List of Major League Baseball career fielding errors leaders

In baseball statistics, an error is an act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to advance one or more bases or allows an at bat to continue after the batter should have been put out.

Herman Long is the all-time leader in errors, committing 1,096 in his career. Bill Dahlen (1,080), Deacon White (1,018), and Germany Smith (1,009) are the only other players to commit over 1,000 career errors. Tommy Corcoran (992), Fred Pfeffer (980), Cap Anson (976), and John Montgomery Ward (952) are the only other players to commit over 900 career errors.

Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career errors committed. A blank field indicates a tie. Player Name of player. E Total career errors committed.*denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.

List

Stats updated as of April 3, 2026. RankPlayer (2025 Es)E1Herman Long1,0962Bill Dahlen1,0803Deacon White*1,0184Germany Smith1,0095Tommy Corcoran9926Fred Pfeffer9807Cap Anson*9768John Montgomery Ward*9529Jack Glasscock89510Ed McKean89211King Kelly*85112Arlie Latham84413Honus Wagner*82814Bobby Wallace*81415Monte Cross81316George Davis*80317Bob Ferguson79818Bid McPhee*79619Sam Wise79520Jack Burdock79321Ezra Sutton78222Cub Stricker74823Tom Burns73924Joe Gerhardt72525Rabbit Maranville*71126Pop Snyder70827Billy Shindle70528Donie Bush70429Jim O'Rourke*70030Pop Smith69931Ned Williamson68432Luke Appling*67233Kid Gleason67234Billy Nash66935Dave Bancroft*66636Tom Daly65737Yank Robinson65538Joe Tinker*64839Cupid Childs64740Arthur Irwin64741Hick Carpenter62542Deacon McGuire62143Shorty Fuller61544Davy Force61345Doggie Miller61346Jerry Denny60947Bones Ely60648Joe Quinn60449Frank Fennelly60250Roger Connor*596 RankPlayer (2025 Es)E51Lave Cross59052Paul Hines59053Mickey Doolan58954Lou Bierbauer58555Buck Ewing*57256Jack Farrell57057Jack Rowe56858Duke Farrell56259Roger Peckinpaugh55460Hughie Jennings*55261Hardy Richardson55262Jack Doyle54663Chick Fulmer54564Bill McClellan54265Kid Elberfeld53866Art Fletcher53767Bill Gleason53768Bill Hallman53469Ivy Olson53470Dan Brouthers*53171Paul Radford52272John Morrill52073Bill Kuehne51974Candy Nelson51975Nap Lajoie*51876Denny Lyons51477Dick Bartell51278Joe Cronin*51079Bill Joyce51080Bobby Lowe50881Rogers Hornsby*50082Fred Dunlap49983Tom Brown49784George McBride48985Freddy Parent48886Jake Beckley*48287Joe Mulvey47988Jimmy Collins*47889Silver Flint47190Harry Stovey47091Al Myers46392Harry Steinfeldt46393Doc Lavan46194Mike McGeary46095Ross Barnes45996Tommy Leach45997George Pinkney45898George Van Haltren45899John Peters455100Eddie Collins*452

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.

The list of career leaders is dominated by players from the 19th century when fielding equipment was very rudimentary; baseball gloves only began to gain acceptance in the 1880s steadily, and were not uniformly worn until the mid-1890s, resulting in a much lower frequency of defensive miscues. The top 25 players in career errors began playing in the 19th century, most of them playing their entire careers before 1900; only four were active after 1901, and none after 1911. Most of the top 92 played entirely in the 19th century, with only 19 making their major league debut after 1900; only six made their debut after 1940. The top 16 single-season totals were all recorded before 1890, the top 95 were recorded before 1904, and the top 297 were recorded before 1924. To a large extent, the leaders reflect longevity rather than lower skill. Jim Kaat and Greg Maddux, whose error totals of 56 and 53 rank fifth and seventh among pitchers since 1940, won sixteen and eighteen Gold Glove Awards respectively for defensive excellence.

Bobby Mathews is the all-time leader in career errors committed by a pitcher with 220, more than twice as many as any pitcher who began playing after 1900; he is the only pitcher to commit more than 200 career errors. Tim Keefe is second with 166 career errors as a pitcher. Seventeen players have committed more than 100 career errors as pitchers. Justin Verlander, who had 35 errors through the end of the 2025 season to place him tied for 221st all-time, is the leader among active players.

