907:
216:
in the game (in which case, the courtesy runner could still be used later as a substitute) or could be a player already in the game (in which case, that player's position in the batting order was not affected). The player who had to leave was free to rejoin the game when his team returned to the field defensively, although in some cases, an injury proved to be serious enough that he was replaced by a substitute. The last use of a courtesy runner in the major leagues was in 1949.
31:
215:
Between 1877 and 1949, major-league teams occasionally used "courtesy runners" in addition to pinch runners. A baserunner that had to leave the game temporarily, due to injury or an equipment issue, could be replaced by a courtesy runner. The courtesy runner could be a player who had not yet appeared
250:
During major-league history, there have been a few instances of "mid-play runners". This is a rare situation where the
Official Rules allow an injured baserunner to be substituted, and play then resumes. Two known instances—occurring in 1977 and 2005—occurred when a baserunner entitled to score was
100:
As with all substitutions at most levels of baseball, when a player is pinch run for, that player is removed from the game. Some leagues, especially for youths, may allow substituted players to re-enter a game. After serving as a pinch runner, a player may remain in the game and assume a defensive
200:
Each club will list a player who is not otherwise in the starting lineup as a designated pinch runner. That player may then be substituted at any point into the game as a baserunner. The player who is substituted for, as well as the pinch runner, may then return to the game without
117:, which began play in 1876, changed a rule in 1878 such that pinch runners were not allowed except in cases of illness or injury, with the substitute entering the game after the original player reached base. Later rule changes allowed for pinch runners at a manager's discretion.
151:, known as an unconventional thinker, came to believe that it would be useful to have a "designated runner"—a fast player on the roster whose only job was to periodically enter a game and run the bases for slower players. He signed Washington, a
745:
If an accident to a runner is such as to prevent him from proceeding to a base to which he is entitled, as on a home run hit out of the playing field, or an award of one or more bases, a substitute runner shall be permitted to complete the
251:
injured such that he had to be removed from the game, and a substitute was allowed to enter the game to finish the base running and score the run. A similar instance, which occurred in 2008 but did not involve injury, occurred due to a
239:, who had made the first out of the inning, ran for Outlaw. After Detroit finished batting that half-inning, both Outlaw (who had "recovered shortly") and York returned to their defensive positions and played the rest of the game.
155:
star with no baseball experience. Washington appeared in 105 games for the
Athletics in 1974 and 1975, scoring 33 runs and stealing 31 bases, without once playing the field or coming up to bat. His 1975 Topps
255:
that turned an apparent single, following which the batter was replaced by a pinch runner, into a home run—the pinch runner then ran out the home run to score the run.
775:
189:
168:
252:
121:
521:
529:
731:
691:
413:
365:
906:
77:
than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted. Occasionally, a pinch runner is inserted for other reasons (such as a
235:
was hit in the head by a pitch, leaving him temporarily unconscious. With permission of the St. Louis manager, Detroit first baseman
228:
768:
551:
183:
164:
196:, tested rules for a designated runner in 2023. As described by BallparkDigest.com, the rules for a designated runner were:
502:
1227:
1222:
761:
649:
1165:
114:
952:
718:
678:
400:
318:
1054:
136:
scored the winning run in a game, yet his consecutive game streak ended as he appeared only as a pinch runner.
120:
A pinch runner is not credited with a game played for the purpose of consecutive-game playing streaks, per the
78:
849:
288:
276:
829:
125:
110:
90:
58:
35:
882:
654:
86:
1196:
1186:
1181:
1135:
1044:
784:
460:
193:
1130:
1059:
844:
817:
727:
687:
409:
385:
361:
144:
133:
82:
616:
1140:
1027:
915:
887:
807:
439:
224:
176:
167:
made a notable appearance as a pinch runner in the bottom the ninth inning of Game 4 of the
30:
1150:
1145:
957:
877:
300:
264:
152:
140:
129:
1201:
1100:
1079:
1074:
1008:
988:
892:
824:
812:
705:
Comment: This rule is intended to eliminate the practice of so-called courtesy runners.
481:
324:
270:
220:
172:
148:
1216:
1110:
1095:
1013:
993:
983:
872:
834:
522:"October 17, 2004: 'Don't Let Us Win Tonight!' Red Sox begin ALCS comeback in Game 4"
282:
157:
1191:
1105:
1064:
1049:
1003:
337:
312:
232:
74:
62:
188:
As of 2023, MLB was considering allowing teams to have a "designated runner". The
506:
947:
621:
589:
294:
998:
942:
839:
306:
236:
17:
1160:
856:
50:
46:
38:
160:
is the only baseball card known to use a "Pinch Runner" position label.
978:
973:
937:
932:
792:
1155:
753:
584:
171:, stealing a base and going on to score the tying run in a game the
440:"Retrosheet Boxscore: Toronto Blue Jays 6, Cleveland Indians 5 (2)"
175:
went on to win in 12 innings, leading to a series victory over the
231:
season, on August 31. In the second inning, Detroit right fielder
29:
139:
One of the most famous pinch runners in major-league history was
101:
position, or may be substituted for at the manager's discretion.
