The on base percentage Major League career record holder has had the following players at the top of its list: Cap Anson (1881-1885), George Gore (1886), Dan Brouthers (1887), Pete Browning (1888), Dan Brouthers (1889-1892), Billy Hamilton (1893-1898), John McGraw (1899-1922), Babe Ruth (1923-1945) and Ted Williams (1946 through today).
The progression of Major League single season on base percentage leaders has included: Ross Barnes (1876-1885), King Kelly (1886), Tip O'Neill (1887-1892), Billy Hamilton (1893-1898), John McGraw (1899-1940), Ted Williams (1941-2001) and Barry Bonds (2002 through today).
Thomas Boswell in How Life Imitates the World Series (1982) wrote, "For one thing, batting average is less meaningful than on base percentage, since on base percentage is a far better indicator of a player's ability to foment or maintain a rally."