# Third baseman > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Third_baseman > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Third_baseman.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_baseman > Source revision: 1355476305 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Baseball position}} {{Redirect|Third base}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2007}} thumb|right|The position of the third baseman A '''third baseman''', abbreviated '''3B''', is the player in [baseball](/source/baseball) or [softball](/source/softball) whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to '''third base''' — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the [scoring system](/source/Baseball_scorekeeping) used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5. Third base is known as the "'''hot corner'''", because the third baseman is often the [infielder](/source/infielder) who stands closest to the batter—roughly 90–120 feet away, but even closer if a [bunt](/source/Bunt_(baseball)) is expected. Most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball hard in this direction. A third baseman must possess good hand-eye coordination and quick reactions to catch batted balls whose speed can exceed {{convert|120|mph}}.{{cite web |last=Raue |first=Brian A. |title=Home run distances at Pro Player Stadium |url=http://www.fiu.edu/~baraue/personal/homers.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701021416/http://www2.fiu.edu/~baraue/personal/homers.html |archive-date=1 July 2017}} The third base position requires a strong and accurate arm, as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base or quick ones to [second base](/source/second_baseman) to start a [double play](/source/double_play). As with middle [infielder](/source/infielder)s, right-handed throwing players are standard at the position because they do not need to turn their body before throwing across the [infield](/source/Infielder) to first base. [Mike Squires](/source/Mike_Squires_(baseball)), who played fourteen games at third base in 1982 and 1983, is a very rare example of a third baseman who threw lefty.{{Cite web |title=Mike Squires Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/squirmi01.shtml |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314134026/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/squirmi01.shtml |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Index of /blog/archives/10835 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/10835/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=www.baseball-reference.com |archive-date=2024-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314134055/https://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/10835/ |url-status=live }} Some third basemen have been converted from middle infielders or [outfielder](/source/outfielder)s because the position does not require them to run as fast. The third baseman must also field [fly balls](/source/Batted_ball) in [fair and foul territories](/source/Baseball_field). Expectations of how well a third baseman should be able to hit have risen over time; in the early years of the sport, these expectations were similar to those for [shortstop](/source/shortstop)s, the third baseman being merely the less skilled defensive player. Players who could hit with more ability often were not suited for third base, either because they were left-handed or because they were not mobile enough for the position. However, the beginning of the [live-ball era](/source/live-ball_era) in the 1920s created a greater demand for more offense, and third basemen have since been expected to hit either for a high [average](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) (.290 or better) or with moderate to substantial power. Since the 1950s the position has become more of a power position with sluggers such as [Eddie Mathews](/source/Eddie_Mathews), [Mike Schmidt](/source/Mike_Schmidt) and [Ron Santo](/source/Ron_Santo) becoming stars. There are fewer third basemen in the [Baseball Hall of Fame](/source/National_Baseball_Hall_of_Fame_and_Museum) than there are Hall of Famers of any other position. Few third basemen have gone on to have successful [managing](/source/manager_(baseball)) careers; exceptions include [John McGraw](/source/John_McGraw), [Bobby Cox](/source/Bobby_Cox), [Jimmy Dykes](/source/Jimmy_Dykes), and [Negro leaguer](/source/Negro_league_baseball) [Dave Malarcher](/source/Dave_Malarcher). ==Prominent third basemen== ===Baseball Hall of Fame members=== [[File:Brooks Robinson 1977.jpg|thumb|[Brooks Robinson](/source/Brooks_Robinson) played more games at third base than any other player in MLB history.]] *[Dick Allen](/source/Dick_Allen) (played first base for most of latter part of career) *[Frank "Home Run" Baker](/source/Home_Run_Baker) *[Adrián Beltré](/source/Adri%C3%A1n_Beltr%C3%A9) *[Johnny