In a post on MLB Trade Rumors, Coley Ward wrote about potential free agents when the season ends and he mentioned Adam Dunn, who's having a tough year when it comes to making contact with the ball, but is burning the home-plate-to-first-base path with 21 walks in 53 at-bats (28 BB%), on pace for 207 walks if he records the same amount of AB that he did last season (522). That's 10% more walks than his career average (17 BB%).
While an impressive number, it still would not be a record, with Barry Bonds getting 232 in 2004, on top of his 120 intentional walks. He batted for a ridiculous 1.422 OPS that season.
Just take a moment to re-read the last two sentences; these are just insane figures!!
Just for fun, here are the all-time leaders in walks and intentional base-on-balls:
WALKS
1. Barry Bonds (232)
2. Barry Bonds (198)
3. Barry Bonds (177)
4. Babe Ruth (170)
5. Mark McGwire (162)
Ted Williams (162)
Ted Williams (162)
8. Ted Williams (156)
9. Barry Bonds (151)
Eddie Yost (151)
10. Babe Ruth (150)
11. Jeff Bagwell (149)
Eddie Joost (149)
12. Barry Bonds (148)
Eddie Stanky (148)
Jimmy Wynn (148)
Intentional Walks
Barry Bonds (120)
Barry Bonds (68)
Barry Bonds (61)
Willie McCovey (45)
Barry Bonds (43)
Barry Bonds (43)
Willie McCovey (40)
Barry Bonds (38)
Ryan Howard (37)
Sammy Sosa (37)
Barry Bonds (35)
Ryan Howard (35)
Barry Bonds (34)
Jonh Olerud (33)
Ted Williams (33)
1. Barry Bonds (232)
2. Barry Bonds (198)
3. Barry Bonds (177)
4. Babe Ruth (170)
5. Mark McGwire (162)
Ted Williams (162)
Ted Williams (162)
8. Ted Williams (156)
9. Barry Bonds (151)
Eddie Yost (151)
10. Babe Ruth (150)
11. Jeff Bagwell (149)
Eddie Joost (149)
12. Barry Bonds (148)
Eddie Stanky (148)
Jimmy Wynn (148)
Intentional Walks
Barry Bonds (120)
Barry Bonds (68)
Barry Bonds (61)
Willie McCovey (45)
Barry Bonds (43)
Barry Bonds (43)
Willie McCovey (40)
Barry Bonds (38)
Ryan Howard (37)
Sammy Sosa (37)
Barry Bonds (35)
Ryan Howard (35)
Barry Bonds (34)
Jonh Olerud (33)
Ted Williams (33)

