paul Molitor * Jackie Robinson *

Ryne Sandberg Ryne Dee Sandberg (born September 18, 1959), nicknamed "Ryno", is an American former professional baseball player, coach (baseball), coach, and manager (baseball), manager. He played sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second bas ...

* Red Schoendienst ;Notes

Multiple Gold Glove Award winners

* Roberto Alomar: 10 *

: 9 * Bill Mazeroski: 8 * Frank White: 8 * Joe Morgan: 5 * Bobby Richardson: 5 *

: 4 * Bret Boone: 4 * Bobby Grich: 4 * Orlando Hudson: 4 * Dustin Pedroia: 4 * Brandon Phillips: 4 * Luis Castillo: 3 * Nellie Fox: 3 * Davey Johnson: 3 * Bobby Knoop: 3 * Harold Reynolds: 3 * Manny Trillo: 3 * Lou Whitaker: 3 * Robinson Canó: 2 * Tommy Helms: 2 * Felix Millan: 2 *

Plácido Polanco Plácido Enrique Polanco (; born October 10, 1975) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins. He was ...

: 2 * Pokey Reese: 2 * Fernando Vina: 2

Number of seasons with 100+ double plays turned at second base (among Hall of Fame second basemen)

* Bill Mazeroski: 11 * Nellie Fox: 10 * Bobby Doerr: 9 * Red Schoendienst: 8 * Charlie Gehringer: 7 * Joe Gordon: 7 * Billy Herman: 5 * Jackie Robinson: 4 * Roberto Alomar: 3 *

: 2 * Frankie Frisch: 2 * Rogers Hornsby: 2 * Joe Morgan: 2 *

: 2 * Tony Lazzeri: 1 * Bid McPhee: 1 Source: baseball-reference.com

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Second Baseman Baseball positions