List of Major League Baseball career games played as a second baseman leaders

Games played (most often abbreviated as G or GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested. In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game, are included on a starting lineup card or are announced as ex ante substitutes, whether or not they play;[1] however, in Major League Baseball, the application of this statistic does not extend to consecutive games played streaks. A starting pitcher, then, may be credited with a game played even if he is not credited with a game started or an inning pitched. In baseball and softball, the second baseman is a fielding position in the infield, commonly stationed between second and first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on a double play. In addition, second basemen are almost always right-handed. Only four left-handed throwing players have appeared as second basemen in the major leagues since 1950; one of the four, Gonzalo Márquez, was listed as the second baseman in the starting lineup for two games in 1973, batting in the first inning, but was replaced before his team took the field on defense, and none of the other three players lasted even a complete inning at the position.[2] In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.

Eddie Collins, the all-time leader in games played as a second baseman

The second baseman is frequently the smallest player on the team, and the ability of such smaller players to absorb the impact of play has contributed to many long careers at the position throughout major league history; three-quarters of the second basemen elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame have been under 6' tall. Eddie Collins, the first major league player to appear in 2,500 games at a single position, is the all-time leader with 2,650 career games as a second baseman.[3][4][5] Joe Morgan[6] (2,527), Roberto Alomar[7] (2,320), Lou Whitaker[8] (2,308), Nellie Fox[9] (2,295), Charlie Gehringer[10] (2,206), Robinson Canó[11] (2,165), Willie Randolph[12] (2,152), Frank White[13] (2,151), Bid McPhee[14] (2,129), Bill Mazeroski[15] (2,094), Nap Lajoie[16] (2,035), and Jeff Kent[17] (2,034) are the only other second baseman to play over 2,000 games at the position.

Key

RankRank amongst leaders in career games played. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2024 Gs)Number of games played during the 2024 Major League Baseball season
MLBTotal career games played as a second baseman in Major League Baseball
*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame
BoldDenotes active player[a]

