In an otherwise s---- forgettable season for the Rangers, Adrian Beltre doubled and homered today. He now passed George Brett in career hits (16th, 3,157) to lead all career third baseman. (A-Rod and Ripken played about half their careers at third and shortstop, and Paul Molitor spent a good chunk of his career as a DH). His 1,697 RBIs (27th) leads all career third baseman.
He's 11th in doubles (633), trailing only Brett's 665 (6th) among third baseman. He's tied for 30th in home runs (475), trailing only Eddie Matthews (512) and Mike Schmidt (548) among third baseman.
Think there's only four who could be considered -- Beltre, Brett, Schmidt and Brooks Robinson.
Brett leads Beltre in doubles, batting average (/305 to .286), slug (.487 to .479), and OPS (.857 to .819). But Beltre leads in the aforementioned hits, well ahead in home runs (475 to 317), and RBIs (1,697 to 1,595). Beltre also won five Gold Gloves to Brett's one.
Schmidt's forte was home runs and 10 Gold Gloves. But he's nearly 1,000 hits behind Beltre and more than 100 RBIs and 200 doubles behind.
Robinson is the greatest fielder of all time with 16 Gold Gloves, but his offensive numbers are nowhere close.
I'm prejudiced, but I truly believe it's Beltre.
He's 11th in doubles (633), trailing only Brett's 665 (6th) among third baseman. He's tied for 30th in home runs (475), trailing only Eddie Matthews (512) and Mike Schmidt (548) among third baseman.
Think there's only four who could be considered -- Beltre, Brett, Schmidt and Brooks Robinson.
Brett leads Beltre in doubles, batting average (/305 to .286), slug (.487 to .479), and OPS (.857 to .819). But Beltre leads in the aforementioned hits, well ahead in home runs (475 to 317), and RBIs (1,697 to 1,595). Beltre also won five Gold Gloves to Brett's one.
Schmidt's forte was home runs and 10 Gold Gloves. But he's nearly 1,000 hits behind Beltre and more than 100 RBIs and 200 doubles behind.
Robinson is the greatest fielder of all time with 16 Gold Gloves, but his offensive numbers are nowhere close.
I'm prejudiced, but I truly believe it's Beltre.
