In just his third full major league season, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado is making his mark as one of the best third basemen in the game. He is an All-Star and already has two Gold Glove awards to his credit with a third on its way. If Colorado was in contention for a postseason appearance, he would be highly considered for the National League MVP award.
On Sept. 26, Arenado became the 10th player in major league history to have a season with 40 or more home runs and 120-plus RBI as a third baseman when he belted his 40th homer of the year, a grand slam, off Brett Anderson of the Dodgers in Colorado's, 8-6, victory over Los Angeles in Coors Field. Toronto's third sacker Josh Donaldson also has 40 homers and 121 RBI this season, but only 37 homers and 114 RBI have come as a third baseman. He has also been positioned as a designated hitter and pinch hitter.
At 24, Arenado is the second youngest third baseman to reach these single-season marks, only Hall of Famer Eddite Mathews was younger when he accomplished the feat in 1953 with the Braves at age 21.
Other third basemen who were close, but fell short of these milestone offensive achievements are Tony Perez, who banged out 40 homers and 129 RBI for Cincinnati in 1970, but from those totals, 39 HR and 128 RBI came as a third baseman—he generated one home run as a first baseman that season. In 1969, Harmon Killebrew of the Twins had 49 homers and 140 RBI, but split his year at third and first base. As a third baseman, he clubbed 32 homers with 94 RBI and added 17 homers and 46 RBI as a first baseman.
On Sept. 26, Arenado became the 10th player in major league history to have a season with 40 or more home runs and 120-plus RBI as a third baseman when he belted his 40th homer of the year, a grand slam, off Brett Anderson of the Dodgers in Colorado's, 8-6, victory over Los Angeles in Coors Field. Toronto's third sacker Josh Donaldson also has 40 homers and 121 RBI this season, but only 37 homers and 114 RBI have come as a third baseman. He has also been positioned as a designated hitter and pinch hitter.
At 24, Arenado is the second youngest third baseman to reach these single-season marks, only Hall of Famer Eddite Mathews was younger when he accomplished the feat in 1953 with the Braves at age 21.
Other third basemen who were close, but fell short of these milestone offensive achievements are Tony Perez, who banged out 40 homers and 129 RBI for Cincinnati in 1970, but from those totals, 39 HR and 128 RBI came as a third baseman—he generated one home run as a first baseman that season. In 1969, Harmon Killebrew of the Twins had 49 homers and 140 RBI, but split his year at third and first base. As a third baseman, he clubbed 32 homers with 94 RBI and added 17 homers and 46 RBI as a first baseman.
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