Has Anyone Aged as Well As
Barry Bonds?
by Cyril Morong
Just about every fan knows that Barry Bonds has set some great records recently. And many fans are aware that he did it at a relatively old age for baseball players. So Bonds has, of course, performed better from age 36 to age 39 than he did when he was younger. How unusual is this and has anyone else shown a similar kind of improvement?
To look into this, I consulted the Lee Sinins Sabermetric Encyclopedia. I found all the players who had at least 1000 or more plate appearances from ages 36-39 and also 4000 or more plate appearances before age 36 (there were 176 such players). Then I looked to see how each player’s stats at the older age compared to their stats at the younger age. Stats looked at were slugging percentage (SLG), isolated power (ISO), homerun percentage (HRs per 100 at-bats or HR%), and offensive winning percentage. The last stat is one invented by Bill James. From the Lee Sinins Sabermetric Encyclopedia “It's a Bill James stat that projects what a team's winning percentage would be if each offensive player was cloned to that player and the team had an average pitching staff.” So it is adjusted for the league average of a player’s era (and is park adjusted as well). Also, the first three stats, SLG, ISO and HR% were rated relative to the league average for each player’s era.
Let’s start with slugging percentage (SLG), which is total bases divided by at-bats. Each player’s SLG relative to the league average was found for before age 36 and from 36-39. SLG relative to the league average is referred to as “Rate” in the tables used. For example, in the table below, Bonds has a Rate of 139 under the age of 36. That means his SLG was 39% above the league average. The table below shows the top 25 players in terms of their improvement in Rate or SLG relative to the league average. From 36-39, Bonds had a Rate of 187. The Ratio column is the 187/139, which equals 1.35. This means that Bonds increased his rate by 35%, much more than any other player. The league column shows the league average. The average ratio is .93, meaning that the average drop off in relative SLG was 7%. So while the typical player who can even keep playing past 35 saw a 7% drop, Bonds saw a 35% gain.
|
PLAYER |
Rate <36 |
SLG |
LEAGUE |
Rate 36-39 |
SLG |
LEAGUE |
Ratio |
|
Barry
Bonds |
139 |
0.567 |
0.409 |
187 |
0.809 |
0.433 |
1.35 |
|
Dummy Hoy |
95 |
0.362 |
0.382 |
109 |
0.405 |
0.372 |
1.15 |
|
Luke
Appling |
97 |
0.403 |
0.415 |
109 |
0.398 |
0.366 |
1.12 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
93 |
0.359 |
0.384 |
104 |
0.402 |
0.386 |
1.12 |
|
Cy
Williams |
120 |
0.447 |
0.371 |
132 |
0.535 |
0.406 |
1.10 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
140 |
0.563 |
0.402 |
154 |
0.599 |
0.390 |
1.10 |
|
Kid
Gleason |
85 |
0.322 |
0.379 |
93 |
0.316 |
0.340 |
1.09 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
