who's the better shortstop? Phil Rizzuto or Derek Jeter?

Answer 1

Derek Jeter has only had one year in which he could even be considered an average defensive shortstop(2005) this year he is back to normal. His career RF(range factor) is 4.09 - Rizzuto's was 4.79 . On the other hand Jeter is a very good offersive player, where Rizzuto was only slightly above average..

For their career's
Derek Jeter BA-314 OB%-386 SLG-461 RF-4.09
Phil Rizzuto BA-273 OB%-351 SLG-355 RF-4.79

Rizzuto is the better "all around" shortstop and it didn't help his career that he missed 3 full seasons in the service during WWII...

I have Rizzuto as the starting SS on the Yankees "all time" team(1946-2006) - Derek Jeter is on the 40 man roster..To determine the team, each season for each player stands alone..

Phil Rizzuto - 1950
Offense
GP-155 AB-617 H-200 R-125 RBI-66 2B-36 3B-7 HR-7
BB-92 SO-39 SB-12 CS-8 BA-324 OB%-407 SLG-439
Defense
TC-767 PO-301 A-452 E-14 DP-123 FLD%-982 TCPG-4.95

Derek Jeter - 1999
Offense
GP-158 AB-627 H-219 R-134 RBI-102 2B-37 3B-9 HR-24
BB-91 SO-116 SB-19 CS-8 BA-349 OB%-438 SLG-552
Defense
TC-632 PO-226 A-392 E-14 DP-86 FLD%-978 TCPG-4.00

Derek Jeter will be in the HOF too, but I would have to vote for Rizzuto as the better all around shortstop...

Answer 2

I never saw Phil Rizzuto play the position and he did miss some of the best years of his career because of military service, regardless of that Jeter has put up better numbers at the bat over his carrer in nearly every category and his field percentage (which I believe is nearly has good as Rizzuto) put his at an equal par if not better than Rizzuto over all. It is hard to make these comparrisons but I think over all you have to give the nod to Jeter because of his better number at the bat.

Answer 3

Phil Rizzuto

Answer 4

Different eras. Shortstops were small guys not expected to hit back then. Rizutto hit about .320 with 200 hits in his MVP year but that year is the exception for the rest of his career. Jeter is clearly the better hitter. By all accounts Rizutto was a superb glove man, I don't think anyone would argue Jeter was better.

Answer 5

No, I wasn't around to see "The Scooter's: career, but HOFer though he was, I believe that Jeter is the much better all-around player. And yes, Range Factor is a decent defensive stat, but I think it's overrated.
Put it this way: in a clutch situation, don't you (as a Yankees fan --I'm a Phils fan) want the ball hit to Jeter? I would.

Answer 6

Jeter. While I can't stand those who say he is great defensively, because he simply isn't, he is more than adequate, and he is a great hitter. He has a little power, takes a good number of walks, and has had only a couple of subpar seasons with the bat. Rizzuto was a good player, but they won because of those around him.

Answer 7

derek jeter by far, yeah rizzuto was a great fielder, but Jeter has been the face of the Yankees since he came up in 1995. and its kind of amazing hes stuck around this long with the Yankees with them changing half their team every single year.

Answer 8

let me see Jeter since he has been playing has never not made the playoffs. that fact alone makes him better then anyone in baseball today, he is clearly the best (all-around) player on his team Phil wasn't even in the top five on his team. Jeter by a long shot

Answer 9

Derek Jeter, hands down.

Answer 10

Holy cow! It's Phil Rizzuto.