// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did games played say to the controller? "You're always playing me.
Games played (GP) is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity); the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.
Association football
[edit]In association football, a game played is counted if a player is in the starting 11, or if a reserve player enters the game before full-time.
Baseball
[edit]In baseball, the statistic applies to players, who prior to a game, are included on a starting lineup card or are announced as an ex ante substitute, whether or not they play.[1] For pitchers only, the statistic games pitched is used.
The career leader in Major League Baseball (MLB) games played is Pete Rose, who appeared in a total of 3,562 regular-season games.[2]
The career leader in MLB games pitched is Jesse Orosco, who pitched in 1,252 regular-season games.[3]
A notable example of the application of the ex ante rule is pitcher Larry Yount, who suffered an injury while throwing warmup pitches after being summoned as a reliever in a major-league game on September 15, 1971.[4] He did not face a batter, but was credited with an appearance because he had been announced as a substitute.[5] Yount never appeared in (or actually played in) any other MLB game.
Basketball
[edit]In March 2026, LeBron James set a new National Basketball Association (NBA) record for most regular-season games played, with 1,612, surpassing the prior record holder, Robert Parish, who had played in 1,611 regular-season NBA games.[6] A. C. Green holds the NBA record for most consecutive games played, with 1,192.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Section 20 of the official scorer guidelines
- ↑ "All-Time MLB Player Hitting Stat Leaders (sorted by Games)". MLB.com. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ↑ "All-Time MLB Player Pitching Stat Leaders (sorted by Games)". MLB.com. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Astros' Rookie in 'Brief' Stint". Odessa American. Odessa, Texas. AP. September 16, 1971. p. 1-B. Retrieved May 31, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Atlanta Braves 4, Houston Astros 2". Retrosheet. September 15, 1971. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ↑ Reynolds, Tim (March 21, 2026). "LeBron James passes Robert Parish for most regular-season games with 1,612". nba.com. AP. Retrieved March 21, 2026.