Best Braves Second Basemen of All Time: Cast Your Vote

Second base may not be the first position people name when they talk about Braves history, but the franchise has produced a much richer group than it gets credit for. There are Hall of Famers from Boston and Milwaukee, a National League MVP from the Miracle Braves, a 43-home-run season decades ahead of its time, defensive anchors from the 1980s and 1990s, and a modern switch-hitting star who helped bring another championship to Atlanta.

Ozzie Albies now has the strongest overall case, but the argument behind him is wide open. Marcus Giles produced the best offensive peak of the Atlanta era. Félix Millán paired elite contact with two Gold Gloves. Glenn Hubbard supplied a decade of dependable defense, while Mark Lemke became an October folk hero. Then the deeper franchise history brings Johnny Evers, Red Schoendienst, Davey Johnson and Bobby Lowe into the conversation.

Tap up to three players below to build your ballot. Your first tap is your #1. Then cast your vote and share your ranking with Braves Country.

Second Base Across Three Cities of Braves History

The position has changed along with baseball itself. The earliest Braves second basemen played without modern gloves, handled rough infields and were expected to turn double plays with runners coming at them hard. Later generations were judged by range and reliability. Today's second basemen are expected to provide power, speed and run production without giving anything away defensively.

Boston: Lowe, Sweeney, Evers and Cuccinello

Bobby Lowe was one of the stars of the dominant Boston clubs of the 1890s. He spent 12 seasons with the franchise and became the first major leaguer to hit four home runs in one game, doing it in 1894. Bill Sweeney followed with one of the greatest forgotten seasons in Braves history, batting .344 with 204 hits and 99 RBI in 1912.

Johnny Evers arrived in 1914 and immediately became the heartbeat of the Miracle Braves. Boston climbed from last place to a pennant, swept the World Series and watched Evers win National League MVP honors. Tony Cuccinello later gave the Boston Bees a dependable middle-infield star and represented the club in the 1938 All-Star Game.

Milwaukee: Red Schoendienst Arrives at the Perfect Time

The Milwaukee Braves already had Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Warren Spahn when they acquired Red Schoendienst during the 1957 season. The Hall of Fame second baseman supplied exactly what the club needed, helped Milwaukee win consecutive pennants and earned a World Series ring in 1957. His Braves tenure was shorter than several names on this ballot, but its timing and impact were enormous.

Early Atlanta: Millán's Glove and Johnson's Power

Félix Millán became the first defining second baseman after the franchise moved to Atlanta. He made three All-Star teams, won Gold Gloves in 1969 and 1972, and built his offensive game around contact and putting the ball in play. Davey Johnson replaced him and produced a season nobody saw coming: 43 home runs in 1973, a staggering total for a middle infielder in that era.

Hubbard and Lemke: Defense, Continuity and October

Glenn Hubbard held the position for a decade, made the 1983 All-Star team and became known as one of the steadier defensive second basemen of his generation. Mark Lemke then bridged Atlanta into its championship era. His regular-season numbers were modest, but his glove was dependable and his postseason résumé turned him into a permanent Braves favorite. He hit .417 in the unforgettable 1991 World Series and remained part of the infield through the 1995 championship.

Giles, Prado, Uggla and the Modern Offense

Marcus Giles delivered the best short peak at the position in modern Braves history. In 2003 he hit .316 with a .916 OPS and a franchise-record 49 doubles, earning an All-Star selection while setting the tone near the top of one of baseball's best lineups. Martín Prado later brought a different kind of value, making the 2010 All-Star team while moving wherever the Braves needed him.

Dan Uggla's Atlanta tenure was uneven, but it was never dull. He hit 36 home runs in 2011 and set the Atlanta record with a 33-game hitting streak. Then Ozzie Albies arrived in 2017 and raised the standard. His power, speed, switch-hitting and energy made him a centerpiece of the division-winning clubs and the 2021 World Series champions.

So Who Is the Best Braves Second Baseman?

Albies has the broadest case because he combines longevity, power, awards and a championship. Giles has the strongest peak argument. Millán and Hubbard reward voters who value defense and consistency. Lemke owns the emotional and postseason case. Evers and Schoendienst bring Hall of Fame stature, while Johnson and Lowe offer historic seasons that remain difficult to match.

There is no single way to build the ballot. Pick your three, lock in the order and defend it.