Baseball Reference Blog
The Top 10 Greatest Third Basemen
Posted by sradmin on November 21, 2022
There are 17 Hall of Fame third basemen. That total is fewer than any other position in baseball (with the exception of designated hitter). However, some of baseball’s best defensive players and power hitters have played at the “hot corner” of the baseball diamond. We are going to break down the best third basemen of all time, using statistics. Specifically, we will be looking at the leaders in Position Player WAR. This measurement considers baserunning, grounding into double plays (when in DP situations), and fielding. Additionally, WAR is adjusted by position. Third basemen, for example, generally have the lowest batting averages outside of catchers. Finally, replacement level runs (based on playing time) round out the considerations of WAR, which determines who is among the best third basemen of all time.
It should be noted that 3-Time American League MVP Álex Rodríguez’s career WAR of 117.6 would top this list of third basemen. However, A-Rod is not included here because he played most of his career at shortstop with both the Mariners and Rangers. It was not until joining the Yankees for the 2004 season that Rodríguez made his debut at third base to accommodate Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter.
Here are the top 10 greatest third basemen, in alphabetical order, according to WAR.
Adrián Beltré
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-11, 220lb (180cm, 99kg)
Born:
April 7, 1979
High School: Liceo Maximo Gomez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
Debut:
June 24, 1998
(Age 19-078d,
17,291st in major league history)
vs. ANA 5 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 2018
(Age 39-176d)
vs. SEA 2 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1998 season
Agents: Boras Corporation
Full Name: Adrian Beltre
Nicknames: El Koja
Pronunciation: \BEHL-tray\
Instagram: @beltrea29
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
93.5
11068
3166
477
.286
1524
1707
121
.339
.480
.819
116
Adrián Beltré is the all time leader in hits (3,166) and RBI (1,707) among third basemen. He also had 477 home runs (over 100 each with the Rangers, Dodgers, and Mariners). Beltré’s longevity is the only reason he is not yet in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Having only retired in 2018 after a 21-season career, he is poised to be a first-ballot inductee in 2024. Adrián also collected five Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards.
Wade Boggs
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-2, 190lb (188cm, 86kg)
Born:
June 15, 1958
Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 7th round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft from H. B. Plant HS (Tampa, FL).
High School: H. B. Plant HS (Tampa, FL)
Debut:
April 10, 1982
(Age 23-299d,
14,576th in major league history)
vs. BAL 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
August 27, 1999
(Age 41-073d)
vs. CLE 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2005.
(Voted by BBWAA on 474/516 ballots)
View Wade Boggs’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1982 season
Agents: Alan Nero, Cecil Cooper • Previously: Brian David, Tony Pennacchia
Full Name: Wade Anthony Boggs
Nicknames: Chicken Man
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
91.4
9180
3010
118
.328
1513
1014
24
.415
.443
.858
131
Wade Boggs was an American League All-Star 12 seasons in a row, a streak that crossed over his tenures with the Red Sox and Yankees. Boggs’ 91.4 WAR is largely aided by his batting average (.328 career), which led the majors 5 times. The last two seasons of his career at ages 40 and 41 were with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This stint bookended Boggs’ baseball life that began at Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa. He remains the only player to have his number retired by Tampa Bay.
George Brett
Positions: Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-0, 185lb (183cm, 83kg)
Born:
May 15, 1953
Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2nd round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft from El Segundo HS (El Segundo, CA).
High School: El Segundo HS (El Segundo, CA)
Debut:
August 2, 1973
(Age 20-079d,
13,402nd in major league history)
vs. CHW 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 1993
(Age 40-141d)
vs. TEX 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1999.
(Voted by BBWAA on 488/497 ballots)
View George Brett’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1974 season
Agents: Dennis Gilbert
Full Name: George Howard Brett
Nicknames: Mullet
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Ken Brett
- Hall of Fame
- MVP
- 13x All-Star
- 1985 World Series
- Gold Glove
- 3x Silver Slugger
- 3x Batting Title
- ALCS MVP
- ML PoY
Career
88.6
10349
3154
317
.305
1583
1596
201
.369
.487
.857
135
George Brett was the cornerstone of the Royals for 20 seasons. He played his entire career with Kansas City, including the team’s first World Series Championship campaign in 1985. After the season, he was named American League MVP – the only Royal to ever do so. Although he transitioned to first base and designated hitter later in his career, Brett is still known as one of the greatest third basemen of all time and the most important player in Royals history. He became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1999.
