The staff at FOX Sports Ohio has been debating a topic recently, and we would like your input.
As the All-Star Game approaches, we've been looking at past seasons and asking ourselves "who were the greatest Reds/Indians players ever to play each position?" Trust us, making the list wasn't easy - we went through several drafts and researched players of the past.
Now we turn it over to you.
Between now and the All Star Game (July 16 on FOX), we will be asking you to vote for your favorite Reds player and favorite Indians player at each position.
Click here to vote for first base - see the candidatesClick here to vote for second base - see the candidates
Today's position - shortstop.
Leo Cardenas
Cardenas spent 16 years in baseball, and spent nine of those in a Reds uniform. He played in five All-Star Games, and won one Gold Glove award. In 1969, he finished 12th in voting for NL MVP. His lifetime batting average was .257 (.261 with Cincinnati).
Dave Concepcion
Concepcion played 19 seasons in MLB, all of them in Cincinnati. He played in nine All-Star Games, won 5 Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards. In 1981, he finished fourth in voting for NL MVP. His lifetime batting average was .267.
Barry Larkin
Like Concepcion, Larkin played every single one of his 19 MLB years in Cincinnati. He played in 12 All-Star Games, won 9 Silver Slugger Awards, 3 Gold Gloves, and won the MVP in 1995. He has a .295 lifetime batting average, and was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Lou Boudreau
Boudreau played 15 years, and all but 86 games were with Cleveland. He played in seven All-Star Games, and was consistently in the running for AL MVP. He won the MVP in 1948, the same year the Indians won the World Series. His lifetime batting average was .295 (.296 with the Indians). He was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1970.
Joe Sewell
Sewell never played in the All-Star Game, having retired before MLB introduced the midsummer classic. But in his 14 years (11 with Cleveland), he grabbed votes for MVP seven times and finished as high as third in 1925. He had a lifetime batting average of .312 (.320 with Cleveland). He was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1977.
Omar Vizquel
Vizquel played the last of his 24 years in the Majors last season, and spent 11 of those years in Cleveland. He went to three All-Star Games, and racked up 11 Gold Gloves at shortstop. In 1999, he finished 16th in MVP voting after hitting for a career-best .333 average. His lifetime average is .272 (.283 in Cleveland).
