These are the best third basemen and shortstops in MLB History:
Third Basemen
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:
20. Matt Williams: 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)
3x League MVP and 10x Gold Glove Winner.
Shortstop
Closeup shot of Mark Belanger Demonstrating his batting stance.
20. Mark Belanger: Second greatest defensive shortstop of all-time.
19. Dave Bancroft
(Original Caption) Some of the Giants have put on some avoirdupois during the winter months. Among these we find Dave Bancroft pictured here who shows how fat his face got.
Hall of Famer.
18. Ozzie Smith
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10 : St. Louis Cardinals Ozzie Smith gets the jump on Dodgers Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, then slides safely into 2nd base during playoff series of the Los Angeles Dodgers against St. Louis Cardinals at Dodgers Stadium, October 10 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
“The Wizard of Oz”; Greatest defensive shortstop ever.
17. Bill Dahlen
View of American baseball player Bill Dahlen warms up in Washington Park, Brooklyn, New York, New York, 1910. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)
An early great in baseball history.
16. Maury Willis
(Original Caption) Vero Beach, Florida: Maury Wills of the L.A. Dodgers during spring training.
Changed the game with his base stealing skills.
15. Arky Vaughn
PITTSBURGH – AUGUST 31, 1935. Arky Vaughn, who as just set a new Pittsburgh Pirate record by hitting 19 home runs in a season as a shortstop, takes batting practice at Forbes field in Pittsburgh before a game on August 31, 1935. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
Career .318 hitter.
14. Bobby Wallace
ST. LOUIS – APRIL, 1910. Shortstop Bobby Wallace of the St. Louis Browns, takes some hacks at the club’s Houston, Texas spring training facility in April of 1910. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
Hall of Famer.
13. Troy Tulowitzki
DENVER – JULY 08: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies makes contact as he takes an at bat against the Washington Nationals during MLB action at Coors Field on July 8, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Nationals 10-4. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
“Tulo” Terrific with the bat and glove.
12. Nomar Garciaparra
Boston Red Sox batter Nomar Garciaparra makes contact against the Texas Rangers Friday, July 9, 2004. The Red Sox won 7-0 at Fenway Park in Boston. (Photo by J Rogash/Getty Images)
“Nomah” Fantastic hitter whose statistics waned at the end due to injuries.
11. Pee Wee Reese
(Original Caption) Pee Wee Reese of the Brooklyn Dodgers is shown here in this close-up.
Dodgers Captain and Hall of Famer.
10. Phil Rizzuto
Portrait of Phil Rizzuto (1917 – 2007), Shortstop for the New York Yankees before the Major League Baseball American League game against the Washington Senators on 11th September 1949 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Curt Gunther/Keystone View Company/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
“The Scooter” Doesn’t get as much acclaim as Reese, but he was a better all-around player.
9. Robin Yount
MILWAUKEE: Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during an MLB game at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milkwaukee, Wisconsin. Yount played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1974-1993. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Started his career at SS before moving to the OF.
8. Omar Vizquel
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1994: Omar Vizquel #13 of the Cleveland Indians down and ready to make a play on the ball against the New York Yankees during an Major League Baseball game circa 1994 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Vizquel played for the Indians from 1994-2004. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
11-time Golden Glove winner.
7. Alan Trammell
CHICAGO: Alan Trammell of the Detroit Tigers fields during an MLB game at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. Alan Trammell played for the Detroit Tigers from 1977-1996. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
6x All-Star and Hall of Famer.
6. Barry Larkin
COOPERSTOWN, NY – JULY 22: Barry Larkin poses for a photograph with his plaque at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 22, 2012 in Cooperstown, New York. Larkin played his entire 19 year major league career with the Cincinnati Reds, compiling a .295 average, 2,340 hits, 1,329 runs, 198 home runs, 960 runs batted in and stole 379 bases. He was named to 12 All-Star games and was the 1995 National League MVP. Larkin was also a member of the 1990 World Series championship team. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
12x All-Star and amazing all-around player.
5. Luke Appling
1940: Luke Appling, of the Chicago White Sox, poses for a portrait, circa 1940. (Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images)
.310 career batting average and Hall of Famer.
4. Cal Ripken Jr.
BALTIMORE, MD – CIRCA 1995: Cal Ripken Jr #8 of the Baltimore Orioles poses for this portrait before the start of a Major League baseball game circa 1995 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore, Maryland. Cal Ripken Jr played for the Orioles from 1981-01. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
“The Iron Man” 2x League MVP.
3. Derek Jeter
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees bats the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Two of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
5x World Series Champion and arguably the most clutch hitter in post-season history.
2. Ernie Banks
(Original Caption) Mesa, Arizona: Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs during spring training.
“Mr. Cub” Hit 512 HRs.
1. Luis Aparicio
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – CIRCA 1964: Baltimore Orioles shortstop Luis Aparicio (#11) runs to first base during a regular season game against the New York Yankees at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland in 1964. Aparicio, a 13-time All-Star, played for the Orioles from 1963-1967, helping them win their first-ever World Series in 1966. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images)
9x Gold Glove winner and led the AL in steals 9x, too.
