In 2024 Aaron Judge reached base one way or another at a historic rate
When the Blue Jays manager John Schneider called for an intentional walk to Yankees Aaron Judge in the 2nd inning back on Saturday August 3rd, it brought back memories of Barry Bonds being walked in similar situations, one time with the bases loaded! The 32-year-old Judge has just completed one of the greatest regular seasons in MLB history.
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Judge received a base on balls in 98 of the 158 games in which he played (62%). In many ways, Judge outdid his 2022 AL MVP season. Judge’s on base percentage this season was .458, and while that’s not close to Barry Bonds’ single season record of .609 (2004), his 223 OPS+ was incredible and is tied for 29th in MLB history. Barry Bonds had 4 seasons with a higher OPS+ than 223, and HOFer Josh Gibson has the two greatest OPS+ seasons (281 in 1943 and 273 in 1937) in history. It is notable that Bonds’ career OPS+ of 182 has now been matched by Judge after his historic 2024 season. Babe Ruth is the all-time leader in that category with a career OPS+ of 206. Aaron Judge just completed his ninth MLB season. After the 2025 season is complete, Judge will be HOF eligible and, in my opinion, like Mike Trout, he’s done enough already to be a bona-fide HOFer.
Ever think about players getting on base the most times in a single season?
I do. Out of the top 74 single MLB seasons in history, Aaron Judge ranks 21st in reaching base 322 times during the just completed 2024 season.
The all-time leaders of those 74 seasons, include seven seasons from before the modern era (which began in 1901), including HOFer ‘Slidin’ Billy Hamilton who reached base 362 times in 1894 in just a 132-game season! Babe Ruth leads the single season list reaching base 379 times in 1923. Barry Bonds is second with 376 times reaching base in 2004. Bonds appears in the top 20 for three separate seasons, Ted Williams five separate seasons, and Ruth an amazing eight times. That’s 16 of the 21 seasons. Ty Cobb, should-be HOFer Lefty O’Doul, and somewhat bizarrely, Lenny Dykstra, at #19 based on his 1993 season in which ‘Nails’ reached base 325 times, round out the top 21.
*Courtesy of Stathead.com
Then I thought about players reaching base in the most total games in one season.
Top percentages for reaching base in games over a 148-game or more season
The highest percentage of reaching base in a season was a player who started his career with the Red Sox and then went over to the Yankees. Not Babe Ruth. It’s HOFer Wade Boggs.
Here are the top five:
Wade Boggs in 1985 reached base in 155 of the 161 games in which he played. That’s 96.2% and it included 240 hits and 96 bases on balls, and four hit-by-pitches.
Ty Cobb in 1915 reached base in 150 of the Tiger’s 156 games — also 96.2%.
Lou Gehrig in 1932 also reached base in 150 of the Yankees 156 games. Again 96.2%!
Ted Williams in 1949 reached base in 149 of 155 games (96.1%) for the Red Sox.
Lou Gehrig in 1934 reached base in 148 of 154 Yankee games (96.1%)
Poor HOFer Rogers Hornsby who fell short of the above group reaching base in only 145 of 154 games (94.1%) for the Cardinals in 1922.
In 2024, Aaron Judge reached base in 140 of 158 games (88.6%). Cobb and Boggs were not known as home run hitters, although Cobb did lead the AL in home runs in 1909 with…nine. Gehrig hit 493 home runs and Williams 521, so being a power hitter did not hamper their amazing on-base skills. Williams has the highest career on-base average of .482.
Pitching has improved since Cobb’s era. This makes what Bonds did in the 2000’s and what Judge did this season (and in 2022) more impressive. Pitcher’s training, pitching techniques, analytics, as well as in 1947 allowing black players to finally play MLB, have combined to make hitting today more difficult than it has been in over 50 years. Boggs’ accomplishment is a remarkable 38 years after Teddy Ballgame’s amazing 1949 season. Neither Williams nor Boggs had to face the kind of pitching that Aaron Judge sees.
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How long can Judge maintain this level of performance? Can Judge average 50 home runs for the next five seasons? That would have him at a total of 565 career homers which would be good for 14th on the all-time list just ahead of HOFer Reggie Jackson. And Judge would have then only completed his age-37 season. Yes, Judge must stay healthy, but if he does the possibilities are amazing to consider!
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and Substack.com.
