500 PA: batters have .500 On Base average only 14 times since 1903. What the heck is that?

We expect NFL quarterbacks to complete 50% of their passes.

We expect NBA players to make 50% of their shots.

But we accept much less from MLB batters for their On Base average (unfortunately, still referred to as On Base Percentage).

https://stathead.com/tiny/4p0J3

For single seasons, since 1903, Playing in the AL or NL, in the regular season, requiring On-Base Percentage >= .500 and Plate Appearances >= 500, sorted by descending On-Base Percentage.

Rk	Player	OBP	PA	Season	Age	Team	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	SLG	OPS	OPS+
1	Barry Bonds	.609	617	2004	39	SFG	NL	147	617	373	129	135	60	27	3	45	101	232	41	.362	.812	1.422	263
2	Barry Bonds	.582	612	2002	37	SFG	NL	143	612	403	117	149	70	31	2	46	110	198	47	.370	.799	1.381	268
3	Ted Williams	.553	606	1941	22	BOS	AL	143	606	456	135	185	112	33	3	37	120	147	27	.406	.735	1.287	235
4	Babe Ruth	.545	699	1923	28	NYY	AL	152	699	522	151	205	106	45	13	41	130	170	93	.393	.764	1.309	239
5	Babe Ruth	.532	617	1920	25	NYY	AL	142	617	458	158	172	73	36	9	54	135	150	80	.376	.847	1.379	255
6	Barry Bonds	.529	550	2003	38	SFG	NL	130	550	390	111	133	65	22	1	45	90	148	58	.341	.749	1.278	231
7	Ted Williams	.526	547	1957	38	BOS	AL	132	547	420	96	163	96	28	1	38	87	119	43	.388	.731	1.257	233
8	Babe Ruth	.516	652	1926	31	NYY	AL	152	652	495	139	184	102	30	5	47	153	144	76	.372	.737	1.253	226
9	Barry Bonds	.515	664	2001	36	SFG	NL	153	664	476	129	156	49	32	2	73	137	177	93	.328	.863	1.379	259
10	Ted Williams	.513	526	1954	35	BOS	AL	117	526	386	93	133	80	23	1	29	89	136	32	.345	.635	1.148	201
11	Babe Ruth	.513	681	1924	29	NYY	AL	153	681	529	143	200	108	39	7	46	124	142	81	.378	.739	1.252	220
12	Babe Ruth	.512	693	1921	26	NYY	AL	152	693	540	177	204	85	44	16	59	168	145	81	.378	.846	1.359	239
13	Mickey Mantle	.512	623	1957	25	NYY	AL	144	623	474	121	173	105	28	6	34	94	146	75	.365	.665	1.177	221
14	Rogers Hornsby	.507	642	1924	28	STL	NL	143	642	536	121	227	145	43	14	25	94	89	32	.424	.696	1.203	222

Provided by Stathead.com: Found with Stathead. See Full Results.
Generated 5/21/2025.

Only Bonds since 1957.

Only five batters:

Ruth 5

Bonds 4

Williams 3

Mantle 1; the only one that did not lead the league

Hornsby 1

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