Skip to Content

What does G mean in baseball?

In baseball, G is an abbreviation that stands for games. It is commonly used in statistics to refer to the number of games a player has participated in over a season or career.

Common Uses of G in Baseball Statistics

Here are some of the main ways that G is used in baseball stats:

  • Games Played (G) – The total number of games a player has appeared in. This includes both regular season and playoff games.
  • Games Started (GS) – The number of games a pitcher has started. This does not include relief appearances.
  • Games Finished (GF) – The number of games a relief pitcher was the final pitcher for their team.

Games played and games started are two of the most common statistics that use G. Looking at a player’s games played over multiple seasons shows their durability and availability. Games started demonstrates a pitcher’s role as a regular member of the starting rotation versus a spot starter. Games finished is a useful metric for relievers and closers specifically.

Games Played in Action

As an example, here are the games played totals over a three-year stretch for Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo:

Season Games Played
2016 155
2017 149
2018 141

This shows that Rizzo played in 155 of the 162 regular season games in 2016. He remained relatively durable and available over the next two seasons, playing in 149 games in 2017 and 141 games in 2018.

Games Started Examples

For starting pitchers, games started is more telling than simply games played or appearances. Here are the games started totals from 2017-2019 for Max Scherzer, ace of the Washington Nationals:

Season Games Started
2017 34
2018 33
2019 27

This shows Scherzer’s durability over that stretch as a key member of the Nationals rotation. Starting 30+ games each season demonstrates his reliability as the staff ace. The dip to 27 GS in 2019 was due to injuries.

Games Finished Metric for Relievers

For relief pitchers and closers, games finished is more applicable than games started. Here are the games finished totals for Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees from 2016-2018:

Season Games Finished
2016 42
2017 50
2018 32

This shows how frequently Chapman was used to close out games over those three seasons. A large games finished total is expected for relief aces like Chapman.

G in Pitching Lines

In baseball, G is also used in pitching lines to denote the number of games a pitcher has participated in that season. Here is an example pitching line from 2020 for Trevor Bauer of the Cincinnati Reds:

11 GS, 73 IP, 2.21 ERA, 100 SO

The 11 GS here means Bauer made 11 game starts for the Reds that season. This quickly shows that Bauer was a regular member of the starting rotation, without having to look at his games played total.

G for Catchers

For catchers, games played can have additional importance because of the demanding nature of the position. The number of games behind the plate impacts a catcher’s durability, so their games total directly relates to their availability for the team.

Here are the games caught totals for Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals over three recent seasons:

Season Games Caught
2017 123
2018 130
2019 113

This demonstrates Molina’s endurance as he caught over 100 games each season at age 35-37. Catching 130 games at age 36 illustrates excellent durability for a catcher that age.

G in Awards

Games played can also factor into end of season awards voting. The Gold Glove Award is given to the best defensive player at each position in each league. When considering candidates, voters often prefer players that were available for most of their team’s games.

For example, here were the games played leaders by position for American League Gold Glove winners in 2018:

Position Player Games Played
Pitcher Dallas Keuchel 34
Catcher Salvador Perez 129
First Base Matt Olson 127
Second Base Ian Kinsler 128
Third Base Matt Chapman 102
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons 157
Outfield Mookie Betts 136

The games played leader at each spot highlights the value placed on being available defensively when assessing Gold Glove candidates.

G in Hall of Fame Cases

Games played can also influence a player’s Hall of Fame candidacy, particularly for players at the fringe of Cooperstown induction. Longevity and career totals are important factors, so high games played totals tend to boost a player’s case.

For example, Harold Baines was a borderline Hall of Fame candidate when he appeared on the ballot in the early 2000s. He was ultimately elected in 2019, with his games played total cited as one reason:

Harold Baines – 2,830 games played

Playing over 2,800 career games displayed Baines’ consistency and durability over a 22-year MLB career. This helped push him into the Hall of Fame after several close calls.

Origins of G in Baseball

The use of G to denote games in baseball statistics dates back to the early 20th century. It became prevalent as baseball coverage grew and the need for shorthand abbreviations emerged. Henry Chadwick, a sportswriter considered the “Father of Baseball,” promoted G as an abbreviation for games in his early box scores and tables.

Chadwick used G to represent games in this way:

Player A – G: 152, AB: 562, R: 89, H: 189

Here, the G following the player name stands for games played. This established G as the abbreviation for games in baseball statistics. The practice continues today, over a hundred years later.

Why G for Games?

There are a few theories on why G was chosen to represent games:

  • G is the starting letter of the word games.
  • It comes from the Latin word “ludus” which meant “game.” The plural “ludi” began with G.
  • It was based on the German word “spiele,” meaning games. The plural “spielen” also started with G.

Regardless of the exact origin, G has stood the test of time as the moniker for games in baseball statistics and box scores.

Variations in Game Abbreviations

While G for games played is standard, there can be slight variations in abbreviations for specific game stats:

  • GS or S – Games Started or Starts
  • GF or FIN – Games Finished or Finished
  • GC – Games Caught

The meaning remains the same – the number of games fitting that situation. The general guide is that G refers to total games played.

Conclusion

In baseball, G represents games in a variety of contexts. It denotes total games played, games started, games caught, games finished, and more. The usage of G for games began in the early 20th century and continues in baseball statistics today. It is a shorthand adopted by Henry Chadwick and other pioneers in baseball coverage.

While games played is not the only factor in analyzing baseball players, it does provide useful information on availability, durability, and longevity. From MVP voting to Hall of Fame debates, a player’s G total can influence how their career is perceived. The next time you see G in a baseball box score, you can be sure it stands for games.