Third base is a position where you not only need to have a good glove and quick reaction time but an above average bat has almost become a pre-requisite. The first man associated with the long ball Frank “Home Run” Baker was a third baseman. Players like Eddie Mathews, Ron Santo, Ken Boyer and Brooks Robinson picked up the torch and set the stage for our near requirement of a quality bat to go along with the superior defensive play most assoicated with the hot corner.

Honorable Mention

• Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox, 1987
• Gary Sheffield, San Diego Padres, 1992
• Dick Allen, Philadelphia Phillies, 1967
• Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 1980
• Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins, 1969

• 10. Joe Torre, St. Louis Cardinals, 1971



In 1971 Joe Torre was playing along side future hall of famers Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, and Steve Carlton but it was Torre who hand the best season. He led all of baseball in hits, rbi, and batting average, finished third in slugging and OPS, tied with Rusty Staub for third in doubles, finished fourth in on-base percentage, sixth in runs, seventh in at bats, and tied for eighth in triples with Roberto Clemente, Paul Blair, and Felix Millan. Torre also made the NL all-star team and won the NL MVP award. Not bad for a player playing his first full season in the bigs as a third baseman.




Joe Torre Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
5.9	161	634	97	230	34	8	24	137	4	1	63	70	.363	.421	.555	.976

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• 9. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, 2005



Alex Rodriguez’s second season in New York proved to be one of the best ever by a third baseman. During his 2005 campaign he led the majors in WAR, finished second in runs, home runs, and slugging, third in OPS, fourth in rbi, fifth in on-base percentage, sixth in batting average, and tied with Mark Teixeira and Carl Crawford for tenth in hits and tied with Jim Edmonds and Lance Berkman for tenth in walks. A-Rod won an AL Silver Slugger, was selected to the AL all-star, and the AL MVP award.




Alex Rodriguez Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.4	162	605	124	194	29	1	48	130	21	6	91	139	.321	.421	.610	1.031

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• 8. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves, 2008



Chipper Jones had the best year of his career during his 15 season at the tender age of 36. During this year Jones led all of baseball in batting average and on-base percentage, finished second in OPS, fourth in slugging, and fifth in WAR. His counting stats didn’t rank among the tops because the aging Jones only played in 128 games. Despite that Jones still made the NL all-star team.




Chipper Jones Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
7.3	128	439	82	160	24	1	22	75	4	0	90	61	.364	.470	.574	1.044

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• 7. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, 2007



Arguably the most all-around offensive stat line of any third baseman in history. Rodriguez led the majors in WAR, runs, home runs, rbi, slugging, and OPS, and finished seventh in on-base percentage. For the second time as a Yankee A-Rod was selected to the AL all-star team, awarded a Silver Slugger and won the AL MVP.




Alex Rodriguez Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.4	158	583	143	183	31	0	54	123	24	4	95	120	.314	.422	.645	1.067

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• 6. Dick Allen, Philadelphia Phillies, 1966



Dick Allen is one of the most underrated players in the history of the sport and here he makes his second appearance in this series (his first was in the first baseman edition). In 1966, Allen finished second in slugging and OPS, third in home runs, fourth in runs and on-base percentage, tied for fourth with Harmon Killebrew in rbi and tied with Roberto Clemente for fourth in batting average, tied for fifth with Bert Campaneris, Gene Alley, and Donn Clendenon in triples, and finished sixth in WAR. He was also selected to the AL all-star team




Dick Allen Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
7.5	141	524	112	166	25	10	40	110	10	6	68	136	.317	.396	.632	1.027

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• 5. Al Rosen, Cleveland Indians, 1953



Al Rosen’s 1953 season is one of the best seasons in Indians history. He led the majors in WAR and rbi, finished second in home runs, third in slugging and OPS, fourth in hits and on-base percentage, fifth in runs, tied with Duke Snider for fifth in batting average, and tied with Willie Jones for tenth in walks. Rosen was selected to the 1953 AL all-star team and won his only AL MVP award.




Al Rosen Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
10.1	155	599	115	201	27	5	43	145	8	7	85	48	.336	.422	.613	1.034

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• 4. Mel Ott, New York Giants, 1938



1938 was the only season that Mel Ott played primarily as a third baseman. What can initially be seen as just another good year by an all-time great is actually one of the best seasons by a third baseman. Ott led all of baseball in WAR, finished third in home runs and on-base percentage, fourth in OPS, tied for fourth in walks with Harlond Clift, fifth in slugging, seventh in rbi, tied with Doc Cramer for ninth in runs. Ott was also selected to the NL all-star team.




Mel Ott Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
8.9	150	527	116	164	23	6	38	116	2		118	47	.311	.442	.583	1.024

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• 3. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, 2012



Miguel Cabrera made the switch from first to third to make room for the recently signed Prince Fielder and became the first player since 1967 to win the triple crown. In 2012 he led the majors in home runs, rbi, slugging, and OPS, finished second in runs, hits, and batting average, fifth in WAR, and sixth in on-base percentage. Cabrer was selected to the AL all-star team, won a Silver Slugger and despite the intense and controversial race won the AL MVP award.




Miguel Cabrera Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
7.2	161	622	109	205	40	0	44	139	4	1	66	98	.330	.393	.606	.999

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• 2. Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 1981



Mike Schmidt was on pace for a record setting year when the 1981 strike hit. Despite the shortened season Schmidt had the second best offensive season by a third baseman ever. He led the majors WAR, home runs, rbi, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS, second in walks, third in runs, ninth in batting average. Schmidt was also selected to the NL all-star team, won an NL Silver Slugger and the NL MVP.




Mike Schmidt Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
7.7	102	354	78	112	19	2	31	91	12	4	73	71	.316	.435	.644	1.080

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• 1. George Brett, Kansas City Royals, 1980



George Brett’s 1980 season is the offensive bench mark by which third baseman should be judge. He hit for power, average, while displaying above average baserunning and not striking out. He led the majors in WAR, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS and tied with Ben Oglivie for third in rbi. Had he played in more than 117 games his counting stats would have been even more impressive. Brett also won the AL all-star team, won a Silver Slugger and the AL MVP.




George Brett Batting Statistics

WAR	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
9.4	117	449	87	175	33	9	24	118	15	6	58	22	.390	.454	.664	1.118

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