Stats updated as of April 3, 2026. RankPlayer (2025 Es)ThrowsE as P1Bobby MathewsR2202Tim Keefe*R1663Pud Galvin*R1634John Clarkson*R1625Cy Young*R1466Mickey Welch*R1337Gus WeyhingR1288Tony MullaneR122Amos Rusie*R12210Bert CunninghamR111Charles Radbourn*R11112Albert Spalding*R11013Tommy BondR10914Toad RamseyL10715Will WhiteR10616Adonis TerryR10417Joe McGinnity*R10018Jim McCormickR99Jim WhitneyR9920George BradleyR9821Charlie BuffintonR94Red EhretR94Chick FraserR9424Matt KilroyL91Rube Waddell*L9126Nolan Ryan*R9027George ZettleinR8828Win MercerR8429Al OrthR8330Frank KillenL82George MullinR8232Mark BaldwinR77Jack TaylorR7734Stump WeidmanR7635Red AmesR74Bill HutchisonR74Hippo VaughnL7438Ed DohenyL72Jack PowellR7240Jersey BakleyR71Ed CraneR71Red Faber*R71Burleigh Grimes*R71Jack LynchR7145Eddie CicotteR70Pink HawleyR70Sadie McMahonR70Ed MorrisL7049Pretzels GetzienR68Dick McBrideR68 RankPlayer (2025 Es)ThrowsE as P51Kid CarseyR67Larry CorcoranR67Kid Nichols*R67Vic Willis*R6755Kid GleasonR66Cy SeymourL6657Hardie HendersonR6558Bob BarrR64Clark Griffith*R6460Tom HughesR6361Jumbo McGinnis62Jack StivettsR6263Bob CaruthersR61Egyptian HealyR61Bill StearnsR6166Fred GoldsmithR60Guy HeckerR60Jouett MeekinR60Earl MooreR6070Candy Cummings*R59Don Drysdale*R5972Cherokee FisherR58Bill LeeR58Warren Spahn*L5875Ted BreitensteinL57Randy Johnson*L57Brickyard KennedyR5778Jack Chesbro*R56Bill DinneenR56Jim Kaat*L56Silver KingR56Allan SothoronR56Willie SudhoffR56Ed Walsh*R5685Chief Bender*R5586Joaquín AndújarR54Ice Box ChamberlainR54Frank DwyerR54Noodles HahnL54Casey PattenL54Ed ReulbachR54John Montgomery Ward*R5493Frank ForemanR53Greg Maddux*R53Christy Mathewson*R53Doc NewtonL53Wiley PiattL5398Cy FalkenbergR52Bob GroomR52Walter Johnson*R52Sad Sam JonesR52

Catchers

The catcher is a 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.

The list of career leaders is dominated by players from the 19th century, when fielding equipment was very rudimentary; baseball gloves only began to gain acceptance in the 1880s steadily, and were not uniformly worn until the mid-1890s, resulting in a much lower frequency of defensive miscues. Other protective equipment for catchers were also gradually introduced; the first masks were developed in the late 1870s, with improvements in the 1890s, but shin guards were not introduced to the major leagues until 1907. The top 15 players in career errors all played primarily in the 19th century, and half of the top 52 played their entire careers prior to 1894; only five were active after 1920, and none were active after 1931. To a large extent, the leaders reflect longevity rather than lower skill; of the six catchers in the top 100 who were active after 1960, most were winners of Gold Glove Awards; Bob Boone, who leads all post-1931 catchers with 178 errors, won seven Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence.

Pop Snyder, who retired in 1891 with a record 877 games as a catcher, is the all-time leader in career fielding errors by a catcher with 685, nearly four times as many as any catcher who began their career after 1915. Deacon McGuire, who ended his career in 1912 with a record 1,612 games caught, is second with 577 and is the only other catcher to commit more than 500 errors. Yan Gomes, who had 68 errors through the 2025 season to place him tied for 266th all-time, is the leader among active players.

Stats updated as of April 3, 2026. RankPlayer (2025 Es)E as C1Pop Snyder6852Deacon McGuire5773Silver Flint4564Doc Bushong412Wilbert Robinson*4126Deacon White*3997Jack Clements3948Bill Holbert3939Charlie Bennett37910King Kelly*36811Duke Farrell36612John Clapp36413Nat Hicks35214Chief Zimmer32815Buck Ewing*32216Red Dooin32017Jocko Milligan30418Kid Baldwin30219Barney Gilligan29920Doggie Miller28521Con Daily28322Connie Mack*28123Malachi Kittridge26424Lew Brown24525Emil Gross24226Jack Boyle23727Pop Schriver23528Ivey Wingo23429Fred Carroll23130Charlie Ganzel229Oscar Stanage22932Doug Allison22533Bob Clark223Wally Schang22335Steve O'Neill21736Sam Trott211Farmer Vaughn21138Johnny Kling21039Jack Warner20540Fatty Briody20441Dick Buckley19842Jimmy Peoples19743George Myers195Charlie Reipschlager19545Eddie Ainsmith19546Boileryard Clarke19047Jim Keenan187Heinie Peitz18749Pat Deasley18650Frank Bowerman185 RankPlayer (2025 Es)E as C51Jack O'Brien18352Scott Hastings18253Bob Boone17854Jack O'Connor17755Morgan Murphy175Ray Schalk*17557Lou Criger17058Rudy Kemmler16959Fergy Malone16860Roger Bresnahan*16761Paul Cook166Ossee Schreckengost166Joe Sugden16664Tom Kinslow16365Bill Bergen16166John Grim15867Dick Higham15768Carlton Fisk*15569Rollie Hemsley154Jack Ryan15471George Gibson15372Benito Santiago151Ed Whiting15174Bill Rariden150Luke Sewell15076Tom Daly148Bill Killefer148Gus Mancuso148Jack Rowe148Billy Sullivan14881Jim Donahue146Chief Meyers14683Bill Harbridge14584Jason Kendall144Ed McFarland14486Mert Hackett143Ernie Lombardi*14388Iván Rodríguez*14289Gabby Hartnett*13990Walker Cooper138Lave Cross138Ed Sweeney13893Jimmie Wilson13694Rick Ferrell*135Otto Miller13596Darrell Porter13497John Kelly133Andy Seminick13399 Sam Agnew132Mike Grady132

First Basemen

First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner to score a run for that player's team. A first baseman is the player on the team playing defense who fields the area nearest first base, and is responsible for the majority of plays made at that base. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the first baseman is assigned the number 3.