The position of the second baseman

Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team.^[1] A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base.^[1] Also called second bagger,^[1] the second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on a double play. In addition, second basemen are usually right-handed; only five left-handed throwing players have ever played second base since 1957.^[2] Second base is also known as the keystone sack.^[1] In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.

Good second basemen need to have very good range, since they have to field balls closer to the first baseman who is often holding runners on, or moving towards the base to cover. On a batted ball to right field, the second baseman goes out towards the ball for the relay. Due to these requirements, second base is sometimes a primarily defensive position in the modern game, but there are hitting stars as well.

National Baseball Hall of Fame second basemen[link]

The following second basemen have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum:^[3]

Cover of a 1905 how-to booklet

• Roberto Alomar
• Rod Carew *
• Eddie Collins
• Bobby Doerr
• Johnny Evers
• Nellie Fox
• Frankie Frisch
• Charlie Gehringer
• Joe Gordon
• Frank Grant
• Billy Herman
• Rogers Hornsby
• Nap Lajoie
• Tony Lazzeri
• Bill Mazeroski
• Bid McPhee
• Joe Morgan
• Jackie Robinson **
• Ryne Sandberg
• Red Schoendienst

* Later played at first base
** Started his career at first base, then moved to second base

References[link]

v t e Baseball positions Pitchers by role Ace pitcher Starting pitcher Relief pitcher Middle relief pitcher Long reliever Setup pitcher Closer Left-handed specialist by style Fireballer Power pitcher Control pitcher Groundball pitcher Flyball pitcher Switch pitcher Defensive players by number Pitcher (1 / P) Catcher (2 / C) First baseman (3 / 1B) Second baseman (4 / 2B) Third baseman (5 / 3B) Shortstop (6 / SS) Left fielder (7 / LF) Center fielder (8 / CF) Right fielder (9 / RF) by type Infielder Outfielder Utility player Utility infielder Position player Battery Fourth outfielder Corner outfielder Offensive players by role Batter Runner Batting order (1–9) Designated hitter Pinch hitter Pinch runner Lead off Leadoff hitter Cleanup hitter by style Clutch hitter Contact hitter Switch hitter Non-players Official scorer Umpire Manager Coaches General manager Related Disabled list Phantom ballplayer

Brett Gardner
Gardner with the Yankees
New York Yankees – No. 11
Left fielder / Center fielder
Born: (1983-08-24) August 24, 1983 (age 28) Holly Hill, South Carolina
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 30, 2008 for the New York Yankees
Career statistics (through May 29, 2012)
Batting average	.265
Home runs	15
Runs batted in	125
Hits	369
Stolen bases	137
Teams
New York Yankees (2008–present)
Career highlights and awards
2009 World Series champion 2× Fielding Bible Award winner (2010, 2011) AL stolen base leader (2011)

Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the New York Yankees. Gardner, who is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), bats and throws left-handed.

College baseball career[link]

In 2001, Gardner attended walk-on tryouts for the baseball team at the College of Charleston. After the tryouts, Coach John Pawlowski told the players that he would contact them if they made the team. Without hearing a word from the coach, Gardner came to the field the next day for the first official practice, wearing his high school uniform. When Pawlowski asked Gardner why he was there, Gardner told him that he knew he was capable of playing at the Division I level. Pawlowski told Gardner that he could practice with the team, but if at any time if Pawlowski saw that Gardner wasn't capable then he would be let go.^[1]

Gardner was a three-year starter at the College of Charleston. In 2004, he was chosen to the All-Southern Conference Team. His .447 batting average was third in the nation in 2005, and his 122 hits tied for most in the country. His 85 runs in 2005 is the all-time record at College of Charleston, and his 38 stolen bases led the Southern Conference. He wrapped up his Cougar career as a third-team All-American and a second-time All-Southern Conference player, sporting a .382/.456/.508 career line, mostly from the lead-off spot.

Professional baseball career[link]

After his junior year in college he was drafted by the Yankees in the third round in 2005, and received a $210,000 signing bonus.

Minor leagues (2005–08)[link]

Gardner finished the 2005 season in the New York-Penn League season ranking 5th in at bats (with 282), 2nd in runs (62), and 5th in stolen bases (19). He was a Florida State League all star in 2006, batting .323 in 63 games with 22 RBIs with the Tampa Yankees. He was 3rd in the Florida State League in batting average, and led the league in stolen bases with 30. Gardner also was second in the league in walks with 47.^[2]

In 2007, he played 54 games for the Double-A Trenton Thunder, though he missed time with a broken bone in his hand. In 203 at bats, he stole 18 bases (tied for 5th in the league; while being caught 4 times), hit 5 triples, and batted .300 with a .392 OBP, before being promoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.^[3][4] There, in 45 games he batted .260 with a .343 OBP, and stole 21 bases while being caught only 3 times.^[5]

In the fall of 2007, he played in 26 games in the Arizona Fall League, leading it in runs (27) and stolen bases (16), while being caught stealing only once. He batted .343 (5th in the league) with a .433 obp (3rd), and was 3rd in the league in walks (17).^[6] In 2007, he was the 12th-best prospect in the Yankees minor league system according to Baseball America.^[7]

Gardner in 2011

Gardner headed into 2008, according to Baseball America, as the Yankee's fastest minor league runner and the one with the best plate discipline.^[8] Playing for Scranton/Wilkes Barre in 2008, in 94 games Gardner was 2nd in the International League with a .414 on base percentage, 70 walks, and 11 triples, and 6th in the IL with 37 stolen bases, while being caught only 9 times.

