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MLB History: Top 100 Players in Baseball History (90-81)

By David Hill

Apr 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinal former player Ozzie Smith waives to the fans before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinal former player Ozzie Smith waives to the fans before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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90. Lou Boudreau

Lou Boudreau may best be remembered as the last manager to win a World Series with the Cleveland Indians, but his playing career was quite notable as well.

During the 1940’s, there may not have been a better shortstop than Boudreau. He was a seven time All-Star selection and finished in the top ten in the MVP balloting from 1942 through 1948. His career numbers, a .295/.380/.415 batting line with 385 doubles and 68 home runs, were quite solid for a shortstop of that era.

While it is easy to write off the stars of the 1940’s for performing well when the major leagues were depleted due to World War II, that was not the case with Boudreau. In fact, his finest season came as a player/manager in 1948. That year, en route to capturing the MVP award, Boudreau produced a stellar .355/.453/.534 batting line, hitting a career best 18 home runs with 106 RBI. Perhaps even more impressively, Boudreau walked 98 times against nine strikeouts in 676 plate appearances.

He was also an excellent defensive shortstop, and had the Gold Glove been around during his playing days, Boudreau may well have been a multiple time winner of the award. From 1940 through 1948, he led the American League in fielding percentage in all but one year, and was frequently among the league leaders in putouts, assists and double plays by a shortstop.

Lou Boudreau was one of the greats to suit up for the Indians, being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having his number retired in 1970. One of the best all around shortstops in MLB history, Boudreau has become one of the more underrated stars from his time.

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