Joe Gordon

Joe “Flash” Gordon was the greatest defensive second baseman in the history of the game, according to the most sophisticated statistical tools we have at our disposal. In addition, witnesses who saw him play were equally impressed.

It’s really quite amazing that Gordon wasn’t inducted into the Hall of Fame until 2009 – 58 years after his last game and 31 years after his death. He received MVP votes in eight of his 11 seasons, was an All-Star nine times, was the first second baseman to hit 20 homers in the American League, retired as the all-time homer leader at his position, and was universally acclaimed as the finest defender at second. He also missed his two prime seasons due to his service in World War II. When he was finally honored in Cooperstown in 2009, his daughter said, “He insisted against having a funeral, and as such, we consider Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame as his final resting place to be honored forever.”