MLB Single-Season Walks Record Progression

Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.

The MLB single-season walks record is 232, set by Barry Bonds in 2004. It has stood for 21 years. The mark has been raised 18 times since 1871.

AVG HR RBI H R SB OPS OBP SLG 2B 3B XBH TB BB SO PA AB G

Record Holders

19 marks since 1871

Year	Player	BB	Stood for
2004	Barry Bonds	232	still standing
2002	Barry Bonds	198	2 years
2001	Barry Bonds	177	1 year
1923	Babe Ruth	170	78 years
1920	Babe Ruth	150	3 years
1911	Jimmy Sheckard	147	9 years
1892	Jack Crooks	136	19 years
1890	Bill Joyce	123	2 years
1889	William Robinson	118	1 year
1888	William Robinson	116	1 year
1887	Paul Radford	106	1 year
1886	George Gore	102	1 year
1885	Ed Williamson	75	1 year
1884	Candy Nelson	74	1 year
1883	Tom York	37	1 year
1881	John Clapp	35	2 years
1879	Charley Jones	29	2 years
1872	Denny Mack	23	7 years
1871	Ed Pinkham	18	1 year

The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.

Every Season

160 seasons

Year	Leader	BB
2025	Juan Soto	127
2024	Aaron Judge	133
2023	Juan Soto	132
2022	Juan Soto	135
2021	Juan Soto	145
2020	Bryce Harper	49
2019	Alex Bregman	119
2018	Bryce Harper	130
2017	Joey Votto	134
2016	Mike Trout	116
2015	Joey Votto	143
2014	Carlos Santana	113
2013	Joey Votto	135
2012	Adam Dunn	105
2011	Jose Bautista	132
2010	Prince Fielder	114
2009	Adrian Gonzalez	119
2008	Adam Dunn	122
2007	Barry Bonds	132
2006	Bobby Abreu	124
2005	Brian Giles	119
2004	Barry Bonds	232	new record
2003	Barry Bonds	148
2002	Barry Bonds	198	new record
2001	Barry Bonds	177	new record
2000	Jason Giambi	137
1999	Jeff Bagwell	149
1998	Mark McGwire	162
1997	Barry Bonds	145
1996	Barry Bonds	151
1995	Frank Thomas	136
1994	Frank Thomas	109
1993	Tony Phillips	132
1992	Barry Bonds	127
1991	Frank Thomas	138
1990	Mark McGwire	110
1989	Jack Clark	132
1988	Wade Boggs	125
1987	Jack Clark	136
1986	Wade Boggs	105
1985	Dwight Evans	114
1984	Eddie Murray	107
1983	Mike Schmidt	128
1982	Rickey Henderson	116
1981	Dwight Evans	85
1980	Willie Randolph	119
1979	Darrell Porter	121
1978	Jeff Burroughs	117
1977	Gene Tenace	125
1976	Jim Wynn	127
1975	Joe Morgan	132
1974	Darrell Evans	126
1973	Darrell Evans	124
1972	Joe Morgan	115
1971	Harmon Killebrew	114
1970	Willie McCovey	137
1969	Jim Wynn	148
1968	Carl Yastrzemski	119
1967	Harmon Killebrew	131
1966	Harmon Killebrew	103
1965	Joe Morgan	97
1964	Norm Siebern	106
1963	Eddie Mathews	124
1962	Mickey Mantle	122
1961	Mickey Mantle	126
1960	Eddie Yost	125
1959	Eddie Yost	135
1958	Mickey Mantle	129
1957	Mickey Mantle	146
1956	Eddie Yost	151
1955	Mickey Mantle	113
1954	Ted Williams	136
1953	Eddie Yost	123
1952	Eddie Yost	129
1951	Ted Williams	144
1950	Eddie Stanky	144
1949	Ted Williams	162
1948	Bob Elliott	131
1947	Ted Williams	162
1946	Ted Williams	156
1945	Eddie Stanky	148
1944	Augie Galan	101
1943	Charlie Keller	106
1942	Ted Williams	145
1941	Ted Williams	147
1940	Elbie Fletcher	119
1939	Harlond Clift	111
1938	Jimmie Foxx	119
1938	Hank Greenberg	119
1938	Dolph Camilli	119
1937	Lou Gehrig	127
1936	Lou Gehrig	130
1935	Lou Gehrig	132
1934	Jimmie Foxx	111
1933	Babe Ruth	114
1932	Babe Ruth	130
1931	Babe Ruth	128
1930	Babe Ruth	136
1929	Max Bishop	128
1928	Babe Ruth	137
1927	Babe Ruth	137
1926	Babe Ruth	144
1925	Willie Kamm	90
1925	Johnny Mostil	90
1924	Babe Ruth	142
1923	Babe Ruth	170	new record
1922	Whitey Witt	89
1921	Babe Ruth	145
1920	Babe Ruth	150	new record
1919	Jack Graney	105
1918	Ray Chapman	84
1917	Jack Graney	94
1916	Burt Shotton	110
1915	Eddie Collins	119
1914	Donie Bush	112
1913	Burt Shotton	99
1912	Jimmy Sheckard	122
1911	Jimmy Sheckard	147	new record
1910	Miller Huggins	116
1909	Donie Bush	88
1908	Topsy Hartsel	93
1907	Topsy Hartsel	106
1906	Roy Thomas	107
1905	Topsy Hartsel	121
1904	Roy Thomas	102
1903	Roy Thomas	107
1902	Roy Thomas	107
1901	Roy Thomas	100
1900	Roy Thomas	115
1899	John McGraw	124
1898	John McGraw	112
1897	Billy Hamilton	105
1896	Billy Hamilton	110
1895	Billy Hamilton	96
1895	Bill Joyce	96
1894	Billy Hamilton	128
1893	Jack Crooks	121
1892	Jack Crooks	136	new record
1891	Billy Hoy	117
1890	Bill Joyce	123	new record
1889	William Robinson	118	new record
1888	William Robinson	116	new record
1887	Paul Radford	106	new record
1886	George Gore	102	new record
1885	Ed Williamson	75	new record
1884	Candy Nelson	74	new record
1883	Tom York	37	new record
1882	George Gore	29
1881	John Clapp	35	new record
1880	Bob Ferguson	24
1879	Charley Jones	29	new record
1878	Terry Larkin	17
1878	Jack Remsen	17
1877	Jim O'Rourke	20
1876	Ross Barnes	20
1875	Herman Dehlman	11
1874	Candy Nelson	9
1873	Ross Barnes	20
1872	Denny Mack	23	new record
1871	Ed Pinkham	18	new record