Box-Toppers top third basemen by time frame

Here are the top third basemen in Box-Toppers points (BTP) over the past season (2016), the past two seasons (2015-16), the past six seasons (2011-16) and “all-time”—the past 22 seasons (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began). For the most recent seasons, the top five third basemen in each league are shown. For the “all-time” rankings, the top five overall third basemen (including retired players) are shown at left and the top five active third basemen in career Box-Toppers points are shown at right. Some players played more than one position, but even if their primary position was not third base, they are listed here.


American League National League
2016 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Machado, Manny 3087 3b ss bal al 12.7 Arenado, Nolan 3306 3b col nl 10.7
2 Donaldson, Josh 3144 3b tor al 9.7 Bryant, Kris 3465 lf 3b rf chi nl 10.5
3 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 9.5 Carpenter, Matt 2987 3b 1b 2b stl nl 9.5
4 Seager, Kyle 3031 3b sea al 9.5 Suarez, Eugenio 3355 3b cin nl 8.5
5 Shaw, Travis 3544 1b 3b bos al 7.0 Nunez, Eduardo 2795 3b 2b ss sf nl 5.5
American League National League
2015-16 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 22.0 Arenado, Nolan 3306 3b col nl 19.2
2 Machado, Manny 3087 3b ss bal al 20.2 Bryant, Kris 3465 lf 3b rf chi nl 19.0
3 Donaldson, Josh 3144 3b tor al 19.6 Carpenter, Matt 2987 3b 1b 2b stl nl 15.0
4 Frazier, Todd 2929 3b chi al 15.1 Suarez, Eugenio 3355 3b cin nl 11.5
5 Seager, Kyle 3031 3b sea al 14.5 Prado, Martin 2511 3b fla nl 9.0
American League National League
2011-16 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 47.9 Carpenter, Matt 2987 3b 1b 2b stl nl 29.5
2 Donaldson, Josh 3144 3b tor al 39.6 Wright, David 1911 3b nym nl 24.5
3 Frazier, Todd 2929 3b chi al 29.1 Zimmerman, Ryan 2180 1b 3b dc nl 24.2
4 Seager, Kyle 3031 3b sea al 28.5 Prado, Martin 2511 3b fla nl 22.5
5 Longoria, Evan 2423 3b tb al 26.0 Freese, David 2710 1b 3b pit nl 22.2
All players (including retired) All active players
’95-’16 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Rodriguez, Alex 3b Released 187.0 Rodriguez, Alex 3b Released 187.0
2 jones, chipper 3b Retired 149.0 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 111.3
3 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 111.3 Wright, David 1911 3b nym nl 75.1
4 Ramirez, Aramis 1364 3b Retired 105.8 Zimmerman, Ryan 2180 1b 3b dc nl 56.3
5 Rolen, Scott 3b Retired 97.6 Uribe, Juan 1542 3b Released 47.7
What are those numbers after players' names?
Active players are shown on the team with whom they finished the 2016 season.

Alex Rodriguez leads third basemen in career Box-Toppers points

Alex Rodriguez has the most Box-Toppers points of any third baseman since tracking began in 1995.

Rodriguez, who played from 1994 to 2016 for the Yankees, Mariners and Rangers, earned 187.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked fourth among all players since 1995 and first among all batters. Rodriguez is 38.0 Box-Toppers points ahead of Chipper Jones, who ranks second among third basemen on the “all-time” career Box-Toppers points list with 149.0.

The chart above shows the top five third basemen over several time frames—over the past season (2016), the past two seasons (2015-16), the past six seasons (2011-16) and “all-time”—the past 22 seasons (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began). For the most recent seasons, the top five third basemen in each league are shown. For the “all-time” rankings, the top five overall third basemen (including retired players) are shown at left and the top five active third basemen in career Box-Toppers points are shown at right.

Rodriguez is listed as a third basemen, even though he also played shortstop and designated hitter at times during his career. However, third base was his primary position throughout most of his career. He earned Box-Toppers points primarily as a third baseman in 10 seasons, primarily at shortstop in eight seasons and primarily as a designated hitter in one.

