A Description of Slugging Percentage

Slugging percentage is a baseball statistic that describes the combination of a batter's power and batting average. By looking at slugging percentage, you quickly separate those hitters that drive the ball for extra base hits more consistently from the hitters that lack such power. The greatest names in baseball history associated with clobbering home runs are at the top of the charts when it comes to slugging percentage, led by the great Babe Ruth.

  1. Calculating Slugging Percentage

    • Calculate a player's slugging percentage, also known as slugging average, by taking the number of total bases the player accumulates and dividing them by the number of at-bats. Total bases is a relatively easy number to calculate, as it is quite straightforward, with a player getting one base for a single, two for a double, three for a triple and four for a home run. The number you divide the total bases by is not plate appearances, but at-bats, which do not include such ways of reaching base as walks and hit-by-pitch.

    An Example

    • If a player hits 87 singles, 37 doubles, 9 triples and 26 home runs in 432 at-bats, her slugging percentage is .676. To arrive at this slugging percentage, multiply the 87 singles by 1 for 87 bases, 37 doubles by 2 for 74 bases, 9 triples by 3 for 27 bases and 26 home runs by 4 for 104 bases. Add these numbers for a total of 292 bases. Divide 292 bases by 432 at-bats for a slugging percentage for Player A of .676.

    A Comparison

    • A comparison of the slugging percentages of Pete Rose, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos, and Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals shows their marked difference in power. Rose had 4,256 hits, of which 3,215 were singles, for a slugging percentage of .409 over 24 seasons. Musial has a slugging percentage over 22 seasons of .559. Of his 3,630 base hits during that time, 2,253 were singles, the rest being extra base hits, accounting for his much higher slugging percentage.

    History

    • As of publication, the all-time leader in MLB slugging percentage is Babe Ruth, with a career slugging average of .6897. Well behind Ruth in second place is Ted Williams, at .6338. Ruth led the American League in slugging percentage 13 times, another record. The single-season mark for slugging percentage is the .8634 average posted by Barry Bonds with the San Francisco Giants in 2001, according to Baseball Reference. Of the top 25 all-time single-season slugging percentages, these two batters account for 11, Ruth with seven and Bonds with four.