Chipper Jones
Positions: Third Baseman and Leftfielder
Bats: Both • Throws: Right
6-4, 210lb (193cm, 95kg)
Born:
April 24, 1972
Draft: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round (1st) of the 1990 MLB June Amateur Draft from The Bolles School (Jacksonville, FL).
High School: The Bolles School (Jacksonville, FL)
Debut:
September 11, 1993
(Age 21-140d,
16,437th in major league history)
vs. SDP 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 2012
(Age 40-162d)
vs. PIT 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2018.
(Voted by BBWAA on 410/422 ballots)
View Chipper Jones’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1995 season
Agents: Jet Sports Management
National Team: us USA (WBC)
Full Name: Larry Wayne Jones
Instagram: @realcj10
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
85.3
8984
2726
468
.303
1619
1623
150
.401
.529
.930
141
Chipper Jones made the switch from shortstop to third baseman while in the Braves minor league system. After making his Major League debut in 1993, Jones retained rookie status after a season-ending injury in 1994. This allowed him to place second in rookie of the year voting in 1995 just 12 days after helping the Braves end a 38-year World Series Championship drought. Jones made the postseason in each of the following ten seasons and won two more pennants all while being named an All-Star 8 times and MVP in 1999. Jones leads all third basemen in Batting Runs (558). Chipper also has the most postseason plate appearances (417) while representing a National League club. Perhaps most impressively, Chipper Jones is one of seven players with 400 homers, 500 doubles, and 1,500 walks.
Eddie Mathews
Positions: Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-1, 190lb (185cm, 86kg)
Born: October 13, 1931 in Texarkana, TX us
Died:
February 18, 2001
Buried: Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, CA
High School: Santa Barbara HS (Santa Barbara, CA)
Debut:
April 15, 1952
(Age 20-185d,
10,876th in major league history)
vs. BRO 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 27, 1968
(Age 36-350d)
vs. WSA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1978.
(Voted by BBWAA on 301/379 ballots)
View Eddie Mathews’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1952 season
Full Name: Edwin Lee Mathews
Nicknames: Eddie Mattress, Cap’n Eddie, Santa Barbara Bomber or Brookfield Bomber
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
96.1
8537
2315
512
.271
1509
1453
68
.376
.509
.885
143
Eddie Mathews recorded the final RBI in Boston Braves history to finish his rookie season in 1952. After moving to Milwaukee with the team, Mathews was named an All-Star 12 times in 9 different seasons (MLB held two All-Star Games from 1959 through 1962). He and Hank Aaron combined to hit 863 home runs while teammates, which broke the record previously held by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Although he only played in 31 games with Detroit to finish his career, he was a member of the 1968 World Champion Tigers. Mathews was the lone Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee in 1978.
Graig Nettles
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-0, 180lb (183cm, 81kg)
Born:
August 20, 1944
Draft: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from San Diego State University (San Diego, CA).
High School: San Diego HS (San Diego, CA)
School: San Diego State University (San Diego, CA)
Debut:
September 6, 1967
(Age 23-017d,
12,627th in major league history)
vs. CLE 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 1, 1988
(Age 44-042d)
vs. PHI 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1969 season
Agents: Jerry Kapstein
Full Name: Graig Nettles
Nicknames: Puff
Pronunciation: \Greg\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Jim Nettles
Career
68.0
8986
2225
390
.248
1193
1314
32
.329
.421
.750
110
Graig Nettles’ career batting average (.248 over 22 seasons) is not what makes him one of the all-time best third baseman. Rather, his 140 career total zone runs (which measures the number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on the number of plays made) distingues him as one of the best defensive players of all time. Nettles spent parts of his career with the Twins, Indians, Padres, Braves, and Expos. Most notably, Nettles was a five-time All Star and 1977 World Series champion with the Yankees. Puff was the last player to wear Roger Maris’ no. 9 for the Yankees before it was retired. Neither player has a spot on the Hall of Fame but both are an integral part of Yankee history.
Brooks Robinson
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 180lb (185cm, 81kg)
Born:
May 18, 1937
High School: Little Rock Central HS (Little Rock, AR)
School: University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR)
Debut:
September 17, 1955
(Age 18-122d,
11,312th in major league history)
vs. WSH 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
August 13, 1977
(Age 40-087d)
vs. OAK 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1983.