Rodriguez’s playing career apparently ended Aug. 13, 2016, when he was released by the Yankees. However, Rodriguez, 41, has not officially announced his retirement and while it is possible he could resume his playing career elsewhere, it appears unlikely. Still, when he was released by the Yankees, Box-Toppers treated that as a retirement and he lost his status as the active player with the most Box-Toppers points. However, since Rodriguez was technically released and did not officially retire, we still have him listed as the top “active” third baseman in career Box-Toppers points (see chart on the lower right). But if you treat Rodriguez as “retired,” then the top active third baseman in Box-Toppers points is Adrian Beltre of the Rangers, who with 111.3 Box-Toppers points, trails Rodriguez by 75.7. Beltre ranks third among all third basemen in career Box-Toppers points since 1995, when tracking began.

Beltre also leads all third basemen in Box-Toppers points over both the past six seasons (47.9 over 2011-2016) and over the past two seasons (22.0 over 2015-16). Beltre ranked third among American League third basemen in 2016 with 9.5 Box-Toppers points.

Manny Machado of the Orioles led all third basemen in Box-Toppers points this past season (12.7 in 2016). He also ranks second among AL third basemen over the past two seasons (20.2 over 2015-16).

Nolan Arenado of the Rockies led National League third basemen in Box-Toppers points over both the past season (10.7 in 2016) and over the past two seasons (19.2 over 2015-16). Close behind him in both cases is Kris Bryant of the Cubs (10.5 points in 2016 and 19.0 points over 2015-16). Bryant was NL Most Valuable Player in 2016 and NL Rookie of the Year in 2015.

Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals leads NL third basemen over the past six seasons (29.5 Box-Toppers points over 2011-2016). Carpenter also ranks third among NL third basemen over both the past season (9.5 in 2016) and the past two seasons (15.0 over 2015-16). 

Other notable players:

  • Josh Donaldson of the Blue Jays ranks second among AL third basemen over the past season (9.7 in 2016), third among AL third basemen over the past two seasons (19.6 over 2015-16) and second among AL third basemen over the past six seasons (39.6 over 2011-16).
  • Kyle Seager of the Mariners ranks fourth among AL third basemen over the past season (9.5 in 2016), fifth among AL third basemen over the past two seasons (14.5 over 2015-16) and fourth among AL third basemen over the past six seasons (28.5 over 2011-16).
  • Juan Uribe ranks fifth among active fifth basemen in Box-Toppers points with 47.7. Uribe, 37, was released by the Indians during 2016 and is listed as a free agent. If both Rodriguez and Uribe were treated as non-active players, the next highest-ranked active third basemen in career Box-Toppers points are Evan Longoria of the Rays (47.0) and Yunel Escobar of the Angels (41.0).

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

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Related: 

Related Box-Toppers High by Position posts showing Box-Toppers points leaders by position over several time frames—past season (2016), past two seasons (2015-16), past six seasons (2011-16) and “all-time” (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began):

  • First base: Albert Pujols leads all-time, Miguel Cabrera leads past season and past six seasons.
  • Second base: Jeff Kent leads all-time, Jose Altuve leads past season.
  • Shortstop: Miguel Tejada leads all-time over Derek Jeter.
  • Third base: Alex Rodriguez leads all-time, Manny Machado and Adrian Beltre lead in recent seasons.
  • Catcher: Mike Piazza leads all-time, Brian McCann leads active catchers in career points.
  • Outfield: Manny Ramirez leads all-time, Carlos Beltran leads active outfielders in career points, Mike Trout leads in recent seasons.
  • Designated hitter: Albert Pujols leads all-time, Kendrys Morales and Edwin Encarnacion lead in recent seasons.
  • Pitcher: Randy Johnson leads all-time, CC Sabathia and Clayton Kershaw lead active pitchers in career points.
  • Closing pitcher: Trevor Hoffman leads all-time over all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera.