# List of Major League Baseball career assists as a third baseman leaders

In baseball, an assist (denoted by A) is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is credited to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball (after it has been hit by the batter) prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional. For example, if a ball strikes a player's leg and bounces off him to another fielder, who tags the baserunner, the first player is credited with an assist. A fielder can receive a maximum of one assist per out recorded. An assist is also credited if a putout would have occurred, had another fielder not committed an error. For example, a shortstop might field a ground ball cleanly, but the first baseman might drop his throw. In this case, an error would be charged to the first baseman, and the shortstop would be credited with an assist. Unlike putouts, exactly one of which is awarded for every defensive out, an out can result in no assists being credited (as in strikeouts, fly outs and line drives), or in assists being credited to multiple players (as in relay throws and rundown plays). Third base, or 3B, is the third of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team. A third baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest third base, and is responsible for the majority of plays made at that base. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5. The third baseman requires good reflexes in reacting to batted balls, often being the closest infielder (roughly 90–120 feet) to the batter. The third base position requires a strong and accurate arm, as the third baseman often makes long throws to first base. The third baseman sometimes must throw quickly to second base in time to start a double play, and must also field fly balls in both fair and foul territory.
Third basemen are most commonly credited with an assist when they field a ground ball and throw the ball either to the first baseman to retire the batter/runner, or to the second baseman to force out a runner, perhaps beginning a double play. Other common ways in which third basemen gain an assist are by throwing out a runner attempting to score (perhaps on a squeeze play), perhaps on a relay throw from the left fielder, rundown plays in which a runner is stranded between bases, throwing out a runner attempting to steal home on a pickoff throw, and throwing to first or second base after catching a line drive in order to retire a runner before they can tag up. Third basemen typically accumulate fewer assists than second basemen or shortstops due to the frequency of ground balls to the middle infielders, but far more than players at other positions.
Because the physical demands of playing third base historically hindered players from having long careers at the position, all but three of the 25 third basemen with the longest careers have reached the major leagues since 1943; even as increasing strikeouts in baseball have reduced the frequency of other defensive outs including ground outs, longer seasons and careers in recent decades have more than compensated for the difference. The top 15 leaders in career assists at third base all reached the major leagues after 1950, and all but nine of the top 62 single-season totals have been recorded since 1957. Brooks Robinson is the all-time leader in career assists as a third baseman with 6,205, which was 1,624 more than any other player at the time of his retirement; he remains the only third baseman with more than 6,000 career assists.

## Key

| Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career assists. A blank field indicates a tie. |
| Player (2025 As) | Number of recorded assists during the 2025 Major League Baseball season |
| MLB | Total career assists as a third baseman in Major League Baseball |
| * | Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame |
| Bold | Denotes active player |

