On Base Percentage Year-by-Year Leaders '1876 - 2011'
Year	American League	OBP (Raw)	Team(s)	Year	National League	OBP (Raw)	Team(s)
1876	-	-	-	1876	Ross Barnes	.462 (.46199)	Chicago
1877	-	-	-	1877	Jim O'Rourke	.407 (.40702)	Boston
1878	-	-	-	1878	Bob Ferguson	.375 (.37546)	Chicago
1879	-	-	-	1879	Jim O'Rourke	.371 (.37067)	Providence
1880	-	-	-	1880	George Gore	.399 (.39942)	Chicago
1881	-	-	-	1881	Cap Anson	.442 (.44173)	Chicago
1882	-	-	-	1882	Dan Brouthers	.403 (.40323)	Buffalo
1883	-	-	-	1883	Dan Brouthers	.397 (.39683)	Buffalo
1884	-	-	-	1884	King Kelly	.414 (.41365)	Chicago
1885	-	-	-	1885	Roger Connor	.435 (.43478)	New York
1886	-	-	-	1886	King Kelly	.483 (.48315)	Chicago
1887	-	-	-	1887	Dan Brouthers	.426 (.42634)	Detroit
1888	-	-	-	1888	Cap Anson	.400 (.39964)	Chicago
1889	-	-	-	1889	Fred Carroll	.486 (.48551)	Pittsburgh
1890	-	-	-	1890	Cap Anson	.443 (.44302)	Chicago
1891	-	-	-	1891	Billy Hamilton	.453 (.45283)	Philadelphia
1892	-	-	-	1892	Cupid Childs	.443 (.44298)	Cleveland
1893	-	-	-	1893	Billy Hamilton	.490 (.48956)	Philadelphia
1894	-	-	-	1894	Billy Hamilton	.523 (.52283)	Philadelphia
1895	-	-	-	1895	Ed Delahanty	.500 (.50000)	Philadelphia
1896	-	-	-	1896	Billy Hamilton	.477 (.47717)	Boston
1897	-	-	-	1897	John McGraw	.471 (.47094)	Baltimore
1898	-	-	-	1898	Billy Hamilton	.480 (.48024)	Boston
1899	-	-	-	1899	John McGraw	.547 (.54749)	Baltimore
1900	-	-	-	1900	John McGraw	.505 (.50452)	St. Louis
1901	Nap Lajoie	.463 (.46299)	Philadelphia	1901	Jesse Burkett	.440 (.44030)	St. Louis
1902	Ed Delahanty	.453 (.45269)	Washington	1902	Roy Thomas	.414 (.41379)	Philadelphia
1903	Jimmy Barrett	.407 (.40704)	Detroit	1903	Roy Thomas	.453 (.45315)	Philadelphia
1904	Nap Lajoie	.413 (.41327)	Cleveland	1904	Honus Wagner	.423 (.42315)	Pittsburgh
1905	Topsy Hartsel	.409 (.40909)	Philadelphia	1905	Frank Chance	.450 (.44969)	Chicago
1906	George Stone	.417 (.41719)	St. Louis	1906	Frank Chance	.419 (.41906)	Chicago
1907	Topsy Hartsel	.405 (.40457)	Philadelphia	1907	Honus Wagner	.408 (.40813)	Pittsburgh
1908	Doc Gessler	.394 (.39437)	Boston	1908	Honus Wagner	.415 (.41467)	Pittsburgh
1909	Ty Cobb	.431 (.43062)	Detroit	1909	Honus Wagner	.420 (.42021)	Pittsburgh
1910	Ty Cobb	.456 (.45645)	Detroit	1910	Sherry Magee	.445 (.44480)	Philadelphia
1911	Joe Jackson	.468 (.46772)	Cleveland	1911	Jimmy Sheckard	.434 (.43396)	Chicago
1912	Tris Speaker	.464 (.46407)	Boston	1912	Johnny Evers	.431 (.43141)	Chicago
1913	Ty Cobb	.467 (.46735)	Detroit	1913	Miller Huggins	.432 (.43243)	St. Louis
1914	Eddie Collins	.452 (.45151)	Philadelphia	1914	Casey Stengel	.404 (.40381)	Brooklyn
1915	Ty Cobb	.486 (.48625)	Detroit	1915	Gavvy Cravath	.393 (.39251)	Philadelphia
1916	Tris Speaker	.470 (.46994)	Cleveland	1916	Gavvy Cravath	.379 (.37911)	Philadelphia
1917	Ty Cobb	.444 (.44410)	Detroit	1917	Heinie Groh	.385 (.38496)	Cincinnati
