What is the "C" all about?

The role of a "captain" in Major League Baseball (MLB) has been somewhat informal and sporadic throughout the sport's history. Unlike in other team sports like hockey or football, where captains are a more established part of team leadership, baseball has had a more fluid approach to the position.

In the 19th and early 20th century, the captain held most of the on-field responsibilities that are held by managers and coaches in modern baseball. For example, according to the 1898 official rules, the captain was responsible for assigning the players' positions and batting order, for appealing to the umpire

Here’s a brief list of early captaincy in MLB:

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First ever captain: Harry Wright Cincinnati Red Stockings 1869

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Clark Griffith - New York Yankees 1891-1914

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Jimmy Collins - Boston Americans 1901-1905

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Tommy Corcoran - Cincinnati Reds 1900-1905

Early Years

In the early days of baseball, there was no formal role of "captain." Leadership was typically shared by experienced players or, in some cases, by the manager. The idea of a captain, as we understand it today, evolved slowly over time.

19th Century

In the 19th century, the closest thing to a captain was a player-manager or a team leader who might assume responsibilities for on-field strategy and communication with the umpire. However, these leaders weren’t formally called "captains" in the modern sense.

Early 20th Century

By the early 20th century, the title of captain began to be used more regularly, although it still wasn’t an official position recognized by MLB or the teams. During this time, several famous players served as captains, though the role was still somewhat informal.

1920's - 1940's

One of the most prominent examples of a captain during this period was Rogers Hornsby, the St. Louis Cardinals' leader in the 1920s. However, captains were not widely acknowledged across teams, and the role was still considered secondary to that of the manager.

The role of captain has been significant in the histories of some teams, such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Giants. Conversely, some teams have never named a captain, such as the Milwaukee Brewers.

1970s-1980s: A More Reserved Approach to Captaincy

As MLB evolved, fewer teams officially named captains, and the position became less formalized. For example, during the 1980s, teams like the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs did not have a named captain, although players like Carl Yastrzemski and Ryan Sandberg served as informal leaders.

The 1950s-1960s: The Rise of Notable Captains

During the 1950s and 1960s, the role of captain began to become more recognized, especially with teams like the New York Yankees where the title of "captain" was granted to respected veterans who were expected to provide leadership both on and off the field.

The New York Yankees: The Yankees have had a long tradition of naming captains, starting with Clark Griffith and then Frankie Crosetti in the 1930s (although his role was not always officially recognized by the team) and later with Thurman Munson in the 1970s, perhaps one of the most famous captains in MLB history. Munson served as the team captain from 1976 until his tragic death in 1979. He was a key figure in the Yankees' leadership structure during their 1970s dynasty.

The Yankees also had Lou Gehrig as captain for many years, starting in 1935, and he remains one of the most iconic captains in baseball history.

The 1990s to Present: Modern MLB

In modern MLB, the role of captain is much rarer. Few teams appoint captains anymore, and when they do, the title is often symbolic rather than a position of significant authority.

In 2003, the New York Yankees once again appointed a team captain when they named Derek Jeter as the team leader. Jeter became one of the most prominent and respected captains in MLB history, holding the title from 2003 until his retirement in 2014. Under his leadership, the Yankees won several championships, and he became a central figure in the team's culture.

Other teams, such as the Texas Rangers (with Adrian Beltre holding the role) and the Cincinnati Red (with Barry Larkin), have had captains in more recent years, though the role continues to be less formalized than in other professional sports. Some teams ever elect or vote on multiple team captains, not just one. Although typically one captain is the route for most teams.

Below is the history of Captains for the historic New York Yankees.

Player	Tenure	Player	Tenure	Player	Tenure
Clark Griffith	1903-1905	Kid Elberfeld	1906-1907	Willie Keeler	1908-1909
Hal Chase	1910-1912	Frank Chance	1913	Roger Peckinpaugh	1914-1921
Babe Ruth	1922	Everett Scott	1922-1925	Lou Gehrig	1935-1939
Thurman Munson	1976-1979	Graig Nettles	1982-1984	Willie Randolph	1986-1988
Ron Guidry	1986-1988	Don Mattingly	1991-1995	Derek Jeter	2003-2014
Aaron Judge	2023-Present

Babe Ruth lost his captaincy of the New York Yankees in 1922 after being ejected from a game for throwing dirt at an umpire and attacking a fan.

Significance of Today

Today, captains are not as common in MLB as in other sports, but when appointed, the role remains an important symbol of leadership and experience. While the role of captain in MLB is rare, it still carries a great deal of respect and significance in the teams that utilize it. The captain is often a respected veteran who serves as the leader in the clubhouse, and acts as a liaison between the manager and the rest of the team, providing a steady voice and often handling media responsibilities.

Below is the list of the last time a MLB team had a captain, only 2 currently have a captain listed. Note that the teams are listed in order of most recent and then backwards.

TEAM	PLAYER	YEARS	TEAM	PLAYER	YEARS
Kansas City Royals	Salvador Perez	2023-Present	Seattle Mariners	Spike Owen	1986
New York Yankees	Aaron Judge	2023 - Present	Houston Astros	Enos Cabell	1984-1985
New York Mets	David Wright	2013-2018	San Francisco Giants	Jack Clark	1984
Texas Rangers	Adrian Beltre'	2013-2018	Pittsburgh Pirates	Bill Madlock	1983
Chicago White Sox	Paul Konerko	2006-2014	California Angles	Don Baylor	1978-1982
Boston Red Sox	Jason Varitek	2005-2011	Los Angeles Dodgers	Davey Lopes	1978-1979
Chicago Cubs	Sammy Sosa Kevin Tapani	2000-2001	Philadelphia Phillies	*Mike Schmidt	1978-1979
Cincinnati Reds	Barry Larkin	1997-2004	Oakland A's	Sal Bando	1969-1976
Detroit Tigers	Dean Palmer Doug Brocail Brad Ausmus	1999	St. Louis Cardinals	Ted Simmons Reggie Smith	1976
Cleveland Indians	Joe Carter	1987-1989	Minnesota Twins	Harmon Killebrew	1961-1974
Baltimore Orioles	Eddie Murray	1986-1988	Atanta Braves	Johnny Evers	1914-1917

*Interesting note: Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt was not comfortable with the position of captain was he was voted in, and his play suffered with it. When Pete Rose arrived, there was this added veteran in the clubhouse to act as an emotional boost, Mike stepped down, his play improved, they won the World Series, and the Phillies haven't had a captain since. *

The following teams have never named a team captain in their team's history.

Arizona Diamondbacks	Colorado Rockies	Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Brewers	San Diego Padres	Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Rays	Washington Nationals	Last Captain for Montreal Expos was Gary Carter 1984

History of the “Captain”