List of Major League Baseball career fielding errors as a first baseman leaders

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Cap Anson, the all-time leader in fielding errors as a first baseman

In baseball statistics, an error is an act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to advance one or more bases or allows an at bat to continue after the batter should have been put out. 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 list of career leaders is dominated by players from the 19th century when fielding equipment was very rudimentary; baseball gloves only began to steadily gain acceptance in the 1880s, and were not uniformly worn until the mid-1890s, resulting in a much lower frequency of defensive miscues. Additional modifications were made to first basemen's gloves in the 1930s which further reduced errors. All but one of the top 14 players in career errors began playing in the 19th century, and most played their entire careers before 1900; none were active after 1919. None of the top 20 were active after 1930, and only 10 of the top 64 were active after 1950. The top 48 single-season totals were all recorded before 1900, and the top 179 were recorded before 1920. To a large extent, the leaders reflect longevity rather than lower skill. George Sisler, whose 269 errors are the most by any first baseman whose career began after 1910, is often regarded as the greatest defensive first baseman in history; George Scott, whose 165 errors are the most by an American League first baseman since the Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence were introduced in 1957, won the award eight times – including 1967, when he led the AL with 19 errors.

Cap Anson, whose career began in 1871 and who played nearly 400 more games at first base than any other player in the 19th century, is the all-time leader in career errors as a first baseman with 658, nearly three times as many as any first baseman whose career began after 1920; he also holds the National League record of 583. Dan Brouthers, who played only one game at first base after 1896, is second all-time with 513, and is the only other first baseman to commit more than 500 errors.

Key[edit]

Rank Rank amongst leaders in career fielding errors. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2022 Es) Number of errors committed during the 2022 Major League Baseball season
E as 1B Total career errors committed as a first baseman
* Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame
Bold Denotes active player[a]

List[edit]

Hal Chase holds the American League record of 285 errors, but was highly regarded for his defense.
  • Stats updated through the 2022 season
Rank Player (2022 Es) E as 1B
1 Cap Anson * 658
2 Dan Brouthers * 513
3 Jake Beckley * 481
4 Joe Start 433
5 Roger Connor * 419
6 Charlie Comiskey * 403
7 Hal Chase 402
8 Tommy Tucker 393
9 Harry Davis 343
10 Fred Tenney 327
11 Bill Phillips 324
12 John Reilly 316
13 John Morrill 285
14 Jack Doyle 277
15 George Sisler * 269
16 Sid Farrar 262
17 Fred Merkle 252
18 George Burns 245
19 Harry Stovey 241
20 Kitty Bransfield 236
21 Willie McCovey * 233
22 Herman Dehlman 230
23 Dave Orr 227
24 Ed Konetchy 224
25 Jim Bottomley * 223
26 Mickey Vernon 211
27 Henry Larkin 209
28 Jack Fournier 208
29 Candy LaChance 207
Everett Mills 207
31 Dan Stearns 206
32 Fred Luderus 201
33 Tim Murnane 195
34 George Stovall 194
35 Lou Gehrig * 193
36 Lu Blue 191
37 Tom Jones 183
38 Jake Daubert 181
39 Dick Hoblitzell 180
40 Andrés Galarraga 176
41 Joe Kuhel 173
42 Charlie Gould 169
Dan McGann 169
Dick Stuart 169
45 Wally Pipp 168
46 Fred McGriff * 167
Eddie Murray * 167
48 George Scott 165
49 Orlando Cepeda * 162
Charlie Grimm 162
Rank Player (2022 Es) E as 1B
51 Jim Field 161
52 Stuffy McInnis 160
53 Martin Powell 159
Perry Werden 159
55 Jimmie Foxx * 155
56 Jake Stahl 150
57 Dave Foutz 150
58 Donn Clendenon 146
Juice Latham 146
60 Earl Torgeson 143
61 Charlie Hickman 142
Joe Judge 142
63 Dolph Camilli 141
Guy Hecker 141
65 Mo Vaughn 139
66 Ferris Fain 138
Bill Terry 138
68 Will Clark 136
Alex McKinnon 136
Jim O'Rourke * 136
71 Frank Chance * 135
72 Johnny Mize * 133
73 John Kerins 132
74 Norm Cash 131
75 Chris Chambliss 130
76 Jeff Bagwell * 129
Carlos Delgado 129
Vic Saier 129
79 Bill Buckner 128
Denny Mack 128
81 Gil Hodges * 126
82 Phil Cavarretta 123
83 Rudy York 122
84 Cecil Cooper 121
George Kelly * 121
Hal Trosky 121
87 Mox McQuery 120
88 Ryan Howard 119
89 John Anderson 117
Tony Pérez * 117
91 Boog Powell 116
Albert Pujols 116
Gus Suhr 116
94 Ed Cartwright 115
Mike Hargrove 115
Keith Hernandez 115
97 John Glenn 113
Doc Johnston 113
George McQuinn 113
Earl Sheely 113

Other Hall of Famers[edit]

Player E
Rod Carew * 106
Hank Greenberg * 104
Ernie Banks * 80
Ben Taylor * 80 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
Frank Thomas * 80
Todd Helton * 79
Stan Musial * 78
Harry Heilmann * 77
Ed Delahanty * 75
Mule Suttles * 74 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
Harmon Killebrew * 69
Willie Stargell * 67
Buck Ewing * 66
Jim Thome * 64
Hughie Jennings * 62
Deacon White * 60
Buck Leonard * 57 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
Joe Kelley * 51
Joe Torre * 49
Honus Wagner * 47
Oscar Charleston * 46 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
Carl Yastrzemski * 41
Nap Lajoie * 37
Frank Robinson * 35
Jud Wilson * 33 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
George Brett * 30
Ted Simmons * 28
Buck O'Neil * 26 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)
Mickey Mantle * 23
David Ortiz * 22
Joe Mauer * 19
Jackie Robinson * 19
Paul Molitor * 18
Martín Dihigo * 5 (includes incomplete Negro league totals)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.

References[edit]