The longest win streaks in Gold Glove history

Nolan Arenado’s streak is over. After winning the NL Gold Glove Award at the hot corner every year from 2013-22, the Cardinals third baseman was not named a finalist for the 2023 Gold Glove, awarded annually to the best defensive player in each league at every position.

? Breaking down the 2023 Gold Glove Award winners

Arenado’s run of stellar defense is among the best in AL/NL history since Gold Glove Awards first began in 1957. Only 12 other players have reached double digits when it comes to consecutive Gold Gloves, and with Arenado’s streak at an end, it will be a while until anyone else joins the club. After winning the award in both 2022 and '23, Christian Walker, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, Andrés Giménez and Steven Kwan hold the longest active streaks at two straight years.

Apart from the new utility position, which started in 2022, every position but second base is represented on this list. Ryne Sandberg has the longest streak of Gold Gloves at second, winning nine straight from 1983-1991.

Here are the players who have won the most consecutive Gold Gloves.

? Most Gold Glove Awards at each position

1-T. Brooks Robinson, 3B: 16 seasons
1960-1975

Robinson, who died in 2023 at age 86, is remembered as arguably the best defensive third baseman in MLB history. From 1960 to 1975 -- from age 23 to age 38 -- he won the American Gold Glove Award every single season. Robinson was an All-Star for all but the final season of that stretch, too. A Hall of Famer and the 1964 AL MVP, Robinson’s defensive dominance at a position as tough as third base might never be equaled -- as is the fact that he did it all with one team, the Orioles.

1-T. Jim Kaat, P: 16 seasons
1962-1977

Only one player has matched Robinson’s ridiculous run. Kaat did it at a position with more competition, winning a Gold Glove at pitcher for 16 straight years. He won the first 14 in the AL with the Twins and then the White Sox before being traded to the Phillies in December 1975 and winning two more Gold Gloves. Kaat was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022 thanks to the Golden Days Era Committee.

3-T. Greg Maddux, P: 13 seasons
1990-2002

Another of the best-fielding pitchers of all time, Maddux actually has more Gold Gloves (18) than any other player. His first 13 came consecutively, with Maddux winning the NL honor at pitcher every year from 1990 to 2002. (Maddux also won the NL Cy Young Award every year from 1992 to 1995.) He won five more Gold Gloves after the streak came to an end, collecting the final one in his final season at age 42 in 2008.

3-T. Ozzie Smith, SS: 13 seasons
1980-1992

Known as the best defensive shortstop ever, Smith certainly had the hardware to prove it. He’s one of only two shortstops with 10 or more Gold Gloves (Omar Vizquel, 11) and won all of his in consecutive seasons from 1980 to 1992. A 15-time All-Star, Smith won his first two Gold Gloves with the Padres before being traded to the Cardinals and finishing out his career there.

5-T. Roberto Clemente, OF: 12 seasons
1961-1972

No outfielder has more Gold Gloves than Clemente, a Hall of Famer and the 1965 NL MVP. The career Pirate was an All-Star in all but one season of his 12-year Gold Glove streak, earning MVP votes in each of those 11 seasons. Clemente’s streak was still going when he died in a plane crash in his native Puerto Rico in December 1972 at age 38.

5-T. Willie Mays, OF: 12 seasons
1957-1968

After winning NL Rookie of the Year in 1951, serving in the U.S. military in the Korean War and winning NL MVP in 1954, Mays managed to add some more accolades to his incredible career. From age 26 to age 37, he won an NL Gold Glove in the outfield every single season. (“The Catch” actually came back in the 1954 World Series, before any of Mays’ Gold Gloves.)

7. Keith Hernandez, 1B: 11 seasons
1978-1988

The only first baseman with double-digit Gold Gloves, Hernandez was one of MLB’s best defenders during his 17-year career. He rattled off 11 straight Gold Gloves from 1978 to 1988 -- winning an NL MVP Award along the way thanks to hitting .344 with a .930 OPS in 1979. It’s not always easy to think of first basemen as elite defenders, but Hernandez certainly was one.

8-T. Nolan Arenado, 3B: 10 seasons
2013-2022

Arenado won Gold Gloves at third base in each of his first 10 seasons, including two since his trade to the Cardinals in February 2021. Advanced metrics have backed up his play at the hot corner, as Arenado ranked in the 96th percentile or higher in Outs Above Average from its inception in 2016 through the 2022 season. Arenado’s streak ended in 2023, when he was not among the three NL Gold Glove finalists at third base, but he’ll remain in the history books.

8-T. Ichiro Suzuki, OF: 10 seasons
2001-2010

Only Ichiro and Arenado have won 10 Gold Gloves in their first 10 MLB seasons. Ichiro’s memorable debut season in 2001 -- a clean sweep of AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger -- kicked off an incredible run for the Japanese star in the field. He was an All-Star every year until 2010, mirroring the years he earned a Gold Glove for his outfield defense.

8-T. Ken Griffey Jr., OF: 10 seasons
1990-1999

Mariners fans have been pretty lucky with their outfield defense, huh? Just two years before Ichiro made his debut, Griffey won his 10th and final AL Gold Glove. His first came at just 20 years old in his second season in MLB, and Griffey won one in each of his first 10 seasons in Seattle. He owns perhaps the most impressive reel of catches of any modern outfielder.

8-T. Andruw Jones, OF: 10 seasons
1998-2007

After impressing in his rookie season and finishing fifth in 1997 NL Rookie of the Year Award voting, Jones displayed his defensive dominance for the next decade. Patrolling center field for the Braves, he won the next 10 Gold Gloves, finishing as high as second in NL MVP voting in 2005. Jones didn’t win another Gold Glove after signing with the Dodgers after the 2007 season, but his legacy as one of baseball’s best defensive outfielders remains.

8-T. Iván Rodríguez, C: 10 seasons
1992-2001

“Pudge” was known for his unique arm behind the plate, throwing out a remarkable 46% of runners attempting to steal during his career. He finished with 13 Gold Gloves, with the first 10 coming in succession from 1992 to 2001. Rodríguez won the AL MVP Award in 1999 and finished his career with 14 All-Star appearances.

8-T. Johnny Bench, C: 10 seasons
1968-1977

Bench won his first NL Gold Glove in his age-20 season, picking up Rookie of the Year honors as well. That 1968 campaign kicked off an incredible career featuring a pair of NL MVPs in 1970 and 1972. Bench took home the Gold Glove for NL backstops every year until 1977, winning championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976.