List of Major League Baseball career double plays as a third baseman leaders

In baseball statistics, a double play (denoted as DP) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. One double play is recorded for every defensive player who participates in the play, regardless of how many of the outs in which they were directly involved, and is counted in addition to whatever putouts and assists might also apply. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs.[1]

Brooks Robinson, the all-time leader in double plays by a third baseman

Most of the career leaders are relatively recent players who have benefitted from improved infield defense, with equipment of better quality; only six of the top 25 players made their major league debut before 1966, none of them before 1944. Only seven of the top 84 single-season totals were recorded before 1949, and only two of the top 152 were recorded before 1918.[2] Brooks Robinson holds the record for the most career double plays by a third baseman with 618.[3]

Key

RankRank among leaders in career double plays. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2024 DPs)Recorded double plays in 2024
MLBTotal career double plays as a third baseman in Major League Baseball
*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame
BoldDenotes active player[a]

List

Nolan Arenado, the active leader and 9th all-time in double plays by a third baseman.
Graig Nettles' 54 double plays in 1971 are the most by a third baseman.
Mike Schmidt holds the National League record.
Evan Longoria has led the American League in double plays three times in his career.
Pie Traynor held the National League record for 31 years.
Billy Nash held the major league record for 27 years.
  • Stats updated as of May 28, 2024.
RankPlayer (2024 DPs)Double plays as a third basemanOther leagues, notes
MLBAmerican LeagueNational League
1Brooks Robinson*6186180
2Adrián Beltré*523355168
3Graig Nettles47041852Holds the single-season record of 54 (set in 1971)
4Gary Gaetti46039565
5Mike Schmidt*4500450
6Buddy Bell43036268
7Wade Boggs*4234230
8Aurelio Rodriguez40839612
9Nolan Arenado (4)3990399
10Ron Santo*3956389Held National League record, 1972-1986
11Evan Longoria (0)39030387
12Eddie Mathews*3690369Held major league record, 1966-1968; held National League record, 1964-1972
13Robin Ventura35926990
14Ken Boyer3555350
Scott Rolen*35530325
16Kyle Seager3513510
17Sal Bando3453450
Eddie Yost3453450Held major league record, 1959-1966; held American League record, 1959-1967
19Vinny Castilla33125306
Doug DeCinces3313310
21Tim Wallach3194315
22Clete Boyer31522392
Ron Cey3151314
Matt Williams31521294
25Terry Pendleton3122310
26Harlond Clift3093090Held major league record, 1945-1959; held the single-season record, 1937-1971
27George Brett*3073070
28George Kell*3063060
Ken Keltner3063060
30Pie Traynor*3030303Held major league record, 1933-1945; held National League record, 1933-1964; held single-season record, 1925-1927; held NL single-season record, 1925-1950
31Mike Lowell302109193
32Willie Kamm2992990Held American League record, 1933-1945
33Manny Machado (2)290164126
34Frank Malzone2892890
35Pinky Higgins2882880
36Aramis Ramírez2870287
37Ken Caminiti28010270
38Heinie Groh2770277Held major league record, 1924-1933; held National League record, 1922-1933; held NL single-season record, 1915-1925
39Jeff Cirillo276110166Holds the National League single-season record
(45 in 1998; tie)
Chipper Jones*2760276
41Willie Jones2732271
42Darrell Evans2702268Holds the National League single-season record (45 in 1974)
43Ossie Bluege2662660
Billy Nash2660221Includes 37 in Players' League, 8 in American Association; held major league record, 1897-1924; held single-season record, 1890-1925
45Eric Chavez2622548
46Larry Gardner2612610Held American League record, 1923-1933; held the single-season record, 1920-1925 (tie)
47Home Run Baker*2602600Held American League record, 1918-1924; held AL single-season record, 1910-1925
48Ken McMullen25824810
49Carney Lansford2562560
Doug Rader2562254
51Stan Hack2550255
52Arlie Latham2530118Includes 126 in American Association, 9 in the Players' League; held major league record, 1890-1897
53Bob Elliott25221231
54Josh Donaldson24520342
55Troy Glaus24319053
56Matt Chapman (17)24022317
57Todd Zeile23847191
58David Wright2370237
59Charlie Hayes23152179
60Travis Fryman2302300
61Ryan Zimmerman2290229
62Jimmy Austin2282280Held American League record, 1916-1918
63Don Hoak2270227
64Jimmy Collins*225113112
65Richie Hebner22410214
Brandon Inge2242222
Don Money22415371
68Eddie Foster2202200
69Ken Reitz2190219
Pinky Whitney2190219
71Joe Randa21816553
72Billy Shindle2150164Includes 51 in American Association
73Billy Werber214114100
74Lave Cross21271139Includes 2 in American Association; held National League single-season record, 1899-1915
75Alex Rodriguez2052050
76Bob Bailey2030203
77Bill Madlock2002198
78Todd Frazier19974125
Milt Stock1990199
Eugenio Suárez (18)19944155
81Mike Moustakas (0)19616234
82Andy Carey1941904
Mike Pagliarulo19417519
84Hank Majeski19217121
85Bill Mueller19057133
86Kevin Seitzer1891890
87Joe Crede1881880
Jimmy Dykes1881880
89Paul Molitor*1851850
90Steve Buechele18412361
Bill Melton1841840
José Ramírez (11)1841840
Red Rolfe1841840
94David Freese18331152
95Bill Bradley18216018Includes 4 in Federal League; held American League single-season record, 1901-1902 (tie)
Anthony Rendon (5)18237145
97Ken Oberkfell1800180
98Jim Tabor17815325
99Pedro Feliz1770177
Toby Harrah1771770

Other Hall of Famers

PlayerDouble plays as a third basemanOther leagues, notes
MLBAmerican LeagueNational League
Tony Pérez*1410141
Freddie Lindstrom*1350135
Deacon White*1180100Includes 18 in Players' League
Cal Ripken Jr.*1171170
John McGraw *1041193
Joe Sewell*1031030
George Davis*90090
Edgar Martínez*90900
Harmon Killebrew*88880
Bill McKechnie*88043Includes 45 in Federal League
Frankie Frisch*83083
Jim Thome*77770
Joe Torre*71071
Judy Johnson *6800Includes 28 in Eastern Colored League, 25 in Negro National League (second),
10 in American Negro League, 5 in East–West League (incomplete)
Bobby Wallace*601842
Jackie Robinson*54054
Cap Anson*29018Includes 11 in National Association
Jud Wilson*2700Includes 18 in Eastern Colored League, 6 in Negro National League (second),
2 in East-West League, 1 in American Negro League (incomplete)
Rogers Hornsby*26125
Honus Wagner*26026
Ray Dandridge*2500Includes 25 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)
Buck Ewing*22022
Ryne Sandberg*19019
Jimmie Foxx*18180
Jim O'Rourke*18015Includes 3 in National Association
Johnny Bench*17017
Joe Cronin*13130
Roger Connor*12012
King Kelly*907Includes 2 in American Association
Willie Wells*400Includes 4 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)

Notes

References

External links