OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is a statistic used to measure a baseball player’s overall offensive performance. It is calculated by adding a player’s on-base percentage (OBP) and their slugging percentage (SLG). It is a great way to compare the offensive performance of different players since it takes into account multiple elements of hitting. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the highest OPS ever recorded in Major League Baseball (MLB) and some of the greatest players who have achieved the feat.
Barry Bonds: The Highest OPS
Barry Bonds holds the record for the highest OPS in MLB history. His career OPS of 1.051 is the highest ever recorded. Bonds was a 14-time All-Star, seven-time MVP, and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner. He was also a two-time National League batting champion and holds the MLB records for most home runs in a single season (73) and career (762). Bonds’ career OPS was primarily driven by his incredible on-base percentage, which was .444 for his career. He was able to get on base at an incredibly high rate, and when he did, he was able to hit for power. Bonds finished with a .607 slugging percentage for his career, which is the fifth highest ever.
Other Notable Players
Although Barry Bonds holds the record for the highest OPS ever, there are a few other players who have achieved very high levels of OPS. Babe Ruth is second on the list with a career OPS of 1.164. Ruth was one of the most dominant players in MLB history and his OPS is a testament to that. Ruth was a seven-time World Series champion, two-time MVP, and 12-time All-Star. He is also famous for hitting 714 home runs in his career, which was a record until it was broken by Hank Aaron in 1974.
Ted Williams is third on the list with a career OPS of 1.116. Williams was a 19-time All-Star and two-time MVP. He also won six batting titles and is considered by many to be one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. His career was cut short by his service in World War II, but he still managed to finish with an incredible OPS.
The Impact of OPS
OPS has become an important statistic in baseball over the last few decades. It is a great way to compare the offensive performance of different players since it takes into account multiple elements of hitting. It is also a great way to evaluate a player’s overall offensive value to their team. A player with a high OPS is likely to contribute more to their team’s success than a player with a low OPS.
Conclusion
OPS is an important statistic in baseball and Barry Bonds holds the record for the highest OPS ever. His career OPS of 1.051 is the highest ever recorded and is a testament to his greatness as a hitter. Babe Ruth and Ted Williams are also on the list of players with the highest OPS ever, and are both considered to be among the greatest hitters in MLB history. OPS is an important metric for evaluating a player’s offensive performance and is a great way to compare different players.