putout
{{Short description|Statistic for a defensive baseball player}}
Image:Baseball Play-at-first.jpg
In baseball statistics, a putout (PO) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods:
- Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base (a tagout)
- Catching a batted or thrown ball and tagging a base to put out a batter or runner (a force out, or if done after a flyout, a doubling off)
- 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 flyout)
- Being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference
In a regulation nine-inning game, the winning team will always have a total of 27 putouts, as one putout is awarded for every defensive out made; this is one aspect of proving a box score.
While the abbreviation for putout is "PO",{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/putout |title=Putout (PO) |website=MLB.com |accessdate=March 19, 2023}} baseball scorekeeping typically records the specific manner in which an out was achieved, without explicitly noting which player is awarded the putout for common plays. For example, a strikeout is recorded without noting the putout by the catcher, with additional detail only provided as needed. For example, "Fryman struck out (catcher to first)"{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B09180DET1996.htm |title=Boston Red Sox 4, Detroit Tigers 0 |website=Retrosheet |date= September 18, 1996 |accessdate=March 19, 2023}} in a play-by-play summary in reference to an out recorded following an uncaught third strike, which indicates the putout was credited to the first baseman rather than the catcher.
All-time records
File:JakeBeckley.jpg, all-time career leader in putouts among major-league players]]
Content in this section has been updated through completion of the 2022 major-league season.
=Career records=
{{main|List of Major League Baseball career putouts leaders}}
- Jake Beckley: 23,767 (1888–1907)
- Cap Anson: 22,572 (1871–1897)
- Ed Konetchy: 21,378 (1907–1921)
- Eddie Murray: 21,265 (1977–1997)
- Charlie Grimm: 20,722 (1916–1936)
- Stuffy McInnis: 20,120 (1909–1927)
- Mickey Vernon: 19,819 (1939–1960)
- Jake Daubert: 19,634 (1910–1924)
- Lou Gehrig: 19,525 (1923–1939)
- Joe Kuhel: 19,386 (1930–1947)
Note: each of the above players was primarily a first baseman.
Note: entering the {{mlby|2023}} season, Joey Votto has the most putouts among active MLB players, with 14,440.
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_tf_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Putouts |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
=Single season records=
The most putouts recorded by any player in a single major-league season is 1,846 by Jiggs Donahue, a first baseman with the 1907 Chicago White Sox.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_tf_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
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==Pitchers==
{{ubl
|1. Dave Foutz: 57 (1886)
|2. Tony Mullane: 54 (1882)
|3. George Bradley: 50 (1876)
|3. Guy Hecker: 50 (1884)
|5. Mike Boddicker: 49 (1984)
|6. Larry Corcoran: 47 (1884)
|7. Ted Breitenstein: 46 (1895)
|8. Al Spalding: 45 (1876)
|9. Jim Devlin: 44 (1876)
|9. Dave Foutz: 44 (1887)
|9. Bill Hutchison: 44 (1890)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_p_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as P |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Catchers==
{{ubl
|1. Yasmani Grandal: 1,169 (Milwaukee Brewers, 2019)
|2. J. T. Realmuto: 1,151 (Philadelphia Phillies, 2022)
|3. Christian Vázquez: 1,136 (Boston Red Sox, 2021)
|4. Johnny Edwards: 1,135 (Houston Astros, 1969)
|5. Yasmani Grandal: 1,114 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2018)
|6. Yadier Molina: 1,113 (St. Louis Cardinals, 2016)
|7. Will Smith: 1101 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2021)
|8. J. T. Realmuto: 1,098 (Philadelphia Phillies, 2019)
|9. Wilson Ramos: 1,094 (Washington Nationals, 2016)
|10. Yasmani Grandal: 1,089 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2017)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_c_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as C |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
