Bases on Balls : 1976 American League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"I don't think I stayed for a complete game that first year (in Arizona). But something happened. During the second year, I started watching more intently, listening to the broadcasters talk about strategy. I started getting it. Suddenly, a 162-game season didn't seem ridiculously long anymore." - Richard Ruelas in The Arizona Republic (11-07-2001)
 

1976 Bases on Balls Leaders

Top 25 in the American League

Mike Hargrove 97 Texas Rangers 1
Toby Harrah 91 Texas Rangers 2
Bobby Grich 86 Baltimore Orioles 3
Rusty Staub 83 Detroit Tigers 4
Roy White 83 New York Yankees  
John Mayberry 82 Kansas City Royals 6
Gene Tenace 81 Oakland Athletics 7
Carl Yastrzemski 80 Boston Red Sox 8
Ken Singleton 79 Baltimore Orioles 9
Butch Wynegar 79 Minnesota Twins  
Sal Bando 76 Oakland Athletics 11
Roy Smalley 76 Texas Rangers  
Minnesota Twins  
Billy North 73 Oakland Athletics 13
Jeff Burroughs 69 Texas Rangers 14
Jason Thompson 68 Detroit Tigers 15
Steve Braun 67 Minnesota Twins 16
Rod Carew 67 Minnesota Twins  
Rico Carty 67 Cleveland Indians  
Bruce Bochte 64 California Angels 19
Hal McRae 64 Kansas City Royals  
Bert Campaneris 63 Oakland Athletics 21
Graig Nettles 62 New York Yankees 22
Rick Burleson 60 Boston Red Sox 23
Don Baylor 58 Oakland Athletics 24
Willie Randolph 58 New York Yankees  



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

The first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.