Besides a rookie campaign that began in 1986 where Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken, Jr. were the obvious defensive and offensive gold standards for major league shortstops, ball players such as Tony Fernandez of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League was garnering accolades and praise as a premiere defensive shortstop as well.

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There currently are six black defensive coordinators in the league and just two black offensive coordinators.

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