Take Your Base

Yesterday I posted about the highest and lowest career strikeout rates in baseball history (at least since 1913). Today I want to look at the other thing a pitcher can do to a batter: give him a base on balls. Walks have been recorded for batters since the beginning of baseball history, but I'm only to look at players since 1901 because of the change in playing rules during the nineteenth century. As with yesterday, players on the list must have 3000 or more career plate apperances; any stats before 1901 are not counted.

Most Career BB/PA, 1901-2007, min. 3000 PA

Rank	Name	PA	BB	BB/PA
1	Ted Williams	9791	2021	.206
2	Barry Bonds	12606	2558	.203
3	Max Bishop	5776	1153	.200
4	Babe Ruth	10616	2062	.194
5	Ferris Fain	4904	904	.184
6	Eddie Stanky	5435	996	.183
7	Roy Cullenbine	4787	853	.178
8	Gene Tenace	5525	984	.178
9	Eddie Yost	9175	1614	.176
10	Mickey Mantle	9909	1733	.175
11	Jim Thome	8427	1459	.173
12	Mark McGwire	7660	1317	.172
13	Eddie Lake	3199	546	.171
14	Charlie Keller	4604	784	.170
15	Frank Thomas	9785	1628	.166
16	Mickey Tettleton	5745	949	.165
17	Adam Dunn	4098	675	.165
18	Joe Morgan	11329	1865	.165
19	Rickey Henderson	13346	2190	.164
20	Earl Torgeson	6037	980	.162

Fewest Career BB/PA, 1901-2007, min. 3000 PA

Rank	Name	PA	BB	BB/PA
1	Bill Bergen	9791	88	.027
2	Jesus Alou	4577	138	.030
3	Deivi Cruz	4375	132	.030
4	George Stovall	5596	172	.031
5	Hobe Ferris	5111	161	.032
6	Damaso Garcia	4124	130	.032
7	Shawon Dunston	6276	203	.032
8	Tommy Corcoran	3117	102	.033
9	Bill Killefer	3400	113	.033
10	Ozzie Guillen	7133	239	.034
11	Art Fletcher	6039	203	.034
12	Otto Miller	3049	104	.034
13	Hal Lanier	3940	136	.035
14	Buck Weaver	5292	183	.035
15	Emil Verban	3110	108	.035
16	Hal Chase	7939	276	.035
17	Ken Reitz	5079	184	.036
18	Red Dooin	4271	155	.036
19	Don Mueller	4594	167	.036
20	Hy Myers	5316	195	.037