List of Major League Baseball career putouts leaders

In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by PO or fly out when appropriate) is given to a defensive player who records an out by a 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), 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), or being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference.

Jake Beckley is the all-time leader in career putouts with 23,743. Cap Anson (22,572), Ed Konetchy (21,378), Eddie Murray (21,265), Charlie Grimm (20,722), and Stuffy McInnis (20,120) are the only other players to record 20,000 career putouts.

Key Rank Among leaders in career putouts. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2026 POs) Recorded putouts in 2026. PO Career putouts.*Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame. BoldActive player.A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.

Overall The top 100 in putouts in major league history.

Stats updated as of September 27, 2026. RankPlayer (2026 POs)PO1Jake Beckley* 23,7432Cap Anson* 22,5723Ed Konetchy21,3784Eddie Murray* 21,2655Charlie Grimm20,7226Stuffy McInnis20,1207Mickey Vernon19,8198Jake Daubert19,6349Lou Gehrig* 19,52510Joe Kuhel19,38611Joe Judge19,26512Steve Garvey19,00413Fred McGriff*18,98514George Sisler* 18,91415Todd Helton*18,90516Wally Pipp18,77917Mark Grace18,50318Hal Chase18,34619Jim Bottomley* 18,33720Fred Tenney18,27821Andrés Galarraga18,22422Rafael Palmeiro18,12823Roger Connor* 18,11524Keith Hernandez17,91625Jimmie Foxx* 17,79726Chris Chambliss17,77127Freddie Freeman (1,015)17,76128Albert Pujols17,62029Willie McCovey* 17,56730Jeff Bagwell* 17,54631George Burns16,97032Paul Goldschmidt (521)16,82533Will Clark16,69534Dan Brouthers* 16,44335Tommy Tucker16,43336John Olerud16,16537Wally Joyner16,08138Bill Terry* 15,99939Paul Konerko15,96540Harry Davis15,86641Gil Hodges* 15,72242Lu Blue15,64743George Scott15,60144Fred Merkle15,51345Carlos Delgado15,23646Yadier Molina15,23247Norm Cash15,17348Tony Pérez* 15,12749Bill Buckner15,12650Tino Martinez15,001 RankPlayer (2026 POs)PO51Mark Teixeira14,98952Adrián González14,98353Iván Rodríguez* 14,92254Derrek Lee14,91055Johnny Mize* 14,86256Orlando Cepeda* 14,82957Joey Votto14,73658George Kelly*14,69059Mark McGwire14,46460Don Mattingly14,27061Ernie Banks*14,20662Eric Karros14,05663Charles Comiskey*13,90064Frank McCormick13,803Dan McGann13,80366Kent Hrbek13,72567Dolph Camilli13,72468Joe Adcock13,67869Carlos Santana (59)13,56570Rod Carew* 13,51071George McQuinn13,41472Cecil Cooper13,36173Elbie Fletcher13,23774John Mayberry13,16975Anthony Rizzo13,12876Fred Luderus13,12677Gus Suhr13,10478Jason Kendall13,06779Lee May13,02980Bill White13,01581George Stovall12,89982Brad Ausmus12,85683J.T. Snow12,85584Kitty Bransfield12,80585Boog Powell12,79686Ted Kluszewski12,65287A. J. Pierzynski12,60088Dick Hoblitzell12,59189Eric Hosmer12,55590Jack Fournier12,53591Candy LaChance12,50692Gary Carter*12,49093Stan Musial*12,43994Phil Cavarretta12,43595Pete Rose12,39496Ryan Howard12,35197Rudy York12,30898Brian McCann12,16599Walter Holke12,158100Hal Trosky12,125

By position Pitchers

The pitcher is the player who pitches the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, playing the most difficult and specialized position, and as such is regarded as being at the right end of the defensive spectrum. Pitchers play far less than players at other positions, generally appearing in only two or three games per week; only one pitcher in major league history has appeared in 100 games in a single season. There are many different types of pitchers, generally divided between starting pitchers and relief pitchers, which include the middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and closer. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1.

Pitchers typically record putouts by catching line drives or pop-ups, or by covering first base on ground balls to the first baseman. On pop-ups, however, pitchers will often instead act as a defensive supervisor, evaluating the ball's arc and selecting which infielder should make the catch. Pitchers can also record a putout while covering home plate by tagging a runner attempting to score a run if the catcher is retrieving a wild pitch, passed ball, or errant throw. Because of the relative rarity of such plays, as well as their reduced playing time, pitchers record far fewer putouts than players at any other position; players at every other position have recorded between five and forty-three times as many putouts as the top pitcher. Only four pitchers in history – none since 1886 – have recorded 50 putouts in a season, a total which a first baseman might reach in a week.

