I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee in the 50’s and 60’s and remember Eddie Matthew’s well, as he was my favorite Milwaukee Braves player. I played 3rd base in my short undistinguished career in Little League because of him. In high school my bus route drove by his house, a ranch house, as those were the days when baseball players were middle class. Now I have a baseball signed by him in my study. Thanks for a bringing back good memories.
What about Pie Traynor? Following World War II, Traynor was often cited as the greatest third baseman in major league history. He was an American third baseman, manager, scout and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career between 1920 and 1937 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Traynor had a .320 career batting average, batting over .300 ten times with seven seasons with over 100 runs batted in (RBI). With home runs limited by playing in Forbes Field, the most difficult park for power hitting in the National League (NL), he compensated by reaching double digits in triples eleven times, leading the league in 1923. He batted .346 in the 1925 World Series to help the Pirates take their first championship in 16 years.
Traynor led NL third basemen in putouts seven times, in double plays four times, and in assists three times; his 41 double plays in 1925 were an NL record until 1950, and his 226 putouts that year remain the highest NL total since 1905. He set major league records for career double plays (303) and games (1,863) at third base which were broken in 1945 and 1960 respectively, and which remained NL records until Eddie Mathews broke them in 1964 and 1965; his 2,289 putouts remain the NL record, and his 3,521 assists were the league record until Mathews passed him in 1964. Traynor was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1948, becoming the initial third baseman elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
In recent years, his renown has diminished, with the modern-era careers of third basemen including Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett moving to the forefront in the memories of baseball fans; however, he is still widely regarded as the top third baseman in the National League prior to 1950.
I like that list. Except for Home Run Baker, all in my lifetime and most I saw in person. Favorite? Brooks. My Dad let me stay home from school to watch the '70 Series, I was 12, and Brooks killed it. Still etched in my memory.
yeah baby! Brooks and Schmidt! totally see this just from the eye test when I was younger. Hot corner Kings! I have my closet fav' The Penguin from the Big Blue Wrecking Crew of the 70s though. Cey hey Ronny.
I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee in the 50’s and 60’s and remember Eddie Matthew’s well, as he was my favorite Milwaukee Braves player. I played 3rd base in my short undistinguished career in Little League because of him. In high school my bus route drove by his house, a ranch house, as those were the days when baseball players were middle class. Now I have a baseball signed by him in my study. Thanks for a bringing back good memories.
Where do the Boyer brothers fit on this list?
List is good, Number 1 is the very solid, almost obvious pick
Two things pop right out to me:
It is almost a crime how the BBWAA shunned Ron Santo for the Hall Of Fame. Disgusting.
Mike Schmidt broke the Century Mark, damn!
Nice analysis!
What about Pie Traynor? Following World War II, Traynor was often cited as the greatest third baseman in major league history. He was an American third baseman, manager, scout and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career between 1920 and 1937 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Traynor had a .320 career batting average, batting over .300 ten times with seven seasons with over 100 runs batted in (RBI). With home runs limited by playing in Forbes Field, the most difficult park for power hitting in the National League (NL), he compensated by reaching double digits in triples eleven times, leading the league in 1923. He batted .346 in the 1925 World Series to help the Pirates take their first championship in 16 years.
Traynor led NL third basemen in putouts seven times, in double plays four times, and in assists three times; his 41 double plays in 1925 were an NL record until 1950, and his 226 putouts that year remain the highest NL total since 1905. He set major league records for career double plays (303) and games (1,863) at third base which were broken in 1945 and 1960 respectively, and which remained NL records until Eddie Mathews broke them in 1964 and 1965; his 2,289 putouts remain the NL record, and his 3,521 assists were the league record until Mathews passed him in 1964. Traynor was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1948, becoming the initial third baseman elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
In recent years, his renown has diminished, with the modern-era careers of third basemen including Eddie Mathews, Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett moving to the forefront in the memories of baseball fans; however, he is still widely regarded as the top third baseman in the National League prior to 1950.
I totally agree with your #1 and #2 picks. Mike Schmidt was the best and I always liked Brooks Robinson.
Terry Pendelton?
Huge Schmidt/Phillies fan and Braves hater, but Chipper is way to low. You could argue he should be 2 or 3
I like that list. Except for Home Run Baker, all in my lifetime and most I saw in person. Favorite? Brooks. My Dad let me stay home from school to watch the '70 Series, I was 12, and Brooks killed it. Still etched in my memory.
Can’t argue much with your picks
Michael Jack was a boss!
Where’s A ROD
yeah baby! Brooks and Schmidt! totally see this just from the eye test when I was younger. Hot corner Kings! I have my closet fav' The Penguin from the Big Blue Wrecking Crew of the 70s though. Cey hey Ronny.
Another great list. No qualms. Beltre maybe swapped for Brett but pretty darn perfect.
Cook!