# List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a first baseman leaders

In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by PO or fly out when appropriate) is given to a defensive player who records an out by 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), 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 fly out), or being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference. 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.
The great majority of putouts recorded by first basemen result from their fielding a throw from one of the other three infielders or the pitcher on a ground out. Because of the frequency of ground outs, first basemen typically accumulate higher putout totals than players at any other position, and they often benefit in this area from the defensive skill of the other infielders. Other ways in which first basemen often record a putout include catching a pop-up or line drive, fielding a ground ball close enough to first base that they can step on the bag before the batter/runner arrives, tagging a runner on a pickoff play, receiving a throw to retire a runner who fails to tag up on a fly ball out, receiving a throw to retire a batter/runner on a bunt (often a sacrifice hit), and tagging a runner stranded between bases in a rundown play. Occasionally, a first baseman can record two putouts on a single play; with a runner taking a lead off first base and less than two out, the first baseman can catch a line drive near the base, then step on the bag before the runner can return, completing a double play. On two occasions in major league history, a first baseman has recorded three putouts on a single play for an unassisted triple play: On September 14, 1923, George Burns of the Boston Red Sox accomplished the feat in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians by catching a line drive, tagging the runner off first base, then sprinting to step on second base before the runner off that base could return. And on May 31, 1927, Johnny Neun of the Detroit Tigers completed a triple play in the same way, also against the Indians, securing a 1-0 victory in the ninth inning.
As strikeout totals have risen in baseball, the frequency of other defensive outs including ground outs has declined; as a result, putout totals for first basemen have likewise declined, and ten of the top eleven career leaders ended their careers before 1961. Through 2021, only two of the top 31 single-season totals have been recorded since 1927, and only 27 of the top 125 since 1945. Jake Beckley is the all-time leader in career putouts as a first baseman with 23,755. Cap Anson (21,699), Ed Konetchy (21,361), Eddie Murray (21,255), and Charlie Grimm (20,711) are the only other players to record 20,000 career putouts.

## Key

| Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career putouts. A blank field indicates a tie. |
| Player (2025 POs) | Number of recorded putouts during the 2025 Major League Baseball season |
| MLB | Total career putouts as a first baseman in Major League Baseball |
| * | Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame |
| Bold | Denotes active player |

