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San Francisco Giants top-five third-basemen of all time

By Taylor Wirth
Apr 13, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A detail view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A detail view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 11, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) crosses home plate after he hit a two run home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) crosses home plate after he hit a two run home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

#2: Pablo Sandoval (2008-2014)

WAR: 20.8

In my mind, Pablo was known for four things: World Championships, his three-homer game in the World Series, broken hamate bones, and weight issues. Sandoval was the first animal to the Giants “zoo” of nicknames, as he revolutionized himself around the league as “The Panda”.

Pablo’s career started off in 2008, as he came onto the scene hitting .345 with 3 HR’s and 24 RBI’s in 145 at-bats. Sandoval took over the starting third base gig the next season as he slugged his way to 7th in the NL MVP voting’s with his .330 avg, 25 HR’s, 90 RBI’s. His 2009 season being the best of his career, it was all down-hill from there. Sandoval struggled with his weight for years to come while he was in San Francisco, fluctuating from year to year. One year Sandoval would be vastly overweight and then slimmed down the next year. This re-occurred a couple more times, and most believed it had a direct affect to any struggles he faced at the plate and in the field. Sandoval did something in the 2012 World Series Run that stunned the baseball world, hitting three home runs in 2012 World Series Game 1. What was so amazing about this, was that two of them were off Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. This game will go down as one of the greatest Post Season moments in baseball history. The type of player and person Sandoval was will never be forgotten by Giants fans, and because of that, Pablo deserves a spot on this list.

Stats with the Giants:

AVG: .294 H: 946 HR: 106 RBI’s: 462 OBP: .346

Sandoval’s awards and accomplishments:

World Series Champion: 2010, 2012, 2014

World Series MVP: 2012

All-Star: 2011,2012

Babe Ruth Award: 2012

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