## List

* Stats updated as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Rank | Player (2025 As) | Assists as third baseman | Assists as third baseman | Assists as third baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Rank | Player (2025 As) | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| 1 | Brooks Robinson* | 6,205 | 6,205 | 0 | Held the single-season record, 1967-1971 (tie) |
| 2 | Graig Nettles | 5,279 | 4,616 | 663 | Holds the single-season record of 412 (set in 1971) |
| 3 | Adrián Beltré* | 5,182 | 3,365 | 1,817 | |
| 4 | Mike Schmidt* | 5,045 | 0 | 5,045 | Holds the National League single-season record (404 in 1974) |
| 5 | Buddy Bell | 4,925 | 4,151 | 774 | |
| 6 | Ron Santo* | 4,581 | 49 | 4,532 | Held National League record, 1973-1987; held NL single-season record, 1966-1974 |
| 7 | Gary Gaetti | 4,531 | 3,703 | 828 | |
| 8 | Eddie Mathews* | 4,322 | 38 | 4,284 | Held major league record, 1965-1971; held National League record, 1964-1973 |
| 9 | Wade Boggs* | 4,246 | 4,246 | 0 | |
| 10 | Aurelio Rodriguez | 4,150 | 4,022 | 128 | |
| 11 | Scott Rolen* | 4,081 | 385 | 3,696 | |
| 12 | Ron Cey | 4,018 | 3 | 4,015 | |
| 13 | Tim Wallach | 3,992 | 85 | 3,907 | |
| 14 | Terry Pendleton | 3,891 | 33 | 3,858 | |
| 15 | Sal Bando | 3,720 | 3,720 | 0 | |
| 16 | Lave Cross | 3,715 | 1,609 | 2,057 | Includes 49 in American Association; held major league record, 1906-1965 |
| 17 | Jimmy Collins* | 3,702 | 1,974 | 1,728 | Held American League record, 1901-1902; held AL single-season record, 1901-1902 |
| 18 | George Brett* | 3,674 | 3,674 | 0 | |
| 19 | Eddie Yost | 3,659 | 3,659 | 0 | Held American League record, 1960-1969 |
| 20 | Ken Boyer | 3,652 | 74 | 3,578 | |
| 21 | Aramis Ramírez | 3,627 | 0 | 3,627 | |
| 22 | Robin Ventura | 3,552 | 2,695 | 857 | |
| 23 | Arlie Latham | 3,546 | 0 | 1,544 | Includes 1,883 in American Association, 119 in Players' League; held major league record, 1891-1906; held single-season record, 1884-1886, 1891-1892; held NL single-season record, 1891-1892 |
| 24 | Nolan Arenado (0) | 3,543 | 0 | 3,543 | |
| 25 | Pie Traynor* | 3,521 | 0 | 3,521 | Held National League record, 1932-1964 |
| 26 | Stan Hack | 3,494 | 0 | 3,494 | |
| 27 | Chipper Jones* | 3,447 | 0 | 3,447 | |
| 28 | Larry Gardner | 3,408 | 3,408 | 0 | Held American League record, 1921-1960 |
| 29 | Matt Williams | 3,376 | 301 | 3,075 | |
| 30 | Willie Kamm | 3,345 | 3,345 | 0 | |
| 31 | George Kell* | 3,303 | 3,303 | 0 | |
| 32 | Evan Longoria | 3,297 | 2,440 | 857 | |
| 33 | Harlond Clift | 3,262 | 3,262 | 0 | Held the single-season record, 1937-1971 |
| 34 | Vinny Castilla | 3,261 | 230 | 3,031 | |
| 35 | Pinky Higgins | 3,258 | 3,258 | 0 | |
| 36 | Clete Boyer | 3,218 | 2,193 | 1,025 | |
| 37 | Doug DeCinces | 3,215 | 3,208 | 7 | |
| 38 | Home Run Baker* | 3,155 | 3,155 | 0 | Held American League record, 1918-1920 |
| 39 | Ken Caminiti | 3,127 | 99 | 3,028 | |
| 40 | Darrell Evans | 3,123 | 38 | 3,085 | |
| 41 | Billy Nash | 3,122 | 0 | 2,728 | Includes 307 in Players' League, 87 in American Association; held National League record, 1895-1910 |
| 42 | Ken Keltner | 3,070 | 3,070 | 0 | |
| 43 | Ossie Bluege | 3,040 | 3,040 | 0 | |
| 44 | Jimmy Austin | 2,949 | 2,949 | 0 | Held American League record, 1920-1921 |
| 45 | David Wright | 2,946 | 0 | 2,946 | |
| 46 | Bill Bradley | 2,943 | 2,489 | 359 | Includes 95 in Federal League; held American League record, 1903-1918 |
| 47 | Willie Jones | 2,934 | 10 | 2,924 | |
| 48 | Kyle Seager | 2,930 | 2,930 | 0 | |
| 49 | Billy Shindle | 2,891 | 0 | 2,226 | Includes 663 in American Association, 2 in Players' League; held single-season record, 1888-1890, 1892-1916; held NL single-season record, 1892-1966 |
| 50 | Doug Rader | 2,887 | 103 | 2,784 | |
| 51 | Frank Malzone | 2,884 | 2,884 | 0 | |
| 52 | Harry Steinfeldt | 2,805 | 0 | 2,805 | Held National League record, 1910-1932 |
| 53 | Carney Lansford | 2,799 | 2,799 | 0 | |
| 54 | Bob Elliott | 2,744 | 197 | 2,547 | |
| 55 | Eric Chavez | 2,732 | 2,618 | 114 | |
| 56 | Ken McMullen | 2,731 | 2,523 | 208 | |
| 57 | Todd Zeile | 2,724 | 490 | 2,234 | |
| 58 | Mike Lowell | 2,688 | 980 | 1,708 | |
| 59 | Manny Machado (0) | 2,640 | 1,478 | 1,162 | |
| | Pinky Whitney | 2,640 | 0 | 2,640 | |
| 61 | Heinie Groh | 2,554 | 0 | 2,554 | |
| 62 | Bill Madlock | 2,546 | 33 | 2,513 | |
| 63 | Jeff Cirillo | 2,545 | 1,124 | 1,421 | |
| 64 | Travis Fryman | 2,530 | 2,530 | 0 | |
| 65 | Milt Stock | 2,508 | 0 | 2,508 | |
| 66 | Troy Glaus | 2,505 | 1,909 | 596 | |
| 67 | Joe Randa | 2,489 | 1,947 | 542 | |
| 68 | Art Devlin | 2,481 | 0 | 2,481 | |
| 69 | Charlie Hayes | 2,480 | 447 | 2,033 | |
| 70 | Ken Reitz | 2,477 | 0 | 2,477 | |
| 71 | Billy Werber | 2,415 | 1,337 | 1,078 | |
| 72 | Jimmy Dykes | 2,403 | 2,403 | 0 | |
| 73 | Eddie Foster | 2,384 | 2,384 | 0 | |
| 74 | Mike Mowrey | 2,363 | 0 | 2,095 | Includes 268 in Federal League |
| 75 | Richie Hebner | 2,346 | 49 | 2,297 | |
| 76 | Jerry Denny | 2,338 | 0 | 2,338 | Held major league record, 1890-1891; held National League record, 1888-1895; held NL single-season record, 1886-1887 |
| 77 | Josh Donaldson | 2,336 | 2,001 | 335 | |
| 78 | Don Hoak | 2,331 | 0 | 2,331 | |
| 79 | Steve Buechele | 2,281 | 1,506 | 775 | |
| 80 | Bob Bailey | 2,262 | 2 | 2,260 | |
| 81 | Bobby Byrne | 2,221 | 0 | 2,221 | |
| 82 | Brandon Inge | 2,189 | 2,164 | 25 | |
| 83 | Doc Casey | 2,184 | 633 | 1,551 | Held American League record, 1902-1903 |
| 84 | Ryan Zimmerman | 2,181 | 0 | 2,181 | |
| 85 | Red Smith | 2,136 | 0 | 2,136 | |
| 86 | Denny Lyons | 2,130 | 0 | 929 | Includes 1,201 in American Association |
| 87 | Red Rolfe | 2,128 | 2,128 | 0 | |
| 88 | Tommy Leach | 2,127 | 0 | 2,127 | |
| 89 | Mike Pagliarulo | 2,119 | 1,836 | 283 | |
| 90 | Eugenio Suárez (0) | 2,089 | 495 | 1,594 | |
| 91 | Chase Headley | 2,078 | 865 | 1,213 | |
| 92 | Alex Rodriguez | 2,076 | 2,076 | 0 | |
| 93 | Don Money | 2,061 | 1,379 | 682 | |
| 94 | Brook Jacoby | 2,058 | 2,052 | 6 | |
| 95 | Mike Moustakas | 2,046 | 1,694 | 352 | |
| 96 | Bill Melton | 2,045 | 2,045 | 0 | |
| 97 | George Pinkney | 2,042 | 0 | 923 | Includes 1,119 in American Association |
| 98 | Paul Schaal | 2,038 | 2,038 | 0 | |
| 99 | Ken Oberkfell | 1,996 | 0 | 1,996 | |
| 100 | Hick Carpenter | 1,991 | 0 | 328 | Includes 1,663 in American Association; held major league record, 1888-1890 |

