Alan Trammell

Trammell is a classic example of a player whose peak season deserves louder historical credit. His 1987 year was outrageous for a shortstop: huge average, real power, and star-level run production. He wasn’t a constant 30-homer guy, but he delivered enough pop and a lot of quality contact to be an offensive asset. Across his career, he stayed relevant and productive through different offensive environments. He didn’t have the massive totals of Ripken or Jeter, which is why he sits in the high teens. But in terms of “how good could he be at his best,” he belongs in this neighborhood. He provided line-drive damage and situational hitting that created real value beyond highlight stats. Longevity helps too—nearly two decades of competent offense at short is meaningful. In an offense-weighted list, he’s not going to beat the big sluggers, but he beats a lot of glove-first legends. His career is stronger than his reputation in casual conversations. Put him in today’s game and the bat would still play. That earns him 18th.