1918	Ty Cobb	.440 (.43966)	Detroit	1918	Heinie Groh	.395 (.39531)	Cincinnati
1919	Babe Ruth	.456 (.45640)	Boston	1919	George Burns	.396 (.39610)	New York
1920	Babe Ruth	.532 (.53191)	New York	1920	Rogers Hornsby	.431 (.43098)	St. Louis
1921	Babe Ruth	.512 (.51234)	New York	1921	Rogers Hornsby	.458 (.45827)	St. Louis
1922	Tris Speaker	.474 (.47421)	Cleveland	1922	Rogers Hornsby	.459 (.45864)	St. Louis
1923	Babe Ruth	.545 (.54454)	New York	1923	Rogers Hornsby	.459 (.45851)	St. Louis
1924	Babe Ruth	.513 (.51259)	New York	1924	Rogers Hornsby	.507 (.50718)	St. Louis
1925	Tris Speaker	.479 (.47913)	Cleveland	1925	Rogers Hornsby	.489 (.48896)	St. Louis
1926	Babe Ruth	.516 (.51558)	New York	1926	Paul Waner	.413 (.41254)	Pittsburgh
1927	Babe Ruth	.486 (.48597)	New York	1927	Rogers Hornsby	.448 (.44833)	New York
1928	Lou Gehrig	.467 (.46747)	New York	1928	Rogers Hornsby	.498 (.49832)	Boston
1929	Jimmie Foxx	.463 (.46302)	Philadelphia	1929	Lefty O'Doul	.465 (.46518)	Philadelphia
1930	Babe Ruth	.493 (.49313)	New York	1930	Mel Ott	.458 (.45847)	New York
1931	Babe Ruth	.495 (.49472)	New York	1931	Chick Hafey	.404 (.40447)	St. Louis
1932	Babe Ruth	.489 (.48896)	New York	1932	Mel Ott	.424 (.42388)	New York
1933	Mickey Cochrane	.459 (.45911)	Philadelphia	1933	Chuck Klein	.422 (.42232)	Philadelphia
1934	Lou Gehrig	.465 (.46522)	New York	1934	Arky Vaughan	.431 (.43119)	Pittsburgh
1935	Lou Gehrig	.466 (.46577)	New York	1935	Arky Vaughan	.491 (.49088)	Pittsburgh
1936	Lou Gehrig	.478 (.47765)	New York	1936	Arky Vaughan	.453 (.45297)	Pittsburgh
1937	Lou Gehrig	.473 (.47286)	New York	1937	Dolph Camilli	.446 (.44621)	Philadelphia
1938	Jimmie Foxx	.462 (.46199)	Boston	1938	Mel Ott	.442 (.44154)	New York
1939	Jimmie Foxx	.464 (.46416)	Boston	1939	Mel Ott	.449 (.44869)	New York
1940	Ted Williams	.442 (.44242)	Boston	1940	Elbie Fletcher	.418 (.41850)	Pittsburgh
1941	Ted Williams	.553 (.55281)	Boston	1941	Elbie Fletcher	.421 (.42122)	Pittsburgh
1942	Ted Williams	.499 (.49925)	Boston	1942	Elbie Fletcher	.417 (.41653)	Pittsburgh
1943	Luke Appling	.419 (.41864)	Chicago	1943	Stan Musial	.425 (.42547)	St. Louis
1944	Bob Johnson	.431 (.43109)	Boston	1944	Stan Musial	.440 (.44042)	St. Louis
1945	Eddie Lake	.412 (.41207)	Boston	1945	Phil Cavarretta	.449 (.44940)	Chicago
1946	Ted Williams	.497 (.49702)	Boston	1946	Eddie Stanky	.436 (.43569)	Brooklyn
1947	Ted Williams	.499 (.49855)	Boston	1947	Augie Galan	.449 (.44877)	Cincinnati
1948	Ted Williams	.497 (.49687)	Boston	1948	Stan Musial	.450 (.45022)	St. Louis
1949	Ted Williams	.490 (.49041)	Boston	1949	Stan Musial	.438 (.43828)	St. Louis
1950	Larry Doby	.442 (.44152)	Cleveland	1950	Eddie Stanky	.460 (.45974)	New York
1951	Ted Williams	.464 (.46370)	Boston	1951	Ralph Kiner	.452 (.45224)	Pittsburgh