Career putout totals for pitchers have generally risen with the increase in long careers and the lengthening of the major league season in the early 1960s. The top 11 career leaders are all starting pitchers who have been active since 1962. Right-handed pitchers generally record more putouts due to their facing first base after the follow-through of their pitching motion; the top 24 leaders are all right-handed. Greg Maddux is the all-time leader in career putouts by a pitcher with 546; he is the only pitcher to record more than 400 career putouts.

Stats updated through the 2026 season. RankPlayer (2026 POs)ThrowsPutouts as a pitcherOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Greg Maddux*R5460546Held the modern National League single-season record, 1990-1999 (tie)2Kevin BrownR388187201Holds the modern National League single-season record of 41 (set in 1999)3Jack Morris*R3873870Held major league record, 1994-20004Phil Niekro*R38646340Held major league record, 1985-1994; held National League record, 1982-19985Ferguson Jenkins*R363176187Held major league record, 1981-19856Gaylord Perry*R3491412087Zack GreinkeR3401511898Don Sutton*R334642709Orel HershiserR3325627610Rick ReuschelR3286322Tom Seaver*R3284828012Tony MullaneR3260106Includes 220 in American Association (league record); held major league record, 1894-1981; held the single-season record, 1882-188613Pud Galvin*R3250276Includes 26 in American Association, 22 in Players' League, 1 in National Association; held major league record, 1889-1894; held National League record, 1891-190114Roger ClemensR32029624John Smoltz*R320431616Dennis MartínezR31919612317Chick FraserR31735282Held the modern single-season record, 1901-190218Robin Roberts*R3166425219Kid Nichols*R3130313Held National League record, 1901-198220Jim Palmer*R2922920Held American League record, 1982-199021Bob Gibson*R2910291Juan Marichal*R291428723Bert Blyleven*R2872523524Christy Mathewson*R281028125Jamie MoyerL2792037626Mike MooreR278278027Walter Johnson*R2762760Held American League record, 1922-198228Dave StiebR272272029Vic Willis*R2710271Held the modern National League single-season record, 1902-199930Doug DrabekR2662723931Doyle AlexanderR2642204432Bob Lemon*R2632630Jim McCormickR2630250Includes 13 in Union Association; held major league record, 1885-188934Tom Glavine *L2620262Jim Kaat*L26221448Held record for left-handed pitchers, 1980-200836Tim Keefe*R2600196Includes 49 in American Association, 15 in Players' League37Tim HudsonR258114144Kenny RogersL258254439Larry JacksonR257025740Dan PetryR255251441Joe NiekroR2535619742Mike BoddickerR2452450Holds the modern single-season record of 49 (set in 1984)Ted BreitensteinL2450244Includes 1 in American Association; holds the single-season record for left-handed pitchers (46 in 1895)Lew BurdetteR2458237Milt PappasR24513311246Adonis TerryR2440106Includes 138 in American Association47Bob WelchR24310214148Mel StottlemyreR242242049Freddie FitzsimmonsR2370237Mark GubiczaR2372370Tommy JohnL23719146Steve RogersR237023753Murry DicksonR23610226Bobby MathewsR236060Includes 139 in National Association, 37 in American Association; held major league record, 1883-1886Adam WainwrightR2360236Doc WhiteL2362191757Charlie HoughR2351934258Bob ForschR234023459Ed Walsh*R233232160Mike Mussina*R231231061Tom CandiottiR23015476Charles Radbourn*R2300214Includes 16 in Players' League63George MullinR2292190Includes 10 in Federal League; held the modern single-season record, 1903-1904 (tie)Eddie Plank*L2292160Includes 13 in Federal LeagueCy Young*R2297215766Bob FriendR2283225Roy Halladay*R2281884068Tim WakefieldR2272131469Frank TananaL2262151170Burleigh Grimes*R2251224Catfish Hunter*R225225072Dwight GoodenR2243319173Scott EricksonR2232194Mike TorrezR2231309375John LackeyR22215666Warren Spahn*L222022277Bronson ArroyoR22147174John Clarkson*R2210221Derek LoweR221108113Luis TiantR221218381David ConeR220119101Nolan Ryan*R2201259583Ted Lyons*R219219084Tommy BondR2180149Includes 59 in National Association, 8 in Union Association, 2 in American Association85Mickey Welch*R217021786George BradleyR2160120Includes 52 in National Association, 33 in Union Association, 11 in American Association; held the single-season record, 1876-1882Guy HeckerR21608Includes 208 in American Association88Mike MorganR2157713889Justin VerlanderR2141922290Mike LeakeR21335178Brad RadkeR213213092Tim BelcherR21211894Vern LawR212021294Bob BuhlR2110211Liván HernándezR2117204Albert Spalding*R211047Includes 164 in National Association; held major league record, 1874-1883Rick SutcliffeR2117713498Camilo PascualR210209199Mel HarderR2092090Harry HowellR20919217

Catchers

The catcher is a defensive position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his/her turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to these primary duties, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the catcher is assigned the number 2.