The Backyard Batting Cage

Baseball - What Is Right Field?

Very often, kids who play baseball and who are not considered to be “very good” at the game are relegated to right field.  Right field is not the most coveted position  in the game.  But perhaps it should be.  After all, some of the world’s best baseball greats played this position. 

In baseball, unlike other some other sports, players have to play both offense and defense.  They have to be able to play one of  the infield positions or outfield positions.  Those who are good at pitching are pitchers and the catchers are usually good at reflexive moves and can send signals to the pitcher on what type of ball to pitch, based upon the stance of the batter.  Infielders are considered better defensive players.

Outfielders include those playing left, right and center field.  In the major leagues, the ball will often pop up to the outfield and the outfielder better catch it.  To drop a fly ball in little league is not a big deal.  To do this is in major league baseball is considered an error and a black mark against the player. 

Since most batters are right handed, left field sees most of the action,  as does center field.  Right field does not see a lot of action, which is why the players who are not the best defensive players are put in this position.  But who, through the years, played right field?

One famous right fielder was not that great on defense.  He was put in right field because he was able to hit, but not the greatest fielder.  He wasn’t very athletically built, either. In fact, the joke was that he had to hit a home run all the time so that he would be able to make it around the bases.  This somewhat heavy set fellow had his work cut out for him.  He wasn’t going to do much running, so they stuck him in right field. 

If you have a child playing baseball who is sent to right field, do not despair.  This is not necessarily the position for those who do poorly at the game, but those who are not the best defensive players.  Often, what these players lack in defense, they more than make up for in offensive play. 

The stubby guy who played right field for the Yankees so long ago?  He was known as the “Sultan of Swat.”  Yep, old Babe Ruth played right field.  No one ever questioned his baseball abilities.  He was the undisputed home run king for quite some time. 

Hank Aaron beat his home run record in the 1970s.  Hank Aaron, also a powerful hitter also played right field.  As did some of the other biggest hitters in the game.  Right field may not be the most coveted position when it comes to defense in baseball, but anyone who plays this position is in pretty good company.