In baseball statistics, the term times on base (TOB), is the cumulative total number of times a batter has reached base as a result of a hit, base on balls, or hit by pitch. This statistic does not include times reaching base by way of an error, uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction or a fielder's choice, making the statistic somewhat of a misnomer.
Times on base leaders in Major League Baseball
Career
As of the end of the 2025 season, the following are the top 10 players in career times on base.[1]
- Pete Rose – 5929
- Barry Bonds – 5599
- Ty Cobb – 5532
- Rickey Henderson – 5343
- Carl Yastrzemski – 5304
- Stan Musial – 5282
- Hank Aaron – 5205
- Tris Speaker – 4998
- Babe Ruth – 4978
- Eddie Collins – 4891
Single-season
As of the end of the 2025 season, the following are the top 10 players in single-season times on base.[2]
- Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1923) – 379
- Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants (2004) – 376
- Billy Hamilton, Philadelphia Phillies (1894) – 362
- Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox (1949) – 358
- Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants (2002) – 356
- Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1921) – 353
- Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1924) – 346
- Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox (1947) – 345
- Three players are tied for ninth:
- Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1936) – 342
- Wade Boggs, Boston Red Sox (1988) – 342
- Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants (2001) – 342
Single game
Four players have had 9 TOB in a single game:[3]
- Max Carey, Pittsburgh Pirates, July 7, 1922 – six hits and three walks (18-inning game)[4]
- Johnny Burnett, Cleveland Indians, July 10, 1932 – nine hits (18-inning game)[5]
- Stan Hack, Chicago Cubs, August 9, 1942 – five hits and four walks (18-inning game)[6]
- Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, October 27, 2025 (2025 World Series game 3) – four hits and five walks, including four intentional walks (18-inning game)[7]
Burnett's nine hits are the record for most hits in a single game in MLB history, albeit in extra innings. Ohtani's nine times on base is a postseason record.
See also
- On-base percentage (OBP), which is the ratio of TOB to the sum of at bats, base on balls, hit by pitch, and sacrifice flies
References
- ↑ "Career Leaders & Records for Times On Base". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Times On Base". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ↑ "Batting Game Finder: From 1908 to 2018, (requiring TOB>=8), sorted by greatest TOB". Baseball Reference. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ↑ "New York Giants 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 8". Retrosheet. July 7, 1922. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Philadelphia Athletics 18, Cleveland Indians 17". Retrosheet. July 10, 1932. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Chicago Cubs 10, Cincinnati Reds 8 (1)". Retrosheet. August 9, 1942. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ↑ "2025 World Series Game 3, Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Dodgers: October 27, 2025". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
External links
- All-time career leaders from baseball-reference.com
- All-time single-season leaders from baseball-reference.com