ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MAY 22: A MLB logo is seen before a game between the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 22, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Baseball fans love to argue over who is the best at each position. It’s so hard to determine greatness in a game that has been played for over a century. Here is a list of the 20 greatest third basemen to have ever played. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let us know!
20. Matt Williams
1 Mar 1998: Matt Williams #9 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on during the Diamondbacks Spring Training game against the Chicago White Sox at the Tucson Electric Park in Tucson, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the White Sox 7-6. Mandatory Credit:
Was as good with the bat as he was with the glove.
19. Bill Madlock
1979: Bill Madlock #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates swings at the pitch during a 1979 season game. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
4x Batting Champ.
18. Ron Cey
PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1980: Third Baseman Ron Cey #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cey played for the Dodgers from 1971-82. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
6x All-Star.
17. Graig Nettles
BRONX, NY – OCTOBER 1981: Graig Nettles #9 of the New York Yankees fielding during Game 2 of the 1981 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 21, 1981 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
Arguably the second best defensive third baseman of all time.
16. Evan Longoria
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – APRIL 14: Infielder Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws over to first against the New York Yankees during the game on April 14, 2008 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
Elite defense and power.
15. Robin Ventura
1990: Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox swings at the pitch during the 1990 season. (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
6x Gold Glove Winner.
14. Ken Boyer
Ken Boyer, 3rd baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals is shown.
5x Gold Glove Winner, Former MVP.
13. Wade Boggs
CHICAGO: Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox bats during an MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Boggs played for the Boston Red Sox from 1982-1992. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
5x Batting Champ.
12. Sal Bando
American baseball player Jerry Grote behind American baseball player Sal Bando during an 1973 World Series match between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Mets, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, October 1973. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Member of the A’s dynasty and 4x All-Star.
11. Buddy Bell
CINCINNATI – 1987: Buddy Bell of the Cincinnati Reds fields during an MLB game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio during the 1987 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
6x Gold Glove Winner and had 2500+ hits.
10. Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen of St. Louis hits a game-winning single during action between the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri on July 15, 2006. The Cardinals won 2-1 in 10 innings. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
8x Gold Glove Winner and Hall of Famer.
9. Adrian Beltre
ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 17: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers throws out the runner on first base against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 17, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
3166 hits and tons of power.
8. Ron Santo
MESA, AZ – APRIL, 1962: Ron Santo #10 of the Chicago Cubs swings at the pitch during an MLB Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers circa April, 1962 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Hy Peskin/Getty Images)
9x All-Star and 5x Gold Glove Winner.
7. Paul Molitor
MILWAUKEE: Paul Molitor of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during an MLB game at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milkwaukee, Wisconsin. Molitor played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1978-1992. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
3319 hits and Hall of Famer.
6. Chipper Jones
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 5: Chipper Jones #10 of the Atlanta Braves breaks his bat hitting for a single in his last career at bat against the St. Louis Cardinals during the National League Wild Card Game at Turner Field on October 5, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Former MVP and hit 468 HR.
5. Eddie Mathews
FL – MARCH, 1956: Eddie Mathews #41 of the Milwaukee Braves hits a homerun during an MLB Spring Training game circa March, 1956 in Florida. (Photo by Hy Peskin/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X3628)
512 HRs
4. George Brett
(Original Caption) 10/3/1990-Cleveland, OH: Kansas City Royals George Brett singled in the seventh inning today and raised his average to .329. Brett will become the first to win a batting title in three different decades if Oakland’s Ricky Henderson cannot go 3 for 3. Ph: Roger Mastroianni
Was Batting Champ in three different decades.
3. Brooks Robinson
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1970: Brooks Robinson #5 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1970 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Robinson played for the Orioles from 1955-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
16x Gold Glove Winner and greatest defensive player ever.
2. Alex Rodriguez
NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees follows through on his first inning RBI double against the Chicago White Sox on April 30, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
PEDs aside, the talent was there for sure.
1. Mike Schmidt
Baseball player Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a match in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 1979. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
