#7
of 20
Arky Vaughan
Full Player Profile →
Vaughan is the OBP assassin shortstop history doesn’t hype enough. He wasn’t just a good hitter—he was a great hitter in a way that modern analysis screams to value: getting on base constantly while still slugging for his era. His peak seasons include outrageous average and on-base marks that translate as superstar impact in any context. In the 1930s, he was producing separation, not just compiling. Power totals won’t wow modern eyes, but relative to the league, his extra-base output and overall run creation were elite. He also did this while being a shortstop, which boosts the positional value of every run he created. Vaughan’s career is a case study in how early-era players can dominate without modern-looking stat lines. He had the kind of bat that would fit perfectly in today’s game because it’s built on strike-zone control and hard contact. In this list, he beats a lot of flashier names because his peak and rate dominance are so strong. Shortstop offense isn’t supposed to look like that in his era, and he made it look normal. Give him a modern training environment and he’s terrifying. That’s why he sits seventh.
Career Numbers
.318
AVG
2,103
Hits
96
HR
926
RBI
118
SB
.859
OPS
Arky Vaughan at No. 7
On Top 20 Shortstops in MLB Baseball History, Arky Vaughan sits at number 7 of 20. Arky Vaughan's career numbers on the card: a .318 average, 96 home runs and 2,103 hits. The card also lists a .859 OPS and 118 stolen bases. Arky Vaughan debuted in the 1930s, and the Explore links below open that decade's page and the list of players born in USA. Robin Yount is ranked just above at 6; Francisco Lindor follows at 8. The ranking and the write-up above it are the list's editorial judgment; the career numbers come from the same tables as the player pages.