Through 2008 in the minor leagues, he had a .291 batting average and a .389 OBP. He had stolen 153 bases, and been caught 31 times, an 83% success rate.^[9]

Major leagues (2008-present)[link]

On June 30, 2008, Gardner was called up and made his major league debut,^[10] batting lead-off and going 0 for 3 with a stolen base. On July 2, he got both his first hit and first RBI off fellow rookie, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Warner Madrigal, in the seventh inning. Gardner went on to steal second and eventually score in that inning.

On July 26, 2008, Gardner was optioned back to AAA after the acquisition of Xavier Nady in order to continue to receive playing time. On August 15 Gardner was called back up to the big leagues.

On September 21, 2008, Gardner scored the final run of Major League Baseball in Yankee Stadium history as a pinch runner for Jason Giambi, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Cano in the seventh inning of an eventual 7–3 win for the Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles.

He was named the Yankees' starting center fielder for the 2009 season on March 29, 2009, beating out Melky Cabrera for the position.^[11]

Gardner finished the 2010 season with a .277 batting average and 47 stolen bases in 150 games. He also won the 2010 Fielding Bible Award as the best defensive left fielder in MLB.^[12][13]

Gardner's speed gives him exceptional range in the outfield.

On December 7, 2010, Gardner underwent surgery to get rid of inflamed tissue in his wrist, with Yankees GM Brian Cashman supporting that he will be back in time for Spring Training ^[14]

Gardner started the 2011 season hitting lead off for the Yankees, but after struggling was demoted to the bottom 3rd of the order. However, after Derek Jeter was put on the disabled list for a calf injury, Gardner was returned to the top of the order, alternating with Nick Swisher.^[15] Since Jeter's return, and Alex Rodriguez's stint on the DL for knee surgery, Gardner and Jeter have periodically shared the top of the order, with Gardner as leadoff and Jeter batting 2nd.

Gardner finished the 2011 season tied for first in the American League in stolen bases with Coco Crisp, each having 48 stolen bases.^[16] Gardner won his second consecutive Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding left fielder in MLB.^[17]

Gardner and the Yankees agreed on a $2.8 million contract for the 2012 season, avoiding arbitration.^[16]

Player profile[link]

Gardner is one of the fastest players in Major League Baseball, joining the ranks of Ichiro Suzuki, Andrew McCutchen, Carl Crawford, Jose Reyes, Jacoby Ellsbury and Michael Bourn, along with former Kansas City Royals outfielder Joey Gathright.^[18] Gardner is best known for stealing bases and being very disciplined at the plate. He makes contact with 93% of his swings, third best in the American League.^[19] In 2010, Gardner saw more pitches per at-bat than any other player in the American League.^[20]

Personal life[link]

Brett and his wife Jessica had their first son, Hunter, on November 19, 2008.^[21] Gardner has one older brother. His father, Jerry Gardner, played in the minors for the Phillies.^[22] For the 2011 season, Gardner resides in Westchester, New York, adjacent to Mike Pelfrey of the New York Mets.^[23]

See also[link]

• List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Prospect Profile
• Profile 12/29/06
• "Gardner makes fast impression in camp; Prospect pleases teammates, rattles pitchers with speed," 3/1/07

Joe Schaefer (December 21, 1924 – December 27, 2000) was an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He was born in Long Island, New York, and played in two games for the New York Rangers.

External links[link]

• Joe Schaefer at Hockey Reference

This biographical article relating to an American ice hockey goaltender is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Gordon Beckham
Chicago White Sox – No. 15
Second Baseman
Born: (1986-09-16) September 16, 1986 (age 25) Atlanta, Georgia
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 4, 2009 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics (through May 28, 2012)
Batting average	.246
Home runs	38
Runs batted in	170
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
2009 AL Rookie of the Month award for July 2009 Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year

Gordon Beckham III (born September 16, 1986 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a baseball infielder, who plays for the Chicago White Sox.

Personal life[link]

Growing up in Atlanta, Gordon Beckham played quarterback and free safety for The Westminster Schools (like his father, Gordon Beckham Jr., who went on to play quarterback for the University of South Carolina). His mother also attended the University of South Carolina, where she was a cheerleader for both football and basketball. In 2004, Gordon led the Westminster Wildcats to their first and only undefeated season, breaking his father's single-season record for touchdown passes by one in the process. Beckham was given 1st Team All-State honors as both a junior for Free-Safety and then as a senior for Quarterback. He played under coach Gerry Romberg. Beckham was an honorary member of the Chi Phi Fraternity while attending the University of Georgia. Gordon also has two younger sisters, Gwen (22), and Grace (19).

College[link]

As a freshman in 2006, Beckham started all 81 games at shortstop, helping to lead the University of Georgia Bulldogs to the College World Series. He was named a Freshman All-American that year. As a sophomore, he started all 56 games that Georgia played. As a junior, he was the only unanimous selection to the All-SEC First Team and was selected as the SEC Player of the Year. He was also selected as an All-American, an Academic All-American, a Finalist for the NCAA Player of the Year and a Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. He led the NCAA in home runs that year, setting the school's single season home run record (26) and tied the school record for most home runs in a career (51) against NC State on June 8, 2008 in the deciding third game of the Super Regionals that sent Georgia to the College World Series. The home run came on his last at-bat at his home Foley Field, after which he received a curtain call. On June 25, 2008 with his last at bat as a college player, Beckham tied Matt Clark of LSU as the 2008 season home run leader (28). He finished college with 53 home runs, the most ever by a player at the University of Georgia.

Professional career[link]

Minor Leagues[link]

Beckham was selected eighth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Considered the number 1 rated prospect in the Chicago White Sox system at the start of the 2009 season according to Baseball America,^[1] Beckham played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Saguaros. He lit up the AFL, hitting .394 with 3 HRs and a .468 OBP in 66 at-bats.^[2] He continued to impress in Spring Training, hitting .270 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in 37 at-bats.^[3] He forced his way into contention for the Sox' 25-man opening day roster, but it was eventually decided that he should start the season at the Sox' Double-A affiliate, the Birmingham Barons. After batting .299 over 38 games with the Barons, Beckham was promoted to Class AAA Charlotte Knights on May 27, 2009 and switched from his natural position at shortstop to third base. This was seen as a clear indication that he was being prepared for a Major League call-up, as White Sox third baseman Josh Fields was struggling at the plate and on defense.^[4]

Major League[link]

Chicago White Sox[link]

On June 3, 2009, the White Sox purchased Beckham's contract, adding him to the major league roster after he had hit .326 with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 175 at-bats between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. Thus, Beckham reached the Majors 364 days after he was selected by the White Sox. He became the second position player from his draft class, behind the Giants' Conor Gillaspie, to make his MLB debut when, on June 4, 2009, he started at third base for the White Sox against the Oakland Athletics. In his debut Beckham went 0-3 with a strikeout and reached on a fielder's choice. He became the Sox' everyday starting third baseman, due to Josh Fields, and utility infielder Wilson Betemit's inadequacies at the plate and on defense. He struggled initially in the Major Leagues, going 2-for-28 over his first eight games. He got his first MLB hit, a single to center field, in his 14th at-bat on June 9, 2009 at U.S. Cellular Field, after which he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. On June 20, 2009, Beckham hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning of the annual MLB Civil Rights Game, off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. Beckham's milestone home run came while the Reds were ahead 5-0, and sparked a comeback victory for the Sox. On June 27, 2009, Beckham hit a walk-off single with two men on and two out in the bottom of the 9th inning against the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, his first walk-off hit. On June 29, 2009, Beckham went 3 for 3 with a walk and 2 RBIs as the Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6 to 3.^[5] Beckham uses The Outfield's hit song Your Love as his walk-up song as he did at The University of Georgia.

On October 20, 2009, Beckham was named the Sporting News' 2009 American League Rookie of the Year, as selected by a panel of 338 major league players, 22 managers and 31 general managers and assistant general managers. On October 26, 2009 Beckham was voted the American League Rookie of the Year by the MLBPA, which is voted on in September by every player on a major league roster.

References[link]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beckhgo01.shtml

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Toronto Blue Jays minor league players. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2012.

Anthony Robert Gose (born August 10, 1990) is a center fielder in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was ranked by MLB.com in 2011 as the Blue Jays fifth best prospect in the organization.^[1] Prior to the 2012 season, he was ranked as the 39th best prospect in baseball.^[2]

Baseball career[link]

Anthony Gose went to Bellflower High School. In 2008, he was drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB June Amateur Draft. On July 29, 2010, Gose, along with J. A. Happ and Jonathan Villar, were sent to the Houston Astros in exchange for Roy Oswalt and $12 million. Immediately after, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for first baseman Brett Wallace. He is currently playing with the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51's. In 2011, the Fisher Cats were the Eastern League champions and Gose scored the winning run in the final game. He broke Darin Mastroianni's record for stolen bases in one season, finishing with 70 stolen bases and getting caught only 15 times.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)