{{Short description|Statistic for a defensive baseball player}} thumb|300px|right|An attempted putout at first base. 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 the runner is not touching a base (a tagout) * Catching a batted ball on the fly (a flyout) * Retrieving a batted ball hit along the ground which a defensive player subsequently throws to another defensive player who then catches it- the latter simultaneously occupying a base, or by subsequently touching a base while in possession of the ball- thus recording an out of a batter or runner, before the batter, or non-batting runner, can touch the base to which he is compelled to advance (a force out- referred to as a groundout if the player who has been put out is the batter-runner attempting to reach first base- 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) * 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",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/glossary/standard-stats/putout |title=Putout (PO) |website=MLB.com |accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref> 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)"<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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|thumb|right|upright=.8|Jake Beckley, 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.<br> Note: entering the {{mlby|2023}} season, Joey Votto has the most putouts among active MLB players, with 14,440.<br> Source:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
===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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
{{col-begin}} {{col-break|width=50%}} ====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
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).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/histrk4.shtml |title=MLB League Totals for Strikeouts |website=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref> {{col-break}}
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref>
====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:<ref>{{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}}</ref> {{col-end}}
==See also== * Assist (baseball)
==References== <references />
{{Baseball statistics}} {{Baseball}}
Category:Fielding statistics