List of Major League Baseball career on-base percentage leaders
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped or uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference. OBP is calculated in Major League Baseball (MLB) by dividing the sum of hits, walks, and times hit by a pitch by the sum of at-bats, walks, times hit by pitch and sacrifice flies.[1] A hitter with a .400 on-base percentage is considered to be great[2] and rare;[3] only 55 players in MLB history with at least 3,000 career plate appearances (PA) have maintained such an OBP. Left fielder Ted Williams, who played 19 seasons for the Boston Red Sox, has the highest career on-base percentage, .4817, in MLB history.[4] Williams led the American League (AL) in on-base percentage in twelve seasons, the most such seasons for any player in the major leagues.[4][5] Barry Bonds led the National League (NL) in ten seasons, a NL record.[5][6] Williams also posted the then-highest single-season on-base percentage of .5528 in 1941, a record that stood for 61 years until Bonds broke it with a .5817 OBP in 2002.[7] Bonds broke his own record in 2004, setting the current single-season mark of .6094.[7]
Joey Votto is the current active MLB leader in OBP, with a career mark of .4250.[8] Mickey Cochrane is the only catcher and Arky Vaughan is the only shortstop with a career mark of at least .400.[9][10] Of the 43 players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame with a career on-base percentage of .400 or higher, 27 have been elected. Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played at least 10 major league seasons, have been either retired for five seasons or deceased for six months, and have not been banned from MLB.[11] These requirements leave 6 living players ineligible who have played in the past 5 seasons; 5 players (Bill Joyce, Ferris Fain, Jake Stenzel, Bill Lange, and George Selkirk) who did not play 10 seasons in MLB; and Shoeless Joe Jackson, who was banned for his role in the Black Sox Scandal.[12]
Keys
|
|
Players
- Statistics updated through the 2016 season. Minimum of 3,000 plate appearances.
Player | OBP | PA | Position | Years active | League leads | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Williams, TedTed Williams† | .4817 | 9,791 | LF | 1939–1942 1946–1960 |
12 | [4] |
Ruth, BabeBabe Ruth† | .4739 | 10,620 | RF/P | 1914–1935 | 10 | [13] |
McGraw, JohnJohn McGraw† | .4657 | 4,926 | 3B/SS | 1891–1906 | 3 | [14] |
Hamilton, BillyBilly Hamilton† | .4552 | 7,584 | CF | 1888–1901 | 5 | [15] |
Gehrig, LouLou Gehrig† | .4474 | 9,660 | 1B | 1923–1939 | 5 | [16] |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds | .4443 | 12,606 | LF | 1986–2007 | 10 | [6] |
Joyce, BillBill Joyce | .4349 | 4,149 | 3B/1B | 1890–1892 1894–1898 |
0 | [17] |
Hornsby, RogersRogers Hornsby† | .4337 | 9,475 | 2B | 1915–1937 | 9 | [18] |
Cobb, TyTy Cobb† | .4330 | 13,072 | CF | 1905–1928 | 7 | [19] |
Foxx, JimmieJimmie Foxx† | .4283 | 9,670 | 1B | 1925–1942 1944–1945 |
3 | [20] |
Speaker, TrisTris Speaker† | .4279 | 11,991 | CF | 1907–1928 | 4 | [21] |
Votto, JoeyJoey Votto* | .4247 | 5,412 | 1B | 2007– | 4 | [8] |
Collins, EddieEddie Collins† | .4244 | 12,037 | 2B | 1906–1930 | 0 | [22] |
Fain, FerrisFerris Fain | .4241 | 4,904 | 1B | 1947–1955 | 1 | [23] |
Brouthers, DanDan Brouthers† | .4233 | 7,658 | 1B | 1879–1896 1904 |
5 | [24] |
Bishop, MaxMax Bishop | .4230 | 5,789 | 2B | 1924–1935 | 0 | [25] |
Jackson, Shoeless JoeShoeless Joe Jackson | .4227 | 5,690 | LF | 1908–1920 | 1 | [26] |
Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle† | .4205 | 9,909 | CF | 1951–1968 | 3 | [27] |
Cochrane, MickeyMickey Cochrane† | .4192 | 6,206 | C | 1925–1937 | 1 | [9] |
Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas† | .4191 | 10,074 | DH/1B | 1990–2008 | 4 | [28] |
Martínez, EdgarEdgar Martínez | .4178 | 8,672 | DH/3B | 1987–2004 | 3 | [29] |
Musial, StanStan Musial† | .4167 | 12,712 | LF/1B | 1941–1944 1946–1963 |
6 | [30] |
Childs, CupidCupid Childs | .4157 | 6,766 | 2B | 1888 1890–1901 |
1 | [31] |
Boggs, WadeWade Boggs† | .4150 | 10,740 | 3B | 1982–1999 | 6 | [32] |
Burkett, JesseJesse Burkett† | .4149 | 9,620 | LF | 1890–1905 | 1 | [33] |
Helton, ToddTodd Helton | .4140 | 9,453 | 1B | 1997–2013 | 2 | [34] |
Ott, MelMel Ott† | .4140 | 11,337 | RF | 1926–1947 | 4 | [35] |
Thomas, RoyRoy Thomas | .4135 | 6,575 | CF | 1899–1911 | 2 | [36] |
O'Doul, LeftyLefty O'Doul | .4133 | 3,659 | LF | 1919–1920 1922–1923 1928–1934 |
1 | [37] |
Greenberg, HankHank Greenberg† | .4118 | 6,096 | 1B | 1930 1933–1941 1945–1947 |
0 | [38] |
Delahanty, EdEd Delahanty† | .4112 | 8,400 | LF | 1888–1903 | 2 | [39] |
Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez | .4106 | 9,774 | LF | 1993–2011 | 3 | [40] |
Keller, CharlieCharlie Keller | .4099 | 4,604 | LF | 1939–1943 1945–1952 |
0 | [41] |
Stanky, EddieEddie Stanky | .4098 | 5,435 | 2B | 1943–1953 | 2 | [42] |
Heilmann, HarryHarry Heilmann† | .4095 | 8,960 | RF | 1914 1916–1930 1932 |
0 | [43] |
Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson† | .4089 | 5,802 | 2B | 1947–1956 | 1 | [44] |
Cullenbine, RoyRoy Cullenbine | .4082 | 4,787 | RF | 1938–1947 | 0 | [45] |
Stenzel, JakeJake Stenzel | .4078 | 3,425 | CF | 1890 1892–1899 |
0 | [46] |
Bagwell, JeffJeff Bagwell | .4076 | 9,431 | 1B | 1991–2005 | 0 | [47] |
Lyons, DennyDenny Lyons | .4074 | 5,010 | 3B | 1885–1897 | 1 | [48] |
Stephenson, RiggsRiggs Stephenson | .4065 | 5,134 | LF | 1921–1934 | 0 | [49] |
Berkman, LanceLance Berkman | .4060 | 7,814 | LF/1B/RF | 1999–2013 | 0 | [50] |
Vaughan, ArkyArky Vaughan† | .4058 | 7,721 | SS | 1932–1943 1947–1948 |
3 | [10] |
