National League Now Has Few Quality 3rd Baseman

While looking over National League lineups that have dominated the All-Star game in the last decade, one can’t help noticing the outstanding third basemen the senior circuit has had over that period.

But if you glance down the list of third baseman on this year’s ballot, you might wonder, “What has happened?”

Once one of the most competitive and well-stocked positions in the major leagues, third base seems to have deteriorated in the NL overnight. A position that once put fear into opposing pitchers and boasted players like Mike Schimdt, Pete Rose, Ron Cey, Bill Madlock and Bob Horner, now features Tim Wallach, Terry Pendleton, Ken Oberkfell and Nick Esasky.

The first five players are still around but they’ve either been forced to make the switch to another position, been slowed by injuries, age, or all of the above.

The 35-year-old Schmidt, one of baseball’s premier power hitters over the last 10 years, moved to first base after the wear-and-tear at the hot corner got to be too much on his legs.

Rose, an All-Star at five different positions, has been playing first base the last six years, although the 44-year-old player-manager of the Reds probably could fill in at third if he had to. Still, his arm just isn’t as strong as it once was.

Cey turned 37 this year and despite being a valuable asset to the Cubs and a legitimate home-run threat, the Penguin is nowhere near the player he was with the Dodgers.

Madlock, a four-time NL batting champion, has been plagued by elbow and shoulder problems the last two years and he may never be the same player.

After surgery on his right wrist during the off-season, Horner’s status with the Braves was doubtful this year.