On Base Percentage : 1954 American League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"The baseball season - six months & 2,106 games - is flat out long, and it's a rare one of those games that doesn't ramble or sputter or digress or somehow violate the rules of dramatic narrative. Baseball takes its own sweet time reaching its conclusions." - Dwight Allen in Reds, Yanks and O's (1989)
 

1954 On Base Percentage Leaders

Top 25 in the American League

Ted Williams .513 (.51331) Boston Red Sox 1
Minnie Minoso .411 (.41106) Chicago White Sox 2
Mickey Mantle .408 (.40832) New York Yankees 3
Eddie Yost .405 (.40533) Washington Senators 4
Al Rosen .404 (.40354) Cleveland Indians 5
Bobby Avila .402 (.40226) Cleveland Indians 6
Cal Abrams .400 (.40000) Baltimore Orioles 7
Al Smith .398 (.39792) Cleveland Indians 8
Jim Finigan .381 (.38087) Philadelphia Athletics 9
Irv Noren .377 (.37736) New York Yankees 10
Ray Boone .376 (.37581) Detroit Tigers 11
Andy Carey .373 (.37339) New York Yankees 12
Nellie Fox .372 (.37192) Chicago White Sox 13
Billy Goodman .370 (.37017) Boston Red Sox 14
Pete Runnels .368 (.36796) Washington Senators 15
Yogi Berra .367 (.36713) New York Yankees 16
Gil McDougald .364 (.36422) New York Yankees 17
Larry Doby .364 (.36350) Cleveland Indians 18
Jackie Jensen .359 (.35863) Boston Red Sox 19
Mickey Vernon .357 (.35725) Washington Senators 20
Jim Rivera .356 (.35649) Chicago White Sox 21
Chuck Diering .349 (.34927) Baltimore Orioles 22
Chico Carrasquel .348 (.34831) Chicago White Sox 23
Bill Tuttle .343 (.34338) Detroit Tigers 24
Jim Busby .342 (.34214) Washington Senators 25



Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Did you know that more than forty players have worn the number twenty-five for the Boston Red Sox — including Jack Clark, Denny Galehouse, Dizzy Trout and Tony Conigliaro.