Note: as the majority of putouts by catchers occur on strikeouts, most single-season putout records for catchers have occurred in recent seasons (excepting the shortened {{mlby|2020}} season), consistent with the increase in total strikeouts per MLB season (for example; 42,104 in 2021 compared to 34,489 in 2011).{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/histrk4.shtml |title=MLB League Totals for Strikeouts |website=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=March 19, 2023}}
==First basemen==
{{ubl
|1. Jiggs Donahue: 1,846 (1907)
|2. George Kelly: 1,759 (1920)
|3. Phil Todt: 1,755 (1926)
|4. Wally Pipp: 1,710 (1926)
|5. Jiggs Donahue: 1,697 (1906)
|6. Candy LaChance: 1,691 (1904)
|7. Tom Jones: 1,687 (1907)
|8. Ernie Banks: 1,682 (1965)
|9. Wally Pipp: 1,667 (1922)
|10. Lou Gehrig: 1,662 (1927)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_1b_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as 1B |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Second basemen==
{{ubl
|1. Bid McPhee: 529 (1886)
|2. Bobby Grich: 484 (1974)
|3. Bucky Harris: 483 (1922)
|4. Nellie Fox: 478 (1956)
|5. Lou Bierbauer: 472 (1889)
|6. Billy Herman: 466 (1933)
|7. Bill Wambsganss: 463 (1924)
|8. Cub Stricker: 461 (1887)
|9. Buddy Myer: 460 (1935)
|10. Bill Sweeney: 459 (1912)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_2b_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as 2B |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
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==Third basemen==
{{ubl
|1. Denny Lyons: 255 (Philadelphia Athletics, 1887)
|2. Jimmy Collins: 251 (Boston Beaneaters [NL], 1900)
|2. Jimmy Williams: 251 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1899)
|4. Jimmy Collins: 243 (Boston Beaneaters [NL], 1898)
|4. Willie Kamm: 243 (Chicago White Sox, 1928)
|6. Willie Kamm: 236 (Chicago White Sox, 1927)
|7. Home Run Baker: 233 (Philadelphia Athletics, 1913)
|8. Bill Coughlin: 232 (Washington Senators, 1901)
|9. Ernie Courtney: 229 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1905)
|10. Jimmy Austin: 228 (St. Louis Browns, 1911)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_3b_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as 3B |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Shortstops==
{{ubl
|1. Donie Bush: 425 (Detroit Tigers, 1914)
|1. Hughie Jennings: 425 (Baltimore Orioles [NL], 1895)
|3. Joe Cassidy: 408 (Washington Senators, 1905)
|4. Rabbit Maranville: 407 (Boston Braves, 1914)
|5. Dave Bancroft: 405 (New York Giants, 1922)
|5. Eddie Miller: 405 (Boston Braves, 1940)
|7. Monte Cross: 404 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1898)
|8. Dave Bancroft: 396 (New York Giants, 1921)
|9. Mickey Doolan: 395 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1906)
|10. Buck Weaver: 392 (Chicago White Sox, 1913)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_ss_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as SS |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Left fielders==
{{ubl
|1. Joe Vosmik: 432 (1932)
|2. Rickey Henderson: 412 (1980)
|3. Gil Coan: 379 (1951)
|4. Ben Oglivie: 377 (1980)
|5. Bobby Veach: 370 (1921)
|5. Gary Ward: 370 (1983)
|7. Elmer Valo: 368 (1949)
|8. Barry Bonds: 366 (1989)
|8. Bobby Veach: 366 (1922)
|10: Bibb Falk: 364 (1927)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_lf_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as LF |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Center fielders==
{{ubl
|1. Richie Ashburn: 532 (1951)
|2. Taylor Douthit: 518 (1928)
|3. Chet Lemon: 509 (1977)
|4. Richie Ashburn: 501 (1949)
|4. Dwayne Murphy: 501 (1980)
|6. Richie Ashburn: 500 (1956)
|7. Richie Ashburn: 499 (1957)
|8. Richie Ashburn: 494 (1958)
|9. Jim Busby: 492 (1954)
|9. Andruw Jones: 492 (1999)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_cf_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as CF |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
==Right fielders==
{{ubl
|1. Dave Parker: 381 (1977)
|1. Ichiro Suzuki: 381 (2005)
|3. Babe Herman: 380 (1932)
|4. Austin Kearns: 374 (2007)
|4. Hunter Pence: 374 (2013)
|6. Ichiro Suzuki: 372 (2004)
|7. Mookie Betts: 366 (2017)
|7. Dave Winfield: 366 (1977)
|9. Jason Heyward: 365 (2014)
|10. Jermaine Dye: 362 (1999)
}}
Source:{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/PO_rf_season.shtml |title=Single-Season Leaders & Records for Putouts as RF |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 18, 2023}}
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