In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by PO or fly out when appropriate) is given to a defensive player who records an out by tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base, catching a batted or thrown ball and tagging a base to put out a batter or runner (a force out), catching a thrown ball and tagging a base to record an out on an appeal play, catching a third strike (a strikeout), catching a batted ball on the fly (a fly out), or being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference. An outfielder (OF) is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter, who are identified as the left fielder (LF), the center fielder (CF), and the right fielder (RF). An outfielder's duty is to try to catch long-fly balls before they hit the ground or to quickly catch or retrieve and return to the infield any other balls entering the outfield. Outfielders normally play behind the six other members of the defense who play in or near the infield; unlike catchers and most infielders (excepting first basemen), who are virtually exclusively right-handed, outfielders can be either right- or left-handed. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the outfielders are assigned the numbers 7 (left field), 8 (center field), and 9 (right field).
The overwhelming majority of putouts recorded by outfielders, almost to exclusivity, result from catching fly balls. However, in extraordinary circumstances, an outfielder may record a putout by receiving a throw to force out or tag out a runner while covering a base if one or more infielders are out of position to retrieve an errant throw, or by tagging a runner stranded between bases in a rundown play; however, even in such circumstances, outfielders will more typically act as a backup to infielders than cover a base themselves. Historically, putout totals for outfielders rose after 1920 with the end of the dead-ball era; the same circumstances which had kept home run totals low, such as overused baseballs and legal adulterations including the spitball, had similarly hindered the type of power hitting which lent itself to long fly balls. But as strikeout totals have risen in baseball in recent decades, the frequency of other defensive outs including flyouts has declined; as a result, putout totals for outfielders have likewise declined. Through the 2022 season, all but eight of the top 76 single-season outfield putout totals were recorded between 1920 and 1988; only one of the top 498 totals was recorded before 1912.
Because game accounts and box scores often did not distinguish between the outfield positions, there has been some difficulty in determining precise defensive statistics prior to 1901; because of this, and because of the similarity in their roles, defensive statistics for the three positions are frequently combined. Because they are expected to cover more territory in the outfield than their counterparts on either side, often being the fastest player of the three, center fielders typically record the highest putout totals; due to the frequency of fly balls, center fielders typically record more putouts than other players, except for catchers and first basemen, who record higher totals due to the frequency of strikeouts and ground outs respectively. 6 of the top 7 career leaders in outfield putouts, and 14 of the top 18, were center fielders. Willie Mays is the all-time leader in career putouts as an outfielder with 7,095;[1] [2] [3] he is the only outfielder to record more than 7,000 career putouts. Tris Speaker[4] (6,788), Rickey Henderson[5] (6,468), Max Carey[6] (6,363), Ty Cobb[7] (6,361), and Richie Ashburn[8] (6,089) are the only other outfielders to record more than 6,000 career putouts. Andrew McCutchen, who had 3,675 putouts through the 2022 season to place him 106th all-time, is the leader among active players.
| Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career putouts. A blank field indicates a tie. | |
| Player | Name of player | |
| Main pos. | Primary outfield position played during career (LF, CF, or RF) | |
| MLB | Total career putouts as an outfielder in Major League Baseball | |
| Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame |
| Rank | Player (2023 POs) | Main Pos. | Putouts as an outfielder | Other leagues, notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | American League | National League | |||||
| 1 | Willie Mays | CF | 7,112 | 0 | 7,095 | Includes 17 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| 2 | Tris Speaker | CF | 6,788 | 6,788 | 0 | Held major league record, 1922–1971; held the single-season record, 1914-1917 | |
| 3 | Rickey Henderson | LF | 6,468 | 5,699 | 769 | ||
| 4 | Max Carey | CF | 6,363 | 0 | 6,363 | Held National League record, 1924–1969; held the single-season record, 1917-1920 (tie); held NL single-season record, 1916-1928 | |
| 5 | Ty Cobb | CF | 6,361 | 6,361 | 0 | Held American League record, 1916–1919; held AL single-season record, 1911-1912 | |
| 6 | Richie Ashburn | CF | 6,089 | 0 | 6,089 | ||
| 7 | Steve Finley | CF | 5,664 | 708 | 4,956 | ||
| 8 | Barry Bonds | LF | 5,637 | 0 | 5,637 | ||
| 9 | Ken Griffey Jr. | CF | 5,606 | 3,717 | 1,889 | ||
| 10 | Hank Aaron | RF | 5,539 | 3 | 5,536 | ||
| 11 | Willie Davis | CF | 5,449 | 108 | 5,341 | ||
| 12 | Doc Cramer | CF | 5,412 | 5,412 | 0 | ||
| 13 | Brett Butler | CF | 5,296 | 1,712 | 3,584 | ||
| 14 | Torii Hunter | CF | 5,263 | 5,263 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Andre Dawson | RF | 5,158 | 42 | 5,116 | ||
| 16 | Carlos Beltrán | CF | 5,155 | 2,365 | 2,790 | ||
| 17 | Vada Pinson | CF | 5,097 | 1,317 | 3,780 | ||
| 18 | Willie Wilson | CF | 5,060 | 4,942 | 118 | ||
| 19 | Al Kaline | RF | 5,035 | 5,035 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Ichiro Suzuki | RF | 5,022 | 4,616 | 406 | ||
| 21 | Zack Wheat | LF | 4,996 | 105 | 4,891 | ||
| 22 | Chet Lemon | CF | 4,993 | 4,993 | 0 | Holds the American League single-season record (512 in 1977) | |
| 23 | Al Simmons | LF | 4,988 | 4,816 | 172 | ||
| 24 | Dave Winfield * | RF | 4,975 | 2,723 | 2,252 | ||
| 25 | Mike Cameron | CF | 4,954 | 2,555 | 2,399 | ||
| Andruw Jones | CF | 4,954 | 335 | 4,619 | |||
| 27 | Amos Otis | CF | 4,936 | 4,819 | 117 | ||
| 28 | Marquis Grissom | CF | 4,880 | 356 | 4,524 | ||
| 29 | Paul Waner | RF | 4,872 | 0 | 4,872 | ||
| 30 | Lloyd Waner | CF | 4,860 | 0 | 4,860 | ||
| 31 | Kenny Lofton | CF | 4,856 | 3,653 | 1,203 | ||
| 32 | Fred Clarke | LF | 4,795 | 0 | 4,795 | Held major league record, 1909–1922; held National League record, 1906-1924 | |
| 33 | Goose Goslin | LF | 4,792 | 4,792 | 0 | ||
| 34 | Sam Rice | RF | 4,774 | 4,774 | 0 | Held the single-season record, 1920-1924 | |
| 35 | Devon White | CF | 4,739 | 3,389 | 1,350 | ||
| 36 | Johnny Damon | CF | 4,717 | 4,717 | 0 | ||
| 37 | Bernie Williams | CF | 4,710 | 4,710 | 0 | ||
| 38 | Roberto Clemente | RF | 4,696 | 0 | 4,696 | ||
| 39 | Fred Lynn | CF | 4,556 | 4,464 | 92 | ||
| 40 | Edd Roush | CF | 4,537 | 3 | 4,118 | Includes 416 in Federal League | |
| 41 | Jim Edmonds | CF | 4,536 | 1,696 | 2,840 | ||
| 42 | Sammy Sosa | RF | 4,522 | 776 | 3,746 | ||
| 43 | Joe DiMaggio | CF | 4,516 | 4,516 | 0 | ||
| 44 | Tony Gwynn | RF | 4,512 | 0 | 4,512 | ||
| 45 | Mel Ott | RF | 4,511 | 0 | 4,511 | ||
| 46 | Luis Gonzalez | LF | 4,482 | 232 | 4,250 | ||
| 47 | Garry Maddox | CF | 4,449 | 0 | 4,449 | ||
| 48 | Babe Ruth | RF | 4,444 | 4,405 | 39 | ||
| 49 | Mickey Mantle | CF | 4,438 | 4,438 | 0 | ||
| 50 | Lou Brock | LF | 4,394 | 0 | 4,394 | ||
| 51 | Kirby Puckett | CF | 4,392 | 4,392 | 0 | ||
| 52 | José Cruz | LF | 4,391 | 8 | 4,383 | ||
| 53 | Dwight Evans | RF | 4,371 | 4,371 | 0 | ||
| 54 | Paul Blair | CF | 4,343 | 4,226 | 117 | ||
| 55 | Sam West | CF | 4,300 | 4,300 | 0 | ||
| 56 | Adam Jones | CF | 4,272 | 4,063 | 209 | ||
| 57 | Willie McGee | CF | 4,260 | 173 | 4,087 | ||
| 58 | Jimmy Sheckard | LF | 4,203 | 5 | 4,198 | ||
| 59 | Tim Raines | LF | 4,201 | 1,469 | 2,732 | ||
| 60 | Curtis Granderson | CF | 4,183 | 2,956 | 1,227 | ||
| 61 | Cy Williams | CF | 4,180 | 0 | 4,180 | ||
| 62 | Ted Williams | LF | 4,158 | 4,158 | 0 | ||
| 63 | César Cedeño | CF | 4,131 | 0 | 4,131 | ||
| 64 | Nick Markakis | RF | 4,129 | 2,679 | 1,450 | ||
| 65 | Duke Snider | CF | 4,099 | 0 | 4,099 | ||
| 66 | Clyde Milan | CF | 4,095 | 4,095 | 0 | ||
| 67 | Reggie Jackson | RF | 4,062 | 4,062 | 0 | ||
| 68 | Garret Anderson | LF | 4,057 | 3,826 | 231 | ||
| 69 | Dale Murphy | CF | 4,053 | 0 | 4,053 | ||
| 70 | Kiki Cuyler | RF | 4,034 | 0 | 4,034 | ||
| 71 | Curt Flood | CF | 4,021 | 16 | 4,005 | ||
| 72 | Bob Johnson | LF | 4,003 | 4,003 | 0 | ||
| 73 | Wally Moses | RF | 4,000 | 4,000 | 0 | ||
| 74 | Joe Medwick | LF | 3,994 | 0 | 3,994 | ||
| 75 | Harry Hooper | RF | 3,981 | 3,981 | 0 | ||
| 76 | Frank Robinson | RF | 3,978 | 1,281 | 2,697 | ||
| 77 | Earl Averill | CF | 3,968 | 3,963 | 5 | ||
| 78 | Dummy Hoy | CF | 3,964 | 278 | 3,146 | Includes 289 in Players' League, 251 in American Association; held major league record, 1901–1909; held National League record, 1897-1901 | |
| 79 | Jesse Burkett | LF | 3,961 | 1,072 | 2,889 | ||
| 80 | Bobby Abreu | RF | 3,952 | 1,248 | 2,704 | ||
| 81 | Carl Yastrzemski | LF | 3,941 | 3,941 | 0 | ||
| 82 | Enos Slaughter | RF | 3,925 | 463 | 3,462 | ||
| 83 | George Burns | LF | 3,918 | 0 | 3,918 | ||
| 84 | Jimmy Wynn | CF | 3,912 | 50 | 3,862 | ||
| 85 | Bill Bruton | CF | 3,905 | 1,286 | 2,619 | ||
| 86 | Juan Pierre | CF | 3,879 | 585 | 3,294 | ||
| 87 | Dom DiMaggio | CF | 3,859 | 3,859 | 0 | Held the American League single-season record, 1948-1977 | |
| 88 | Jimmy Piersall | CF | 3,851 | 3,786 | 65 | ||
| 89 | Heinie Manush | LF | 3,841 | 3,624 | 217 | ||
| 90 | Rick Manning | CF | 3,831 | 3,831 | 0 | ||
| 91 | George Foster | LF | 3,809 | 19 | 3,790 | ||
| 92 | Sherry Magee | LF | 3,800 | 0 | 3,800 | ||
| 93 | Dave Parker | RF | 3,791 | 60 | 3,731 | ||
| 94 | Bill Virdon | CF | 3,777 | 0 | 3,777 | ||
| 95 | Lloyd Moseby | CF | 3,765 | 3,765 | 0 | ||
| 96 | Bobby Veach | LF | 3,754 | 3,754 | 0 | ||
| 97 | George Hendrick | RF | 3,751 | 1,605 | 2,146 | ||
| 98 | Dode Paskert | CF | 3,734 | 0 | 3,734 | ||
| 99 | Stan Musial | LF | 3,730 | 0 | 3,730 | ||
| 100 | Vernon Wells | CF | 3,726 | 3,726 | 0 | ||
| Player | Main Pos. | Putouts as outfielder | Other leagues, notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | American League | National League | ||||
| Sam Crawford | RF | 3,626 | 2,916 | 710 | Held American League record, 1914–1916 | |
| Larry Doby | CF | 3,618 | 3,616 | 0 | Includes 2 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| Billy Williams | LF | 3,562 | 0 | 3,562 | ||
| Billy Hamilton | CF | 3,453 | 0 | 3,206 | Includes 247 in American Association; held the single-season record, 1894–1899 | |
| Earle Combs | CF | 3,449 | 3,449 | 0 | ||
