off-beat stats - baseball players - Brief Article

Baseball Digest, Sept, 2000

Since 1955, when the intentional walk was officially tabulated as a statistic, only two players have hit as many as 40 homers in a season without being issued an intentional pass. In 1961, Roger Maris clubbed 61 homers with no intentional walks and in 1998, Alex Rodriguez hit 42 homers without an intentional base on balls. Willie McCovey holds the all-time single season mark for intentional walks with 45, set in 1969 with the San Francisco Giants.

Fewest Intentional Walks in a Season By Player With 40-Plus Homers

Year   Player, Team                 HR   IBB

1961   Roger Maris, Yankees         61     0
1998   Alex Rodriguez, Mariners     42     0
1996   Brady Anderson, Orioles      50     1
1992   Juan Gonzalez, Rangers       43     1
1959   Harmon Killebrew, Senators   42     1
1959   Eddie Mathews, Braves        46     2
1961   Rocky Colavito, Tigers       45     2
1963   Dick Stuart, Red Sox         42     2
1999   Alex Rodriguez, Mariners     42     2
1977   Jeff Burroughs, Braves       41     2
1997   Andres Galarraga, Rockies    41     2
1996   Ellis Burks, Rockes          40     2
1996   Andres Galarraga, Rockies    47     3
1999   Greg Vaughn, Reds            45     3
1997   Jay Buhner, Mariners         40     3
1963   Harmon Killebrew, Twins      45     4
1999   Shawn Green, Blue Jays       42     4
1995   Albert Belle, Indians        50     5
1964   Harmon Killebrew, Twins      49     5
1961   Jim Gentile, Orioles         46     5
1998   Jose Canseco, Blue Jays      46     5
1963   Willie McCovey, Giants       44     5
1996   Jay Buhner, Mariners         44     5
1955   Wally Post, Reds             40     5
1986   Jesse Barfield, Blue Jays    40     5
1995   Dante Bichette, Rockies      40     5

Players With The Most Intentional Walks in a Season

Year   Player, Team                  HR   IBB

1969   Willie McCovey, Giants        45    45
1993   Barry Bonds, Giants           46    43
1970   Willie McCovey, Giants        39    40
1997   Barry Bonds Giants            40    34
1957   Ted Williams, Red Sox         38    33
1993   John Olerud, Blue Jays        24    33
1989   Kevin Mitchell, Giants        47    32
1992   Barry Bonds, Pirates          34    32
1985   George Brett, Royals          30    31
1996   Barry Bonds, Giants           42    30
1967   Adolfo Phillips, Cubs         17    29
1970   Frank Howard, Senators        44    29
1987   Dale Murphy, Braves           44    29
1995   Frank Thomas, White, Sox      40    29
1998   Barry Bonds, Giants           37    29
1960   Ernie Banks, Cubs             41    28
1998   Mark McGwire, Cardinals       70    28
1968   Roberto Clemente, Pirates     18    27
1988   Will Clark, Giants            29    27
1997   Jeff Bagwell, Astros          43    27
1956   Duke Snider, Dodgers          43    26
1958   Stan Musial, Cardinals        17    26
1987   Tim Raines, Expos             18    26
1991   Fred McGriff, Padres          31    26
1996   Frank Thomas, White Sox       40    26