The Braves have had a bit of a dynasty at 3rd base since the franchise moved to Atlanta.

As I was reminiscing about growing up and watching the Atlanta Braves as my hometown team, I started to think about how many of my favorite players played 3rd base. Other positions oftentimes had much uncertainty.

Third base, however, has almost always been a consistent place of production, no matter what the name on the back of the jersey reads. Because of this feeling, I decided to go back and look at some of the names and success stories the Braves have had at third base, starting with the man who just received a 10-year contract to play the position, and ending with Eddie Matthews. I’ll give a summary of each player’s tenure with the team, and a highlight from their career.

Austin Riley (2020-Present)

We’ll start our journey with the newest addition to the list. Austin Riley joined the Braves in 2019 where he would hit a home run in his second at-bat. He played mostly left field due to Josh Donaldson being at third, but since then he has moved to third full-time. 2021 was his coming out year, in which he became one of the most important pieces to the Braves World Series run. In 2022 he improved in almost every category and finished top ten in MVP voting for the second year in a row. Because of this success, the Braves agreed to a 10-year, $212 million contract that will have him playing third for the Atlanta Braves through at least 2032.

Josh Donaldson (2019)

Before the start of the 2019 season, The Bringer of Rain signed a one-year deal with an Atlanta Braves team trying to take the next step after losing in the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Donaldson would reward them with a 5.4 WAR season, highlighted by clutch home runs and stellar defense. He also took a then-rookie Austin Riley under his wing, assisting him in becoming the star he is today. Donaldson wasn’t in Atlanta for long, but his impact cannot be understated.

Johan Camargo (2017-2018)

Coming up through the minors with the other Baby Braves including Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, Johan Camargo took over at 3rd base during the 2017 season. He played great defense with an extremely strong arm and was a solid, above-average hitter. He would relinquish the hot corner to Donaldson once he signed, but continued to play a key utility role off the bench and eventually received a World Series ring with the 2021 Braves.

Adonis Garcia (2015-2016)

Adonis Garcia took the role of 3rd base during the Braves mid-2010s rebuild. The Braves as a whole were struggling, but Garcia was an underrated piece that gave a solid bat and defense to a team that lacked much of either.

Chris Johnson (2013-2015)

Chris Johnson had the impossible task of taking over at third base for a freshly retired future Hall of Famer in Chipper Jones. He responded with a .321 batting average for a Braves team that would win 96 games. The great year at the plate bolstered a Braves offense that needed to make up for the loss of Chipper Jones. Johnson continued to play the position with confidence in Atlanta until he was traded during the 2015 season as the Braves commenced their rebuild.

Chipper Jones (1995-2012)

The most obvious name on this list is Chipper Jones. Jones was not just the greatest 3rd baseman in Atlanta Braves history, he’s also one of the greatest 3rd basemen in MLB history. Whether it’s his career .301 average, .930 OPS, 468 home runs, 2726 hits, MVP, World Series victory, or any of his other countless achievements, Chipper Jones had an outstanding career. Batting 3rd in the 1995 World Series, a rookie Chipper Jones helped the Braves score their first championship since the franchise’s arrival in Atlanta. After his rookie season, he only played less than 100 games in a season once. For 17 seasons, Jones was the face of the Atlanta Braves during a stretch in which the Braves won their 14 consecutive National League East titles. While these teams were most heralded for their pitching staffs, Jones was a consistent force in the lineup. With his induction to the Hall of Fame in 2018, the final chapter in his successful playing career closed and his legacy was solidified in Atlanta. He continues to assist the team as a hitting consultant, where he can still have an influence on the Atlanta Braves winning for years to come.

Terry Pendleton (1991-1994 & 1996)

Playing every single game of his Braves tenure at 3rd base, Pendleton was a key in the emergence of the “Team of the 90s” before Chipper Jones arrived. After winning a batting title and MVP award in 1991, Pendleton continued his time with the Braves by consistently being a threat in the lineup while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at 3rd. His return in 1996 via a trade at the deadline allowed fans to see Pendleton and Chipper Jones, two of the franchise’s best 3rd basemen, share the field at the same time (Jones played shortstop the rest of the season). After an outstanding career, Pendleton retired and eventually rejoined the Braves as a hitting coach in 2001. He would hold a position on the Atlanta coaching staff until his retirement in 2017.

Jeff Blauser (1987-1997)

Making his debut in 1987, Jeff Blauser became an important piece of the future Braves’ dominance and played a key utility infielder role for a decade. While 3rd base was only his primary position for one season, his above-average bat and consistent defense gave the Braves a great option at any infield position depending on their needs. Blauser received MVP votes and was selected as an All-Star in both 1993 and 1997.

Bob Horner (1978-1986)

Bursting onto the scene in 1978, Horner had an outstanding season that would see him winning rookie of the year. He was an All-Star in 1982, and received MVP votes in three other seasons. The team improved during his time in Atlanta, going from perennial bottom dwellers to laying the foundations for the dominance that would follow in the 90s. While injuries derailed and shortened his career, Horner was a very good player who is often forgotten when discussing Braves legends.

Darrell Evans (1969-1976 & 1989)

A darling in the eyes of Bill James, Darrell Evans made a living out of working the count and getting on base. Evans led the National League in walks twice during his time in Atlanta and boasted a career .361 career on-base percentage. His homerun approach and high walk rate were not appreciated at the time, but in the post-Moneyball era, he would likely be a perennial All-Star. Evans would return to Atlanta for one last ride in 1989 before retiring.

Eddie Matthews (1952-1966)

While he only spent one season in the city of Atlanta, Matthews played 15 years with the Braves franchise while it was located in Boston and then in Milwaukee. His career 512 home runs are the second most in the franchise’s history, only being beaten by Hank Aaron. The 12-time All-Star won two World Series rings while with the team and spent much of his career right next to Aaron in the batting order. Matthews played 3rd base in every city the Braves have been located in and served as the bridge for the three eras. I will end the list here as the article is focused on Atlanta, but Matthews’ career was incredible and is high on the list of the greatest Braves of all time.

Hank Aaron (1954-1974)

While he was not a true 3rd baseman, Aaron played a total of 7 games at 3rd base during his career. Widely considered as the greatest player in franchise history, I wanted to at least have him as an honorable mention on this list. Hank’s incredibly long list of achievements is too much for me to write here, so I’ll just link his Baseball Reference page for you to admire.

Special shoutout to Bailey from FoolishBaseball who gave me the idea for this article with his episode of Baseball Bits about the Yankees and their history in centerfield, which you can watch here: