5 at the Hot Corner
By: John Thorn
Tags: Mike Schmidt, Fives, Home Run Baker, Baseball, Eddie Mathews

In 1860, in the first Beadle’s Baseball Guide, Henry Chadwick wrote this in his description of the various positions on the field: “The Third Base is not quite as important a position as the others.” Only right field came in for greater contempt: “This is the position that the poorest player of the nine — if there be any such — should occupy; not that the position does not require as good a player to occupy it as the others, but that it is only occasionally, in comparison to other portions of the field, that balls are sent in this direction.”

The game has changed since then, of course, and lefthanded batters have proliferated to an extent unimagined before the Civil War. Right field is now more important than left field, and more difficult to play than first base, too, where — before the advent of fielding gloves — simply catching a throw was by no means a foregone conclusion.

For half a century beyond, Father Chadwick’s notions of the relative importance of positions held in force. Third base was thought to require a sturdy chest and a strong arm but little agility or range; apart from Jimmy Collins of Boston no third sacker of the 19th century was thought worthy of notice, although there were several fine ones. When Franklin P. Adams immortalized the Cubs’ infield with “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon” his refrain was “Tinker to Evers to Chance” … short to second to first. Perhaps for metrical reasons, he ignored third baseman Harry Steinfeldt, who for the Cub champions of 1906 had led the league in hits (176) and RBIs (83) with a batting average of .327, second only to Honus Wagner.

There was, for a long time, a paucity of third sackers in the Baseball Hall of Fame. None was chosen until Collins in 1945, followed by Pie Traynor (1948) and Frank “Home Run” Baker (1955). Third basemen of the Negro Leagues like Ray Dandridge, Jud Wilson, and Judy Johnson would have to wait their turn.

As the game changed, and with it the demands of the position, superstars emerged like Eddie Mathews and Mike Schmidt, and Brooks Robinson showed that range at third made a difference to an Orioles pitching staff. The 1970s brought a burgeoning crop of great third basemen who combined power at the plate with grace and agility in the field — indeed, so many that Cooperstown is still trying to catch up.

Recently the game has changed again, as increasing reliance upon the shift has stacked three infielders on one side or the other, with the presumptively lesser range of the third baseman leaving him as a midfielder. This may change again of course, but the once hot corner has for now cooled off.

Frank Baker

1876–1919

Frank Baker

John McGraw made the Hall as a manager but, oh, look at that on-base percentage! Still, we have to go with Baker as the best of his era. He was not the first player to gain the nickname “Home Run” for the frequency or timeliness of his blasts — that would be Grant Johnson or Harry Davis. But Baker’s exploits in the World Series of 1911 and 1913 cemented his name and his fame while, oddly, obscuring what a terrific all-around player he was, with both the Athletics and the Yankees.

Runners-up: Deacon White, Jimmy Collins, John McGraw, Harry Steinfeldt

Jud Wilson, 1931

1920–1946

Jud Wilson

Judy Johnson and Ray Dandridge made it to Cooperstown before Wilson but recently excavated stats (thanks, Seamheads!) reveal him to have been the greater player, even though he divided his time between third base and first. Johnson was the slick fielder and Dandridge, who played in integrated ball after 1947 but did not reach the majors, had a strong bat, too. Pie Traynor was great, but the Negro Leaguers take the prize for this period.

Runners-up: Pie Traynor, Judy Johnson, Harlond Clift, Pepper Martin

Eddie Mathews

1947–1976

Eddie Mathews

Breaking in with the 1952 Boston Braves, Mathews rocketed to stardom the next year as the club moved to Milwaukee. If Home Run Baker had not retired the nickname, it could as well have been applied to this big kid who also had a great glove. Joined by Henry Aaron in 1954, Mathews made the former tailender Braves into the class of the National League. Greatest third baseman ever? Your answer must be Mathews or Mike Schmidt.

Runners-up: Brooks Robinson, Al Rosen, Ron Santo, Dick Allen

Mike Schmidt

1977–2002

Mike Schmidt

Like many third baseman, Schmidt began his pro career as a shortstop. Coming to the woeful Phils in 1973 he was installed at third and proceeded to hit .196 with 136 strikeouts and might have flamed out at the tender age of 22. But they gave him another shot, and he proceeded to lead the league in homers in each of the next three seasons, ultimately collecting three MVPs and amassing 548 to top Mathews.

Runners-up: Wade Boggs, George Brett, Scott Rolen, Buddy Bell

Chipper Jones

2003–2020

Chipper Jones

It’s hard to deny the top spot to Adrián Beltré, who will join Chipper Jones in the Hall of Fame soon. And this writer is a Mets fan, whom Jones loved to torment … if only David Wright had not hurt his back! But Chipper is the class of this field, which includes two active players (Manny Machado’s years at shortstop slid him out of contention).

Runners-up: Adrián Beltré, Nolan Arenado, Evan Longoria, David Wright