Chicago Cubs: Who are the 5 best third basemen in team history?

Chicago Cubs: Going back in time for two of the best at the hot corner

3. Ned Williamson 1879-89, .260/.338/.397, 116 wRC+, 38.0 WAR

Stephen Jay Gould has a theory which holds (and I am seriously paraphrasing here) that achieving baseball dominance today is much harder than it was in the 19th century because the worst players then were much worse than the worst players today. This is called talent compression, and you can read a good explanation of it here (see PDF page 21). The idea is that while the lions still catch the slowest zebras, even the slowest ones run faster than before. (Note: If you live in Maryland, please report zebra sightings to the relevant authorities.)

Talent compression could partly explain the prominence of Anson-era Cubs on various all-time lists. Guys like Williamson and Fred Pfeffer were superb players, but it’s possible they would have struggled to succeed to the same degree today, even if the speed and contact aspects of the game had not atrophied. Anson probably would have excelled in any era, but that’s less clear about many of his teammates.

2. Stan Hack 1932-47, .301/.394/.397, 124 wRC+, 55.8 WAR

This winter, while you’re watching the Marquee Sports replay of the Iowa Cubs’ scintillating 22-4 defeat at the hands of Omaha, you can amuse yourself by identifying players with especially inappropriate names. For pitchers, names such as “Homer Bailey” or “Janson Junk” are clearly suboptimal. Similarly, “Hack” is a ludicrous handle for one of the most disciplined hitters of his era.

A top-25’er, Hack had a better than average K% and significantly above average BB% while usually leading off in front of the dangerous Cubs lineups of the 1930s. As a speedy third baseman with outstanding zone control and limited over-the-fence power, Hack has few modern comps. Eduardo Nunez had very similar career homer and steal numbers, but for him the strike zone was a mere rumor (though he was a much more efficient base stealer). Chone Figgins was a skilled baserunner with a great eye, but almost devoid of power.

Chicago Cubs: Was there ever any doubt? Of course it’s Ron Santo

1. Ron Santo 1960-73, .279/.366/.472, 128 wRC+, 71.9 WAR

Santo is the second-best Cub ever (or perhaps first, if you’re really into talent compression) and among the top 10 third basemen in MLB history. Santo went on a remarkable tear from 1964-67, when he put together the best four single seasons at third for the Cubs (collectively amounting to 150 homers, over 800 hits, and an .896 OPS). He also owns six of the top 10. I’m not a big believer in an afterlife, but I’d like to think that somehow, somewhere, Ronnie was able to enjoy is Hall of Fame induction. We miss you, man.

Chicago Cubs: Looking at some honorable mention candidates

Heinie Zimmerman (1907-16, 26.3 WAR) was “Zim” before this guy was. Zimmerman became a starter in 1911, playing mostly at second. He became the full time third baseman in 1912 and utterly raked, leading the NL in hits, doubles, homers, average, slug, OPS, OPS+, total bases (318), and a bunch of other stats. He would continue to produce for the Cubs, though not at this incredible level, until August 1916. Dogged by a match-fixing reputation that would later become reality, the Cubs dealt him to the Giants.

Harry Steinfeldt (1906-10, 20.4 WAR) was the Cubs infielder who didn’t make into the poem.  Acquired in 1906 from the Cincinnati Reds, Steinfeldt would have outstanding campaign, leading the league in hits and RBIs, and posting a 151 OPS+. Already 30 years old, there was little reason to believe Steinfeldt would repeat, and he didn’t; his OPS+ for the remainder of his Cubs tenure was just 94.

The brilliant, combustible Bill Madlock (1974-76, 11.1 WAR) should have been Santo’s long-term replacement at third, but it was not to be. Unwilling to give a raise to a man he did not consider a “team player,” owner Philip Wrigley dispatched Madlock to the Giants for over-the-hill Bobby Murcer and never-climbed-the-hill Steve Ontiveros, who failed to match the promise of his initial year at third with the Cubs.