News
Hot race at second for Giants' All-Time 9
Kent, Hornsby locked in one of closest votes of any teamBy Chris Haft / MLB.com
09/22/09 11:35 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- With so many Hall of Famers and other celebrated performers distinguishing their all-time roster, Giants fans are accustomed to discussing what their ideal ballclub -- featuring the team's greatest players -- would look like. Balloting for the "All-Time 9s" gives the Giants faithful, along with fans of any team, an online opportunity to express their views. More than 4.1 million votes have been cast since the 9/9/09 debut of the "All-Time 9s," a platform for fans to debate the greatest single-season performances for all 30 Major League franchises. The voting marks the start of MLB.com's Lineup Card campaign, a gathering place for the posting and never-ending discussion of the greatest past and present lineups. Here's a look at how the Giants' closest races are shaping up: Second base features one of the tightest votes among all 30 teams, with Jeff Kent and his 2000 National League Most Valuable Player season (.334 batting average, 33 home runs, 125 RBIs, 114 runs) leading Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby and his 1927 campaign (.361, 26 homers, 125 RBIs, 133 runs) by about 170 votes. In another close race, Matt Williams and Freddie Lindstrom are competing fiercely to be the top vote-getter at third base. Williams, represented by his strike-shortened 1994 season (.267, 43 homers, 96 RBIs, 74 runs) owns a 400-vote lead over Lindstrom and his 1930 season (.379, 22 homers, 106 RBIs, 127 runs). The outfield is what you might expect. Willie Mays (1954: .345, 41 homers, 110 RBIs, 119 runs), Barry Bonds (2001: .328, 73 homers, 137 RBIs, 129 runs) and Mel Ott (1929: .328, 42 homers, 151 RBIs, 138 runs) appear to have locked up All-Time 9 spots. The same goes for Willie McCovey, who seems to have locked up the first-base spot with his 1969 MVP season (.320, 45 homers, 126 RBIs, 101 runs). His closest trailers are Orlando Cepeda (1961, .311, 46 homers, 142 RBIs, 105 runs) and Will Clark (1989, .333, 23 homers, 111 RBIs, 104 runs).Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
