This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

This article is about the baseball position. For the song and album by John Fogerty, see Centerfield.

The position of the center fielder

A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the center fielder is assigned the number 8. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the musician. ... Centerfield is an album by musician John Fogerty, released in 1985. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Austin Kearns, an outfielder, catches a fly ball. ... This article is about the sport. ... There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. ... The position of the left fielder A left fielder, abbreviated LF, is an outfielder in the sport of baseball who plays defense in left field. ... The position of the right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in right field (e. ...

Position description

Outfielders must cover large distances, so speed, instincts and quickness to react to the ball are key. They must be able to catch fly balls above their head and on the run. They must be able to throw the ball accurately over a long distance to be effective. Amateur players may find it difficult to concentrate on the game, since they are so far from the action. Emphasizing the correct position will give outfield players something to concentrate on at each pitch.

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr.

As well as the requirements above, the center fielder will be the outfielder who has the best combination of speed and throwing distance. The center fielder covers more ‘grass’ than any other player (see photo) and, most likely, will catch the most fly balls. The center fielder also has the greatest responsibility among the three outfielders for coordinating their play to prevent collisions when converging on a fly ball. He is the captain of the outfield and has the authority to call off the corner fielders when he thinks he can catch the ball. Aside from requiring more speed and range, the center field position is slightly easier to field because balls tend to fly on a straight path, rather than curving as they do for the other outfield positions. Because the center fielder requires a good arm and fast legs, center field is generally considered one of the positions which produces power hitters; many center fielders such as Carlos Beltrán of the New York Mets are renowned as excellent batters and base runners. During the 1990s Ken Griffey, Jr. (especially during the early part of his career), was another center fielder who excelled in both batting and fielding. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. ... For the article on the Mexican progressive rock musician, see Carlos Beltrán (musician) Carlos Ivan Beltrán (pronounced: bel-trahn) was born April 24, 1977 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. ... Major league affiliations National League (1962–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 14, 37, 41, 42 Name New York Mets (1962–present) Other nicknames The Amazin Mets, The Amazins, The Metropolitans, The Kings of Queens Ballpark Shea Stadium (current) (1964–present) Polo Grounds (1962–1963) Major... George Kenneth Griffey, Jr. ...

When a base runner is trying to steal second base the center fielder must back up second base on throws from the catcher to second base in case the second basemen misses the catch or it is a bad throw. The position of the second baseman Second base redirects here. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is also a general term for a fielder who catches the ball in cricket. ...

Hall of Fame center fielders

Don Richard Richie Ashburn (March 19, 1927 - September 9, 1997) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball. ... Earl Averill (May 21, 1902 - August 16, 1983) was an American player in Major League Baseball who was a center fielder from 1929 to 1941. ... James Thomas Cool Papa Bell (May 17, 1903–March 7, 1991) was an American center fielder in Negro league baseball, considered by many baseball observers to have been the fastest man ever to play the game. ... Willard Jessie Brown (June 26, 1915 - August 4, 1996), nicknamed Home Run Brown, was an American outfielder in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball. ... Max Carey baseball card, 1912 Max George Carey (January 11, 1890 - May 30, 1976) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates. ... Oscar Charleston Oscar McKinley Charleston (October 14, 1896 - October 5, 1954) was an American center fielder and manager in baseballs Negro Leagues from 1915 to 1945. ... Tyrus Raymond Ty Cobb (December 18, 1886 – July 17, 1961), nicknamed The Georgia Peach, was a Hall of Fame baseball player and is regarded by historians and journalists[2][3] as the best player of the dead-ball era and as one of the greatest players of all time. ... Earle Bryan Combs (May 14, 1899 - July 21, 1976) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball whose whole career was spent playing for the New York Yankees (1924‑1935). ... Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, Jr. ... Lawrence Eugene Larry Doby (December 13, 1923 – June 18, 2003) was an American professional baseball player in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball. ... Hugh Duffy of the Boston Red Sox at Comiskey Park in 1921. ... Billy Hamilton on an 1887-1890 Goodwin & Company baseball card (Old Judge (N172)). William Robert Sliding Billy Hamilton February 16, 1866 - December 15, 1940, was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. ... J. Preston Hill (1880-1951) was an outfielder, second baseman and manager in the Negro Leagues from 1904 to 1925. ... Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995) was an American baseball player who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. ... Willie Howard Mays, Jr. ... Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 [1] – March 6, 2006) was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Minnesota Twins from 1984 to 1995. ... Edd Roush of the Cincinnati Reds at Weeghman Field in 1919. ... Duke Sniders number 4 was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980 Edwin Donald Duke Snider (born September 19, 1926 in Los Angeles, California), nicknamed The Silver Fox, is a former Major League baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles... Tristram E. Speaker (April 4, 1888 in Hubbard, Texas - December 8, 1958 in Lake Whitney, Texas), nicknamed “Spoke” (a play on his last name) and “Grey Eagle” (for his prematurely graying hair), was an American baseball player known as one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in history. ... Norman Turkey Stearnes was born in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on May 8, 1901. ... Cristóbal Torriente (November 16, 1893 - April 11, 1938) was a Cuban outfielder in Negro league baseball with the Cuban Stars, Chicago American Giants, Kansas City Monarchs and Detroit Stars over a career that lasted from 1914 to 1928, plus a single game in 1932. ... Lloyd James Waner (March 16, 1906 - July 22, 1982) was a Major League Baseball player. ... Zachary Davis Wheat (May 23, 1888 - March 11, 1972) was a left-handed Major League Baseball outfielder. ... // Biography Lewis Robert Hack Wilson (April 26, 1900 – November 23, 1948) was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball from 1923 to 1934. ...