Trout, MikeMike Trout* | .4053 | 3,541 | CF | 2011- | 0 | [51] |
Harris, JoeJoe Harris | .4044 | 3,574 | 1B | 1914 1917 1919 1922–1928 |
0 | [52] |
Waner, PaulPaul Waner† | .4043 | 10,762 | RF | 1926–1945 | 0 | [53] |
Gehringer, CharlieCharlie Gehringer† | .4036 | 10,237 | 2B | 1924–1942 | 0 | [54] |
Cunningham, JoeJoe Cunningham | .4035 | 4,061 | 1B/RF | 1954 1956–1966 |
1 | [55] |
Browning, PetePete Browning | .4028 | 5,315 | CF/LF | 1882–1894 | 2 | [56] |
Blue, LuLu Blue | .4022 | 7,207 | 1B | 1921–1933 | 0 | [57] |
Thome, JimJim Thome | .4019 | 10,313 | 1B/DH/3B | 1991–2012 | 0 | [58] |
Kelley, JoeJoe Kelley† | .4017 | 8,120 | LF | 1891–1906 1908 |
0 | [59] |
Henderson, RickeyRickey Henderson† | .4012 | 13,346 | LF | 1979–2003 | 1 | [60] |
Jones, ChipperChipper Jones | .4011 | 10,614 | 3B | 1993 1995–2012 |
1 | [61] |
Walker, LarryLarry Walker | .4002 | 8,030 | RF | 1989–2005 | 2 | [62] |
Lange, BillBill Lange | .4001 | 3,609 | CF | 1893–1899 | 0 | [63] |
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career batting average leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career OPS leaders
References
- General
- "Career Leaders & Records for On-Base%". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- Specific
- ↑ "Official Rules: 10.00 The Official Scorer". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- ↑ Verducci, Tom (April 5, 2004). "Smart Stats, Dumb Stats". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ Lewis, Michael (2003). Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. United States: W.W. Norton & Company Inc. p. 127. ISBN 0-393-05765-8.
- 1 2 3 "Ted Williams Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- 1 2 "Yearly League Leaders & Records for On-Base%". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- 1 2 "Barry Bonds Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- 1 2 "Single-Season Leaders & Records for On-Base%". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- 1 2 "Joey Votto Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
- 1 2 "Mickey Cochrane Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- 1 2 "Arky Vaughan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Rules for Election: BBWAA". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
- ↑ Neyer, Rob (August 2, 2001). "Say it ain't so ... for Joe and the Hall". ESPN Classic. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Babe Ruth Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "John McGraw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Billy Hamilton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Lou Gehrig Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Joyce Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Rogers Hornsby Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Ty Cobb Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Jimmie Foxx Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Tris Speaker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Eddie Collins Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Ferris Fain Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Dan Brouthers Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Max Bishop Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Joe Jackson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Mickey Mantle Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Frank Thomas Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Edgar Martínez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Stan Musial Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Cupid Childs Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Wade Boggs Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Jesse Burkett Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Todd Helton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ↑ "Mel Ott Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Roy Thomas Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Lefty O'Doul Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Hank Greenberg Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Ed Delahanty Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Manny Ramirez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Charlie Keller Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Eddie Stanky Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Harry Heilmann Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Jackie Robinson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Roy Cullenbine Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Jake Stenzel Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Jeff Bagwell Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Denny Lyons Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Riggs Stephenson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Lance Berkman Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ↑
- ↑ "Joe Harris Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Paul Waner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Charlie Gehringer Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Joe Cunningham Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Pete Browning Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Lu Blue Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Jim Thome Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Joe Kelley Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Rickey Henderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Chipper Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ↑ "Larry Walker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Bill Lange Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2010.