## List

* Stats updated as of the end of the 2024 season.
| Rank | Player (2025 POs) | Putouts as a first baseman | Putouts as a first baseman | Putouts as a first baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Rank | Player (2025 POs) | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| 1 | Jake Beckley* | 23,755 | 0 | 22,475 | Includes 1,280 in Players' League; held single-season record, 1892-1898 |
| 2 | Cap Anson* | 21,699 | 0 | 20,798 | Includes 901 in National Association; held major league record, 1888-1905; held NL record, 1887-1905; held single-season record, 1884-1886; held NL single-season record, 1884-1886, 1889-1891 |
| 3 | Ed Konetchy | 21,361 | 0 | 19,825 | Includes 1,536 in Federal League; held National League single-season record, 1911-1920 |
| 4 | Eddie Murray* | 21,255 | 14,830 | 6,425 | |
| 5 | Charlie Grimm | 20,711 | 0 | 20,711 | |
| 6 | Stuffy McInnis | 19,962 | 16,349 | 3,613 | Held American League record, 1920-1928 |
| 7 | Mickey Vernon | 19,808 | 19,754 | 54 | |
| 8 | Jake Daubert | 19,634 | 0 | 19,634 | |
| 9 | Lou Gehrig* | 19,510 | 19,510 | 0 | Held American League record, 1938-1958 |
| 10 | Joe Kuhel | 19,386 | 19,386 | 0 | |
| 11 | Joe Judge | 19,264 | 19,021 | 243 | Held American League record, 1930-1938 |
| 12 | Fred McGriff* | 18,985 | 8,259 | 10,726 | |
| 13 | Todd Helton* | 18,889 | 0 | 18,889 | |
| 14 | Steve Garvey | 18,844 | 0 | 18,844 | |
| 15 | George Sisler* | 18,837 | 15,336 | 3,501 | |
| 16 | Wally Pipp | 18,779 | 15,251 | 3,528 | |
| 17 | Mark Grace | 18,503 | 0 | 18,503 | |
| 18 | Jim Bottomley* | 18,337 | 1,429 | 16,908 | |
| 19 | Andrés Galarraga | 18,244 | 204 | 18,040 | |
| 20 | Hal Chase | 18,185 | 11,792 | 4,243 | Includes 2,150 in Federal League |
| 21 | Keith Hernandez | 17,909 | 340 | 17,569 | |
| 22 | Fred Tenney | 17,903 | 0 | 17,903 | Held National League single-season record, 1905-1906, 1908-1911 |
| 23 | Chris Chambliss | 17,771 | 11,219 | 6,552 | |
| 24 | Rafael Palmeiro | 17,738 | 17,596 | 142 | |
| 25 | Roger Connor* | 17,612 | 0 | 16,277 | Includes 1,335 in Players' League; held NL single-season record, 1887-1888 |
| 26 | Jeff Bagwell* | 17,545 | 0 | 17,545 | |
| 27 | Jimmie Foxx* | 17,207 | 16,426 | 781 | |
| 28 | Willie McCovey* | 17,170 | 0 | 17,170 | |
| 29 | Albert Pujols | 17,049 | 4,662 | 12,387 | |
| 30 | George Burns | 16,892 | 16,892 | 0 | Held American League record, 1928-1930 |
| 31 | Will Clark | 16,695 | 6,117 | 10,578 | |
| 32 | Tommy Tucker | 16,401 | 0 | 12,557 | Includes 3,844 in American Association; held single-season record, 1898-1904; held NL single-season record, 1898-1905 |
| 33 | Dan Brouthers* | 16,386 | 0 | 13,865 | Includes 1,313 in American Association, 1,208 in Players' League; held NL single-season record, 1883-1884 |
| 34 | John Olerud | 16,165 | 12,271 | 3,894 | |
| 35 | Wally Joyner | 16,081 | 11,926 | 4,155 | |
| 36 | Bill Terry* | 15,972 | 0 | 15,972 | |
| 37 | Paul Konerko | 15,936 | 15,725 | 211 | |
| 38 | Freddie Freeman (0) | 15,725 | 0 | 15,725 | |
| 39 | Harry Davis | 15,666 | 13,423 | 2,243 | Held American League record, 1906-1920 |
| 40 | Lu Blue | 15,644 | 15,642 | 2 | |
| 41 | Paul Goldschmidt (0) | 15,464 | 0 | 15,464 | |
| 42 | Fred Merkle | 15,419 | 34 | 15,385 | |
| 43 | George Scott | 15,405 | 15,405 | 0 | |
| 44 | Gil Hodges* | 15,344 | 0 | 15,344 | |
| 45 | Norm Cash | 15,157 | 15,157 | 0 | |
| 46 | Carlos Delgado | 15,144 | 10,236 | 4,908 | |
| 47 | Tino Martinez | 15,001 | 12,755 | 2,246 | |
| 48 | Adrián González | 14,962 | 2,350 | 12,612 | |
| 49 | Mark Teixeira | 14,942 | 13,485 | 1,457 | |
| 50 | Derrek Lee | 14,910 | 713 | 14,197 | |
| 51 | Johnny Mize* | 14,850 | 1,500 | 13,350 | |
| 52 | Joey Votto | 14,722 | 0 | 14,722 | |
| 53 | Tony Pérez* | 14,481 | 1,825 | 12,656 | |
| 54 | Orlando Cepeda* | 14,459 | 0 | 14,459 | |
| 55 | Mark McGwire | 14,451 | 10,285 | 4,166 | |
| 56 | George Kelly* | 14,232 | 0 | 14,232 | Holds NL single-season record |
| 57 | Don Mattingly | 14,148 | 14,148 | 0 | |
| 58 | Eric Karros | 14,056 | 165 | 13,891 | |
| 59 | Bill Buckner | 13,901 | 4,482 | 9,419 | |
| 60 | Charles Comiskey* | 13,832 | 0 | 2,705 | Includes 10,245 in American Association, 882 in Players' League; held the single-season record, 1883-1884 |
| 61 | Frank McCormick | 13,798 | 0 | 13,798 | |
| 62 | Kent Hrbek | 13,725 | 13,725 | 0 | |
| 63 | Dolph Camilli | 13,724 | 505 | 13,219 | |
| 64 | Dan McGann | 13,694 | 658 | 13,036 | |
| 65 | George McQuinn | 13,414 | 13,078 | 336 | |
| 66 | Cecil Cooper | 13,361 | 13,361 | 0 | |
| 67 | Elbie Fletcher | 13,237 | 0 | 13,237 | |
| 68 | John Mayberry | 13,169 | 12,456 | 713 | |
| 69 | Anthony Rizzo (0) | 13,128 | 2,485 | 10,643 | |
| 70 | Fred Luderus | 13,126 | 0 | 13,126 | |
| 71 | Gus Suhr | 13,103 | 0 | 13,103 | |
| 72 | Joe Adcock | 13,006 | 2,921 | 10,085 | |
| 73 | Lee May | 12,885 | 3,291 | 9,594 | |
| 74 | J. T. Snow | 12,855 | 4,063 | 8,792 | |
| 75 | Kitty Bransfield | 12,797 | 0 | 12,797 | |
| 76 | Bill White | 12,735 | 0 | 12,735 | |
| 77 | George Stovall | 12,709 | 10,091 | 0 | Includes 2,618 in Federal League |
| 78 | Ted Kluszewski | 12,652 | 1,065 | 11,587 | |
| 79 | Dick Hoblitzell | 12,584 | 4,430 | 8,154 | |
| 80 | Eric Hosmer | 12,554 | 8,344 | 4,210 | |
| 81 | Jack Fournier | 12,375 | 3,249 | 9,126 | |
| 82 | Ryan Howard | 12,351 | 0 | 12,351 | |
| 83 | Candy LaChance | 12,330 | 6,202 | 6,128 | Held American League record, 1902-1906; held the single-season record, 1904-1906; held AL single-season record, 1902-1906 |
| 84 | Walter Holke | 12,158 | 0 | 12,158 | |
| 85 | Boog Powell | 12,130 | 12,115 | 15 | |
| 86 | Hal Trosky | 12,124 | 12,124 | 0 | |
| 87 | Adam LaRoche | 12,072 | 380 | 11,692 | |
| 88 | Earl Sheely | 12,067 | 9,401 | 2,666 | |
| 89 | Bill Skowron | 12,043 | 11,525 | 518 | |
| 90 | Ernie Banks* | 12,005 | 0 | 12,005 | |
| 91 | Jason Thompson | 11,818 | 6,114 | 5,704 | |
| 92 | Lyle Overbay | 11,755 | 7,004 | 4,751 | |
| 93 | Earl Torgeson | 11,680 | 3,299 | 8,381 | |
| 94 | Pete O'Brien | 11,651 | 11,651 | 0 | |
| 95 | Phil Cavarretta | 11,375 | 264 | 11,111 | |
| 96 | Rudy York | 11,359 | 11,359 | 0 | |
| 97 | Mike Hargrove | 11,274 | 10,951 | 323 | |
| 98 | Justin Morneau | 11,239 | 9,489 | 1,750 | |
| 99 | Joe Start | 11,197 | 0 | 8,691 | Includes 2,506 in National Association; held major league record, 1877-1888; held NL record, 1877-1887; held single-season record, 1880-1883 |
| 100 | Chick Gandil | 11,118 | 11,118 | 0 | |

