Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Third Basemen

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a week longer than expected, but we are back with a look through more of the top players in Pittsburgh Pirates history. This time, we move on to third base, as we have just about completed our tour of the infield.

The Pirates history at third has been rather interesting. Just like at first and second, they have had one Hall of Fame caliber player, yet he does not lead the team in Wins Above Replacement for third basemen. There were players who looked like they could have been superstars, but left before fulfilling that destiny or never panned out.

As per the other top five lists, the Fangraphs.com Wins Above Replacement list was used as a guide. However, unlike the other lists, third base was very close. In fact, the difference from third on the WAR list, Richie Hebner, to twelfth, Jeff King, is a total of 12.7. Any number of worthy candidates could have made this list.

With that being the case, perhaps more than any other list thus far, it was difficult to pare this down to a mere five players. Naturally, That should mean more players that can be debated about in regards to who was snubbed or who should have been higher on the list. After all, that is a part of the joy in typing these out.

Let us know who you feel should have been included, or who should have been ranked higher, in the comments!

Next: Another brilliant Mets financial decision

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5. Bobby Bonilla (1986-1991)

At this point, Bobby Bonilla is probably better known for the fact that the Mets are still paying him $1.2 Million per year until 2037. Instead of giving him the $5.9 Million he was due as the Mets were struggling to make payroll (thank you, Bernie Madoff), they deferred that amount at an 8% interest rate. In total, Bonilla will take home a cool $30 Million for waiting on that final amount he was due. Not a bad investment.

Bonilla himself seemed like he would be a good investment for the Mets, at least in his first go around. He was coming off four consecutive All-Star seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning three Silver Slugger awards and finishing in the top three of the MVP ballot in his final two seasons as a Pirate. It certainly appeared as though a true star was leaving Pittsburgh.

While Bobby Bonilla was never able to truly become that player, he was truly spectacular with the Pirates. During his time in Pittsburgh, he produced a .284/.357/.481 batting line, slugging 114 home runs and 191 doubles. Not a bad haul for Jose DeLeon, who the Pirates traded away to bring in Bonilla.

In fact, Bonilla would likely have been higher on this list if he had not split his time between right field and third. While his two best seasons with the Pirates came as a right fielders, Bonilla was still good enough at third to rank as the fifth best third baseman in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

Next: The last captain

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4. Bill Madlock (1979-1985)

Bill Madlock seemed to be rather underappreciated. He was a four time batting champion, yet only made three All-Star games and never won a Silver Slugger award. Despite putting solid power and speed totals together, Madlock never placed higher than sixth on an MVP ballot. While he may not have been Hall of Fame caliber, Madlock only received 4.5% of the vote in his only year on the ballot.

Yet, Madlock was a key performer for the Pittsburgh Pirates during his tenure here. He won batting titles in 1981 and in 1983, while finishing second in 1982 with a .319 batting average. He was a solid on base threat, showing a solid batting eye and a tremendous ability to put a bat on the ball. Just look at his 1981 season when he struck out only 17 times in 320 plate appearances. For his career, Madlock only struck out 510 times in 15 years.

During his tenure with the Pirates, Bill Madlock was at his best. He produced a .297/.357/.428 batting line with 68 home runs and 82 stolen bases, while hitting 155 doubles. That excellent bat control and eye at the plate was fully evident during his time in Pittsburgh, as Madlock walked 275 times while striking out only in only 206 of his at bats.

Madlock, the last captain for the Pirates, was a solid performer and was fairly underrated. As it is, he ranks fourth all time on the list of Pittsburgh Pirates third basemen.

Next: He had the first hit in World Series action

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3. Tommy Leach (1900-1912, 1918)

During his heyday, Tommy Leach was quite the star for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In fact, he is listed as all time leader in Wins Above Replacement of any Pirates player ever at third.

So, why is Leach not higher on this list? Well, for starters, he played approximately half of his career games at third, while also splitting time in center and in left. Of those games in the outfield, it is unknown as to how many were at which position, given the shoddy nature of stat keeping or box scores back in those days.

What is indisputable is how well Tommy Leach performed in those fourteen years as a  Pirate. In that time, Leach put together a .271/.332/.373 batting line, hitting a respectable 43 home runs, leading the National League with six homers in 1902, and stealing 271 bases. Leach finished in the top three in slugging percentage three time, and was in the top ten in total bases five times during his time in Pittsburgh.  Presently, Leach ranks 23rd all time in triples with 172, with a career best 22 to lead the NL in that 1902 season.

A lot of solid ball players from the turn of the century have been forgotten about through the years, and Tommy Leach may well be one of those. Yet, he was still one of the best third basemen to play for the Pirates.

Next: The rise of the Grave Digger

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1. Pie Traynor (1920-1935, 1937)

There was a time when Pie Traynor was considered to be one of the best third basemen, not just of his generation, but ever. However, when looking at his numbers through the lens of the modern era of baseball, when third has become a far more offensive position than it was back when Traynor played, and his numbers pale in comparison.

Yet, Traynor was thought so highly of during his playing days, that he was named the starting third baseman for the National League during the first ever All-Star Game in 1933. He received the same honor the following year, even though it was obvious that he was not the same player due to injuries. However, in his prime, Traynor was a brilliant defensive third baseman with incredible range and an excellent bat.

During his time with the Pirates, Pie Traynor put together a .320/.362/.435 batting line with 371 doubles and 158 stolen bases. While Traynor was never a power hitter, he did finish eighth with 12 home runs in 1923. Defensively, Traynor ranks fifth all time with 2289 putouts at third, and was consistently among the league leaders virtually every defensive metric from the mid to the late 1920’s. If Gold Gloves had been given out back then, Traynor definitely would have won quite a few.

Pie Traynor may be not be viewed in the same light that he was during his playing days, but he was definitely a great third baseman in his era. In fact, he was the best third baseman in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates Cuntdown: Top Five Second Basemen