Introduction
Baseball has been played for over a century and has seen many great players come and go. The position of third baseman has seen some of the greatest players of all time, with their exceptional fielding, hitting, and overall performance. In this article, we will take a look at the best 3rd basemen of all time and their contributions to the sport.
1. Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt is widely considered one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies for 18 seasons and was known for his incredible power at the plate and his exceptional fielding. Schmidt won three MVP awards, ten Gold Gloves, and was a twelve-time All-Star. He hit 548 career home runs and had over 1,500 runs batted in.
2. George Brett
George Brett spent his entire 21-year career playing for the Kansas City Royals. He was known for his exceptional hitting ability and his consistent performance throughout his career. Brett won one MVP award, one batting title, and was a thirteen-time All-Star. He finished his career with a .305 batting average, 3,154 hits, and 317 home runs.
3. Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson played for the Baltimore Orioles for 23 seasons and was known for his exceptional fielding ability. He won sixteen Gold Gloves, was an eighteen-time All-Star, and won one MVP award. Robinson finished his career with a .267 batting average, 2,848 hits, and 268 home runs.
4. Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews played for the Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers during his 17-year career. He was known for his exceptional power at the plate and his strong arm in the field. Mathews won two MVP awards, was a twelve-time All-Star, and hit 512 career home runs.
5. Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones played for the Atlanta Braves for 19 seasons and was known for his consistent hitting and fielding ability. He won one MVP award, two batting titles, and was an eight-time All-Star. Jones finished his career with a .303 batting average, 2,726 hits, and 468 home runs.
6. Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs played for the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays during his 18-year career. He was known for his exceptional hitting ability and his consistent performance at the plate. Boggs won five batting titles, was a twelve-time All-Star, and finished his career with a .328 batting average, 3,010 hits, and 118 home runs.
7. Ron Santo
Ron Santo played for the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox during his 15-year career. He was known for his exceptional fielding ability and his consistent hitting. Santo won five Gold Gloves, was a nine-time All-Star, and finished his career with a .277 batting average, 2,254 hits, and 342 home runs.
8. Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cincinnati Reds during his 17-year career. He was known for his exceptional fielding ability and his consistent hitting. Rolen won eight Gold Gloves, was a seven-time All-Star, and finished his career with a .281 batting average, 2,077 hits, and 316 home runs.
9. Adrian Beltre
Adrian Beltre played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers during his 21-year career. He was known for his exceptional fielding ability and his consistent hitting. Beltre won five Gold Gloves, was a four-time All-Star, and finished his career with a .286 batting average, 3,166 hits, and 477 home runs.
10. Graig Nettles
Graig Nettles played for the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Montreal Expos during his 22-year career. He was known for his exceptional fielding ability and his consistent hitting. Nettles won two Gold Gloves, was a six-time All-Star, and finished his career with a .248 batting average, 2,225 hits, and 390 home runs.
Conclusion
The third base position has seen some of the greatest players of all time, with their exceptional fielding, hitting, and overall performance. These players have left a legacy in baseball and will always be remembered as some of the best to ever play the game.