Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested. In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game, are included on a starting lineup card or are announced as ex ante substitutes, whether or not they play;Section 20 of the official scorer guidelines however, in Major League Baseball, the application of this statistic does not extend to consecutive games played streaks. A starting pitcher, then, may be credited with a game played even if he is not credited with a game started or an inning pitched. In baseball and softball, the second baseman is a fielding position in the infield, commonly stationed between second and first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on a double play. In addition, second basemen are almost always right-handed. Only four left-handed throwing players have appeared as second basemen in the major leagues since 1950; one of the four, Gonzalo Márquez, was listed as the second baseman in the starting lineup for two games in 1973, batting in the first inning, but was replaced before his team took the field on defense, and none of the other three players lasted even a complete inning at the position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.

The second baseman is frequently the smallest player on the team, and the ability of such smaller players to absorb the impact of play has contributed to many long careers at the position throughout major league history; three-quarters of the second basemen elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame have been under 6' tall. Eddie Collins, the first major league player to appear in 2,500 games at a single position, is the all-time leader with 2,650 career games as a second baseman. Joe Morgan (2,527), Roberto Alomar (2,320), Lou Whitaker (2,308), Nellie Fox (2,295), Charlie Gehringer (2,206), Robinson Canó (2,165), Willie Randolph (2,152), Frank White (2,151), Bid McPhee (2,129), Bill Mazeroski (2,094), Nap Lajoie (2,035), and Jeff Kent (2,034) are the only other second baseman to play over 2,000 games at the position.

Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career games played. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2026 Gs) Number of games played during the 2026 Major League Baseball season MLB Total career games played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame BoldDenotes active playerA player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

List

Stats updated as of September 27, 2026. RankPlayer (2026 Gs)Games as second basemanOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Eddie Collins*2,6502,65002Joe Morgan*2,5271002,4273Roberto Alomar*2,3201,6366844Lou Whitaker2,3082,30805Nellie Fox*2,2952,1791166Charlie Gehringer*2,2062,20607Robinson Canó2,1782,0251538Willie Randolph2,1521,8932599Frank White2,1512,151010Bid McPhee*2,12901,218Includes 911 in American Association; held major league record, 1891-192311Bill Mazeroski*2,09402,094Held National League record, 1968-198012Nap Lajoie*2,0351,720315Held American League record, 1911-192013Jeff Kent*2,034262,00814Ryne Sandberg*1,99501,99515Craig Biggio*1,98901,98916Jose Altuve (129)1,9601,61334717Bobby Doerr*1,8521,852018Ray Durham1,8431,13570819Red Schoendienst*1,83401,834Held National League record, 1961-1968Brandon Phillips1,8311571,67421Ian Kinsler1,8281,7567222Billy Herman*1,81301,813Held National League record, 1946-196223Bobby Grich1,7651,765024Bret Boone1,76380995425Frankie Frisch*1,76201,762Held National League record, 1936-194626Chase Utley1,74301,74327Johnny Evers*1,73511,734Held National League record, 1914-193628Larry Doyle1,72801,72829Del Pratt1,6881,688030Luis Castillo1,6832271,45631Steve Sax1,6796091,07032Kid Gleason1,5852541,33133Rogers Hornsby*1,561191,54234Julián Javier1,55201,55235Fred Pfeffer1,53801,414Includes 124 in Players' League; held National League record, 1891-190836Miller Huggins*1,53001,53037Joe Gordon*1,5191,519038Frank Bolling1,518779739Manny Trillo1,5181241,39440Tony Taylor1,4981901,30841Dustin Pedroia1,4921,492042George Cutshaw1,4861751,31143Claude Ritchey1,47901,479Held National League record, 1908-191444Tony Lazzeri*1,4561,4411545Cupid Childs1,45501,330Includes 125 in American Association46Hughie Critz1,45301,45347Félix Millán1,45001,45048Jim Gantner1,4491,449049Cookie Rojas1,44678965750Davey Lopes1,4182651,15351Tom Herr1,416731,34352Delino DeShields1,3921891,20353Chuck Knoblauch1,3811,381054Lou Bierbauer1,3660723Includes 510 in American Association, 133 in Players' League55Mark Ellis1,3641,02134356Bill Doran1,359171,34257Adam Kennedy1,3471,05329458Buddy Myer1,3401,340059Harold Reynolds1,3391,3390Bobby Richardson1,3391,339061Glenn Hubbard1,3321521,18062Dave Cash1,33001,33063Bobby Lowe1,3161631,153Ski Melillo1,3161,316065Johnny Temple1,3122771,03566Don Blasingame1,31037193967Joe Quinn1,307661,108Includes 133 in Players' League68Brian Roberts1,3041,304069Eric Young1,295211,27470Ted Sizemore1,288341,25471Dan Uggla1,28301,28372Orlando Hudson1,279588691Robby Thompson1,27901,27974Johnny Ray1,27736391475Tito Fuentes1,2751641,11176Ron Hunt1,26001,26077Bucky Harris*1,2531,253078Mickey Morandini1,245351,21079Glenn Beckert1,24201,24280Otto Knabe1,23901,001Includes 238 in Federal League81Max Bishop1,2301,230082Aaron Hill1,21075046083Tony Cuccinello1,20561,199Bill Wambsganss1,2051,205085Davey Johnson1,19894725186Mark McLemore1,1971,1781987Ronnie Belliard1,190383807Juan Samuel1,190301,16089Howie Kendrick1,18396721690DJ LeMahieu (0)1,18229089291Jerry Priddy1,1791,179092Jimmy Williams1,1761,1760Held American League record, 1908-191193Damion Easley1,17298918394Ron Oester1,17101,17195Bobby Ávila1,1681,1175195Jim Gilliam1,16601,046Includes 120 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)97Dick Green1,1581,158098Sandy Alomar1,1561,1144299Eddie Stanky1,15201,152100Cub Stricker1,1450276Includes 760 in American Association, 109 in Players' League

Other Hall of Famers PlayerGames as second basemanOther leagues, notes MLB American League National LeagueRod Carew*1,1301,1300Jackie Robinson*7480748Rabbit Maranville*5130513John Montgomery Ward*4930493Paul Molitor*4004000John Henry Lloyd*22300Includes 223 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete)George Kelly*1450145Ed Delahanty*1310111Includes 20 in Players' LeagueGeorge Davis*1139815Roger Connor*68068Ray Dandridge*5400Includes 54 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)Martín Dihigo*4500Includes 28 in Eastern Colored League, 12 in American Negro League, 5 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)Joe Cronin*35134Dick Allen*431Adrián Beltré*110Dave Parker*101Frank Grant*000Unavailable pre-Negro league figures

Notes

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