{"id":111825,"date":"2026-01-08T22:46:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T03:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111825"},"modified":"2026-01-08T22:46:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T03:46:07","slug":"where-have-you-gone-on-base-percentage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/01\/08\/where-have-you-gone-on-base-percentage\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Have You Gone, OBP?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Simon and Garfunkel hit<\/a>\u00a0Mrs. Robinson<\/em> famously asks \u2026 “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio<\/a>?” But in terms of MLB on-base percentage leaders of late, it should go \u2026 “Where have you gone, <\/span>Ted Williams<\/a><\/span>?” Teddy Ballgame is the <\/span>all-time leader<\/a> in OBP at .482<\/span>. Yes, you are reading that correctly. More coming on the Splendid Splinter in a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

High On-Base Percentages Becoming a Rarer Commodity in MLB<\/h2>\n

Recent MLB Trend<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the last two seasons, only two players have topped the .400 OBP benchmark for the year: <\/span>Aaron Judge<\/a><\/span> (.458) and <\/span>Juan Soto<\/a><\/span> (.419) in 2024, and only Judge last year<\/a> (.457). For such a vital stat, how can that be?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Aaron
Jun 19, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a double against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As recently as 2023, eight players had a .400 or better OBP for the season. In most years since 2010<\/a><\/span>, on average, you have somewhere between five and ten players league-wide with a .400+ OBP for the year<\/span>. Plenty of factors have probably contributed to this trend: more emphasis on power over contact, less concern about strikeouts, poor pitch selection\/recognition by the batter, fewer patient hitters, launch angle obsession, etc. Whatever the reason, the last two years have seen a decline in one of baseball\u2019s most important stats.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is not to say a .375 on-base percentage is bad. <\/span>In fact, it is well above league average<\/a><\/span>. However, the numbers are down a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The OBP GOAT<\/strong><\/h3>\n

That brings us back to the all-time leader for some historical context. Ted Williams incredibly had a .400 or better OBP in 18 of his 19 seasons. Five times he had a .500+ mark. His career high was .553 in <\/span>1941<\/span><\/a>, the same season he hit .406. <\/span>That was also a year where about 30 guys<\/a> had a .400+ OBP<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In 1941 Ted Williams reached based 332 times in 606 PA<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not a mistype. It\u2019s a .553 OBP pic.twitter.com\/fxjBmJ9apF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OldTimeHardball (@OleTimeHardball) December 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n