No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their career while playing for that club. These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only.
Here is Mark Bowman’s ranking of the top 5 second basemen in Braves history.
1. Ozzie Albies, 2017-present
Key fact: His 179 homers rank second in franchise history among switch-hitters, trailing only Chipper Jones (468).
Albies easily leads all second basemen in franchise history in bWAR (25.7) and home runs (179). He debuted for the Braves during the second half of the 2017 season and earned the first of four All-Star selections the following year. He hit 30 homers in 2021 and then topped that total with a 33-homer season in 2023. Dan Uggla (36 in 2011 and 22 in 2013) is the only other second baseman in club history to even total multiple 20-homer seasons.
2. Marcus Giles, 2001-06
Key fact: Giles’ .809 OPS ranks first among all Braves second basemen (min. 300 games).
Giles exceeded all expectations after being selected in the 53rd round of the 1996 MLB Draft. The energetic infielder produced a 15.8 bWAR while serving as Atlanta’s starting second baseman from 2003-06. The only Major League second basemen with a better bWAR during that span were Chase Utley (17.1) and Orlando Hudson (16.0).
After earning his only All-Star selection and tallying a modern-era franchise-record 49 doubles in 2003, Giles broke his collarbone six weeks into the '04 season. He collected 45 more doubles while producing an .826 OPS in 2005, but he was designated for assignment after declining in '06.
3. Glenn Hubbard, 1978-87
Key fact: Hubbard joined Dale Murphy, Pascual Perez and Bruce Benedict as the Braves’ representatives at the 1983 All-Star Game.
Without Hubbard, Giles might not have ever made it to the Major League level. Hubbard’s commitment as a Minor League and Major League coach provided great value to Giles and many other Braves during the late 1990s and the early part of this century. But he was also a pretty good player himself.
Hubbard started more games at second base than any other Braves player of the modern era, and his 16.9 bWAR ranks third among the franchise’s second basemen dating to 1900.
4. Felix Millan, 1966-72
Key fact: Millan recorded a franchise-record six hits in a win over the Giants on July 6, 1970.
Millan debuted with the Braves in 1966 and became a fan favorite in Atlanta. He earned three straight All-Star selections (1969-71) and won two Gold Glove Awards (1969 and ’72). Though he contributed little offensively, he still ranked fourth among NL second basemen with the 8.0 fWAR he produced from 1968-72.
5. Tony Cuccinello, 1936-40, 1942-43
Key fact: Cuccinello was selected to play in MLB’s first All-Star Game in 1933.
After spending his first six MLB seasons with the Reds and Dodgers, Cuccinello became the Braves’ second baseman in 1936 and remained in that role until being traded during the 1940 season. He led the National League in assists during his first season with the Braves.
Cuccinello's 14.2 fWAR from 1936-40 ranked second among all NL second basemen.
Honorable mentions
Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst fueled a run to a World Series title after being acquired midway through the 1957 season. But after finishing third in NL MVP Award voting that year, he began to feel the effects of tuberculosis, which was diagnosed after he played in the 1958 World Series.
Bobby Lowe ranks first among the franchise’s second basemen with the 23.1 fWAR he constructed from 1890-1901.
Davey Johnson’s 43-homer season in 1973 is one of the most memorable produced by any player who played second base in franchise history.
Bill Sweeney began his career as a third baseman, but he garnered NL MVP consideration during each of the three seasons (1911-13) he spent as the club’s second baseman.
Mark Lemke served as the Braves' second baseman during a majority of the magical 1990s.