(Voted by BBWAA on 344/374 ballots)
View Brooks Robinson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1957 season
Agents: Jordan Feagan, Ron Shapiro
Full Name: Brooks Calbert Robinson
Nicknames: Human Vacuum Cleaner or Mr. Impossible
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
78.5
10654
2848
268
.267
1232
1357
28
.322
.401
.723
105
Brooks Robinson’s World Series MVP campaign in 1970 earned him one of the best nicknames in baseball history: The Human Vacuum Cleaner. He played his whole career with the Orioles, winning the franchise’s second World Series title amid a perfect streak of 18 All-Star Game appearances from 1960 to 1974. Robinson is one of three MLB players to play in 163 or more regular season games in one year on multiple occasions (1961, 1964). The H.V.C. has 16 Gold Glove Awards at the position – the most ever.
Scott Rolen
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-4, 245lb (193cm, 111kg)
Born:
April 4, 1975
Draft: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft from Jasper HS (Jasper, IN).
High School: Jasper HS (Jasper, IN)
Debut:
August 1, 1996
(Age 21-119d,
16,936th in major league history)
vs. STL 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 3, 2012
(Age 37-182d)
vs. STL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1997 season
Agents: ACES
Full Name: Scott Bruce Rolen
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
70.1
7398
2077
316
.281
1211
1287
118
.364
.490
.855
122
Scott Rolen’s achievements include eight Gold Gloves, one Silver Slugger award, seven All-Star selections, and the National League Rookie of the year in 1997. Additionally, Rolen played in the World Series twice, winning with the Cardinals in 2006. He is halfway through his Basebll Hall of Fame candidacy. He received 249 votes in 2022 (47 shy of election) but has gained significant ground each year.
Ron Santo
Position: Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-0, 190lb (183cm, 86kg)
Born: February 25, 1940 in Seattle, WA us
Died:
December 2, 2010
Buried: Cremated
High School: Franklin HS (Seattle, WA)
Debut:
June 26, 1960
(Age 20-122d,
11,746th in major league history)
vs. PIT 4 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 29, 1974
(Age 34-216d)
vs. OAK 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2012.
(Voted by Golden Era Committee)
View Ron Santo’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1960 season
Full Name: Ronald Edward Santo
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
70.5
8143
2254
342
.277
1138
1331
35
.362
.464
.826
125
Ron Santo played his entire career in Chicago (with the Cubs and White Sox) as a defensive juggernaut. Santo led the NL in total chances eight times, in games, putouts, and assists seven times each, and in double plays six times. He broke NL records for career assists (4,532) and double plays (389) at third base. However, these records were later broken by Mike Schmidt (see below).
Mike Schmidt
Positions: Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-2, 195lb (188cm, 88kg)
Born:
September 27, 1949
Draft: Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1971 MLB June Amateur Draft from Ohio University (Athens, OH).
High School: Fairview HS (Dayton, OH)
School: Ohio University (Athens, OH)
Debut:
September 12, 1972
(Age 22-351d,
13,317th in major league history)
vs. NYM 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
May 28, 1989
(Age 39-243d)
vs. SFG 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1995.
(Voted by BBWAA on 444/460 ballots)
View Mike Schmidt’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1973 season
Agents: Arthur Rosenberg • Previously: David Landfield
Full Name: Michael Jack Schmidt
Nicknames: Schmitty
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
106.8
8352
2234
548
.267
1506
1595
174
.380
.527
.908
148
Mike Schmidt had it all. Defensively, he won ten Gold Glove awards all while playing his entire career with the Phillies. Offensively, he won six Silver Slugger awards and led the Majors in home runs six times between 1974 and 1983. The 1980 season saw Schmitty lead the National League in home runs (48), RBI (121), slugging percentage (.624), OPS (1.004), OPS+ (171), and Total Bases (342). To top off the legendary season, he was named World Series MVP as the Phillies beat the Royals in six games. By many metrics (including the all-important 106.8 WAR), Mike Schmidt is the greatest third baseman of all time.
These ten players account for some of the best power hitters and defensive fielders to ever play the game. Although all time great third basemen are hard to come by, young players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Rafael Devers, and Austin Riley (all age 25 or younger) have a chance to make their case as their WAR continues to grow.
FAQ’s
Mike Schmidt has the highest career WAR (106.8) of any player to spend at least half his playing time at the position. Eddie Mathews (93.9) edges out Schmit (91.8) if only Offensive Wins Above Replacement (oWAR) is considered. Brooks Robinson (39.1) has the highest career dWAR.
Mike Schmidt’s 548 home runs put him in the lead for most home runs by a third baseman. Eddie Mathews (512) is the only other member of the 500 Home Run Club to make a career as a third baseman. Álex Rodríguez hit 696 home runs but only 344 of those came while he was playing at third base.
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