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

In baseball, an assist (denoted by A) is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is credited to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball (after it has been hit by the batter) before the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional. For example, if a ball strikes a player's leg and bounces off him to another fielder, who tags the baserunner, the first player is credited with an assist. A fielder can receive a maximum of one assist per out recorded. An assist is also credited if a putout would have occurred, had another fielder not committed an error. For example, a shortstop might field a ground ball cleanly, but the first baseman might drop his throw. In this case, an error would be charged to the first baseman, and the shortstop would be credited with an assist. Unlike putouts, exactly one of which is awarded for every defensive out, an out can result in no assists being credited (as in strikeouts, fly outs and line drives), or in assists being credited to multiple players (as in relay throws and rundown plays). First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order 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.
First basemen are most commonly credited with an assist when they field a ground ball and either throw the ball to the pitcher covering first base to retire the batter/runner or throw the ball to the shortstop covering the second base to force out a runner, perhaps beginning a double play. Other common ways in which first basemen gain an assist are by throwing out a runner attempting to reach third base or score, perhaps on a relay throw from the right fielder, throwing out a runner attempting to score on a squeeze play, rundown plays in which a runner is stranded between bases, throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base on a pickoff throw, and throwing to second base after catching a line drive to retire a runner before they can tag up. First basemen typically accumulate less than half as many assists as other infielders, partially because the ball is less frequently batted to the right side of the field, but also because in situations with a runner on first base, the first baseman will typically be stationed on or close to the bag to receiver a pickoff throw, reducing the area of the infield which they can easily cover. Because a right-handed first baseman needs to turn their body before throwing across the infield, left-handed first basemen are often preferred for defensive purposes; 10 of the top 14 career assist leaders are left-handed.
Eddie Murray is the all-time leader with 1,865 career assists. Only 60 first basemen have recorded 1,000 or more career assists, with Anthony Rizzo, Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman being the only active.

