So why have these third basemen been placed into the National Baseball Hall of Fame? The following chart briefly illustrates the statistical accomplishments of each third basemen currently enshrined in Cooperstown.
The chart is meant to serve as a quick compilation of lifetime statistics meant for easy comparison side-by-side comparison. Full stats for each third baseman can be found by simply visiting the "back of their baseball card" on Baseball Almanac.
"I broke up four no-hit games and each time I felt like a heel." - Hall of Fame Third Baseman Jimmy Collins
Stats for Hall of Fame Third BasemenBOLD Indicates Statistical Leader For HOF Third Basemen |
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HOF 3B | AVG | OBP | SLG | HITS | HR | RBI | RUNS | SB |
Frank Baker | .307 | .363 | .442 | 1,838 | 96 | 987 | 887 | 235 |
Adrián Beltré | .286 | .339 | .480 | 3,166 | 477 | 1,707 | 1,524 | 121 |
Wade Boggs | .328 | .415 | .443 | 3,010 | 118 | 1,014 | 1,513 | 24 |
George Brett | .305 | .373 | .487 | 3,154 | 317 | 1,595 | 1,583 | 201 |
Jimmy Collins | .294 | .344 | .409 | 1,999 | 65 | 983 | 1,055 | 194 |
Chipper Jones | .303 | .401 | .529 | 2,726 | 468 | 1,623 | 1,619 | 150 |
George Kell | .306 | .368 | .414 | 2,054 | 78 | 870 | 881 | 51 |
Freddie Lindstrom | .311 | .351 | .449 | 1,747 | 103 | 779 | 895 | 84 |
Eddie Mathews | .271 | .378 | .509 | 2,315 | 512 | 1,453 | 1,509 | 68 |
Paul Molitor | .306 | .369 | .448 | 3,319 | 234 | 1,307 | 1,782 | 504 |
Brooks Robinson | .267 | .325 | .401 | 2,848 | 268 | 1,357 | 1,232 | 28 |
Scott Rolen | .281 | .364 | .490 | 2,077 | 316 | 1,287 | 1,211 | 118 |
Ron Santo | .277 | .362 | .464 | 2,254 | 342 | 1,331 | 1,138 | 35 |
Mike Schmidt | .267 | .384 | .527 | 2,234 | 548 | 1,595 | 1,506 | 174 |
Pie Traynor | .320 | .362 | .435 | 2,416 | 58 | 1,273 | 1,183 | 158 |
Deacon White | .300 | .341 | .379 | 1,593 | 18 | 756 | 849 | 46 |
HOF 3B | AVG | OBP | SLG | HITS | HR | RBI | RUNS | SB |
Stats for Hall of Fame Third Basemen | Research by Baseball Almanac |
Frank "Home Run" Baker earned his nickname due to four home run titles and two game winning long balls during the 1911 World Series. Did you know that his bat weighed fifty-two ounces which is twenty ounces higher than today's average?
Mike Schmidt's offensive numbers are unprecedented and often overshadow his skill with the glove. Do you remember how many Gold Glove Awards he won?
Brooks Robinson set the standard for defensive greatness at third base. He finished his career with league leading records at third base for assists, chances, double plays, fielding percentage, games played and putouts.