Pittsburgh Pirates: Five Best Third Basemen in Team History

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.

Number Five – Bob Elliot

Bob Elliot served as an outfielder early in his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but transitioned to third base by his age 25 season. Overall, Elliot was a pretty solid batter. In the 4,398 plate appearances Elliot accumulated during his Pirates’ tenure, he put up a .292/.363/.419 slash line.

Although he wasn’t a big time power hitter, having just 50 home runs, Elliot was a solid base runner with 6.7 base running runs above average. Overall, Elliot had a 118 wRC+ and OPS+. That wRC+ mark is the 4th best mark in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

However, the one knock that placed Elliot at the bottom of this list is his defense. Elliot was not a good defender at the hot corner with the Pirates. Throughout his time primarily as a third baseman, which was from 1942 to 1956, Elliot had -12 total zone runs. However, during his time as an outfielder, Elliot had +11 total zone runs.

Overall, Elliot has a career fWAR of 22.5 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Among all third basemen in Pirate history, he ranks 4th. After leaving Pittsburgh, Elliot went on to enjoy success with the Boston Braves, New York Giants, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox.

Number Four – Bobby Bonilla

Had Bobby Bonilla even graded out as an average defender, he probably would have been higher on this list. Bonilla was acquired by the Bucs from the White Sox during the 1986 season, and the slugger would make his presence known in 1987 when he batted .300/.351/.481 with 15 home runs and 33 doubles. Good for a 118 OPS+/117 wRC+.

Bonilla’s transition on the field was pretty much the opposite of Bob Elliot. Bonilla was mainly a third baseman for the first handful of seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and transitioned to the outfield in his last few seasons. Overall though, he only had -17 total zone runs with the Pirates at the hot corner, and -10 when he was moved to the outfield.

But Bonilla was mainly known for his bat during his Pirates’ tenure. In 3,485 plate appearances, Bonilla hit .284/.357/.481 with 114 home runs and 191 doubles. Overall, he had a 132 wRC+, the highest among all Pirates’ third basemen, and 134 OPS+. Bonilla was quite often in MVP talks, as he finished 2nd and 3rd in MVP voting in 1990 and 1991. Bonilla was an extra base machine during his time in Pittsburgh. His 162 game averages for home runs and doubles was 23 and 38.

Number Three – Richie Hebner

Richie Hebner became the Pittsburgh Pirates primary third baseman in the late 1960s. He heled this position through the 1976 season, and was a key member of the team’s 1971 World Series Championship squad.

Hebner was a pretty good hitter from 1969 to 1974. In those six seasons, Hebner batted for a line of .287/.360/.466, with 98 home runs,and 137 doubles. His overall offense was pinned at a 131 OPS+.

In total, Hebner had a .277/.350/.442 line with the Pirates. His 122 wRC+ ties with Denny Lyon for the second highest mark among Pirates’ third basemen.

During the team’s 1971 World Series run, Hebner was terrific in the postseason. In 33 plate appearances he hit three home runs and posted a 163 wRC+. He also collected a double on his way to slugging .586. Without Hebner’s contributions, the team likely would not have won the World Series in ’71.

But, like with Bonilla, Hebner was not going to get any good review for his defense.

Throughout his Pirates’ tenure, Hebner had -49 total zone runs at third base for the Pirates. Overall, he provided -2.7 defensive WAR. Regardless, Hebner has the third highest fWAR among Bucco third basemen at 24.7.

Number Two – Pie Traynor

Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor comes in at the number two spot. Traynor was not that big of a batter even for the era. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and put up a .320/.362/.435 line. Overall, coming in with a 107 wRC+ and OPS+.

During his prime which I considered from 1923 to 1933, Traynor put up a .327/.370/.447 line, and 112 OPS+. But Traynor, despite not being a super star batter, still put up doubles totals in the high 20s and 30s, and occasionally stole a handful of bags.

Defensively, despite his -28 total zone runs at third base, he still provided some value defensively. Traynor rarely posted a negative defensive WAR in a full season. Overall, that mark was still a positive at 2. Traynor racked up a 37.8 career fWAR, the second highest among Pirates’ third basemen.

But what made Traynor extremely talented was his ability to both coach and play ball. Traynor served as a player manager in three different seasons. He managed the Pirates to a 219-191 record. Pretty good, but he also batted .297/.332/.394 with a 92 OPS+. Although he was an overall below average player, I don’t think anyone was going to complain if their manager could hit about 10% below average, and lead their team to a +.500 record.

When Traynor retired, he was considered by many to be the best third basemen in history up to that point.