## Other Hall of Famers

| Player | Putouts as first baseman | Putouts as first baseman | Putouts as first baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Player | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| Rod Carew* | 10,930 | 10,930 | 0 | |
| Hank Greenberg* | 10,564 | 9,581 | 983 | |
| Frank Chance* | 9,885 | 87 | 9,798 | |
| Jim Thome* | 9,165 | 6,262 | 2,903 | |
| Stan Musial* | 8,709 | 0 | 8,709 | |
| Frank Thomas* | 7,910 | 7,910 | 0 | |
| Harmon Killebrew* | 7,521 | 7,521 | 0 | |
| Willie Stargell* | 7,293 | 0 | 7,293 | |
| Dick Allen* | 6,747 | 3,218 | 3,529 | |
| Carl Yastrzemski* | 6,459 | 6,459 | 0 | |
| Joe Torre* | 6,342 | 0 | 6,342 | |
| Joe Mauer* | 4,873 | 4,873 | 0 | |
| Ben Taylor* | 4,835 | 0 | 0 | Includes 2,966 in Negro National League (first), 1,612 in Eastern Colored League, 257 in American Negro League (incomplete) |
| Harry Heilmann* | 4,389 | 4,162 | 227 | |
| Buck Leonard* | 4,300 | 0 | 0 | Includes 4,300 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) |
| George Brett* | 4,064 | 4,064 | 0 | |
| Mule Suttles* | 3,281 | 0 | 0 | Includes 1,448 in Negro National League (first), 1,365 in Negro National League (second), 468 in East–West League (incomplete) |
| Hughie Jennings* | 3,085 | 11 | 2,900 | Includes 174 in American Association |
| Nap Lajoie* | 2,798 | 1,349 | 1,449 | |
| Ed Delahanty* | 2,589 | 148 | 2,440 | Includes 1 in Players' League |
| Oscar Charleston* | 2,555 | 0 | 0 | Includes 1,820 in Negro National League (second), 609 in Negro National League (first), 101 in American Negro League, 25 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete) |
| Joe Kelley* | 2,554 | 37 | 2,517 | |
| Frank Robinson* | 2,364 | 551 | 1,813 | |
| Buck Ewing* | 2,331 | 0 | 2,331 | |
| Honus Wagner* | 2,314 | 0 | 2,314 | |
| Mickey Mantle* | 2,284 | 2,284 | 0 | |
| Jud Wilson* | 2,217 | 0 | 0 | Includes 1,581 in Negro National League (second), 488 in American Negro League, 148 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete) |
| Jim O'Rourke* | 2,100 | 0 | 951 | Includes 1,149 in National Association |
| David Ortiz* | 1,983 | 1,983 | 0 | |
| Buck O'Neil* | 1,897 | 0 | 0 | Includes 1,897 in Negro American League (incomplete) |
| Paul Molitor* | 1,716 | 1,716 | 0 | |
| Jackie Robinson* | 1,655 | 0 | 1,645 | Includes 10 in Negro American League (incomplete) |
| Ted Simmons* | 1,561 | 605 | 956 | |
| Deacon White* | 1,283 | 0 | 684 | Includes 582 in the Players' League, 17 in National Association |
| Martín Dihigo* | 406 | 0 | 0 | Includes 218 in Eastern Colored League, 153 in American Negro League, 35 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) |