Since 1960, who's your top five 3rd basemen?

1. Mike Schmidt

2. Chipper Jones

3. George Brett

4. Eddie Mathews

5. Brooks Robinson

Mike Schmidt

Brooks Robinson

Chipper Jones

George Brett

Miguel Cabrera

Mike Schmidt

George Brett

Wade Boggs

Chipper Jones

Brooks Robinson

I think the people rating Robinson ahead of these guys are undervaluing the offense of the others. Robinson was a great fielder, but the individual value of a hitter is greater than the individual value of a fielder, no matter how great.

Eddie Mathews would rate #2 for me, but again, his best years were in the 1950's. Ron Santo I would rate just below Robinson, and Home Run Baker is up there as well. Other post-1960 third basemen ranking highly include Darrell Evans, Graig Nettles, Scott Rolen, and Adrian Beltre.

Brooks Robinson

Mike Schmidt

George Brett

Wade Boggs

Bill Madlock

Brooks Robinson

Eddie Matthews

David Wright

Mike Schmidt

Ron Santo

1. Schmidt.

2-5. Brett, Boggs, Jones, Santo.

The meat of Mathews' career was in the 1950s.

Chip, Santo over Brooks?

My top 5:

1. Schmidt

2. Brett

3. Robinson

4. Jones

5. Boggs

I left off Mathews because his best years were before 1960.

1952-1959: 299 HR, 777 RBI, .281 BA

1960-1968: 213 HR, 676 RBI, .261 BA

edit: Caspian8, I think you're undervaluing Robinson's offense. When he won the MVP in 1964 he had 28 HR, led the league with 118 RBI, and batted .317.

In recent history only Jones, Brett, and Schmidt had more RBI's among third baseman. Only Brett and Boggs had more hits. Since 1960 Robinson had a higher batting average than Schmidt (.269 to .267). Playing more games than the others increased his totals but Robinson's offensive numbers are a lot closer to the others than their defensive numbers are to his. Mike Schmidt was considered a good fielder and won 10 gold gloves at 3B. But his stats are not even close to Robinson's.

games: BR 2870, MS 2212

putouts: BR 2697 (0.94 per game), MS 1591 (0.72 per game)

errors: BR 263 (0.092 per game), MS 313 (0.142 per game)

double plays: BR 618 (0.215 per game), MS 450 (0.203 per game)

fielding pct: BR .971, MS .955 (a 0.016 difference!)

Chipper was so bad at third (.944 % and .945 % in 2000 and 2001) that they threw him in the outfield for a couple of seasons. Brett ended up at 1B his last 6 seasons. Boggs had no range at all.

The poster didn't ask who your top 5 offensive players are since 1960. He asked who your top 5 THIRD BASEMAN are and nobody played third base better than Brooks Robinson.

Graig Nettles

the Human Vacuum Brooks Robinson none better !!!

Sure Chipper Jones, no doubt