SporTSNumbers

Sporting News, The, Sept 13, 1999

Jim Thome of the Indians has been a bastion of patience this season. Well, sort of. Thome is poised to walk away with the A.L. title for bases on balls. He had 104 (through September 4), 14 more than second-place Rusty Greer of the Rangers. Thome also is well ahead as the A.L.'s strikeout king with 142.

If Thome finishes as the league leader in both categories, he will join exclusive company -- only six players have led their league in whiffs and walks, including Babe Ruth, who did the dubious double four times:

Player                    Year   Strikeouts   Walks

Babe Ruth, Yankees        1923       93        170
                          1924       81        142
                          1927       89        138
                          1928       87        135
Hack Wilson, Cubs         1930       84        105
Dolph Camilli, Dodgers    1939      107        110
Mickey, Mantle, Yankees   1958      120        129
Mike Schmidt, Phillies    1983      148        128
Dale Murphy, Braves       1985      141         90