12-29-2008, 11:43 AM
It's probably not as thin as it looks, because good 3rd baseman, in general, are rare. They are, by far, the least represented position in the HOF.
<!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Stan Hack<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> is a borderline HOF candidate: career .300 hitter, slick glove man, 5-time All-Star, got MVP votes in 8 seasons. His career OPS+ of 119 compares favorably with HOF 3rd basemen Brooks Robinson (104), Pie Traynor (107), Freddie Lindstrom (109), George Kell (111), and Jimmy Collins (113).
<!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Santo<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> is a freaking HOFer. It's a shame, really. Five-time Gold-glover, 125 OPS+ hitter...compare that to these other guys, it's laughable.
As for the Cubs, I do recall that between Santo and Aramis, we had about 35 different guys who tried to fill the position, didn't we?
One more name for ya: <!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Harry Steinfeldt<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->. The <i>other</i> guy in the Tinker-Evers-Chance infield.
Had there been an All-Star game in those days, he'd have likely been an AS...was in the NL top-ten in OPS a couple times, led the league in hits and RBI once, played in 4 World Series, had an MVP-calibre season when the Cubs won 116 games in 1906. Plus, he's the answer to a common trivia question!
<!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Stan Hack<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> is a borderline HOF candidate: career .300 hitter, slick glove man, 5-time All-Star, got MVP votes in 8 seasons. His career OPS+ of 119 compares favorably with HOF 3rd basemen Brooks Robinson (104), Pie Traynor (107), Freddie Lindstrom (109), George Kell (111), and Jimmy Collins (113).
<!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Santo<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> is a freaking HOFer. It's a shame, really. Five-time Gold-glover, 125 OPS+ hitter...compare that to these other guys, it's laughable.
As for the Cubs, I do recall that between Santo and Aramis, we had about 35 different guys who tried to fill the position, didn't we?
One more name for ya: <!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Harry Steinfeldt<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->. The <i>other</i> guy in the Tinker-Evers-Chance infield.
Had there been an All-Star game in those days, he'd have likely been an AS...was in the NL top-ten in OPS a couple times, led the league in hits and RBI once, played in 4 World Series, had an MVP-calibre season when the Cubs won 116 games in 1906. Plus, he's the answer to a common trivia question!
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance