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League by League Totals for Bases on Balls
A base-on-balls is an officially recognized statistic that counts the number of times a batter reaches first base after accepting four pitches outside the strike zone.
Prior to 1889, the rule regarding the walk statistic was different and used the following rules of the day: 1876-1879 nine balls, 1880-1882 eight balls, 1882-1884 seven balls, 1884-1885 six balls, 1886 seven balls, 1887-1888 five balls and from 1889 forward it has, and still remains four balls. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a year-by-year leaderboard in Major League at-bats for every league since 1901.
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"There's only one way to become a hitter. Go up to the plate and get mad. Get mad at yourself and mad at the pitcher." - Ted Williams
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| American League |
National League |
Major League |
Year |
| 2,780 |
2,685 |
5,465 |
1901 |
| 2,815 |
2,620 |
5,435 |
1902 |
| 2,266 |
3,103 |
5,369 |
1903 |
| 2,611 |
2,969 |
5,580 |
1904 |
| 2,982 |
3,207 |
6,189 |
1905 |
| 2,802 |
3,367 |
6,169 |
1906 |
| 2,824 |
3,277 |
6,101 |
1907 |
| 2,803 |
3,057 |
5,860 |
1908 |
| 2,931 |
3,574 |
6,505 |
1909 |
| 3,395 |
4,024 |
7,419 |
1910 |
| 3,559 |
4,279 |
7,838 |
1911 |
| 3,794 |
3,889 |
7,683 |
1912 |
| 3,737 |
3,530 |
7,267 |
1913 |
| 3,920 |
3,600 |
7,520 |
1914 |
| 4,217 |
3,266 |
7,483 |
1915 |
| 4,061 |
3,015 |
7,076 |
1916 |
| 3,856 |
3,054 |
6,910 |
1917 |
| 3,207 |
2,541 |
5,748 |
1918 |
| 3,367 |
2,615 |
5,982 |
1919 |
| 3,802 |
3,016 |
6,818 |
1920 |
| 3,940 |
2,906 |
6,846 |
1921 |
| 3,798 |
3,455 |
7,253 |
1922 |
| 4,069 |
3,494 |
7,563 |
1923 |
| 4,148 |
3,216 |
7,364 |
1924 |
| 4,284 |
3,460 |
7,744 |
1925 |
| 4,230 |
3,473 |
7,703 |
1926 |
| 4,033 |
3,413 |
7,446 |
1927 |
| 3,815 |
3,848 |
7,663 |
1928 |
| 4,031 |
3,961 |
7,992 |
1929 |
| 3,963 |
3,691 |
7,654 |
1930 |
| 4,177 |
3,502 |
7,679 |
1931 |
| 4,408 |
3,141 |
7,549 |
1932 |
| 4,365 |
2,979 |
7,344 |
1933 |
| 4,607 |
3,247 |
7,854 |
1934 |
| 4,550 |
3,284 |
7,834 |
1935 |
| 4,853 |
3,565 |
8,418 |
1936 |
| 4,776 |
3,667 |
8,443 |
1937 |
| 4,924 |
3,708 |
8,632 |
1938 |
| 4,654 |
3,824 |
8,478 |
1939 |
| 4,494 |
3,779 |
8,273 |
1940 |
| 4,741 |
4,145 |
8,886 |
1941 |
| 4,316 |
4,077 |
8,393 |
1942 |
| 4,325 |
4,036 |
8,361 |
1943 |
| 3,949 |
3,981 |
7,930 |
1944 |
| 4,146 |
4,153 |
8,299 |
1945 |
| 4,400 |
4,400 |
8,800 |
1946 |
| 4,743 |
4,474 |
9,217 |
1947 |
| 5,227 |
4,396 |
9,263 |
1948 |
| 5,622 |
4,405 |
10,027 |
1949 |
| 5,418 |
4,537 |
9,955 |
1950 |
| 4,882 |
4,362 |
9,244 |
1951 |
| 4,630 |
4,147 |
8,777 |
1952 |
| 4,462 |
4,220 |
8,682 |
1953 |
| 4,618 |
4,414 |
9,032 |
1954 |
| 4,804 |
4,240 |
9,044 |
1955 |
| 5,015 |
3,982 |
8,997 |
1956 |
| 4,301 |
3,866 |
8,167 |
1957 |
| 4,062 |
4,065 |
8,127 |
1958 |
| 4,210 |
3,974 |
8,184 |
1959 |
| 4,447 |
3,937 |
8,384 |
1960 |
| 5,902 |
3,995 |
9,897 |
1961 |
| 5,671 |
5,265 |
10,936 |
1962 |
| 5,031 |
4,560 |
9,591 |
1963 |
| 5,227 |
4,394 |
9,621 |
1964 |
| 5,306 |
4,730 |
10,036 |
1965 |
| 4,927 |
4,404 |
9,331 |
1966 |
| 4,993 |
4,672 |
9,665 |
1967 |
| 4,881 |
4,275 |
9,156 |
1968 |
| 7,032 |
6,397 |
13,429 |
1969 |
| 6,808 |
6,919 |
13,727 |
1970 |
| 6,477 |
6,059 |
12,536 |
1971 |
| 5,742 |
5,985 |
11,727 |
1972 |
| 6,647 |
6,453 |
13,100 |
1973 |
| 6,135 |
6,828 |
12,963 |
1974 |
| 6,672 |
6,730 |
13,402 |
1975 |
| 6,128 |
6,263 |
12,391 |
1976 |
| 7,270 |
6,487 |
13,757 |
1977 |
| 7,287 |
6,279 |
13,566 |
1978 |
| 7,413 |
6,188 |
13,601 |
1979 |
| 7,221 |
5,969 |
13,190 |
1980 |
| 4,761 |
4,107 |
8,868 |
1981 |
| 7,338 |
5,964 |
13,302 |
1982 |
| 7,094 |
6,424 |
13,518 |
1983 |
| 7,171 |
6,149 |
13,320 |
1984 |
| 7,465 |
6,373 |
13,838 |
1985 |
| 7,667 |
6,560 |
14,227 |
1986 |
| 7,812 |
6,577 |
14,389 |
1987 |
| 7,191 |
5,793 |
12,984 |
1988 |
| 7,277 |
6,251 |
13,528 |
1989 |
| 7,631 |
6,221 |
13,852 |
1990 |
| 7,730 |
6,254 |
13,984 |
1991 |
| 7,704 |
5,978 |
13,682 |
1992 |
| 8,006 |
7,104 |
15,110 |
1993 |
| 5,938 |
5,193 |
11,131 |
1994 |
| 7,572 |
6,668 |
14,240 |
1995 |
| 8,592 |
7,501 |
16,093 |
1996 |
| 7,967 |
7,699 |
15,666 |
1997 |
| 7,732 |
8,716 |
16,448 |
1998 |
| 8,289 |
9,602 |
17,891 |
1999 |
| 8,503 |
9,735 |
18,238 |
2000 |
| 7,239 |
8,567 |
15,806 |
2001 |
| 7,325 |
8,921 |
16,246 |
2002 |
| 7,223 |
8,666 |
15,889 |
2003 |
| 7,486 |
8,736 |
16,222 |
2004 |
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6,811
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8,396
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15,207
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2005
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7,247
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8,600
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15,847
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2006
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7,503
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8,576
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16,079
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2007
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2008
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| American League |
National League |
Major League |
Year |
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League By League Base on Balls Totals
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