Double Play Records by First Basemen

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a record book of baseball milestones for double plays by first basemen - including career marks, single season plateaus, and game related records.

"Jim (Bottomley) will be out there tomorrow playing first base. So when you throw the ball, you throw it in the direction of first base and ole' Jim will get it. That made me feel better. What a fine gentleman he was." - Les Bell on his manager's comments during his debut
Double Play Records by First Basemen

Career Records

Record Lg Name(s) Team(s) Data
Most
In A Career
AL
Washington
1,612
2,041
Cleveland
286
Boston
143
NL
St. Louis
24
1,708
Pittsburgh
562
Chicago
1,122
Double Play Records by First Basemen

Single Season Records

Record Lg Name(s) Team(s) Data
Fewest
In A Season
150+ Games
AL
New York
87
1926
NL
Chicago
82
1998
Fewest
In A Season
By The League Leader
AL
Cleveland
98
1959
NL
St. Louis
109
1960
Most
In A Season
AL
Philadelphia
194
1949
NL
Pittsburgh
182
1966
Most
In A Season
Unassisted
AL
St. Louis
8
1936
NL
St. Louis
8
1961
Most Seasons
Leading The League
AL
Milwaukee
4
1980
1981
1982
1983
Philadelphia
1912
1914
Boston
1919
1920
New York
1915
1916
1917
1920
NL
St. Louis
6
1977
1979
1980
1981

St. Louis / New York

1983

New York

1984
Double Play Records by First Basemen

Game Records

Record Lg Name(s) Team(s) Data
Most
In A Game
9 Innings
AL
Philadelphia
6
09-01-1947
Kansas City
Kansas City
New York
Cleveland
08-05-1948
Los Angeles
Detroit
05-19-1948
NL
Houston
7
Record Lg Name(s) Team(s) Data

Double Play Records by First Basemen



Nearly thirty first basemen have turned a record two unassisted double plays in a single game. The most recent player in the American League was Dave Martinez of Chicago on June 21, 1997 and in the National League it was Dave Kingman of New York on July 25, 1982.

Did you know that Tommie Aaron, Lu Blue, Don Hurst, Wally Judnich, Pete O'Brien, and Vic Power are the only first basemen to start three double plays during a nine-inning game?

On August 18, 1943, Mickey Vernon of Washington played in an extra-inning double header and had a Major League record ten double plays at first base.