CENTER FIELDER

(Redirected from Center field)

:''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.

Contents
Position description
Hall of Fame center fielders
Currently active center fielders
See also

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.

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.
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.

Hall of Fame center fielders



★ ''Richie Ashburn''
★ ''Earl Averill''
★ ''Cool Papa Bell''
★ ''Willard Brown''
★ ''Max Carey''
★ ''Oscar Charleston''
 
★ ''Ty Cobb''
★ ''Earle Combs''
★ ''Joe DiMaggio''
★ ''Larry Doby''
★ ''Hugh Duffy''
★ ''Billy Hamilton''
 
★ ''Pete Hill''
★ ''Mickey Mantle''
★ ''Willie Mays''
★ ''Kirby Puckett''
★ ''Edd Roush''
★ ''Duke Snider''
 
★ ''Tris Speaker''
★ ''Turkey Stearnes''
★ ''Cristóbal Torriente''
★ ''Lloyd Waner''
★ ''Zack Wheat''
★ ''Hack Wilson''

Currently active center fielders



Rocco Baldelli
Carlos Beltrán
Milton Bradley
Melky Cabrera
Mike Cameron
Endy Chavez
Coco Crisp
Johnny Damon
 
Chris Duffy
Jim Edmonds
Darin Erstad
Steve Finley
Ryan Freel
Curtis Granderson
Bill Hall
Torii Hunter
 
Andruw Jones
Mark Kotsay
Kenny Lofton
Rob Mackowiak
Gary Matthews, Jr.
Hunter Pence
Juan Pierre
Dave Roberts
 
Aaron Rowand
Grady Sizemore
Ichiro Suzuki
So Taguchi
Willy Taveras
B.J. Upton
Vernon Wells
Chris Young

See also



Baseball Hall of Fame

Outfield

Baseball positions

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