A base on balls, also known as a walk, is a situation in baseball where a batter is awarded first base without hitting the ball. This happens when the pitcher throws four pitches that are outside the strike zone and the batter does not swing at them. A base on balls can be intentional or unintentional, depending on the pitcher’s intention and skill.

A base on balls can be a valuable strategy for both the offense and the defense in baseball. For the offense, a base on balls can increase the number of runners on base, create scoring opportunities, and force the pitcher to throw more pitches. For the defense, a base on balls can be used to avoid facing a dangerous hitter, set up a double play, or prevent a run from scoring.

Some of the most famous examples of base on balls in baseball history include:

• The 1923 World Series, where Babe Ruth drew a record 11 walks in six games, helping the New York Yankees win their first championship.
• The 2004 American League Championship Series, where David Ortiz drew a walk-off walk in the 14th inning of Game 5, sparking the Boston Red Sox’s historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees.
• The 2018 National League Championship Series, where Manny Machado drew a controversial walk in the 13th inning of Game 4, after appearing to strike out on a foul tip that was not caught by the catcher. The Los Angeles Dodgers went on to score the winning run in that inning.

Base on balls is one of the most important statistics in baseball, as it measures the batter’s ability to get on base and the pitcher’s ability to prevent it. The higher the walk rate (percentage of plate appearances that result in a walk) for a batter or a pitcher, the better. Some of the best hitters and pitchers in baseball history have also been among the leaders in walk rate.

In this article, we will explore the history, strategy, and statistics of base on balls in baseball. We will also look at some of the most famous and influential players who have excelled or struggled with drawing or giving up walks. We will also discuss some of the factors that affect the frequency and outcome of base on balls, such as the umpire’s judgment, the ballpark dimensions, and the game situation.

Walk rate is calculated by dividing the number of walks by the number of plate appearances. Plate appearances are the total number of times a batter comes to the plate, regardless of the outcome. For example, if a batter has 600 plate appearances and 100 walks in a season, their walk rate is 100/600 = 0.167 or 16.7%. The same formula applies to pitchers, except they use the number of batters faced instead of plate appearances.

Walk rate can also be expressed as a ratio of walks to other outcomes, such as strikeouts, hits, or home runs. For example, a batter who has 100 walks and 200 strikeouts in a season has a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 0.5 or 1:2. A pitcher who has 50 walks and 150 strikeouts in a season has a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 0.333 or 1:3.

Walk rate can vary depending on the level of competition, the era of play, and the individual style and skill of the players. Generally speaking, a walk rate above 10% is considered good for a batter and below 5% is considered bad. For a pitcher, a walk rate below 5% is considered good and above 10% is considered bad.

Some of the best hitters in baseball history have also been among the leaders in walk rate. For example, Ted Williams, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time, had a career walk rate of 20.7%, the highest ever for a qualified batter. He also had more walks than strikeouts in every season of his career, except for his rookie year. Other notable hitters with high walk rates include Barry Bonds (20.3%), Babe Ruth (19.4%), Mickey Mantle (17.9%), and Mike Trout (17.6%).

Some of the worst hitters in baseball history have also been among the lowest in walk rate. For example, Yuniesky Betancourt, who is widely regarded as one of the worst hitters of all time, had a career walk rate of 2.9%, the lowest ever for a qualified batter. He also had more than four times as many strikeouts as walks in his career. Other notable hitters with low walk rates include Jeff Francoeur (3.8%), Alcides Escobar (4%), Juan Pierre (4%), and Ben Revere (4%).

Some of the best pitchers in baseball history have also been among the lowest in walk rate. For example, Greg Maddux, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, had a career walk rate of 3.6%, the lowest ever for a qualified pitcher. He also had more than three times as many strikeouts as walks in his career. Other notable pitchers with low walk rates include Mariano Rivera (4%), Pedro Martinez (4%), Clayton Kershaw (4%), and Chris Sale (4%).

Some of the worst pitchers in baseball history have also been among the highest in walk rate. For example, Tommy Byrne, who is widely regarded as one of the worst pitchers of all time, had a career walk rate of 16%, the highest ever for a qualified pitcher. He also had more walks than strikeouts in every season of his career, except for his last one. Other notable pitchers with high walk rates include Mitch Williams (12%), Daniel Cabrera (11%), Oliver Perez (11%), and Tyler Chatwood (11%).