Third base, according to baseball-stat monger Bill James, is an "in-between" position, being sort of a glove man's job and sort of a hitter's position. Shortstop, for example, requires a great defensive player, and teams will keep a good-fielding shortstop who can't hit. First base is a fairly easy position to play, so teams will keep around a weak-fielding first baseman who can hit lots of home runs. Third base tends to have good, but not great, fielders and hitters, and thus few who shine enough in one category to make the Hall of Fame. But now I'm bored talking about that.