In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by PO or fly out when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods: Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base (a tagout) Catching a batted or thrown ball and tagging a base to put out a batter or runner (a force out, or if done after a flyout, a doubling off) Catching a thrown ball and tagging a base to record an out on an appeal play Catching a third strike (a strikeout) Catching a batted ball on the fly (a flyout) Being positioned closest to a runner called out for interference In a regulation nine-inning game, the winning team will always have a total of 27 putouts, as one putout is awarded for every defensive out made; this is one aspect of proving a box score. All-time records Career records Jake Beckley: 23,709 Cap Anson: 21,695 Ed Konetchy: 21,361 Eddie Murray: 21,255 Charlie Grimm: 20,711 Stuffy McInnis: 19,962 Mickey Vernon: 19,808 Jake Daubert: 19,634 Lou Gehrig: 19,510 Joe Kuhel: 19,386 Single season records Pitchers Dave Foutz: 57 (1886) Tony Mullane: 54 (1882) George Bradley: 50 (1876) Guy Hecker: 50 (1884) Mike Boddicker: 49 (1984) Larry Corcoran: 47 (1884) Al Spalding: 45 (1876) Ted Breitenstein: 45 (1895) Jim Devlin: 44 (1876) Dave Foutz: 44 (1887) Bill Hutchinson: 44 (1890) Catchers Johnny Edwards: 1,135 (Houston Astros, 1969) Yadier Molina: 1,113 (St. Louis Cardinals, 2016) Yadier Molina: 1,082 (St. Louis Cardinals, 2017) Russell Martin: 1,065 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 2007) Yadier Molina: 1,064 (St. Louis Cardinals, 2015) Mike Piazza: 1,055 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1996) Dan Wilson: 1,050 (Seattle Mariners, 1997) Mike Piazza: 1,045 (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1997) Michael Barrett: 1,035 (Chicago Cubs, 2004) Jason Kendall: 1,015 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1998) First basemen Jiggs Donahue: 1,846 (1907) George Kelly: 1,759 (1920) Phil Todt: 1,755 (1926) Wally Pipp: 1,710 (1926) Jiggs Donahue: 1,697 (1906) Candy LaChance: 1,691 (1904) Tom Jones: 1,687 (1907) Ernie Banks: 1,682 (1965) Wally Pipp: 1,667 (1922) Lou Gehrig: 1,662 (1927) Second basemen Bid McPhee: 529 (1886) Bobby Grich: 484 (1974) Bucky Harris: 483 (1922) Nellie Fox: 478 (1956) Lou Bierbauer: 472 (1889) Billy Herman: 466 (1933) Bill Wambsganss: 463 (1924) Cub Stricker: 461 (1887) Buddy Myer: 460 (1935) Bill Sweeney: 459 (1912) Third basemen Denny Lyons: 255 (Philadelphia Athletics, 1887) Jimmy Williams: