List of Major League Baseball annual assists leaders

The following is a list of annual leaders in assists in Major League Baseball (MLB), with separate lists for the American League and the National League. The list also includes several professional leagues and associations that were never part of MLB.

Rabbit Maranville, the all-time leader in assists

In baseball statistics, 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.

Rabbit Maranville is the all-time leader in assists with 8,967. Frankie Frisch holds the record for most assists in a season with 643 in 1927. Brandon Crawford is the active leader in assists.

National League

YearPlayerTeam(s)Assists
1882Jack GlasscockCleveland Blues313
1883Jack FarrellProvidence Grays365
1884Fred PfefferChicago Cubs422
1885Jack GlasscockSt. Louis Maroons404
1886Fred DunlapSt. Louis Maroons
Detroit Wolverines
393
1887Jack GlasscockIndianapolis Hoosiers493
1888Fred PfefferChicago Cubs457
1889Jack GlasscockIndianapolis Hoosiers485
1890Bob AllenPhiladelphia Phillies500
1891Germany SmithCincinnati Reds507
1892Germany SmithCincinnati Reds561
1893Germany SmithCincinnati Reds500
1894Germany SmithCincinnati Reds513
1895Bill DahlenChicago Cubs527
1896Cupid ChildsCleveland Spiders487
1897Monte CrossSt. Louis Browns516
1898Tommy CorcoranCincinnati Reds561
1899Bobby WallaceSt. Louis Perfectos536
1900Bill DahlenBrooklyn Superbas517
1901Bobby WallaceSt. Louis Cardinals542
1902John FarrellSt. Louis Cardinals501
1903Bill DahlenBrooklyn Superbas477
1904Johnny EversChicago Cubs518
1905Tommy CorcoranCincinnati Reds531
1906Mickey DoolinPhiladelphia Phillies480
1907Johnny EversChicago Cubs500
1908Joe TinkerChicago Cubs570
1909Mickey DoolinPhiladelphia Phillies484
1910Mickey DoolinPhiladelphia Phillies500
1911Joe TinkerChicago Cubs486
1912Mickey DoolinPhiladelphia Phillies476
1913Mickey DoolinPhiladelphia Phillies494
1914Rabbit MaranvilleBoston Braves574
1915Art FletcherNew York Giants544
1916Rabbit MaranvilleBoston Braves515
1917Art FletcherNew York Giants565
1918Art FletcherNew York Giants484
1919Art FletcherNew York Giants521
1920Dave BancroftPhiladelphia Phillies
New York Giants
598
1921Dave BancroftNew York Giants546
1922Dave BancroftNew York Giants579
1923Jimmy JohnstonBrooklyn Dodgers532
1924Glenn WrightPittsburgh Pirates601
1925Sparky AdamsChicago Cubs573
1926Tommy ThevenowSt. Louis Cardinals597
1927Frankie FrischSt. Louis Cardinals643
1928Travis JacksonNew York Giants547
1929Travis JacksonNew York Giants552
1930Tommy ThevenowPhiladelphia Phillies554
1931Tony CuccinelloCincinnati Reds499
1932Dick BartellPhiladelphia Phillies529
1933Hughie CritzNew York Giants541
1934Hughie CritzNew York Giants510
1935Billy HermanChicago Cubs520
1936Dick Bartell
Tony Cuccinello
New York Giants
Boston Bees
559
1937Tony CuccinelloBoston Bees524
1938Pep YoungPittsburgh Pirates554
1939Arky VaughanPittsburgh Pirates531
1940Arky VaughanPittsburgh Pirates546
1941Marty MarionSt. Louis Cardinals489
1942Pee Wee ReeseBrooklyn Dodgers482
1943Whitey WietelmannBoston Braves581
1944Eddie MillerCincinnati Reds544
1945Buddy KerrNew York Giants515
1946Marty MarionSt. Louis Cardinals480
1947Buddy KerrNew York Giants461
1948Stan RojekPittsburgh Pirates475
1949Granny HamnerPhiladelphia Phillies506
1950Roy Smalley Jr.Chicago Cubs541
1951Alvin DarkNew York Giants465
1952Roy McMillanCincinnati Reds495
