Will There Be Outfielders Like This Again Sometime?

Roberto Clemente finished his career 17th all-time in outfield assists with 266.  That sounds fairly good for a guy who was known to have a great arm.  I expected him to be higher on a list that people probably don't look at often.

Tris Speaker leads the way with 449.  He is followed by Ty Cobb with 392.  I had to go all the way down to Mel Ott with 256 to find a player who played after Babe Ruth changed the game forever.

Of live-ball-era players, Paul Waner comes in next with 241.  Hank Aaron (201), Willie Mays (195) and Carl Yastrzemski (195) are fourth, tied-fifth and tied-fifth respectively among modern players.

The game and its rules were certainly different before Babe Ruth and the live-ball changed the game. Since the ball didn't travel as far, I assume that the outfielders played a lot closer to the infield.  That would certainly allow for more assists.

The big stars of the 1950s and 1960s were also working hard at being fielders.  That's not something that is seen regularly in today's game.