## Other Hall of Famers

| Player | Assists as third baseman | Assists as third baseman | Assists as third baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Player | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| Paul Molitor* | 1,639 | 1,639 | 0 | |
| Deacon White* | 1,619 | 0 | 1,457 | Includes 161 in Players' League, 1 in National Association |
| John McGraw* | 1,600 | 132 | 1,468 | |
| Freddie Lindstrom* | 1,536 | 0 | 1,536 | |
| Tony Pérez* | 1,496 | 0 | 1,496 | |
| Harmon Killebrew* | 1,388 | 1,388 | 0 | |
| Dick Allen* | 1,276 | 2 | 1,274 | |
| Joe Sewell* | 1,253 | 1,253 | 0 | |
| Cal Ripken Jr.* | 1,237 | 1,237 | 0 | |
| George Davis* | 1,163 | 0 | 1,163 | |
| Bill McKechnie* | 1,086 | 2 | 531 | Includes 553 in Federal League |
| Edgar Martínez* | 1,008 | 1,008 | 0 | |
| Bobby Wallace* | 956 | 224 | 732 | |
| Judy Johnson* | 948 | 0 | 0 | Includes 437 in Eastern Colored League, 349 in Negro National League (second), 120 in American Negro League, 42 in East–West League (incomplete) |
| Frankie Frisch* | 937 | 0 | 937 | |
| Jim Thome* | 856 | 856 | 0 | |
| Joe Torre* | 825 | 0 | 825 | |
| Jackie Robinson* | 544 | 0 | 544 | |
| Cap Anson* | 436 | 0 | 243 | Includes 193 in National Association; held National League record, 1876-1877; held single-season record, 1876-1877 |
| Honus Wagner* | 415 | 0 | 415 | |
| Rogers Hornsby* | 392 | 5 | 387 | |
| Jud Wilson* | 378 | 0 | 0 | Includes 183 in Negro National League (second), 159 in Eastern Colored League, 23 in East–West League, 13 in American Negro League (incomplete) |
| Ray Dandridge* | 286 | 0 | 0 | Includes 286 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) |
| Johnny Bench* | 284 | 0 | 284 | |
| Jimmie Foxx* | 278 | 246 | 32 | |
| Ryne Sandberg* | 278 | 0 | 278 | |
| Buck Ewing* | 264 | 0 | 264 | |
| Jim O'Rourke* | 222 | 0 | 164 | Includes 58 in National Association |
| Roger Connor* | 215 | 0 | 215 | |
| King Kelly* | 182 | 0 | 161 | Includes 18 in American Association, 3 in Players' League |
| Joe Cronin* | 127 | 127 | 0 | |
| Willie Wells* | 73 | 0 | 0 | Includes 66 in Negro National League (second), 7 in Negro American League (incomplete) |