1953Roy McMillanCincinnati Reds519
1954Johnny LoganMilwaukee Braves489
1955Johnny LoganMilwaukee Braves511
1956Roy McMillanCincinnati Redlegs511
1957Don BlasingameSt. Louis Cardinals512
1958Bill MazeroskiPittsburgh Pirates496
1959Ernie BanksChicago Cubs519
1960Ernie BanksChicago Cubs488
1961Bill MazeroskiPittsburgh Pirates505
1962Dick GroatPittsburgh Pirates521
1963Bill MazeroskiPittsburgh Pirates506
1964Bill MazeroskiPittsburgh Pirates543
1965Maury WillsLos Angeles Dodgers535
1966Bill MazeroskiPittsburgh Pirates538
1967Hal LanierSan Francisco Giants519
1968Don KessingerChicago Cubs573
1969Don KessingerChicago Cubs542
1970Don KessingerChicago Cubs501
1971Larry BowaPhiladelphia Phillies560
1972Chris SpeierSan Francisco Giants517
1973Bill RussellLos Angeles Dodgers560
1974Dave ConcepciónCincinnati Reds536
1975Manny TrilloChicago Cubs509
1976Manny TrilloChicago Cubs527
1977Iván DeJesúsChicago Cubs595
1978Iván DeJesúsChicago Cubs558
1979Ozzie SmithSan Diego Padres555
1980Ozzie SmithSan Diego Padres621
1981Ozzie SmithSan Diego Padres422
1982Ozzie SmithSt. Louis Cardinals535
1983Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs572
1984Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs550
1985Ozzie SmithSt. Louis Cardinals549
1986Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs495
1987Ozzie SmithSt. Louis Cardinals516
1988Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs522
1989José OquendoSan Diego Padres523
1990Barry Larkin
Ryne Sandberg
Cincinnati Reds
Chicago Cubs
469
1991Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs515
1992Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs539
1993Jay BellPittsburgh Pirates527
1994Jay BellPittsburgh Pirates380
1995Craig BiggioHouston Astros419
1996Jay BellPittsburgh Pirates478
1997Craig BiggioHouston Astros504
1998Neifi PérezColorado Rockies516
1999Neifi PérezColorado Rockies481
2000Neifi PérezColorado Rockies523
2001Orlando CabreraMontreal Expos514
2002Juan UribeColorado Rockies504
2003Rafael Furcal
Cesar Izturis
Atlanta Braves
Los Angeles Dodgers
481
2004Jack WilsonPittsburgh Pirates492
2005Jack WilsonPittsburgh Pirates523
2006Orlando HudsonArizona Diamondbacks510
2007Troy TulowitzkiColorado Rockies561
2008Chase UtleyPhiladelphia Phillies465
2009Miguel TejadaHouston Astros475
2010Brendan RyanSt. Louis Cardinals430
2011Omar InfanteFlorida Marlins466
2012Aaron HillArizona Diamondbacks487
2013Andrelton SimmonsAtlanta Braves499
2014Jean SeguraMilwaukee Brewers447
2015DJ LeMahieuColorado Rockies452
2016Jean SeguraArizona Diamondbacks428
2017DJ LeMahieuColorado Rockies470
2018Brandon CrawfordSan Francisco Giants435
2019Paul DeJongSt. Louis Cardinals435
2020Trevor StoryColorado Rockies161
2021Ozzie AlbiesAtlanta Braves383
2022Tommy EdmanSt. Louis Cardinals435
2023Nico HoernerChicago Cubs411

National Association

YearPlayerTeam(s)Assists
1871Davy ForceWashington Olympics161
1872George WrightBoston Red Stockings193
1873George WrightBoston Red Stockings247
1874Dickey PearceBrooklyn Atlantics205
1875Dickey PearceSt. Louis Brown Stockings263

Union Association

YearPlayerTeam(s)Assists
1884Fred Dunlap
Lou Say
St. Louis Maroons
Kansas City Cowboys
302

Player's League

YearPlayerTeam(s)Assists
1890Lou BierbauerBrooklyn Ward's Wonders468

Federal League

YearPlayerTeam(s)Assists
1914Mickey DoolinBaltimore Terrapins476
1915Jimmy EsmondIndianapolis Hoosiers482

References