I did this list off my head (this was a list of favorites) and forgot all 
about Santo. Great 3rd Baseman - but I'd doubt he will ever make the HOF 
because he never played in a World Series, sad to say.

I went to KC to see the Royals play the Angels in the early 80's and Doug 
DeCinces had a really bad day (the Royals had that ugly astroturf field 
then) - he made 2 errors that cost the Angels the game - good but not great.

As far as 90's and modern 3rd Basemen? Nobody comes close...

Robin Ventura - great glovesman for many years (saw him play for Oklahoma 
State) and a team leader, but injuries have cost him a lot of mobility
Matt Williams - The Diamondbucks spent a lot of money on this guy only to 
blow his leg out and become a liability, very inconsistent hitter.
Ken Caminiti - A real shame what happened to this guy, but he brought it 
all on himself - alcohol, cocaine and steroids destroyed his career, now 
hes in a drug rehab clinic.
Dave Hollins - I liked the guys intensity when he played for Philly in 
1993, but he was a slug with the glove and wound up a American League DH. 
Wound up on the Phillies bench last year out of sheer perseverance.
Kelly Gruber - Had a couple outstanding years for the Blue Jays in the late 
80's but back problems killed his career.
Scott Rolen - Waaaay overrated in my book. Copped an bad attitude and 
didn't do much to help Philly win before he got traded. Remains to be seen 
if he can become a team leader with the Cards.
Tony Glaus - Had a great season and deserved World Series MVP, but will he 
continue to put up big numbers?

Billy


At 01:08 PM 2/8/03 -0500, you wrote:
>Billy,
>
>Next third basemen in is probably Ron Santo. Hell of a player. 5-6 Gold
>Gloves. 342 home runs, all while playing as a diabetic in the hot Chicago
>sun. Now that he has lost a leg to the disease, his candidacy is gaining a
>little momentum with the veterans committee. But the writers should have
>voted him in. His accomplishments place him in the Hall. The  near equal of
>Brooks.
>
>I rank Schmidt and Brett 1-2. Santo 3rd, Brooks 4th, Nettles 5th. Bell 6th.
>
>You left off Doug Decinces. Hell of a third baseman for Baltimore and
>California. Had the misfortune of following a legend in Baltimore. I put him
>7th. Cey 8th.
>
>Good list. Good discussion "popping" up in an unexpected place. Back to pop
>music and lurking.
>
>Mark C.