108 |
0.418 |
0.388 |
118 |
0.470 |
0.396 |
1.09 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
121 |
0.486 |
0.402 |
132 |
0.571 |
0.431 |
1.09 |
|
Lou
Whitaker |
105 |
0.419 |
0.398 |
114 |
0.481 |
0.422 |
1.09 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
108 |
0.419 |
0.387 |
117 |
0.470 |
0.400 |
1.08 |
|
Marquis
Grissom |
98 |
0.410 |
0.420 |
106 |
0.460 |
0.434 |
1.08 |
|
Brian
Downing |
105 |
0.413 |
0.393 |
113 |
0.451 |
0.399 |
1.08 |
|
Mark
McLemore |
79 |
0.334 |
0.425 |
85 |
0.366 |
0.429 |
1.08 |
|
Bill
Bruton |
93 |
0.390 |
0.418 |
100 |
0.401 |
0.401 |
1.08 |
|
Ozzie
Smith |
83 |
0.321 |
0.389 |
88 |
0.354 |
0.401 |
1.06 |
|
Lave
Cross |
103 |
0.393 |
0.381 |
109 |
0.377 |
0.347 |
1.06 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
92 |
0.385 |
0.421 |
97 |
0.352 |
0.362 |
1.05 |
|
Tony
Fernandez |
97 |
0.392 |
0.403 |
102 |
0.445 |
0.436 |
1.05 |
|
Ron
Fairly |
104 |
0.405 |
0.389 |
109 |
0.427 |
0.391 |
1.05 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
106 |
0.427 |
0.401 |
111 |
0.472 |
0.425 |
1.05 |
|
Steve
Finley |
106 |
0.440 |
0.415 |
111 |
0.481 |
0.433 |
1.05 |
|
Luis
Aparicio |
87 |
0.342 |
0.392 |
91 |
0.343 |
0.378 |
1.05 |
|
Patsy
Donovan |
94 |
0.361 |
0.383 |
98 |
0.338 |
0.345 |
1.04 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
118 |
0.487 |
0.414 |
122 |
0.473 |
0.389 |
1.03 |
Below are simply the top 10 relative SLGs for players aged 36-39, regardless of how much they improved.
|
PLAYER |
Rate |
SLG |
LEAGUE |
|
Barry
Bonds |
187 |
0.809 |
0.433 |
|
Ted
Williams |
163 |
0.654 |
0.400 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
154 |
0.599 |
0.390 |
|
Babe Ruth |
152 |
0.628 |
0.412 |
|
Willie
Stargell |
135 |
0.527 |
0.390 |
|
Cy
Williams |
132 |
0.535 |
0.406 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
132 |
0.571 |
0.431 |
|
Norm Cash |
128 |
0.476 |
0.371 |
|
Bob
Johnson |
127 |
0.454 |
0.359 |
|
Stan
Musial |
126 |
0.524 |
0.415 |
Now let’s turn to isolated power (ISO). This is SLG minus batting average and gives a measure of extra base power. Below are the top 25 in terms of the percentage improvement in Rate. The average ratio here was .88, meaning that the average player lost 12% in terms of relative ISO.
|
PLAYER |
Rate <36 |
ISO |
LEAGUE |
Rate 36-39 |
ISO |
LEAGUE |
Ratio |
|
Dummy Hoy |
79 |
0.080 |
0.101 |
117 |
0.103 |
0.088 |
1.48 |
|
Barry
Bonds |
194 |
0.278 |
0.143 |
279 |
0.460 |
0.165 |
1.44 |
|
Mark
McLemore |
49 |
0.076 |
0.155 |
64 |
0.104 |
0.162 |
1.31 |
|
Kid
Gleason |
59 |
0.056 |
0.095 |
77 |
0.059 |
0.077 |
1.31 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
181 |
0.250 |
0.138 |
234 |
0.301 |
0.128 |
1.29 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
110 |
0.132 |
0.120 |
137 |
0.179 |
0.131 |
1.25 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
105 |
0.121 |
0.116 |
128 |
0.157 |
0.123 |
1.22 |
|
Brian
Downing |
112 |
0.147 |
0.131 |
134 |