## Key

| Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career assists. A blank field indicates a tie. |
| Player (2025 As) | Number of recorded assists during the 2025 Major League Baseball season |
| MLB | Total career assists 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 As) | Assists as first baseman | Assists as first baseman | Assists as first baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Rank | Player (2025 As) | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| 1 | Eddie Murray* | 1,865 | 1,280 | 585 | |
| 2 | Joey Votto | 1,758 | 0 | 1,758 | |
| 3 | Todd Helton* | 1,726 | 0 | 1,726 | Held National League record, 2013-2022 |
| 4 | Jeff Bagwell* | 1,704 | 0 | 1,704 | Held National League record, 2004-2013 |
| 5 | Keith Hernandez | 1,682 | 20 | 1,662 | Held major league record, 1987–1992; held National League record, 1986-2003 |
| 6 | Mark Grace | 1,665 | 0 | 1,665 | Held National League record, 2003–2004; held NL single-season record, 1990-2009 |
| 7 | Albert Pujols | 1,634 | 438 | 1,196 | Holds the single-season record of 185 (set in 2009) |
| 8 | Rafael Palmeiro | 1,587 | 1,574 | 13 | |
| 9 | George Sisler* | 1,529 | 1,251 | 278 | Held major league record, 1929–1987; held American League record, 1924-1932 |
| 10 | Wally Joyner | 1,470 | 1,115 | 355 | |
| 11 | Mickey Vernon | 1,448 | 1,444 | 4 | Held American League record, 1955–2004; held the single-season record, 1949–1982; held AL single-season record, 1949-1985 |
| 12 | Fred McGriff* | 1,447 | 654 | 793 | |
| 13 | Anthony Rizzo (0) | 1,420 | 272 | 1,148 | |
| 14 | John Olerud | 1,418 | 1,077 | 341 | |
| 15 | Adrian Gonzalez | 1,391 | 241 | 1,150 | |
| 16 | Andres Galarraga | 1,376 | 17 | 1,359 | |
| 17 | Derrek Lee | 1,367 | 52 | 1,315 | |
| 18 | Fred Tenney | 1,363 | 0 | 1,363 | Held major league record, 1911–1929; held National League record, 1909–1986; held single-season record, 1905–1949; held NL single-season record, 1905-1982 |
| 19 | Eric Karros | 1,359 | 17 | 1,342 | |
| 20 | Bill Buckner | 1,351 | 529 | 822 | Held single-season record, 1982–2009; holds AL single-season record (184 in 1985); held NL single-season record, 1982-1986 |
| | Chris Chambliss | 1,351 | 828 | 523 | |
| 22 | Norm Cash | 1,317 | 1,317 | 0 | |
| 23 | Jake Beckley* | 1,316 | 0 | 1,258 | Includes 58 in Players' League; held major league record, 1901–1911; held NL record, 1902–1909; held single-season record, 1891-1905 |
| 24 | Joe Judge | 1,301 | 1,284 | 17 | Held American League record, 1932-1955 |
| 25 | Will Clark | 1,294 | 455 | 839 | |
| 26 | Ed Konetchy | 1,292 | 0 | 1,211 | Includes 81 in Federal League |
| 27 | Gil Hodges* | 1,281 | 0 | 1,281 | |
| 28 | Paul Goldschmidt (0) | 1,270 | 0 | 1,270 | |
| 29 | Stuffy McInnis | 1,238 | 1,013 | 225 | |
| 30 | Jimmie Foxx* | 1,222 | 1,171 | 51 | |
| | Freddie Freeman (0) | 1,222 | 0 | 1,222 | |
| | Willie McCovey* | 1,222 | 0 | 1,222 | |
| 33 | Charlie Grimm | 1,214 | 0 | 1,214 | |
| 34 | Joe Kuhel | 1,163 | 1,163 | 0 | |
| 35 | Tino Martinez | 1,159 | 988 | 171 | |
| 36 | Wally Pipp | 1,152 | 954 | 198 | |
| 37 | George Scott | 1,132 | 1,132 | 0 | |
| 38 | Jake Daubert | 1,128 | 0 | 1,128 | |
| 39 | Paul Konerko | 1,111 | 1,090 | 21 | |
| 40 | Bill Terry* | 1,108 | 0 | 1,108 | |
| 40 | Don Mattingly | 1,104 | 1,104 | 0 | |
| 42 | George Burns | 1,094 | 1,094 | 0 | |
| 43 | Lou Gehrig* | 1,087 | 1,087 | 0 | |
| 44 | Vic Power | 1,078 | 1,067 | 11 | |
| 45 | George McQuinn | 1,074 | 1,047 | 27 | |
| 46 | Carlos Delgado | 1,064 | 723 | 341 | |
| | Pete O'Brien | 1,064 | 1,064 | 0 | |
| 48 | Eric Hosmer | 1,058 | 649 | 409 | |
| 49 | Hal Chase | 1,049 | 708 | 220 | Includes 121 in Federal League |
| | Kent Hrbek | 1,049 | 1,049 | 0 | |
| 51 | Mark McGwire | 1,042 | 775 | 267 | |
| 52 | Johnny Mize* | 1,032 | 103 | 929 | |
| 53 | Steve Garvey | 1,026 | 0 | 1,026 | |
| 54 | Mike Hargrove | 1,022 | 1,005 | 17 | |
| 55 | Lu Blue | 1,016 | 1,016 | 0 | |
| | J. T. Snow | 1,016 | 289 | 727 | |
| 57 | Orlando Cepeda* | 1,012 | 0 | 1,012 | |
| 58 | Frank McCormick | 1,001 | 0 | 1,001 | |
| 59 | Cecil Cooper | 1,000 | 1,000 | 0 | |
| | Lyle Overbay | 1,000 | 619 | 381 | |
| 61 | Cap Anson* | 983 | 0 | 955 | Includes 28 in National Association; held major league record, 1884–1901; held NL record, 1885–1902; held the single-season record, 1881–1884, 1886–1888, 1889–1891; held NL single-season record, 1881–1888, 1889-1891 |
| 62 | Elbie Fletcher | 975 | 0 | 975 | |
| 63 | Mark Teixeira | 966 | 871 | 95 | |
| 64 | Rudy York | 963 | 963 | 0 | Held AL single-season record, 1942-1949 |
| 65 | Bill White | 960 | 0 | 960 | |
| 66 | Dolph Camilli | 957 | 44 | 913 | |
| 67 | Harry Davis | 950 | 842 | 108 | |
| 68 | Richie Sexson | 944 | 473 | 471 | |
| 69 | Tony Perez* | 936 | 125 | 811 | |
| 70 | Adam LaRoche | 935 | 33 | 902 | |
| 71 | Ferris Fain | 927 | 927 | 0 | |
| 72 | Justin Morneau | 921 | 789 | 132 | |
| 73 | Carlos Peña | 906 | 818 | 88 | |
| 74 | Bill Skowron | 903 | 869 | 34 | |
| 75 | Lee May | 894 | 241 | 653 | |
| 76 | Joe Adcock | 879 | 174 | 705 | |
| 77 | George Kelly* | 861 | 0 | 861 | |
| 78 | Boog Powell | 859 | 859 | 0 | |
| 79 | Roger Connor* | 857 | 0 | 777 | Includes 80 in the Players' League |
| 80 | Fred Merkle | 847 | 1 | 846 | |
| 81 | George Stovall | 846 | 689 | 0 | Includes 157 in Federal League |
| 82 | Fred Luderus | 843 | 0 | 843 | |
| 83 | Carlos Santana (0) | 834 | 650 | 184 | |
| 84 | Ryan Howard | 828 | 0 | 828 | |
| 85 | John Mayberry | 827 | 777 | 50 | |
| 86 | Donn Clendenon | 819 | 0 | 819 | |
| | Jason Thompson | 819 | 419 | 400 | |
| 88 | Jim Bottomley* | 814 | 59 | 755 | |
| | Earl Torgeson | 814 | 194 | 620 | |
| 90 | Ernie Banks* | 809 | 0 | 809 | |
| 91 | Ted Kluszewski | 799 | 57 | 742 | |
| | Willie Upshaw | 799 | 799 | 0 | |
| 93 | Dan McGann | 798 | 41 | 757 | |
| 94 | Jim Spencer | 797 | 797 | 0 | |
| 95 | Phil Cavarretta | 796 | 17 | 779 | |
| 96 | Brandon Belt | 794 | 7 | 787 | |
| 97 | Jack Fournier | 788 | 213 | 575 | |
| 98 | Sid Bream | 786 | 0 | 786 | Held NL single-season record, 1986-1990 |
| 99 | Ed Kranepool | 779 | 0 | 779 | |
| 100 | Rod Carew* | 774 | 774 | 0 | |

