On Base Percentage : 1899 National 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:

"I don't think I stayed for a complete game that first year (in Arizona). But something happened. During the second year, I started watching more intently, listening to the broadcasters talk about strategy. I started getting it. Suddenly, a 162-game season didn't seem ridiculously long anymore." - Richard Ruelas in The Arizona Republic (11-07-2001)
 

1899 On Base Percentage Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

John McGraw .547 (.54749) Baltimore Orioles 1
Ed Delahanty .464 (.46406) Philadelphia Phillies 2
Jesse Burkett .463 (.46252) St. Louis Perfectos 3
Roy Thomas .457 (.45655) Philadelphia Phillies 4
Chick Stahl .426 (.42638) Boston Beaneaters 5
Willie Keeler .425 (.42532) Brooklyn Superbas 6
Jimmy Williams .417 (.41728) Pittsburgh Pirates 7
Ginger Beaumont .416 (.41649) Pittsburgh Pirates 8
Fred Tenney .411 (.41106) Boston Beaneaters 9
Joe Kelley .410 (.40976) Brooklyn Superbas 10
Tom Daly .409 (.40933) Brooklyn Superbas 11
Elmer Flick .407 (.40706) Philadelphia Phillies 12
Fred Clarke .406 (.40630) Louisville Colonels 13
Bill Dahlen .398 (.39804) Brooklyn Superbas 14
George Davis .393 (.39341) New York Giants 15
Jake Beckley .393 (.39254) Cincinnati Reds 16
Honus Wagner .391 (.39068) Louisville Colonels 17
Fielder Jones .390 (.39019) Brooklyn Superbas 18
Tom McCreery .390 (.39010) Pittsburgh Pirates 19
Dan McGann .389 (.38869) Brooklyn Superbas 20
Washington Senators  
Elmer Smith .385 (.38501) Cincinnati Reds 21
Kip Selbach .384 (.38423) Cincinnati Reds 22
Bill Lange .382 (.38242) Chicago Orphans 23
Ducky Holmes .381 (.38056) Baltimore Orioles 24
Jimmy Sheckard .380 (.38033) Baltimore Orioles 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 first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.

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?