Who is the second greatest third baseman of all-time?

[LionJim]

Here are the cumulative totals of the ten highest ten run producing seasons (with games played in parenthesis) for each of the following 3B:

• Traynor 1898 (1447)
• Jones 1744 (1458)
• Schmidt 1742 (1546)
• Mathews 1708 (1489)
• ARod 1683 (1400)
• Brett 1641 (1402)

The above only includes the seasons where each respective player played the majority of games as a 3B (NYY years for ARod, not Brett's 1B nor Jones OF years).

No doubt, there were different rates of scoring in various eras.

This link provides a long but comprehensive account of the various ebbs and flows of runs scored over the years. One very significant factor: the strike zone was enlarged in 1963.

Run totals throughout baseball history – Baseball: Past and Present

baseballpastandpresent.com

 

[leinbacker]

Billy Cox

 

[EDHOLLAPSU]

Mike Schmidt is #1 by a significant margin. #2 is Eddie Matthews who is gets underrated for whatever reason. #3 Wade Boggs #4 George Brett #5 Beltre #6 Chipper Jones #7 Brooks Robinson #8 Ron Santo #9 Scott Rolen #10 Graig Nettles. The top ten all time third baseman list is pretty straightforward imo if you take your bias out of it and this is the order. Boggs and Brett are interchangeable. Beltre and Chipper are interchangeable. The people who put Brooks Robinson at the top do it out of some nostalgia man crush which I understand. The top 3 guys that are currently playing who have the best chance to crack the top ten if they keep a consistent level of production up as they age are Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado and Jose Ramirez. I don’t think any of the three ever hit any higher then #8 that’s the ceiling if any of them even crack the top ten. I don’t think any of the three have enough juice to surpass Brooks Robinson at #7.

 

[MacNit]

You have to be able to hit. I wouldn’t doubt that Robinson is the greatest defensive third baseman ever but you gotta hit. I’d pick Brett or Matthews over brooks was a heck of a hitter a

Brooks was a heck of a hitter….clutch too!