Currently active center fielders

Rocco Dan Baldelli (born September 25, 1981 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island) is a Major League Baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays. ... For the article on the Mexican progressive rock musician, see Carlos Beltrán (musician) Carlos Ivan Beltrán (pronounced: bel-trahn) was born April 24, 1977 in Manatí, Puerto Rico. ... Milton Obelle Bradley (born April 15, 1978 in Harbor City, California) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics. ... Melky Cabrera (born August 11, 1984 in Santo Domingo Oeste, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees. ... Michael Terrance Cameron (born January 8, 1973 in LaGrange, Georgia) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres. ... Endy Chávez (SHAH-vez) (born February 7, 1978 in Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who plays for the Washington Nationals. ... Covelli Loyce Coco Crisp (born November 1, 1979, in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Boston Red Sox. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Alejandro Little Dee De Aza (born April 4, 1984 in Guaymate, Dominican Republic, is a Major League Baseball centerfielder for the Florida Marlins. ... Christopher Ellis Duffy (born April 20, 1980 in Brattleboro, Vermont) is a Major League Baseball player who plays outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates. ... James Patrick Jim Edmonds (born June 27, 1970 in Fullerton, California) is a left-handed batter who plays for the St. ... Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury (born September 11, 1983, in Madras, Oregon) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox. ... Steven Allen Finley (born March 12, 1965, in Union City, Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who bats and throws left-handed. ... Ryan Paul Freel (born March 8, 1976 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a professional baseball player. ... Carlos A. Gomez (born December 4, 1985 in Santiago, Dominican Republic) is an outfielder for the New York Mets. ... Curtis Granderson (born March 16, 1981, in Blue Island, Illinois) is a center fielder in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Detroit Tigers. ... William Hall (born December 28, 1979 in Nettleson, Mississippi, commonly known as Bill or Billy Hall) is entering his fifth season with the Milwaukee Brewers. ... Josh Hamilton is an actor based in New York who has appeared in Broadway and off Broadway productions. ... Torii Kedar Hunter (born July 18, 1975 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas) is a Major League Baseball outfielder on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ... Jacque Dewayne Jones (born April 25, 1975 in San Diego, California) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Chicago Cubs. ... Andruw Rudolf Jones (born April 23, 1977 in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles) is a baseball player who will be a free agent after the World Series. ... Mark Steven Kotsay (born December 2, 1975) is an outfielder for the Oakland Athletics. ... Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967 in East Chicago, Indiana) is a Major League Baseball outfielder. ... Robert William (Rob) Mackowiak (pronounced mah-KOH-vee-ack, born June 20, 1976 in Oak Lawn, Illinois) is a utility player in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Chicago White Sox. ... Gary Nathaniel Matthews Jr. ... Jerry L. Owens (born on February 16, 1981 in Hollywood, California) is a minor league center fielder currently with the Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox affiliation), in the International League. ... Hunter Andrew Pence (born April 13, 1983, in Fort Worth, Texas) is a major league outfielder with the Houston Astros. ... Felix Pie (pronounced PÄ“-Ä€) (born February 8, 1985 in La Romana, Dominican Republic) is a Major League center fielder for the Chicago Cubs. ... Juan DVaughn Pierre (born August 14, 1977 in Mobile, Alabama), is a professional baseball center fielder who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers. ... Dave Roberts, born David Ray Roberts (May 31, 1972 in Okinawa, Japan), is a Major League Baseball center fielder who plays for the San Diego Padres. ... Aaron Rowand (born August 29, 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is a center fielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies after spending several years with the Chicago White Sox. ... Grady Sizemore III (born August 2, 1982, in Seattle, Washington) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who currently plays for the Cleveland Indians. ... Ichiro Suzuki ), often known simply as Ichiro ), is a Japanese outfielder for the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team. ... So Taguchi (nicknamed The So Man) , born July 2, 1969) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the St. ... Willy Taveras (born December 25, 1981 in Teneras, Dominican Republic) is a center fielder for the Colorado Rockies. ... Melvin Emanuel B.J. Upton, (born August 21, 1984 in Norfolk, Virginia) (The B.J. is short for Bossman Junior, his fathers nickname was Bossman). ... This article is about the Major League Baseball player. ... Reggie 3 and 2 Gene Willits (born May 30, 1981, in Chickasha, Oklahoma) is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. ... Christopher Brandon Young (born September 5, 1983, in Houston, Texas), is a center fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. ...

See also

• Baseball Hall of Fame
• Outfield
• Baseball positions