What Does SS Mean In Baseball? (Answered In Detail!)
Paul Hall
In the baseball lineup, players’ positions are marked with a number corresponding to that position and an acronym that designates the player’s role.
Most of them are related to where players play on the field.
For example, LF is the left fielder, 3B is the third baseman, and so on. The only designation that doesn’t fall into this pattern is SS.
This may create some confusion, especially with people who are new to baseball which is unfortunate as it’s one of the most important and certainly the most demanding position in baseball.
Below, I’ll explain what does SS mean in baseball and why are the players in this position so crucial for the success of the whole team.
Table of Contents
What Does SS Mean In Baseball?
In baseball, SS stands for a shortstop, an infield player who normally operates between second and third base, mirroring the second baseman.
The name comes from their location on the field, as shortstops are required to stop the short side of the field and work as a cutoff man for players in the left and center field.
Due to his position on the field and heavy involvement in the game, the shortstop is often considered the captain of the infield.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most significant, complex, and difficult to play positions in baseball.
Players at shortstop are commonly the most athletic on the team They must be very fast, agile, with great stamina, and good body control.
In addition, a good shortstop must have a solid throwing arm.
What Is A Shortstop In Baseball?
Shortstop is the fielding position in baseball between the second and third base that usually acts as the anchor of the infield defense.
His main job involves fielding any ball that comes to that area of the field, throwing it, and, if possible, making an out.
Besides this, the role of shortstop involves many more responsibilities, but more on that later.
To be successful, an infielder must have quick feet to make instant jumps and great lateral ability to move side-to-side.
As they’re often in a position to make long throws, shortstops also need an accurate and strong arm.
Furthermore, they also need soft hands to avoid bobbling when fielding the ball.
On top of all this, players in this position must have a high baseball IQ and a good understanding of the game because they must know where to be in the infield in any possible game situation.
Where Did The Shortstop Originate?
The origins of the shortstop position date back to the mid-19th century, when it was originally an outfield position.
The man who is credited with the creation of the concept of shortstop is Daniel “Doc” Adams who played for the New York Knickerbockers in the 1850s.
Back then, teams would field 8 to 11 with only 3 infielders on each of the bases. The other players would commonly include pitcher, catcher, and 3 outfielders.
If there were more than 8 players, extra outfielders were usually brought on.
As most of the hitters were right-handed, this left a big gap between the second and third base and outfielders would struggle to throw balls to the infield.
Daniel Adams was the first to vacate his outfield position and move closer which allowed him to field throws for infielders and throw them to the infielders.
This way, he effectively created a shortstop position.
Why Is Shortstop Important?
The importance of shortstops lies in the wide range of responsibilities they have on the baseball field.
The best shortstops are players who can do it all, both on defense and offense.
Historically, shortstops were smaller and faster players who didn’t handle the bat that well and mostly hit ground balls and line drives.
However, nowadays, the situation is different. Shortstops have evolved and are not just great fielders anymore, but also, in many cases, big hitters.
Modern shortstops are very active and extremely involved in the game.
Often, have an essential role in making plays and have become a key position for teams who want to win games.
More than once, they were the key reason for their teams winning the World Series.
Even in the Little League, coaches will commonly assign their best and most talented players to the shortstop position.
Main Responsibilities Of A Shortstop
As fielders, shortstops are the team’s rangiest defenders. First of all, they have to field all ground balls hit in their area, the main part of their job.
To do this, shortstops must have the range to be able to collect as many ground balls as possible and a strong arm to successfully throw across the diamond.
Plus, they also have to field infield fly balls coming into their area that are hit between multiple defenders.
In these cases, a shortstop is expected to take charge and call off any other players on an infield fly ball.
Their duties also involve being the main cutoff on base hits into the center or left field and covering the second base when someone attempts to steal it.
Finally, if a runner is on the 1st base, shortstops also cover the second base on any ball hit to the right of the infield.
Conclusion
There may be different opinions on what position in baseball is the most important, but most people would agree on which is the hardest to play.
Most baseball experts, as well as fans, would agree that building a strong baseball team starts in the middle.
A solid catcher, second baseman, shortstop, and center fielder are the spine of every successful roster and, probably, the most important positions on the field besides pitcher.
While people may have different opinions on which of these positions matter the most when it comes to winning, most will agree on which is the most demanding.
The shortstop position is probably the hardest play, which is why some of the most talented players in the game are at that position.
Shortstops are the anchor of the infield and the heart and soul of the team’s defense.
Hardly any other position can compare to shortstop when it comes to the role in making winning plays.
