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. The left fielder (LF) is one of the three outfielders, the defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing toward the pitcher's mound. The outfielders' 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. The left fielder must also be adept at navigating the area of left field where the foul line approaches the corner of the playing field and the walls of the seating areas. Being the outfielder closest to third base, the left fielder generally does not have to throw as far as the other outfielders to throw out runners advancing around the bases, so they often do not have the strongest throwing arm, but their throws need to be accurate. The left fielder normally plays behind the third baseman and shortstop, who play in or near the infield; unlike catchers and most infielders (excepting first basemen), who are virtually exclusively right-handed, left fielders can be either right- or left-handed. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the left fielder is assigned the number 7.

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. However, efforts to distinguish between the three positions regarding games played during this period and reconstruct the separate totals have been largely successful; players whose totals include pre-1901 games are notated in the table below. Barry Bonds is the all-time leader in career games played as a left fielder with 2,715. Rickey Henderson (2,421), Luis Gonzalez (2,418), Zack Wheat (2,328), Fred Clarke (2,186), and Lou Brock (2,161) are the only other players to appear in over 2,000 games in left field in their careers.

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 left fielder in Major League Baseball*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame Denotes total including pre-1901 gamesBoldDenotes active playerA player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.

List

Stats updated as of September 27, 2026. RankPlayer (2026 Gs)Games as a left fielderOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Barry Bonds2,71502,7152Rickey Henderson*2,4211,985436Held major league record, 2001–20043Luis Gonzalez2,4181322,2864Zack Wheat*2,328572,271Held major league record, 1926–2001; held National League record, 1926–20035Lou Brock*2,16102,1616Ted Williams*1,9821,9820Held American League record, 1960–20027Tim Raines*1,9617711,1908Goose Goslin*1,9461,9460Held American League record, 1935–19609Carl Yastrzemski*1,9121,912010Joe Medwick*1,79001,79011Carlos Lee1,77087689412Billy Williams*1,73811,73713Matt Holliday1,711931,61814Bobby Veach1,6771,6770Held American League record, 1922–193515Jimmy Sheckard 1,66901,66916Sherry Magee1,60301,60317Carl Crawford1,5951,32227318Bob Johnson1,5861,586019George Foster1,549111,53820Roy White1,5211,521021Minnie Miñoso*1,5091,48227Negro League totals unavailable22Jim Rice*1,5031,503023Raúl Ibañez1,4671,05940824Gary Matthews1,44601,44625Duffy Lewis1,4141,4140Held American League record, 1919–192226José Cruz1,40741,40327Charlie Jamieson1,3931,393028Garret Anderson1,3871,23615129Heinie Manush*1,3811,381030Al Simmons*1,3721,2858731Alex Gordon1,3611,361032Pat Burrell1,32711,32633Fred Clarke* 1,32201,322Held major league record, 1909–1926; held National League record, 1905–192634Ralph Kiner*1,307871,22035Del Ennis1,290251,26536Joe Vosmik1,2781,2393937Greg Vaughn1,26282843438Lonnie Smith1,25827398539Jo-Jo Moore1,24801,24840Moisés Alou1,24201,242Ryan Braun1,24201,24242Willie Stargell*1,22901,22943Greg Luzinski1,22101,22144George Burns1,21501,21545Jason Bay1,208237971Gene Woodling1,2081,1802847Topsy Hartsel 1,2021,071131Held American League record, 1906–190948Ron Gant1,184401,14449Patsy Dougherty1,1801,1800Held American League record, 1909–191950Jack Graney1,1721,172051Joe Rudi1,1581,158052Vince Coleman1,153196957Shannon Stewart1,1531,153054Ken Williams1,1331,0716255Jeff Heath1,1271,001126Lou Piniella1,1271,127057Mike Greenwell1,1241,124058George Bell1,12397714659Willie Horton1,1121,112060Bibb Falk1,1101,110061Tommy Davis1,10330380066Ben Oglivie1,1001,100063Dusty Baker1,091681,02364Cliff Floyd1,084211,06365Kevin McReynolds1,06919887166Alfonso Soriano1,0565999767Bob Bescher1,05301,05368Babe Ruth*1,0471,0252269Brett Gardner1,0441,044070Manny Ramirez1,03783720071Hank Sauer1,02901,02972Andrew Benintendi (10)1,0281,028073Leon Wagner1,02791211574Justin Upton1,02562140475Melky Cabrera1,023809214Adam Dunn1,023121,01177Albert Belle1,0171,017078Irish Meusel1,01611,01579Gus Zernial1,0051,005080Augie Galan1,000799381Bernard Gilkey996798982Christian Yelich (2)980098083Al Martin93810083884Ian Happ (150)936093685Alex Johnson93552640986Michael Brantley934934087Stan Musial*929092988Luis Polonia9279091889Steve Kemp9258586790Frank Howard9238606391Eddie Rosario (0)91365326092Geoff Jenkins910091093Josh Willingham90634056694B.J. Surhoff90474316195Jeffrey Leonard89619070696Bob Skinner893089397Carson Bigbee890089098Riggs Stephenson885288399Dale Mitchell8808782100Charlie Keller8748740

Other Hall of Famers PlayerGames as a left fielderOther leagues, notes MLB American League National LeagueFrank Robinson*834130704Chick Hafey*7880788Jim O'Rourke* 7700760Includes 10 in Players' LeagueMax Carey*6600660Hugh Duffy* 5719555Includes 7 in American AssociationMonte Irvin*5460490Includes 56 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)Tommy McCarthy* 5140463Includes 41 in Union Association, 10 in American AssociationEnos Slaughter*509119390Harmon Killebrew*4714710Dave Winfield*465351114Billy Hamilton* 4340424Includes 10 in American AssociationChipper Jones*3560356Kiki Cuyler*3320332Joe Kelley* †3251324Ichiro Suzuki*1175364Andruw Jones*1121102Dave Parker*483414Carlos Beltrán*15150

Notes

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