List

José Altuve, the active leader and 31st all-time in games played as a second baseman
Joe Morgan holds the National League record.
Nellie Fox led the American League in games at second base a record eight consecutive years.
Bid McPhee held the major league record for 32 years.
Johnny Evers held the National League record for 22 years.
Fred Pfeffer held the National League record for 17 years.
  • Stats updated as of June 1, 2024.
RankPlayer (2024 Gs)Games as second basemanOther leagues, notes
MLBAmerican LeagueNational League
1Eddie Collins*2,6502,6500
2Joe Morgan*2,5271002,427
3Roberto Alomar*2,3201,636684
4Lou Whitaker2,3082,3080
5Nellie Fox*2,2952,179116
6Charlie Gehringer*2,2062,2060
7Robinson Canó2,1782,025153
8Willie Randolph2,1521,893259
9Frank White2,1512,1510
10Bid McPhee*2,12901,218Includes 911 in American Association; held major league record, 1891-1923
11Bill Mazeroski*2,09402,094Held National League record, 1968-1980
12Nap Lajoie*2,0351,720315Held American League record, 1911-1920
13Jeff Kent2,034262,008
14Ryne Sandberg*1,99501,995
15Craig Biggio*1,98901,989
16Bobby Doerr*1,8521,8520
17Ray Durham1,8431,135708
18Red Schoendienst*1,83401,834Held National League record, 1961-1968
19Brandon Phillips1,8311571,674
20Ian Kinsler1,8281,75672
21Billy Herman*1,81301,813Held National League record, 1946-1962
22Bobby Grich1,7651,7650
23Bret Boone1,763809954
24Frankie Frisch*1,76201,762Held National League record, 1936-1946
25Chase Utley1,74301,743
26Johnny Evers*1,73511,734Held National League record, 1914-1936
27Larry Doyle1,72801,728
28Del Pratt1,6881,6880
29Luis Castillo1,6832271,456
30Steve Sax1,6796091,070
31José Altuve (57)1,6751,328347
32Kid Gleason1,5852541,331
33Rogers Hornsby*1,561191,542
34Julián Javier1,55201,552
35Fred Pfeffer1,53801,414Includes 124 in Players' League; held National League record, 1891-1908
36Miller Huggins*1,53001,530
37Joe Gordon*1,5191,5190
38Frank Bolling1,518779739
Manny Trillo1,5181241,394
40Tony Taylor1,4981901,308
41Dustin Pedroia1,4921,4920
42George Cutshaw1,4861751,311
43Claude Ritchey1,47901,479Held National League record, 1908-1914
44Tony Lazzeri*1,4561,44115
45Cupid Childs1,45501,330Includes 125 in American Association
46Hughie Critz1,45301,453
47Félix Millán1,45001,450
48Jim Gantner1,4491,4490
49Cookie Rojas1,446789657
50Davey Lopes1,4182651,153
51Tom Herr1,416731,343
52Delino DeShields1,3921891,203
53Chuck Knoblauch1,3811,3810
54Lou Bierbauer1,3660723Includes 510 in American Association, 133 in Players' League
55Mark Ellis1,3641,021343
56Bill Doran1,359171,342
57Adam Kennedy1,3471,053294
58Buddy Myer1,3401,3400
59Harold Reynolds1,3391,3390
Bobby Richardson1,3391,3390
61Glenn Hubbard1,3321521,180
62Dave Cash1,33001,330
63Bobby Lowe1,3161631,153
Ski Melillo1,3161,3160
65Johnny Temple1,3122771,035
66Don Blasingame1,310371939
67Joe Quinn1,307661,108Includes 133 in Players' League
68Brian Roberts1,3041,3040
69Eric Young1,295211,274
70Ted Sizemore1,288341,254
71Dan Uggla1,28301,283
72Orlando Hudson1,279588691
Robby Thompson1,27901,279
74Johnny Ray1,277363914
75Tito Fuentes1,2751641,111
76Ron Hunt1,26001,260
77Bucky Harris*1,2531,2530
78Mickey Morandini1,245351,210
79Glenn Beckert1,24201,242
80Otto Knabe1,23901,001Includes 238 in Federal League
81Max Bishop1,2301,2300
82Aaron Hill1,210750460
83Tony Cuccinello1,20561,199
Bill Wambsganss1,2051,2050
85Davey Johnson1,198947251
86Mark McLemore1,1971,17819
87Ronnie Belliard1,190383807
Juan Samuel1,190301,160
89Howie Kendrick1,183967216
90Jerry Priddy1,1791,1790
91Jimmy Williams1,1761,1760Held American League record, 1908-1911
92Damion Easley1,172989183
93Ron Oester1,17101,171
94Bobby Ávila1,1681,11751
95Jim Gilliam1,16601,046Includes 120 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)
96Dick Green1,1581,1580
97Sandy Alomar1,1561,11442
98Eddie Stanky1,15201,152
99Cub Stricker1,1450276Includes 760 in American Association, 109 in Players' League
100Bill Hallman1,1390984Includes 141 in American Association, 14 in Players' League

Other Hall of Famers

PlayerGames as second basemanOther leagues, notes
MLBAmerican LeagueNational League
Rod Carew*1,1301,1300
Jackie Robinson*7480748
Rabbit Maranville*5130513
John Montgomery Ward*4930493
Paul Molitor*4004000
John Henry Lloyd*22300Includes 223 in Eastern Colored League (incomplete)
George Kelly*1450145
Ed Delahanty*1310111Includes 20 in Players' League
George Davis*1139815
Roger Connor*68068
Ray Dandridge*5400Includes 54 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)
Martín Dihigo*4500Includes 28 in Eastern Colored League, 12 in American Negro League,
5 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)
Joe Cronin*35134
Frank Grant*000Unavailable pre-Negro league figures
Adrián Beltré*110

Notes

References

External links