| Hugh Duffy | CF | 3,396 | 141 | 2,834 | Includes 255 in Players' League, 166 in American Association | |
| Larry Walker | RF | 3,315 | 0 | 3,315 | ||
| Minnie Miñoso | LF | 3,278 | 3,243 | 33 | Includes 2 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| Chuck Klein | RF | 3,250 | 0 | 3,250 | ||
| Robin Yount | CF | 3,202 | 3,202 | 0 | ||
| Vladimir Guerrero | RF | 3,169 | 1,221 | 1,948 | ||
| Jim Rice | LF | 3,103 | 3,103 | 0 | ||
| Willie Keeler | RF | 3,097 | 1,148 | 1,949 | ||
| Ed Delahanty | LF | 2,956 | 305 | 2,613 | Includes 38 in Players' League | |
| Ralph Kiner | LF | 2,875 | 141 | 2,734 | ||
| Joe Kelley | LF | 2,864 | 101 | 2,763 | ||
| Hack Wilson | CF | 2,810 | 0 | 2,810 | ||
| Harry Heilmann | RF | 2,794 | 2,515 | 279 | ||
| Ned Hanlon | CF | 2,659 | 0 | 2,362 | Includes 297 in Players' League; held the single-season record, 1884–1886 | |
| Chick Hafey | LF | 2,527 | 0 | 2,527 | ||
| Billy Southworth | RF | 2,442 | 90 | 2,352 | ||
| Elmer Flick | RF | 2,373 | 1,392 | 981 | ||
| Tony Oliva | RF | 2,332 | 2,332 | 0 | ||
| Jim O'Rourke | LF | 2,235 | 0 | 1,977 | Includes 175 in Players' League, 83 in National Association | |
| Casey Stengel | RF | 2,171 | 0 | 2,171 | ||
| Sam Thompson | RF | 2,167 | 14 | 2,153 | ||
| Ross Youngs | RF | 2,160 | 0 | 2,160 | ||
| Harold Baines | RF | 2,031 | 2,031 | 0 | ||
| Tommy McCarthy | RF | 2,016 | 0 | 1,187 | Includes 790 in American Association, 39 in Union Association | |
| Willie Stargell | LF | 1,985 | 0 | 1,985 | ||
| Cool Papa Bell | CF | 1,399 | 0 | 0 | Includes 698 in Negro National League (second), 620 in Negro National League (first), 81 in East–West League (incomplete) | |
| Monte Irvin | LF | 1,378 | 0 | 1,233 | Includes 145 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| Freddie Lindstrom | CF | 1,311 | 0 | 1,311 | ||
| Turkey Stearnes | CF | 1,209 | 0 | 0 | Includes 718 in Negro National League (first), 384 in Negro National League (second), 107 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| Oscar Charleston | CF | 1,056 | 0 | 0 | Includes 648 in Negro National League (first), 245 in Eastern Colored League, 156 in American Negro League, 7 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| King Kelly | RF | 892 | 0 | 871 | Includes 13 in Players' League, 8 in American Association | |
| Cristóbal Torriente | CF | 783 | 0 | 0 | Includes 783 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| Craig Biggio | CF | 708 | 0 | 708 | ||
| Honus Wagner | RF | 643 | 0 | 643 | ||
| George Davis | CF | 611 | 0 | 611 | ||
| Willard Brown | CF | 506 | 41 | 0 | Includes 465 in Negro American League (incomplete) | |
| Roger Bresnahan | CF | 463 | 35 | 428 | ||
| Hank Greenberg | LF | 459 | 459 | 0 | ||
| Willie McCovey | LF | 397 | 0 | 397 | ||
| Orlando Cepeda | LF | 368 | 0 | 368 | ||
| John Montgomery Ward | CF | 355 | 0 | 355 | ||
| Mule Suttles | LF | 291 | 0 | 0 | Includes 212 in Negro National League (first), 79 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) | |
| Harry Wright | CF | 228 | 0 | 1 | Includes 227 in National Association | |
| Pete Hill | LF | 183 | 0 | 0 | Includes 183 in Negro National League (first) (incomplete) | |
| Deacon White | RF | 149 | 0 | 124 | Includes 25 in National Association | |
| Paul Molitor | CF | 123 | 123 | 0 | ||
| Cap Anson | LF | 118 | 0 | 61 | Includes 57 in National Association | |
| Martín Dihigo | CF | 106 | 0 | 0 | Includes 75 in Negro National League (second), 16 in American Negro League, 15 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete) | |
| Todd Helton | LF | 16 | 0 | 16 | ||
| Joe Mauer | RF | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||