"The scholars of Hadith were three ..."

Ad-Dhahabi writes in Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala:

قال ابن عيينة : أصحاب الحديث ثلاثة : ابن عباس في زمانه ، والشعبي في زمانه ، والثوري في زمانه

ENGLISH:

Ibn Uyaynah said: "The people (scholars) of Hadith were three: Ibn Abbaas in his era, and Al-Shu'bee in his era and Al-Thawri in his era."

NEDERLANDS:

Ibn Uyaynah zei: "De mensen (geleerden) van Hadith waren drie: Ibn Abbaas in zijn tijdperk, Al-Shu'bee in zijn tijdperk en Al-Thawri in zijn tijdperk."

["Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala", 7/241].