0.184 |
0.137 |
1.20 |
|
Bill
Bruton |
78 |
0.117 |
0.150 |
92 |
0.132 |
0.143 |
1.18 |
|
Ron
Fairly |
108 |
0.139 |
0.128 |
126 |
0.160 |
0.127 |
1.17 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
137 |
0.168 |
0.123 |
159 |
0.220 |
0.138 |
1.16 |
|
Lou
Whitaker |
107 |
0.145 |
0.135 |
123 |
0.187 |
0.152 |
1.15 |
|
Sparky
Adams |
54 |
0.066 |
0.123 |
61 |
0.069 |
0.113 |
1.13 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
62 |
0.083 |
0.134 |
70 |
0.069 |
0.099 |
1.13 |
|
Ken
GriffeySr. |
102 |
0.130 |
0.128 |
115 |
0.157 |
0.136 |
1.13 |
|
Cy
Williams |
169 |
0.162 |
0.096 |
190 |
0.219 |
0.115 |
1.12 |
|
Norm Cash |
161 |
0.218 |
0.135 |
181 |
0.212 |
0.118 |
1.12 |
|
Marquis
Grissom |
92 |
0.139 |
0.151 |
103 |
0.170 |
0.165 |
1.12 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
146 |
0.201 |
0.138 |
163 |
0.262 |
0.160 |
1.12 |
|
Tony
Gwynn |
85 |
0.113 |
0.132 |
94 |
0.148 |
0.157 |
1.11 |
|
Jake
Daubert |
100 |
0.089 |
0.089 |
110 |
0.120 |
0.109 |
1.10 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
142 |
0.207 |
0.146 |
156 |
0.214 |
0.137 |
1.10 |
|
Steve
Finley |
112 |
0.165 |
0.147 |
122 |
0.201 |
0.165 |
1.09 |
|
Tony
Phillips |
81 |
0.112 |
0.138 |
88 |
0.141 |
0.160 |
1.09 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
125 |
0.173 |
0.138 |
133 |
0.206 |
0.155 |
1.06 |
Now Bonds only comes in second place here. But he does come in first in ISO if we look at a player’s ISO minus the league average ISO instead of ratios. Here, Bonds is far ahead of anyone else. Under 36, Bonds’ ISO was .135 better than the league average. From 36-39, he was .295 better. So that is an improvement of .160, which is the DIFF column.
|
PLAYER |
DIFF <36 |
ISO |
LEAGUE |
DIFF 36-39 |
ISO |
LEAGUE |
DIFF |
|
Barry
Bonds |
0.135 |
0.278 |
0.143 |
0.295 |
0.460 |
0.165 |
0.160 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
0.112 |
0.250 |
0.138 |
0.173 |
0.301 |
0.128 |
0.061 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
0.063 |
0.201 |
0.138 |
0.102 |
0.262 |
0.160 |
0.039 |
|
Cy
Williams |
0.066 |
0.162 |
0.096 |
0.104 |
0.219 |
0.115 |
0.038 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
0.045 |
0.168 |
0.123 |
0.082 |
0.220 |
0.138 |
0.037 |
|
Dummy Hoy |
-0.021 |
0.080 |
0.101 |
0.015 |
0.103 |
0.088 |
0.036 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
0.012 |
0.132 |
0.120 |
0.048 |
0.179 |
0.131 |
0.036 |
|
Brian
Downing |
0.016 |
0.147 |
0.131 |
0.047 |
0.184 |
0.137 |
0.031 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
0.005 |
0.121 |
0.116 |
0.034 |
0.157 |
0.123 |
0.029 |
|
Lou
Whitaker |
0.010 |
0.145 |
0.135 |
0.035 |
0.187 |
0.152 |
0.025 |
|
Bill Bruton |
-0.033 |
0.117 |
0.150 |
-0.011 |
0.132 |
0.143 |
0.022 |
|
Ron
Fairly |
0.011 |
0.139 |
0.128 |
0.033 |
0.160 |
0.127 |
0.022 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
-0.051 |
0.083 |
0.134 |
-0.030 |
0.069 |
0.099 |
0.021 |
|
Kid
Gleason |
-0.039 |
0.056 |
0.095 |
-0.018 |
0.059 |
0.077 |
0.021 |
|
Mark
McLemore |
-0.079 |
0.076 |
0.155 |
-0.058 |
0.104 |
0.162 |
0.021 |
|
Ken
GriffeySr. |
0.002 |
0.130 |
0.128 |
0.021 |
0.157 |
0.136 |
0.019 |
|
Rafael
Palmeiro |
0.073 |
0.220 |
0.147 |
0.092 |
0.254 |
0.162 |
0.019 |
|
Steve
Finley |
0.018 |
0.165 |
0.147 |
0.036 |
0.201 |
0.165 |
0.018 |
|
Marquis
Grissom |
-0.012 |
0.139 |
0.151 |
0.005 |
0.170 |
0.165 |
0.017 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
0.035 |
0.173 |
0.138 |
0.051 |
0.206 |
0.155 |
0.016 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
0.061 |
0.207 |
0.146 |
0.077 |
0.214 |
0.137 |
0.016 |
|
Sparky
Adams |
-0.057 |
0.066 |
0.123 |
-0.044 |
0.069 |
0.113 |
0.013 |
|
Edgar
Martinez |
0.056 |
0.203 |
0.147 |
0.068 |
0.232 |
0.164 |
0.012 |
|
Norm Cash |
0.083 |
0.218 |
0.135 |
0.094 |
0.212 |
0.118 |
0.011 |
|
Luke
Appling |
-0.039 |
0.092 |
0.131 |
-0.028 |
0.078 |
0.106 |
0.011 |
Below are the top 10 ISOs relative to the league average for ages 36-39, regardless of improvement.
|
PLAYER |
RATE |
ISO |
LEAGUE |
|
Barry
Bonds |
279 |
0.460 |
0.165 |
|
Babe Ruth |
235 |
0.298 |
0.127 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
234 |
0.301 |
0.128 |
|
Ted
Williams |
221 |
0.299 |
0.136 |
|
Willie
Stargell |
202 |
0.251 |
0.124 |
|
Cy
Williams |
190 |
0.219 |
0.115 |
|
Norm Cash |
181 |
0.212 |
0.118 |
|
Frank
Robinson |
180 |
0.214 |
0.119 |
|
Willie
McCovey |
170 |
0.211 |
0.124 |
|
Bob
Johnson |
169 |
0.163 |
0.096 |
The story for HR% is similar. Bonds is not number 1 here, but he ranks very high. The average ratio here is .84, meaning the average player lost 16% of their relative HR%.
|
PLAYER |
Rate <36 |
HR% |
LEAGUE |
Rate 36-39 |
HR% |
LEAGUE |
Ratio |
|
Dummy Hoy |
58 |
0.49 |
0.85 |
131 |
0.75 |
0.57 |
2.26 |
|
Maury
Wills |
9 |
0.23 |
2.48 |
16 |
0.37 |
2.40 |
1.78 |
|
Fred
Tenney |
49 |
0.26 |
0.52 |
87 |
0.45 |
0.52 |
1.78 |
|
Ken
Griffey Sr. |
79 |
1.77 |
2.26 |
135 |
3.44 |
2.55 |
1.71 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
222 |
5.87 |
2.65 |
355 |
8.59 |
2.42 |
1.60 |
|
Mark
McLemore |
24 |
0.76 |
3.10 |
38 |
1.23 |
3.22 |
1.58 |
|
Barry
Bonds |
245 |
6.63 |
2.71 |
384 |
12.73 |
3.31 |
1.57 |
|
Bill
Bruton |
47 |
1.39 |
2.94 |
72 |
2.10 |
2.93 |
1.53 |
|
Tony
Gwynn |
51 |
1.22 |
2.40 |
78 |
2.40 |
3.09 |
1.53 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
21 |
0.39 |
1.85 |
32 |
0.38 |
1.21 |
1.52 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
88 |
1.62 |
1.84 |
129 |
3.10 |
2.41 |
1.47 |
|
Wally
Schang |
117 |
0.90 |
0.77 |
166 |
2.02 |
1.22 |
1.42 |
|
Eddie Joost |
125 |
2.16 |
1.73 |
171 |
3.62 |
2.12 |
1.37 |
|
Ernie
Lombardi |
204 |
3.04 |
1.49 |
273 |
4.13 |
1.51 |
1.34 |
|
Ron
Fairly |
120 |
2.88 |
2.41 |
160 |
3.62 |
2.26 |
1.33 |
|
Steve
Finley |
106 |
2.97 |
2.82 |
137 |
4.52 |
3.31 |
1.29 |
|
Billy
Shindle |
67 |
0.54 |
0.81 |
84 |
0.50 |
0.59 |
1.25 |
|
Tony
Phillips |
67 |
1.76 |
2.63 |
84 |
2.72 |
3.23 |
1.25 |
|
Davey
Lopes |
99 |
2.15 |
2.16 |
124 |
2.99 |
2.42 |
1.25 |
|
Marquis
Grissom |
89 |
2.62 |
2.93 |
111 |
3.66 |
3.29 |
1.25 |
|
Brian
Downing |
130 |
3.19 |
2.46 |
161 |
4.26 |
2.65 |
1.24 |
|
Norm Cash |
206 |
5.60 |
2.72 |
255 |
5.70 |
2.24 |
1.24 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
177 |
4.51 |
2.55 |
216 |
6.85 |
3.17 |
1.22 |
|
Harry
Hooper |
124 |
0.75 |
0.60 |
151 |
1.74 |
1.16 |
1.22 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
186 |
3.98 |
2.14 |
224 |
5.94 |
2.65 |
1.20 |
If we use a player’s HR% minus the league average, Bonds jumps to first and is far ahead of everyone else. Under 36, Bonds’ HR% was 3.92 percentage points better than average. From 36-39, he was 9.42 percentage points better than average, for a gain of 5.50.
|
PLAYER |
DIFF <36 |
HR% |
LEAGUE |
DIFF 36-39 |
HR% |
LEAGUE |
DIFF |
|
Barry
Bonds |
3.92 |
6.63 |
2.71 |
9.42 |
12.73 |
3.31 |
5.50 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
3.22 |
5.87 |
2.65 |
6.17 |
8.59 |
2.42 |
2.95 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
1.96 |
4.51 |
2.55 |
3.68 |
6.85 |
3.17 |
1.72 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
1.84 |
3.98 |
2.14 |
3.29 |
5.94 |
2.65 |
1.45 |
|
Cy
Williams |
2.30 |
3.13 |
0.83 |
3.73 |
5.00 |
1.27 |
1.43 |
|
Ken
Griffey Sr. |
-0.49 |
1.77 |
2.26 |
0.89 |
3.44 |
2.55 |
1.38 |
|
Rafael
Palmeiro |
2.25 |
5.10 |
2.85 |
3.46 |
6.69 |
3.23 |
1.21 |
|
Ernie
Lombardi |
1.55 |
3.04 |
1.49 |
2.62 |
4.13 |
1.51 |
1.07 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
0.43 |
2.16 |
1.73 |
1.50 |
3.62 |
2.12 |
1.07 |
|
Steve
Finley |
0.15 |
2.97 |
2.82 |
1.21 |
4.52 |
3.31 |
1.06 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
-0.22 |
1.62 |
1.84 |
0.69 |
3.10 |
2.41 |
0.91 |
|
Edgar
Martinez |
1.11 |
3.98 |
2.87 |
2.01 |
5.33 |
3.32 |
0.90 |
|
Ron
Fairly |
0.47 |
2.88 |
2.41 |
1.36 |
3.62 |
2.26 |
0.89 |
|
Brian
Downing |
0.73 |
3.19 |
2.46 |
1.61 |
4.26 |
2.65 |
0.88 |
|
Bill
Bruton |
-1.55 |
1.39 |
2.94 |
-0.83 |
2.10 |
2.93 |
0.72 |
|
Willie
Stargell |
3.67 |
5.97 |
2.30 |
4.39 |
6.51 |
2.12 |
0.72 |
|
Marquis
Grissom |
-0.31 |
2.62 |
2.93 |
0.37 |
3.66 |
3.29 |
0.68 |
|
Wally
Schang |
0.13 |
0.90 |
0.77 |
0.80 |
2.02 |
1.22 |
0.67 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
2.16 |
5.00 |
2.84 |
2.82 |
5.60 |
2.78 |
0.66 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
-1.46 |
0.39 |
1.85 |
-0.83 |
0.38 |
1.21 |
0.63 |
|
Norm Cash |
2.88 |
5.60 |
2.72 |
3.46 |
5.70 |
2.24 |
0.58 |
|
Davey
Lopes |
-0.01 |
2.15 |
2.16 |
0.57 |
2.99 |
2.42 |
0.58 |
|
Ellis
Burks |
1.88 |
4.72 |
2.84 |
2.44 |
5.64 |
3.20 |
0.56 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
1.19 |
3.84 |
2.65 |
1.74 |
4.77 |
3.03 |
0.55 |
|
Carlton
Fisk |
1.76 |
4.05 |
2.29 |
2.30 |
5.24 |
2.94 |
0.54 |
Below are the top 10 HR%s relative to the league average for ages 36-39, regardless of improvement.
|
PLAYER |
RATE |
HR% |
LEAGUE |
|
Babe Ruth |
500 |
7.88 |
1.57 |
|
Cy
Williams |
395 |
5.00 |
1.27 |
|
Barry
Bonds |
384 |
12.73 |
3.31 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
355 |
8.59 |
2.42 |
|
Willie
Stargell |
307 |
6.51 |
2.12 |
|
Ted
Williams |
286 |
7.48 |
2.61 |
|
Ken
Williams |
283 |
3.29 |
1.16 |
|
Ernie
Lombardi |
273 |
4.13 |
1.51 |
|
Norm Cash |
255 |
5.70 |
2.24 |
|
Willie
McCovey |
253 |
5.48 |
2.16 |
Finally, we come to offensive winning percentage (OWP). Here are the top 25 in terms of the older OWP relative to the younger OWP.
|
Player |
OWP <36 |
OWP 36-39 |
Ratio |
|
Mark
McLemore |
0.381 |
0.522 |
1.37 |
|
Luke
Appling |
0.557 |
0.686 |
1.23 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
0.537 |
0.653 |
1.22 |
|
Barry
Bonds |
0.763 |
0.924 |
1.21 |
|
Tony
Fernandez |
0.491 |
0.593 |
1.21 |
|
Cy
Williams |
0.546 |
0.648 |
1.19 |
|
Ozzie
Smith |
0.454 |
0.522 |
1.15 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
0.440 |
0.505 |
1.15 |
|
Lave
Cross |
0.467 |
0.525 |
1.12 |
|
Dummy Hoy |
0.554 |
0.608 |
1.10 |
|
Brian
Downing |
0.582 |
0.636 |
1.09 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
0.563 |
0.615 |
1.09 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
0.571 |
0.616 |
1.08 |
|
Lou
Whitaker |
0.585 |
0.631 |
1.08 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
0.501 |
0.538 |
1.07 |
|
Bob
Johnson |
0.642 |
0.689 |
1.07 |
|
Gene
Woodling |
0.614 |
0.657 |
1.07 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
0.417 |
0.446 |
1.07 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
0.589 |
0.629 |
1.07 |
|
Joe Kuhel |
0.523 |
0.558 |
1.07 |
|
Hal McRae |
0.591 |
0.629 |
1.06 |
|
Gabby
Hartnett |
0.605 |
0.641 |
1.06 |
|
Zack
Wheat |
0.639 |
0.677 |
1.06 |
|
Kid
Gleason |
0.375 |
0.396 |
1.06 |
|
Tim
Wallach |
0.479 |
0.504 |
1.05 |
If we go with the difference between the older age and the younger age, Bonds jumps to first place.
|
Player |
OWP <36 |
OWP 36-39 |
DIFF |
|
Barry
Bonds |
0.763 |
0.924 |
0.161 |
|
Mark
McLemore |
0.381 |
0.522 |
0.141 |
|
Luke
Appling |
0.557 |
0.686 |
0.129 |
|
Andres
Galarraga |
0.537 |
0.653 |
0.116 |
|
Tony
Fernandez |
0.491 |
0.593 |
0.102 |
|
Cy
Williams |
0.546 |
0.648 |
0.102 |
|
Ozzie
Smith |
0.454 |
0.522 |
0.068 |
|
Gary
Gaetti |
0.440 |
0.505 |
0.065 |
|
Lave
Cross |
0.467 |
0.525 |
0.058 |
|
Brian
Downing |
0.582 |
0.636 |
0.054 |
|
Dummy Hoy |
0.554 |
0.608 |
0.054 |
|
Mickey
Vernon |
0.563 |
0.615 |
0.052 |
|
Bob
Johnson |
0.642 |
0.689 |
0.047 |
|
Lou
Whitaker |
0.585 |
0.631 |
0.046 |
|
Joe
Adcock |
0.571 |
0.616 |
0.045 |
|
Gene
Woodling |
0.614 |
0.657 |
0.043 |
|
Darrell
Evans |
0.589 |
0.629 |
0.040 |
|
Hal McRae |
0.591 |
0.629 |
0.038 |
|
Zack
Wheat |
0.639 |
0.677 |
0.038 |
|
Eddie
Joost |
0.501 |
0.538 |
0.037 |
|
Gabby
Hartnett |
0.605 |
0.641 |
0.036 |
|
Joe Kuhel |
0.523 |
0.558 |
0.035 |
|
Harold
Baines |
0.582 |
0.612 |
0.030 |
|
Doc
Cramer |
0.417 |
0.446 |
0.029 |
|
Tim
Wallach |
0.479 |
0.504 |
0.025 |
Below are the top OWPs for ages 36-39, regardless of improvement.
|
Player |
OWP |
|
Barry
Bonds |
0.924 |
|
Ted
Williams |
0.834 |
|
Babe Ruth |
0.832 |
|
Edgar
Martinez |
0.743 |
|
Hank
Aaron |
0.736 |
|
Bob
Johnson |
0.689 |
|
Ty Cobb |
0.689 |
|
Honus
Wagner |
0.688 |
|
Luke
Appling |
0.686 |
|
Cap Anson |
0.686 |
Below are the top 15 OWPs of all time, regardless of age. Before 2001, no player had reached .924, Bonds’ OWP for the whole period that covers ages 36-39. Notice how unusual it is for someone aged 36-39 to have such a great OWP. It appears that no one has aged as well as Bonds.
|
Rank |
Player |
YEAR |
OWP |
AGE |
|
1 |
Barry
Bonds |
2002 |
0.942 |
37 |
|
2 |
Barry
Bonds |
2004 |
0.929 |
39 |
|
3 |
Barry
Bonds |
2001 |
0.922 |
36 |
|
4 |
Mickey
Mantle |
1957 |
0.915 |
25 |
|
5 |
Babe Ruth |
1920 |
0.913 |
25 |
|
6 |
Fred
Dunlap |
1884 |
0.909 |
25 |
|
7 |
Ted
Williams |
1941 |
0.908 |
22 |
|
8 |
Barry
Bonds |
2003 |
0.897 |
38 |
|
9 |
Babe Ruth |
1923 |
0.896 |
28 |
|
10 |
Babe Ruth |
1921 |
0.891 |
26 |
|
11 |
Ted
Williams |
1957 |
0.891 |
38 |
|
12 |
Babe Ruth |
1926 |
0.883 |
31 |
|
13 |
Ted
Williams |
1942 |
0.881 |
23 |
|
14 |
Pete
Browning |
1882 |
0.88 |
21 |
|
15 |
Babe Ruth |
1924 |
0.879 |
29 |