1952	Ferris Fain	.438 (.43789)	Philadelphia	1952	Jackie Robinson	.440 (.43968)	Brooklyn
1953	Gene Woodling	.429 (.42917)	New York	1953	Stan Musial	.437 (.43696)	St. Louis
1954	Ted Williams	.513 (.51331)	Boston	1954	Richie Ashburn	.441 (.44122)	Philadelphia
1955	Mickey Mantle	.431 (.43082)	New York	1955	Richie Ashburn	.449 (.44860)	Philadelphia
1956	Ted Williams	.479 (.47913)	Boston	1956	Duke Snider	.399 (.39938)	Brooklyn
1957	Ted Williams	.526 (.52564)	Boston	1957	Stan Musial	.422 (.42215)	St. Louis
1958	Ted Williams	.458 (.45841)	Boston	1958	Richie Ashburn	.440 (.44011)	Philadelphia
1959	Eddie Yost	.435 (.43517)	Detroit	1959	Joe Cunningham	.453 (.45307)	St. Louis
1960	Eddie Yost	.414 (.41390)	Detroit	1960	Richie Ashburn	.415 (.41504)	Chicago
1961	Norm Cash	.487 (.48657)	Detroit	1961	Wally Moon	.434 (.43447)	Los Angeles
1962	Mickey Mantle	.486 (.48606)	New York	1962	Frank Robinson	.421 (.42083)	Cincinnati
1963	Carl Yastrzemski	.418 (.41829)	Boston	1963	Eddie Mathews	.399 (.39852)	Milwaukee
1964	Mickey Mantle	.423 (.42328)	New York	1964	Ron Santo	.398 (.39796)	Chicago
1965	Carl Yastrzemski	.395 (.39543)	Boston	1965	Willie Mays	.398 (.39780)	San Francisco
1966	Frank Robinson	.410 (.41029)	Baltimore	1966	Ron Santo	.412 (.41194)	Chicago
1967	Carl Yastrzemski	.418 (.41826)	Boston	1967	Dick Allen	.404 (.40445)	Philadelphia
1968	Carl Yastrzemski	.426 (.42620)	Boston	1968	Pete Rose	.391 (.39130)	Cincinnati
1969	Harmon Killebrew	.427 (.42736)	Minnesota	1969	Willie McCovey	.453 (.45265)	San Francisco
1970	Carl Yastrzemski	.452 (.45194)	Boston	1970	Rico Carty	.454 (.45357)	Atlanta
1971	Bobby Murcer	.427 (.42697)	New York	1971	Willie Mays	.425 (.42537)	San Francisco
1972	Dick Allen	.420 (.42036)	Chicago	1972	Joe Morgan	.417 (.41654)	Cincinnati
1973	John Mayberry	.417 (.41693)	Kansas City	1973	Ken Singleton	.425 (.42547)	Montreal
1974	Rod Carew	.433 (.43279)	Minnesota	1974	Joe Morgan	.427 (.42656)	Cincinnati
1975	Rod Carew	.421 (.42131)	Minnesota	1975	Joe Morgan	.466 (.46635)	Cincinnati
1976	Hal McRae	.407 (.40692)	Kansas City	1976	Joe Morgan	.444 (.44407)	Cincinnati
1977	Rod Carew	.449 (.44877)	Minnesota	1977	Reggie Smith	.427 (.42691)	Los Angeles
1978	Rod Carew	.411 (.41140)	Minnesota	1978	Jeff Burroughs	.432 (.43208)	Atlanta
1979	Fred Lynn	.423 (.42283)	Boston	1979	Pete Rose	.418 (.41781)	Philadelphia
1980	George Brett	.454 (.45437)	Kansas City	1980	Keith Hernandez	.408 (.40784)	St. Louis
1981	Mike Hargrove	.424 (.42386)	Cleveland	1981	Mike Schmidt	.435 (.43548)	Philadelphia
1982	Dwight Evans	.402 (.40193)	Boston	1982	Mike Schmidt	.403 (.40254)	Philadelphia
1983	Wade Boggs	.444 (.44428)	Boston	1983	Mike Schmidt	.399 (.39910)	Philadelphia
1984	Eddie Murray	.410 (.40993)	Baltimore	1984	Gary Matthews	.410 (.41021)	Chicago
1985	Wade Boggs	.450 (.45033)	Boston	1985	Pedro Guerrero	.422 (.42169)	Los Angeles
1986	Wade Boggs	.453 (.45283)	Boston	1986	Tim Raines	.413 (.41327)	Montreal
1987	Wade Boggs	.461 (.46096)	Boston	1987	Jack Clark	.459 (.45878)	St. Louis
1988	Wade Boggs	.476 (.47566)	Boston	1988	Kal Daniels	.397 (.39728)	Cincinnati
1989	Wade Boggs	.430 (.42992)	Boston	1989	Lonnie Smith	.415 (.41493)	Atlanta
1990	Rickey Henderson	.439 (.43919)	Oakland	1990	Lenny Dykstra	.418 (.41800)	Philadelphia
1991	Frank Thomas	.453 (.45286)	Chicago	1991	Barry Bonds	.410 (.41009)	Pittsburgh
1992	Frank Thomas	.439 (.43882)	Chicago	1992	Barry Bonds	.456 (.45588)	Pittsburgh
1993	John Olerud	.473 (.47275)	Toronto	1993	Barry Bonds	.458 (.45846)	San Francisco
1994	Frank Thomas	.487 (.48743)	Chicago	1994	Tony Gwynn	.454 (.45359)	San Diego
1995	Edgar Martinez	.479 (.47887)	Seattle	1995	Barry Bonds	.431 (.43150)	San Francisco
1996	Mark McGwire	.467 (.46715)	Oakland	1996	Gary Sheffield	.465 (.46529)	Florida
1997	Frank Thomas	.456 (.45609)	Chicago	1997	Larry Walker	.452 (.45181)	Colorado
1998	Edgar Martinez	.429 (.42857)	Seattle	1998	Mark McGwire	.470 (.46990)	St. Louis
1999	Edgar Martinez	.447 (.44737)	Seattle	1999	Larry Walker	.458 (.45809)	Colorado
2000	Jason Giambi	.476 (.47590)	Oakland	2000	Todd Helton	.463 (.46341)	Colorado
2001	Jason Giambi	.477 (.47690)	Oakland	2001	Barry Bonds	.515 (.51506)	San Francisco
2002	Manny Ramirez	.450 (.44981)	Boston	2002	Barry Bonds	.582 (.58170)	San Francisco
2003	Manny Ramirez	.427 (.42710)	Boston	2003	Barry Bonds	.529 (.52909)	San Francisco
2004	Melvin Mora	.419 (.41905)	Baltimore	2004	Barry Bonds	.609 (.60940)	San Francisco
2005	Jason Giambi	.440 (.44037)	New York	2005	Todd Helton	.445 (.44480)	Colorado
2006	Manny Ramirez	.439 (.43907)	Boston	2006	Albert Pujols	.431 (.43060)	St. Louis
2007	David Ortiz	.445 (.44528)	Boston	2007	Todd Helton	.434 (.43402)	Colorado
2008	Milton Bradley	.436 (.43615)	Texas	2008	Chipper Jones	.470 (.47004)	Atlanta
2009	Joe Mauer	.444 (.44389)	Minnesota	2009	Albert Pujols	.443 (.44286)	St. Louis
2010	Miguel Cabrera	.420 (.41975)	Detroit	2010	Joey Votto	.424 (.42438)	Cincinnati
2011	Miguel Cabrera	.448 (.44767)	Detroit	2011	Joey Votto	.416 (.41586)	Cincinnati
Year	American League	OBP (Raw)	Team(s)	Year	National League	OBP (Raw)	Team(s)
Current Through 2011 Season

	Ted Williams holds the Major League record for highest career on base percentage with .482 (.4816). A record that might not ever be eclipsed — share your opinions on Baseball Fever today. Ted Williams set the Major League record for single season on base percentage with .551 in 1941 and in 2002, Barry Bonds SHATTERED the mark when he got on base more than 58% of the time he came to the plate—not to mention his new mark set in 2004. Did you know that Rogers Hornsby holds the Major League record for consecutive seasons leading the league in on base percentage with six from 1920 through 1925?