Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested. In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, before a game, are included on a starting lineup card or are announced as ex ante substitutes, whether or not they play;Section 20 of the official scorer guidelines however, in Major League Baseball, the application of this statistic does not extend to consecutive games played streaks. A starting pitcher, then, may be credited with a game played even if he is not credited with a game started or an inning pitched. Third base is the third of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team. A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest third base and is responsible for the majority of plays made at that base. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the third baseman is assigned the number 5.
Because third basemen routinely have to make the longest throws across the infield, and because of increasing expectations of their offensive contributions, they tend to be physically larger than middle infielders; however, they are generally expected to be quicker than first basemen, and the physical demands of playing third base have historically hindered players from having long careers at the position. When Eddie Yost became the first player to play 2,000 major league games at third base in 1962, it was nearly forty years after most other non-pitching positions had seen a player reach that milestone; the only position that took longer was catcher. Only 13 players have played 2,000 major league games at third base, tied for the fewest among infield positions; only three of the top 25 career leaders were in the major leagues before 1944, none of them before 1920. Brooks Robinson is the all-time leader in career games as a third baseman, playing 2,870 games at the position; it is the most games played at a single position by any player in major league history, and exceeded the previous record at the position by nearly 700 games. Adrián Beltré (2,759), Graig Nettles (2,412), Gary Gaetti (2,282), Wade Boggs (2,215), Mike Schmidt (2,212), Buddy Bell (2,183), Eddie Mathews (2,181), Ron Santo (2,130), Aramis Ramírez (2,112), Tim Wallach (2,054), Scott Rolen (2,023), and Eddie Yost (2,008) are the only other players to appear in over 2,000 career games at third base.
Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career games played. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2026 Gs) Number of games played during the 2026 Major League Baseball season MLB Total career games played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame BoldDenotes active playerA player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
List
Stats updated as of September 27, 2026. RankPlayer (2026 Gs)Games as third basemanOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Brooks Robinson*2,8702,87002Adrián Beltré*2,7591,8029573Graig Nettles2,4121,9974154Gary Gaetti2,2821,8174655Wade Boggs*2,2152,21506Mike Schmidt*2,21202,2127Buddy Bell2,1831,7444398Eddie Mathews*2,181272,154Held major league record, 1966–1971; held National League record, 1965–19889Ron Santo*2,130282,10210Aramis Ramírez2,11202,11211Tim Wallach2,054462,00812Scott Rolen*2,0232031,82013Eddie Yost2,0082,0080Held major league record, 1960–1966; held American League record, 1959–197014Chipper Jones*1,99201,99215Ron Cey1,98931,98616Aurelio Rodríguez1,9831,8958817Sal Bando1,8961,896018Robin Ventura1,8871,43745019Nolan Arenado (145)1,87601,87620Pie Traynor*1,86301,863Held major league record, 1934–1960; held National League record, 1931–196521Stan Hack1,83601,83622Evan Longoria1,8261,34548123Ken Boyer1,785381,747Terry Pendleton1,785231,76225Pinky Higgins1,7681,7680Held American League record, 1944–195926Matt Williams1,7431511,59227Lave Cross1,724846854Includes 24 in American Association; held major league record, 1906–1934; held AL record, 1906–190728Carney Lansford1,7201,720029George Brett*1,6921,6920George Kell*1,6921,692031Jimmy Collins*1,683948735Held American League record, 1901–190232Ken Caminiti1,676531,62333Willie Kamm1,6741,6740Held American League record, 1934–194434Manny Machado (139)1,67371595835Vinny Castilla1,6561071,549Larry Gardner1,6561,6560Held American League record, 1921–193437Willie Jones1,61441,61038Arlie Latham1,5730690Includes 831 in American Association, 52 in Players' League; held major league record, 1891–190639David Wright1,57201,57240Harlond Clift1,5501,550041Home Run Baker*1,5481,5480Held American League record, 1918–192042Doug DeCinces1,5431,540343Ken Keltner1,5001,500044Todd Zeile1,4982661,23245Ossie Bluege1,4871,487046Mike Lowell1,47453593947Billy Nash1,46801,291Includes 132 in Players' League, 45 in American Association; held National League record, 1895–191048Darrell Evans1,442351,40749Bill Madlock1,440221,41850Clete Boyer1,43992851151Jimmy Austin1,4311,4310Held American League record, 1917–1918, 1920–192152Kyle Seager1,4271,427053Eugenio Suárez (50)1,4173421,07554Jeff Cirillo1,40369071355Eric Chavez1,4021,3396356Bill Bradley1,3901,193136Includes 61 in Federal League; held American League record, 1902–1906, 1907–191757Harry Steinfeldt1,38701,387Held National League record, 1910–193158Frank Malzone1,3701,370059Bob Elliott1,3651031,26260Joe Randa1,3621,05830461Travis Fryman1,3591,359062Pinky Whitney1,35801,35863Doug Rader1,349451,304Milt Stock1,34901,34965Troy Glaus1,3371,03730066Charlie Hayes1,3282561,07267Ken Reitz1,32101,32168Ken McMullen1,3181,20111769Heinie Groh1,29901,29970José Ramírez (99)1,2841,284071Billy Shindle1,2740999Includes 273 in American Association, 2 in Players' League72Steve Buechele1,26983543473Richie Hebner1,262321,23074Jimmy Dykes1,2571,257075Alex Bregman (143)1,2511,10814376Matt Chapman (83)1,22586136477Josh Donaldson1,2131,05016378Don Hoak1,19901,19979Mike Mowrey1,19601,045Includes 151 in Federal League80Bob Bailey1,19411,193Alex Rodriguez1,1941,194082Art Devlin1,19201,19283Mike Pagliarulo1,1791,01416584Brook Jacoby1,1661,161585Mike Moustakas1,16592424186Dean Palmer1,1621,162087Eddie Foster1,1611,161088Bobby Byrne1,14701,14789Billy Werber1,14365349090Ryan Zimmerman1,13301,13391Jim Davenport1,13001,13092Bill Mueller1,12837375593Chase Headley1,12343269194Jerry Denny1,10901,109Held National League record, 1887–189595Doc Casey1,10025984196Toby Harrah1,0991,099097Bob Aspromonte1,09401,09498Denny Lyons1,0850467Includes 618 in American Association99Red Rolfe1,0841,0840100Brandon Inge1,0831,07310
Other Hall of Famers PlayerGames as third basemanOther leagues, notes MLB American League National LeagueDeacon White*8270762Includes 64 in Players' League, 1 in National AssociationFreddie Lindstrom*8090809Harmon Killebrew*7917910Paul Molitor*7917910John McGraw*78288694Tony Pérez*7600760Judy Johnson*68200Includes 355 in Eastern Colored League, 230 in Negro National League (second), 74 in American Negro League, 23 in East–West League (incomplete)Cal Ripken Jr.*6756750Dick Allen*6522650Joe Sewell*6436430Edgar Martínez*5645640Bill McKechnie*5532285Includes 266 in Federal LeagueGeorge Davis*5290529Joe Torre*5150515Jim Thome*4934930Frankie Frisch*4590459Bobby Wallace*42696330Jud Wilson*35800Includes 224 in Negro National League (second), 109 in Eastern Colored League, 18 in East–West League, 7 in American Negro League (incomplete)Jackie Robinson*2560256Cap Anson*2200118Includes 102 in National AssociationHonus Wagner*2100210Johnny Bench*1950195Rogers Hornsby*1922190Ray Dandridge*16000Includes 160 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)Jeff Kent*15755102Jim O'Rourke*1480119Includes 29 in National AssociationJimmie Foxx*14112516Ryne Sandberg*1330133Buck Ewing*1270127Roger Connor*1110111King Kelly*96086Includes 8 in American Association, 2 in Players' LeagueJoe Cronin*69690Willie Wells*4900Includes 44 in Negro National League (second), 4 in Negro American League, 1 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete)
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