Bench](/source/Johnny_Bench) (elected as a catcher, shifted to third base in last three years of his career) *[Wade Boggs](/source/Wade_Boggs) *[George Brett](/source/George_Brett) (played first base and [designated hitter](/source/designated_hitter) in the latter years of his career) *[Jimmy Collins](/source/Jimmy_Collins) *[Ray Dandridge](/source/Ray_Dandridge) (Negro leagues) *[Judy Johnson](/source/Judy_Johnson) (Negro leagues) *[Chipper Jones](/source/Chipper_Jones) *[George Kell](/source/George_Kell) *[Freddie Lindstrom](/source/Freddie_Lindstrom) *[Edgar Martínez](/source/Edgar_Mart%C3%ADnez) (primarily a designated hitter who was the regular third baseman for the [Seattle Mariners](/source/Seattle_Mariners) in the early years of his career) *[Eddie Mathews](/source/Eddie_Mathews) *[John McGraw](/source/John_McGraw) (primarily elected as a manager, although a third baseman in his short but successful playing career) *[Paul Molitor](/source/Paul_Molitor) (longtime [designated hitter](/source/designated_hitter) who played primarily third base on the field) *[Brooks Robinson](/source/Brooks_Robinson) *[Scott Rolen](/source/Scott_Rolen) *[Ron Santo](/source/Ron_Santo) *[Mike Schmidt](/source/Mike_Schmidt) *[Joe Torre](/source/Joe_Torre) (inducted as manager but played a significant portion of his successful playing career at third base) *[Pie Traynor](/source/Pie_Traynor) (First third baseman to be inducted into the [Baseball Hall of Fame](/source/Baseball_Hall_of_Fame)) *[Jud Wilson](/source/Jud_Wilson) (Negro leagues) *[Deacon White](/source/Deacon_White) (played significantly at catcher, but more games at third, especially as he got older) ===Multiple Gold Glove Award winners=== {{main|List of Gold Glove Award winners at third base}} *[Brooks Robinson](/source/Brooks_Robinson): 16 *[Mike Schmidt](/source/Mike_Schmidt): 10 *[Nolan Arenado](/source/Nolan_Arenado): 10 (active) *[Scott Rolen](/source/Scott_Rolen): 8 *[Eric Chavez](/source/Eric_Chavez): 6 *[Robin Ventura](/source/Robin_Ventura): 6 *[Buddy Bell](/source/Buddy_Bell): 6 *[Matt Chapman](/source/Matt_Chapman): 5 (active) *[Ken Boyer](/source/Ken_Boyer): 5 *[Doug Rader](/source/Doug_Rader): 5 *[Ron Santo](/source/Ron_Santo): 5 *[Gary Gaetti](/source/Gary_Gaetti): 4 *[Adrián Beltré](/source/Adri%C3%A1n_Beltr%C3%A9): 4 *[Matt Williams](/source/Matt_Williams_(third_baseman)): 4 *[Ken Caminiti](/source/Ken_Caminiti): 3 *[Frank Malzone](/source/Frank_Malzone): 3 *[Evan Longoria](/source/Evan_Longoria): 3 *[David Wright](/source/David_Wright): 2 *[Wade Boggs](/source/Wade_Boggs): 2 *[Graig Nettles](/source/Graig_Nettles): 2 *[Manny Machado](/source/Manny_Machado): 2 (active) ===All-time single-season assists leaders among third basemen=== #[Graig Nettles](/source/Graig_Nettles): 412 (Cleveland Indians, 1971) #[Graig Nettles](/source/Graig_Nettles): 410 (New York Yankees, 1973) #[Brooks Robinson](/source/Brooks_Robinson): 410 (Baltimore Orioles, 1974) #[Brooks Robinson](/source/Brooks_Robinson): 405 (Baltimore Orioles, 1967) #[Harlond Clift](/source/Harlond_Clift): 405 (St. Louis Browns, 1937) #[Mike Schmidt](/source/Mike_Schmidt): 404 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1974) #[Doug DeCinces](/source/Doug_DeCinces): 399 (California Angels, 1982) #[Brandon Inge](/source/Brandon_Inge): 398 (Detroit Tigers, 2006) #[Clete Boyer](/source/Clete_Boyer): 396 (New York Yankees, 1962) #[Mike Schmidt](/source/Mike_Schmidt): 396 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1977) #[Buddy Bell](/source/Buddy_Bell): 396 (Texas Rangers, 1982) ===All-time single-season putouts leaders among third basemen=== # [Denny Lyons](/source/Denny_Lyons): 255 (Philadelphia Athletics, 1887) # [Jimmy Williams](/source/Jimmy_Williams_(second_baseman)): 251 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1899) # [Jimmy Collins](/source/Jimmy_Collins): 251 (Boston Beaneaters [National League], 1900) # [Jimmy Collins](/source/Jimmy_Collins): 243 (Boston Beaneaters [National League], 1898) # [Willie Kamm](/source/Willie_Kamm): 243 (Chicago White Sox, 1928) # [Willie Kamm](/source/Willie_Kamm): 236 (Chicago White Sox, 1927) # [Frank Baker](/source/Home_Run_Baker): 233 (Philadelphia Athletics, 1913) # [Bill Coughlin](/source/Bill_Coughlin): 232 (Washington Senators, 1901) # [Ernie Courtney](/source/Ernie_Courtney): 229 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1905) # [Jimmy Austin](/source/Jimmy_Austin): 228 (St. Louis Browns, 1911) ==References== {{reflist}} {{Portal|Baseball}} {{Baseball positions}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Third Baseman}} Category:Baseball positions --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Third baseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_baseman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_baseman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.