How to Calculate On-Base Percentage (OBP)
A crucial statistic for determining a player's worth, on-base percentage was created in the 1950s. You can figure the OBP for your favorite baseball players by following a simple formula.
Instructions
- Step 1: Divide the total from your first calculation -- hits plus bases on balls plus hit by pitch -- by the total from your second calculation -- at bats plus walks plus hit by pitch plus sacrifice flies -- to get the players on base percentage, or OBP.
- FACT: As of the 2010 season, Barry Bonds held the MLB record for on base percentage at .609.
- Step 2: Add the players total number of at bats, walks -- including hit-by-pitch -- and sacrifice flies.
- TIP: Do not include the at bats when the player reached because of an error or a fielder's choice.
- Step 3: Write down and add the number of times the player reached base as the result of a hit, base on balls, and being hit by a pitch.
- Step 4: Account for every plate appearance of the batter whose on-base percentage you're going to calculate. Subtract sacrifices from the total plate appearances to get the player's total number of official at bats.
