Fielding percentage (sometimes known as "fielding average") is a widely used baseball statistic which is calculated by dividing a player's total chances accepted (ie assists plus putouts) by his total chances (ie assists plus putouts plus errors). In other words, the more errors a player makes in the field, the lower his fielding percentage becomes.
Fielding percentage is a popular way to measure a player's defensive ability because it is easy to calculate and yields a percentile number that is easy to understand. However, it is debatable to what extent fielding percentage really reveals which players are better defenders, because it does not take into account a player's defensive range. Thus an inferior defender may have a high fielding percentage because even though they get to very few balls, they handle those plays perfectly, whereas a superior defender may get to more balls, and thus has many more opportunities to misplay one of them.
Although statistics which measure a player's range, such as Range Factor and Zone Factor, have been invented in recent years, they are not as easy to calculate or to understand, so fielding percentage remains the most commonly cited defensive statistic in baseball, and posting a high fielding percentage remains one of the best ways to earn a gold glove award.
Fielding Percentage Records
Career (minimum 1,000 games played)
Catchers
NL: Brad Ausmus - .994
AL: Dan Wilson - .995
First Basemen
NL: Steve Garvey, Wes Parker - .996
AL: Don Mattingly - .996
Second Basemen
NL: Tom Herr, Ryne Sandberg - .989
AL: Roberto Alomar - .985
Third Basemen
NL: Ken Reitz - .970
AL: Brooks Robinson - .971
Shortstops
NL: Larry Bowa - .980
AL: Omar Vizquel - .984
Outfielders
NL: Terry Puhl - .993
AL: Amos Otis, Joe Rudi, Mickey Stanley - .993
Single Season (minimum 100 games played at that position)
Catchers
NL: Charles Johnson - 1.000 (1997), Mike Matheny - 1.000 (2003)
AL: Buddy Rosar - 1.000 (1946)
First Basemen
NL: Steve Garvey - 1.000 (1984)
AL: Stuffy McInnis - .999 (1921), Jim Spencer - .999 (1973)
Second Basemen
NL: Brett Boone - .997 (1997)
AL: Bobby Grich - .996 (1985)
Third Basemen
NL: Heinie Groh - .983 (1924)
AL: Steve Buechele - .991 (1991)
Shortstops
NL: Rey Ordonez - .994 (1999)
AL: Mike Bordick - .998 (2002)
Outfielders
NL: five tied - 1.000
AL: Rocky Colavito - 1.000 (1965), Brian Downing - 1.000 (1982)
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