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File:Baseball Play-at-first.jpg
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 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, 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)
  • Catching a batted ball on the fly (a flyout)
  • 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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 recordsEdit

File:JakeBeckley.jpg
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 recordsEdit

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  1. Jake Beckley: 23,767 (1888–1907)
  2. Cap Anson: 22,572 (1871–1897)
  3. Ed Konetchy: 21,378 (1907–1921)
  4. Eddie Murray: 21,265 (1977–1997)
  5. Charlie Grimm: 20,722 (1916–1936)
  6. Stuffy McInnis: 20,120 (1909–1927)
  7. Mickey Vernon: 19,819 (1939–1960)
  8. Jake Daubert: 19,634 (1910–1924)
  9. Lou Gehrig: 19,525 (1923–1939)
  10. Joe Kuhel: 19,386 (1930–1947)

Note: each of the above players was primarily a first baseman.
Note: entering the Template:Mlby season, Joey Votto has the most putouts among active MLB players, with 14,440.
Source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Single season recordsEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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PitchersEdit

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CatchersEdit

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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 Template:Mlby season), consistent with the increase in total strikeouts per MLB season (for example; 42,104 in 2021 compared to 34,489 in 2011).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

First basemenEdit

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Second basemenEdit

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Third basemenEdit

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ShortstopsEdit

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Left fieldersEdit

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Center fieldersEdit

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Right fieldersEdit

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See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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