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Rashad Eldridge of the Oklahoma Redhawks walks to first base after drawing a base on balls.

A base on balls (BB) is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules,^[1] and further detail is given in 6.08(a).^[2] It is called a "walk" because the batter is then entitled to walk to first base, or more specifically (as defined in the rules of baseball) he is "entitled to first base without liability to be put out." If a runner is on first base when the batter draws a walk he advances one base to make way for the batter to take first. If there are runners on first and second they both advance one base, and if the bases are loaded all three batters advance, with the runner on third advancing home to score a run. In the latter, bases loaded walk situation, the batter is credited with an RBI per rule 10.04.^[3]

Receiving a base on balls does not count as an official at bat for a batter but does count as a plate appearance.^[4]

A pitcher can also choose to intentionally walk a batter. This is usually done for the purpose of facing a different batter that the team feels they have a better chance of getting out, or to allow a double play possibility if first base is open with less than two outs, or to create a force situation at any base or at home if runners are already on second and third in the last inning of a game.

A hit by pitch is not counted statistically as a walk, though the effect is the same, with the batter receiving a free pass to first base.

On July 4, 2004, Barry Bonds drew his 2,191st base on balls to pass the career record of Rickey Henderson, who is no longer active in the major leagues.

Bold denotes active players. Totals are current through games of September 30, 2007.

1. Barry Bonds - 2,558
2. Rickey Henderson - 2,190
3. Babe Ruth - 2,062
4. Ted Williams - 2,019
5. Joe Morgan - 1,865
6. Carl Yastrzemski - 1,845
7. Mickey Mantle - 1,733
8. Mel Ott - 1,708
9. Frank Thomas - 1,628
10. Eddie Yost - 1,614
11. Darrell Evans - 1,605
12. Stan Musial - 1,599
13. Pete Rose - 1,566
14. Harmon Killebrew - 1,559
15. Lou Gehrig - 1,508
16. Mike Schmidt - 1,507
17. Eddie Collins - 1,499
18. Willie Mays - 1,464
19. Jim Thome - 1,459
20. Jimmy Foxx - 1,452
21. Eddie Mathews - 1,444
22. Frank Robinson - 1,420
23. Wade Boggs - 1,412
24. Hank Aaron - 1,402
25. Jeff Bagwell - 1,401

1. Barry Bonds (2004) - 232
2. Barry Bonds (2002) - 198
3. Barry Bonds (2001) - 177
4. Babe Ruth (1923) - 170
5. Mark McGwire (1998) - 162
6. Ted Williams (1947) - 162
7. Ted Williams (1949) - 162
8. Ted Williams (1946) - 156
9. Barry Bonds (1996) - 151
10. Eddie Yost (1956) - 151

• Intentional base on balls

1. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/definition_terms_2.jsp
2. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/batter_6.jsp
3. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/official_scorer_10.jsp
4. ^ In 1887, Major League Baseball counted bases on balls as hits. The result was skyrocketed batting averages, including some near .500, and the experiment was abandoned the following season. Current record books do not count walks in 1887 as hits.

• Career walks leaders, Baseball-Reference.com
  
• Single-season walks leaders, Baseball-Reference.com