The on-base percentage (OBP) and the on-base plus slugging (OPS) are two of the most important statistics in baseball. They measure a batter’s ability to get on base and hit for power. Every baseball fan knows that these are important stats to consider when evaluating a player’s offensive performance. But what is a good OBP and OPS?
Understanding On-Base Percentage (OBP)
On-base percentage (OBP) is a statistic that measures how often a batter reaches base. It is calculated by dividing the number of times a batter reaches base (hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches) by their total plate appearances. It is sometimes referred to as “on-base average” or “on-base average plus slugging percentage” (OBAP). OBP is a great indicator of a player’s offensive performance and it is used to compare players across different eras.
A good OBP is generally considered to be above .350. Anything above .400 is excellent, and anything below .300 is considered to be below average. The all-time leader in OBP is Babe Ruth, with a career OBP of .474. Other all-time greats such as Ted Williams (.482), Barry Bonds (.444), and Joe DiMaggio (.398) all had OBP’s well above the league average.
Understanding On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS)
On-base plus slugging (OPS) is a statistic that combines a player’s on-base percentage and their slugging percentage. It is calculated by adding a player’s OBP and their slugging percentage together. It is a great way to measure a player’s overall offensive performance.
A good OPS is generally considered to be above .800. Anything above .900 is excellent, and anything below .700 is considered to be below average. The all-time leader in OPS is Babe Ruth, with a career OPS of 1.164. Other all-time greats such as Ted Williams (1.116), Barry Bonds (1.051), and Joe DiMaggio (1.012) all had OPS’s well above the league average.
Conclusion
On-base percentage (OBP) and on-base plus slugging (OPS) are two of the most important offensive stats in baseball. OBP measures how often a batter reaches base, while OPS measures a player’s overall offensive performance. A good OBP is generally considered to be above .350, while a good OPS is considered to be above .800. The all-time leaders in OBP and OPS are Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, respectively. Knowing what a good OBP and OPS are can help you evaluate players and compare them across different eras.