Editing On-base Percentage
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- | In [[baseball statistics]], '''on-base percentage (OBP)''' (sometimes referred to as '''on-base average [OBA]''', as the statistic is rarely presented as a true [[percentage]]) is a measure of how often a [[batting (baseball)|batter]] reaches base | + | In [[baseball statistics]], '''on-base percentage (OBP)''' (sometimes referred to as '''on-base average [OBA]''', as the statistic is rarely presented as a true [[percentage]]) is a measure of how often a [[batting (baseball)|batter]] reaches base for any reason other than a [[error (baseball)|fielding error]], [[fielder's choice]], [[dropped third strike|dropped third strike]], [[fielder's obstruction]], or [[catcher's interference]] (the latter two are ignored as either [[Times on base|times-on-base (TOB)]] or [[plate appearance]]s in calculating OBP). OBP is added to [[slugging average]] to determine [[on-base plus slugging]] (OPS). It first became an official [[MLB]] statistic in 1984. |
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Traditionally, the best leadoff hitters in the game have high on-base percentages. The league average for on-base percentage has varied considerably over time; in the modern era it is around .340, whereas it was typically only .300 in the [[dead-ball era]]. On-base percentage can also vary quite considerably from player to player. The record for the highest career OBP by a hitter, based on over 3000 [[plate appearance]]s, is .482 by [[Ted Williams]]. The lowest is by [[Bill Bergen]], who had an OBP of .194. | Traditionally, the best leadoff hitters in the game have high on-base percentages. The league average for on-base percentage has varied considerably over time; in the modern era it is around .340, whereas it was typically only .300 in the [[dead-ball era]]. On-base percentage can also vary quite considerably from player to player. The record for the highest career OBP by a hitter, based on over 3000 [[plate appearance]]s, is .482 by [[Ted Williams]]. The lowest is by [[Bill Bergen]], who had an OBP of .194. | ||
- | Though extremely unlikely, it is possible for a player's on-base percentage to be lower than his [[batting average]] (H/AB). However very few players in major league history fall into this category, with the majority of them having under 100 ABs, as it requires having almost no [[base on balls|walks]] or times [[hit by pitch]], with a relatively higher number of [[sacrifice fly|sacrifice flies]] (e.g. if a player has 2 hits in 6 at bats with a sacrifice fly, his batting average would be .333, but his on-base percentage would be .286). An example of this phenomenon would be the Hall-of-Fame pitcher Phil Niekro's hitting statistics from 1982. In 87 AB he never walked | + | Though extremely unlikely, it is possible for a player's on-base percentage to be lower than his [[batting average]] (H/AB). However very few players in major league history fall into this category, with the majority of them having under 100 ABs, as it requires having almost no [[base on balls|walks]] or times [[hit by pitch]], with a relatively higher number of [[sacrifice fly|sacrifice flies]] (e.g. if a player has 2 hits in 6 at bats with a sacrifice fly, his batting average would be .333, but his on-base percentage would be .286). An example of this phenomenon would be the Hall-of-Fame pitcher Phil Niekro's hitting statistics from 1982. In 87 AB he never walked, but had four sacrifice hits, leading to a Batting Average of .195 and an OBP of .193. |
- | On-base percentage is calculated using this formula | + | On-base percentage is calculated using this formula: |
:<math>OBP = \frac{H+BB+HBP}{AB+BB+HBP+SF}</math> | :<math>OBP = \frac{H+BB+HBP}{AB+BB+HBP+SF}</math> | ||
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*''SF'' = [[Sacrifice fly|Sacrifice Flies]] | *''SF'' = [[Sacrifice fly|Sacrifice Flies]] | ||
- | '''NOTE:''' Sacrifice flies were not counted as an official statistic until [[1954 in baseball|1954]]. Before that time, all sacrifices were counted as [[sacrifice hit]]s (SH), which included both sacrifice flies and [[Bunt (baseball)|bunts]]. Bunts (sacrifice hits since 1954), which would lower a batter's on-base percentage, are not included in the calculation for on-base percentage, as bunting is an offensive strategy – often dictated by the manager – the use of which does not necessarily reflect on the batter's ability and should not be used to penalize him. For calculations of OBP before 1954, or where sacrifice flies are not explicitly listed, the number of sacrifice flies should be assumed to be zero. | + | '''NOTE:''' Sacrifice flies were not counted as an official statistic until [[1954 in baseball|1954]]. Before that time, all sacrifices were counted as [[sacrifice hit]]s (SH), which included both sacrifice flies and [[Bunt (baseball)|bunts]]. Bunts (sacrifice hits since 1954), which would lower a batter's on-base percentage, are not included in the calculation for on-base percentage, as bunting is an offensive strategy – often dictated by the manager – the use of which does not necessarily reflect on the batter's ability and should not be used to penalize him. For calculations of OBP before 1954, or where sacrifice flies are not explicitly listed, the number of sacrifice flies should be assumed to be zero. |
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===All-time leaders=== | ===All-time leaders=== | ||
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|[[1954 in baseball|1954]] | |[[1954 in baseball|1954]] | ||
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