Double Play Records for Shortstops

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a record book of baseball milestones for double plays by shorstops - including career double play marks at short, single season double play plateaus for shortstops, and game related double play records at shortstop.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Ozzie (Smith) has the fielding for his signature. (Cal) Ripken has the durability. But Trammell doesn't really have that signature. Same with Whitaker." - Jerry Crasnick

Double Play Records for Shortstops

Career Double Play Records at Shortstop

Most Double Plays
In A Career (SS)
AL Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore 1,565 1,565
NL Ozzie Smith San Diego 369 1,590
St. Louis 1,221
ML Omar Vizquel Seattle [AL] 455 1,734
Cleveland [AL] 944
San Francisco [NL] 301
Texas [AL] 22
Chicago [AL] 9
Toronto [AL] 3

Double Play Records for Shortstops

Single Season Double Play Records at Shortstop

Fewest Double Plays
In A Season (SS)
150+ Games Played at SS
AL Jackie Gutierrez Boston 60 1984
NL Kevin Elster New York 63 1989
Fewest Double Plays
In A Season (SS)
By The League Leader
AL Roger Peckinpaugh Washington 81 1924
NL Ozzie Smith St. Louis 79 1991
Most Double Plays
In A Season (SS)
AL Rick Burleson Boston 147 1980
NL Bobby Wine Montreal 137 1970
Most Seasons
Leading The League
AL Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore 8 1983
Baltimore 1984
Baltimore 1985
Baltimore 1989
Baltimore 1991
Baltimore 1992
Baltimore 1994
Baltimore 1995
NL Mickey Doolan
Philadelphia 5 1907
Philadelphia 1909
Philadelphia 1910
Philadelphia 1911
Philadelphia 1913
Dick Groat Pittsburgh 1958
Pittsburgh 1959
Pittsburgh 1961
Pittsburgh 1962
St. Louis 1964
Ozzie Smith San Diego 1980
St. Louis 1984
St. Louis 1986
St. Louis 1987
St. Louis 1991
Most Unassisted Double Plays
In A Season (SS)
AL Joe Dugan New York 4 1924
NL Heinie Groh Cincinnati 3 1915
Harry Wolverton Washington 1902

Double Play Records for Shortstops

Game Specific Double Play Records at Shortstop

Most Double Plays
In A 9-Inning Game (SS)
AL Too Many To List - See Fast Fact #1- 5 --
NL Too Many To List - See Fast Fact #2- 5 --
Most Double Plays
In An Extra Inning Game (SS)
AL Bert Campaneris Oakland 6 09-13-1970
11 Innings
NL Rafael Ramirez Atlanta 6 06-27-1982
14 Innings
Ozzie Smith San Diego 08-25-1979
19 Innings
Double Play Records for Shortstops by Baseball Almanac
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baseball almanac fast facts

More than thirty American League shortstops have turned five double plays in a 9-inning game. The last to do so was Ben Zobrist on September 16, 2006.

More than twenty National League shortstops have turned five double plays in a 9-inning game. The last to do so was David Eckstein on August 18, 2005.

Did you know that on August 4, 1911, Lee Tannehill of Chicago (AL) became the first and only shortstop to ever have two unassisted double plays in a single game?