The Best Fielding Third Basemen

On to the best three-year peaks of defensive play by Giant third basemen, as measured by baseball-reference.com’s rfield. I explained my methodology here, and we’ve previously looked at catchers, first basemen and second basemen.

The list of third basemen includes one player who only qualified at third for three years, but put up truly impressive defensive numbers while driving some nuts with his undisciplined hitting.  He’s followed by a pack of players who consistently played superior defense at third, including one, making the top ten five times, who was one of the best hitters in the club’s history.

Pedro Feliz played several positions with the Giants, particularly in his first years in the majors, but settled in at third, and proved to be an elite defender at the position, ranking with such worthies as Scott Rolen and Adrian Beltre in the 2000s.  It was Feliz’s historically awful bat that mitigated much of the value his defense provided, though, and most Giant fans were not sorry to see him sign with the Phillies after the 2007 season.

Matt Williams was in many ways the complete package.  He hit 247 home runs as a Giant, but was also an excellent defender, having both the classic “soft hands” and a strong, accurate arm.  He was able to effectively charge slow rollers and bunts and quickly get the ball to first.  Williams slots in with five of the best ten defensive peaks by Giants third basemen.

Fred Lindstrom played in an era when defense was more valued in a third baseman than was hitting (although Lindstrom was an excellent hitter early in his career).  During his first seven years with the Giants, he was a wonderful third baseman, praised by players and writers alike as “the best third-sacker in the National League” and “one of the best third basemen ever produced.” By 1931, however, a broken leg and chronic back pain had forced McGraw to move Lindstrom to the outfiield.