## Other Hall of Famers

| Player | Assists as the first baseman | Assists as the first baseman | Assists as the first baseman | Other leagues, notes |
| Player | MLB | American League | National League | Other leagues, notes |
| Hank Greenberg* | 724 | 645 | 79 | |
| Jim Thome* | 709 | 507 | 202 | |
| Stan Musial* | 688 | 0 | 688 | |
| Dan Brouthers* | 655 | 0 | 547 | Includes 74 in Players' League, 34 in American Association |
| Frank Chance* | 615 | 5 | 610 | |
| Harmon Killebrew* | 555 | 555 | 0 | |
| Carl Yastrzemski* | 512 | 512 | 0 | |
| Charles Comiskey* | 510 | 0 | 120 | Includes 349 in American Association, 41 in the Players' League |
| Frank Thomas* | 497 | 497 | 0 | |
| Joe Torre* | 478 | 0 | 478 | |
| Dick Allen* | 418 | 196 | 222 | |
| Willie Stargell* | 384 | 0 | 384 | |
| Joe Mauer* | 376 | 376 | 0 | |
| George Brett* | 291 | 291 | 0 | |
| Harry Heilmann* | 282 | 265 | 17 | |
| Ben Taylor* | 244 | 0 | 0 | Includes 157 in Negro National League (first), 72 in Eastern Colored League, 15 in American Negro League (incomplete) |
| Joe Kelley* | 198 | 4 | 194 | |
| Buck Leonard* | 196 | 0 | 0 | Includes 196 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) |
| Hughie Jennings* | 191 | 1 | 185 | Includes 5 in American Association |
| Frank Robinson* | 186 | 32 | 154 | |
| Buck Ewing* | 180 | 0 | 180 | |
| Mickey Mantle* | 167 | 167 | 0 | |
| David Ortiz* | 164 | 164 | 0 | |
| Mule Suttles* | 145 | 0 | 0 | Includes 75 in Negro National League (second), 50 in Negro National League (first), 20 in East–West League (incomplete) |
| Ted Simmons* | 141 | 48 | 93 | |
| Nap Lajoie* | 135 | 86 | 49 | |
| Ed Delahanty* | 134 | 7 | 127 | |
| Honus Wagner* | 130 | 0 | 130 | |
| Paul Molitor* | 127 | 127 | 0 | |
| Jackie Robinson* | 120 | 0 | 120 | |
| Oscar Charleston* | 99 | 0 | 0 | Includes 70 in Negro National League (second), 23 in Negro National League (first), 4 in American Negro League, 2 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete) |
| Buck O'Neil* | 92 | 0 | 0 | Includes 92 in Negro American League (incomplete) |
| Jud Wilson* | 79 | 0 | 0 | Includes 58 in Negro National League (second), 16 in American Negro League, 5 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete) |
| Deacon White* | 67 | 0 | 27 | Includes 40 in the Players' League |
| Jim O'Rourke* | 51 | 0 | 29 | Includes 22 in National Association |
| Martín Dihigo* | 15 | 0 | 0 | Includes 10 in Eastern Colored League, 3 in American Negro League, 2 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete) |