757:
219:
An example of a courtesy runner occurred in a game between the
408:. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. 2023. p. 142.
85:, or if the original player on base has become injured). For
726:. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. 2023. p. 64.
686:. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. 2023. p. 54.
427:
A pinch-running appearance only shall not extend the streak.
242:
The
Official Rules used by MLB now forbid courtesy runners.
73:
A pinch runner may be faster or otherwise more skilled at
552:"Designated pinch runner among 2023 MLB rule experiments"
327:: 295 games as a pitcher; 105 games as a pinch runner
1174:
1123:
1088:
1037:
1026:
966:
925:
914:
865:
800:
791:
273:: 103 stolen bases, 111 runs scored, 168 at bats
184:Dave Roberts (baseball manager) § The Steal
198:
769:
382:2001 Official Major League Baseball Fact Book
285:: 43 stolen bases, 33 runs scored, 74 at bats
279:: 44 stolen bases, 47 runs scored, 29 at bats
259:Some players known primarily as pinch runners
27:Substitute baserunner in baseball or softball
8:
644:
642:
640:
321:: 6 stolen bases, 10 runs scored, 23 at bats
291:: 21 stolen bases, 25 runs scored, 6 at bats
267:: 31 stolen bases, 33 runs scored, 0 at bats
303:: 3 stolen bases, 10 runs scored, 9 at bats
1034:
922:
797:
776:
762:
754:
315:: 1 stolen bases, 6 runs scored, 4 at bats
309:: 5 stolen bases, 5 runs scored, 2 at bats
297:: 4 stolen bases, 9 runs scored, 8 at bats
611:
609:
607:
93:purposes, the pinch runner is denoted by
579:
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
190:Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
169:2004 American League Championship Series
348:
617:"Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Browns 3"
530:Society for American Baseball Research
34:A pinch runner is substituted into a
7:
388:. 2001. p. 275. 0-89204-646-5.
360:. Sterling Innovation. p. 11.
25:
550:Reichard, Kevin (18 April 2023).
128:(MLB). For example, in May 1984,
905:
482:"Herb Washington's career stats"
658:. September 1, 1944. p. 41
61:into a game for the purpose of
1:
442:. Retrosheet.org. 1984-05-27
358:USA Today Baseball Scorebook
105:Use in Major League Baseball
743:– via mlbstatic.com.
703:– via mlbstatic.com.
666:– via newspapers.com.
650:"Tigers' Rally Tops Browns"
425:– via mlbstatic.com.
1244:
356:McMahon, Rob, ed. (2009).
181:
903:
484:. Baseball-reference.com
109:In the early history of
720:Official Baseball Rules
680:Official Baseball Rules
461:"What is Pinch Runner?"
402:Official Baseball Rules
384:. St. Louis, Missouri:
850:Left-handed specialist
717:"Rule 5.12(b)(3)(A)".
203:
42:
1009:Center fielder (8/CF)
989:Second baseman (4/2B)
182:Further information:
126:Major League Baseball
111:professional baseball
33:
1228:Baseball terminology
1014:Right fielder (9/RF)
994:Third baseman (5/3B)
984:First baseman (3/1B)
463:. SportingCharts.com
36:UC San Diego Tritons
1055:Batting order (1–9)
1004:Left fielder (7/LF)
655:New York Daily News
1223:Baseball positions
1197:Phantom ballplayer
785:Baseball positions
585:"Courtesy Runners"
194:MLB Partner League
43:
1210:
1209:
1119:
1118:
1060:Designated hitter
1022:
1021:
901:
900:
733:978-1-63727-284-8
693:978-1-63727-284-8
625:. August 31, 1944
554:. Ballpark Digest
503:"Herb Washington"
415:978-1-63727-284-8
386:The Sporting News
367:978-1-4027-6245-1
147:. Oakland owner
145:Oakland Athletics
134:Toronto Blue Jays
16:(Redirected from
1235:
1035:
999:Shortstop (6/SS)
923:
909:
798:
778:
771:
764:
755:
749:
748:
742:
740:
725:
714:
708:
707:
702:
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685:
677:"Rule 5.10(e)".
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597:
581:
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563:
561:
559:
547:
541:
540:
538:
536:
517:
511:
510:
505:. Archived from
499:
493:
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478:
472:
471:
469:
468:
457:
451:
450:
448:
447:
436:
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424:
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407:
399:"Rule 9.23(c)".
