Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Best Third Basemen in Team History

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 20: Pedro Alvarez #24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates as returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Although the history of third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates isn’t nearly as deep as left field or other positions, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of all-time great talent.

Last time, we discussed the five best relief pitchers in Pittsburgh Pirates history. Today, we will be back to looking at a position player group. So, let’s move onto the hot corner.

The Pittsburgh Pirates may not have as deep of a history of third basemen as compared to left field or down in the bullpen. However, that doesn’t mean they are without any good players in the franchise’s long and storied history at the position.

As I do with all these lists, players who have played more games in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform are weighed heavier than ones who don’t play as long. I will also be putting heavy emphasis on era adjusted stats like wRC+ and OPS+. Those stats are adjusted for the league averages of that time. For example, the average slugging percentage back in 1920 was .372. Almost 100 years later in 2019, that was .434. So with that out of the way, let’s jump into the countdown and see who is number five on the list.

Although the history of third base for the Pittsburgh Pirates isn’t nearly as deep as left field or other positions, that doesn’t mean there is a lack of all-time great talent.

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