Who are the greatest MLB third basemen of all time?

The third base position is not an easy one to master. But, there have been many who have and have gone down in the history books as legendary talent. However, which players should be considered the greatest third basemen in MLB history? It’s not easy to make a list, but here are our picks of the top five third basemen of all time.

5. Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers — Image via Wikimedia Commons (Keith Allison)

Strong arguments can be made for the likes of Scott Rolen, Wade Boggs, and Chipper Jones to be on this list. All three are Baseball Hall of Famers and all three excelled at the position. However, future Baseball Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre could be considered arguably the greatest third baseman to play in the last 30 years and one of the top five of all time.

While Beltre never won a World Series or an MVP, he did prove to be a brute force at the plate. Beltre is the all-time leader for most hits (2,987) and RBI (1,594) among players at the third base position and hit virtually wherever he went. A member of the 3,000-hit club, Beltre was also a dominant defender. He won five Gold Gloves and two Platinum Gloves during his MLB career.

4. Eddie Mathews

Braves legend Eddie Mathews spent time at first and left field but his greatest impact was at the hot corner. The 12-time All-Star formed a dynamic duo in the Milwaukee Braves lineup alongside Hank Aaron, thanks to his incredible power and strength. That duo helped Milwaukee win the 1957 World Series, one of two titles Mathews won in his illustrious career.

Mathews hit 512 career home runs, 467 of which came at third base, and his career .889 recorded OPS at the position is fifth-best among players with at least 3,000 PA while playing the position.

3. George Brett

Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett — Image via Wikimedia Commons (Gage Skidmore)

Very few players in MLB history played with as much intensity and skill as Royals icon George Brett. A member of the 3,000-hit club, no player in Royals history has come close to surpassing Brett’s career bWAR (88.6) with the team.

Much of that was thanks to his bat, as Brett was arguably the best pure hitter of the 1980s and one of the best contact hitters in league history. Brett finished his career with 13 All-Star nominations, a Gold Glove, an AL MVP in 1980 after what was a historic campaign — one in which Brett hit .390 over 117 games — and a World Series title in 1985.

2. Brooks Robinson

Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson — Image via Wikimedia Commons

It’s nearly impossible to have a conversation about the greatest MLB third basemen of all time without Brooks Robinson. Nicknamed the “Human Vacuum Cleaner,” Robinson could be considered the greatest defensive third baseman in league history. The O’s legend won 16 Gold Gloves at third — a total that no player has surpassed to this date — and was known for clutch defensive plays at key moments.

Aside from his defensive capabilities, Robinson could also do it with the bat. Robinson ended his career with two World Series titles, six 20+ home run campaigns, 4,254 career total bases, and 2,838 hits while playing third. The latter two are good for second-most in MLB history.

1. Mike Schmidt

Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt with Tom McCarthy

Phillies icon Mike Schmidt did it all during his incredible MLB career. Schmidt hit 548 home runs throughout his career, 509 of which came at third base. No player in MLB history has home runs at the position than Schmidt, and his 1,474 RBI are second-most in league history. Not to mention, his bat played a major role in the Phillies’ World Series championship team in 1980.

On top of his bat, Schmidt was also a difference-maker at the hot corner. Schmidt won 10 Gold Gloves in his career, tied with Nolan Arenado for second-most in league history.

Note: All stats and achievements are as of 1903 or later. All stats and split values from Baseball-Reference. Data may not be completely accurate due to the lack of game logs from the early 1900s.