396:
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246:Mid-play runners
225:St. Louis Browns
210:
209:
177:New York Yankees
21:
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1238:
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1234:
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1213:
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1206:
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1166:General manager
1151:Official scorer
1146:Bullpen catcher
1115:
1084:
1029:
1018:
962:
958:Position player
917:
910:
897:
861:
830:Middle reliever
787:
782:
752:
738:
736:
734:
723:
716:
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683:
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583:
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532:
519:
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438:
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420:
418:
416:
405:
398:
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380:
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375:
368:
355:
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350:
346:
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301:Darrell Woodard
265:Herb Washington
261:
248:
213:
208:Courtesy runner
207:
206:
186:
141:Herb Washington
130:Alfredo Griffin
115:National League
107:
71:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1241:
1239:
1231:
1230:
1225:
1215:
1214:
1208:
1207:
1205:
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1202:Platoon system
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1178:
1176:
1172:
1171:
1169:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1127:
1125:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1116:
1114:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1101:Contact hitter
1098:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1080:Cleanup hitter
1077:
1075:Leadoff hitter
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1041:
1039:
1032:
1024:
1023:
1020:
1019:
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1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
970:
968:
964:
963:
961:
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953:Utility player
950:
945:
940:
935:
929:
927:
920:
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911:
904:
902:
899:
898:
896:
895:
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880:
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869:
867:
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860:
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852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
822:
821:
820:
815:
804:
802:
795:
789:
788:
783:
781:
780:
773:
766:
758:
751:
750:
732:
709:
692:
669:
636:
603:
565:
542:
520:Nowlin, Bill.
512:
509:on 2011-10-08.
494:
473:
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431:
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373:
366:
347:
345:
342:
341:
340:
333:
330:
329:
328:
325:Blue Moon Odom
322:
316:
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304:
298:
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286:
280:
274:
271:Matt Alexander
268:
260:
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221:Detroit Tigers
212:
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192:, an official
173:Boston Red Sox
149:Charlie Finley
122:Official Rules
106:
103:
70:
67:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1161:Ball boy/girl
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1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1128:
1126:
1122:
1112:
1111:Switch hitter
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
1099:
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1096:Clutch hitter
1094:
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1087:
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997:
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990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
979:Catcher (2/C)
977:
975:
974:Pitcher (1/P)
972:
971:
969:
965:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
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941:
939:
936:
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928:
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919:
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894:
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871:
870:
868:
864:
858:
855:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
835:Long reliever
833:
831:
828:
827:
826:
823:
819:
816:
814:
811:
810:
809:
806:
805:
803:
799:
796:
794:
790:
786:
779:
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721:
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643:
641:
637:
624:
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604:
592:
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586:
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578:
576:
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572:
570:
566:
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531:
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287:
284:
283:Terrance Gore
281:
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258:
256:
254:
253:replay review
245:
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217:
205:
202:
197:
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185:
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158:baseball card
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98:
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79:double switch
76:
68:
66:
64:
60:
56:
52:
48:
40:
37:
32:
19:
1192:Injured list
1106:Power hitter
1070:Pinch runner
1069:
1065:Pinch hitter
744:
737:. Retrieved
719:
712:
704:
697:. Retrieved
679:
672:
660:. Retrieved
653:
627:. Retrieved
620:
594:. Retrieved
588:
556:. Retrieved
545:
533:. Retrieved
525:
515:
507:the original
497:
486:. Retrieved
476:
465:. Retrieved
455:
444:. Retrieved
434:
426:
419:. Retrieved
401:
394:
381:
376:
357:
351:
338:Pinch hitter
319:Miguel MejĂa
313:Alberto Lois
249:
241:
233:Jimmy Outlaw
218:
214:
199:
187:
165:Dave Roberts
162:
138:
119:
108:
99:
94:
91:scorekeeping
75:base running
72:
63:base running
57:is a player
55:pinch runner
54:
44:
18:Pinch Runner
1124:Non-players
883:Ground ball
289:Don Hopkins
277:Allan Lewis
227:during the
163:Outfielder
87:statistical
69:Description
59:substituted
1217:Categories
948:Outfielder
739:August 13,
699:August 13,
662:August 14,
629:August 13,
622:Retrosheet
596:August 13,
590:Retrosheet
535:August 13,
488:2012-08-13
467:2012-08-13
446:2012-08-13
421:August 13,
344:References
295:Sandy Piez
1028:Offensive
967:by number
943:Infielder
916:Defensive
840:Setup man
307:Rico Noel
237:Rudy York
1089:by style
888:Fly ball
866:by style
857:Swingman
825:Reliever
793:Pitchers
526:SABR.org
332:See also
201:penalty.
124:used by
83:ejection
51:softball
47:baseball
39:softball
1187:Battery
1182:Captain
1175:Related
1141:Coaches
1136:Manager
1038:by role
1030:players
938:Catcher
933:Pitcher
926:by type
918:players
878:Control
808:Starter
801:by role
143:of the
132:of the
1156:Batboy
1131:Umpire
1050:Runner
1045:Batter
893:Switch
845:Closer
818:Opener
730:
690:
558:1 July
412:
364:
113:, the
873:Power
746:play.
724:(PDF)
684:(PDF)
406:(PDF)
153:track
741:2024
728:ISBN
701:2024
688:ISBN
664:2024
631:2024
598:2024
560:2024
537:2024
423:2024
410:ISBN
362:ISBN
229:1944
223:and
89:and
53:, a
41:game
813:Ace
49:or
45:In
1219::
652:.
639:^
619:.
606:^
587:.
568:^
528:.
524:.
179:.
97:.
95:PR
81:,
65:.
777:e
770:t
763:v
633:.
600:.
562:.
539:.
491:.
470:.
449:.
370:.
211:s
20:)
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