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;Section 20 of the official scorer guidelines 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. The center fielder (CF) is one of the three outfielders, the defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. Center field is the area of the outfield directly in front of a person standing at home plate and facing beyond the pitcher's mound. The outfielders' duty is to try to catch long fly balls before they hit the ground or to quickly catch or retrieve and return to the infield any other balls entering the outfield. Generally having the most territory to cover, the center fielder is usually the fastest of the three outfielders, although this can also depend on the relative strength of their throwing arms and the configuration of their home field, due to the deepest part of center field being the farthest point from the infield and home plate. The center fielder normally plays behind the shortstop and second baseman, who play in or near the infield; unlike catchers and most infielders (excepting first basemen), who are virtually exclusively right-handed, center fielders can be either right- or left-handed. In the scoring system used to record defensive plays, the center fielder is assigned the number 8.

Because game accounts and box scores often did not distinguish between the outfield positions, there has been some difficulty in determining precise defensive statistics prior to 1901; because of this, and because of the similarity in their roles, defensive statistics for the three positions are frequently combined. However, efforts to distinguish between the three positions regarding games played during this period and reconstruct the separate totals have been largely successful; players whose totals include pre-1901 games are notated in the table below. Willie Mays is all-time leader in games played as a center fielder with 2,829 games played in his career. Tris Speaker (2,691), Steve Finley (2,314), Willie Davis (2,239), Ty Cobb (2,194), Ken Griffey Jr. (2,145), and Doc Cramer (2,027) are the only other players to appear in over 2,000 games in center field in their careers.

Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career games played. A blank field indicates a tie. Player (2027 Gs) Number of games played during the 2027 Major League Baseball season MLB Total career games played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame Denotes total including pre-1901 gamesBoldDenotes active playerA player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.

List

Stats updated as of 2026 season. RankPlayer (2027 Gs)Games as a center fielderOther leagues, notes MLB American League National League1Willie Mays*2,82902,8292Tris Speaker*2,6912,6910Held major league record, 1920-19713Steve Finley2,3141712,1434Willie Davis2,239422,1975Ty Cobb*2,1942,19406Ken Griffey Jr.*2,1451,5176287Doc Cramer2,0272,02708Brett Butler1,9876011,3869Kenny Lofton1,9841,44553910Richie Ashburn*1,98001,980Held National League record, 1959-196511Marquis Grissom1,9671441,82312Bernie Williams1,8561,856013Amos Otis1,8251,7923314Paul Blair1,8021,7475515Mike Cameron1,78789988816Jim Edmonds1,7685661,20217Edd Roush*1,75421,605Includes 147 in Federal League18Mickey Mantle*1,7421,742019Andruw Jones*1,724171,70720Devon White1,7221,11460821Curt Flood1,692101,68222Vada Pinson1,6801821,49823Lloyd Waner*1,66001,660Held National League record, 1942-195924Garry Maddox1,65801,65825Joe DiMaggio*1,6341,634026Clyde Milan1,6311,6310Held American League record, 1915-192027Max Carey*1,62401,624Held National League record, 1926-194228Adam Jones1,5901,589129Duke Snider*1,58901,58930Fred Lynn1,5841,578631Carlos Beltrán*1,57275182132Bill Bruton1,5485071,04133Torii Hunter1,5231,523034Bill Virdon1,50601,50635Rick Monday1,48960788236Earl Averill*1,4761,473337Chet Lemon1,4701,470038Dode Paskert1,45801,458Held National League record, 1920-192639César Cedeño1,45701,45740Mike Trout (0)1,4531,453041Sam West1,4461,446042Kirby Puckett*1,4321,432043Cy Williams1,37201,37244Vernon Wells1,3691,369045Willie Wilson1,3571,2659246Willie McGee1,351551,29647Larry Doby*1,3421,3300Includes 12 in Negro National League (second) (incomplete)48Dom DiMaggio1,3371,337049Andrew McCutchen (0)1,33201,33250Lance Johnson1,32789043751Lloyd Moseby1,3251,325052Rick Manning1,3171,317053Brian McRae1,30761968854Johnny Damon1,2981,298055Jim Busby1,2651,257856Curtis Granderson1,2541,13611857Omar Moreno1,2211881,03358Jimmy Piersall1,2121,1743859Lenny Dykstra1,21101,21160Juan Pierre1,19301,19361Carlos Gómez1,19151367862Terry Moore1,18501,18563Jimmy Wynn1,18201,18264Dwayne Murphy1,1791,174565Mickey Stanley1,1751,175066Dexter Fowler1,1701111,05967Michael Bourn1,159324835B.J. Upton1,15982833169Coco Crisp1,1581,158070Earle Combs*1,1571,1570Dave Henderson1,1571,149872Aaron Rowand1,15545669973Ginger Beaumont 1,15001,150Held National League record, 1910-1920Hy Myers1,15001,150Robin Yount*1,1501,150076Bill Tuttle1,1461,146077Mickey Rivers1,1441,144078Ray Lankford1,13801,13879Otis Nixon1,13763250580Jim Landis1,1281,125381Gary Pettis1,1251,1121382Andy Van Slyke1,119161,10383Del Unser1,11754157684Jacoby Ellsbury1,1051,105085Mike Kreevich1,0961,095186Baby Doll Jacobson1,0951,095087Roy Thomas 1,08201,08288Cesar Geronimo1,079401,03989Sam Chapman1,0761,0760Cy Seymour 1,07631,07391Vince DiMaggio1,07001,070Denard Span1,07044962193Mookie Wilson1,06716090794Kevin Kiermaier1,0661,0343295Ellis Burks1,06172233996Dale Murphy1,04101,04197Lorenzo Cain1,032634398Darren Lewis1,03247655699Andre Dawson*1,02701,027100Fielder Jones 1,0261,0260Held American League record, 1907-1915

Other Hall of Famers PlayerGames as a center fielderOther leagues, notes MLB American League National LeagueBilly Hamilton* 9900990Turkey Stearnes*96700Includes 615 in Negro National League (first), 176 in Negro National League (second), 133 in Negro American League, 43 in Negro Southern League (incomplete)Cool Papa Bell*94400Includes 632 in Negro National League (first), 257 in Negro National League (second), 39 in East–West League, 16 in Negro American League (incomplete)Hack Wilson*9130913Al Simmons*7757750Kiki Cuyler*6910691Hugh Duffy* 68068593Includes 17 in Players' League, 2 in American AssociationSam Rice*6076070Oscar Charleston*58500Includes 293 in Negro National League (first), 227 in Eastern Colored League, 65 in American Negro League (incomplete)Al Kaline*4894890Sam Crawford* 4464460Rickey Henderson*44641927

Notes

References

External links