OPS, or on-base plus slugging, is a statistic used to measure a player’s offensive contribution to a team. It is a combination of on-base percentage and slugging percentage and is used to show how well a player can hit and get on base. Throughout the history of Major League Baseball (MLB), there have been numerous great hitters, but some have stood out above the rest when it comes to OPS. Who has the highest OPS of all time?
Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat
One of the greatest hitters of all time, Babe Ruth is arguably the greatest player to ever grace a baseball diamond. He played for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees from 1914 to 1935 and was a part of seven World Series championships. Ruth is credited with revolutionizing the game of baseball, as he was the first player to use the batting stance that is still used today. Ruth’s OPS was an impressive 1.164, the highest of any player in the history of the game.
Ted Williams: The Splendid Splinter
Ted Williams is one of the most iconic players in MLB history. He played for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960 and was a part of three World Series championships. He was a career .344 hitter and won the batting title in six different seasons. Williams was also a great hitter in terms of power, as he hit 521 home runs in his career. His OPS of 1.116 is the second highest of all time.
Barry Bonds: The Home Run King
Barry Bonds is one of the most controversial players in MLB history, but there is no denying his greatness as a hitter. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants from 1986 to 2007 and was a part of four World Series championships. Bonds is the all-time leader in home runs with 762 and is also the all-time leader in walks with 2,558. His OPS of 1.051 is the third highest of all time.
Rickey Henderson: The Man of Steal
Rickey Henderson is widely considered to be the greatest base stealer of all time. He played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003 and was a part of two World Series championships. He is the all-time leader in stolen bases with 1,406 and is also the all-time leader in runs scored with 2,295. His OPS of .981 is the fourth highest of all time.
Other Notable Players
While the four players listed above have the highest OPS of all time, there are many other great hitters who deserve to be recognized. Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, and Rogers Hornsby all have OPS above .900 and are considered to be some of the best hitters in MLB history.
Conclusion
Though it is impossible to definitively say who is the greatest hitter in MLB history, it is clear that Babe Ruth has the highest OPS of all time. He revolutionized the game of baseball and was a dominant force for the Red Sox and Yankees for over 20 years. His OPS of 1.164 is the highest of any player in the history of the game.