# Baseball Reference

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Baseball statistics database

Baseball Reference Type of site Baseball statistics Owner Sports Reference Created by Sean Forman URL www.baseball-reference.com Launched April 2000; 26 years ago (2000-04)[1] Current status Active

**Baseball Reference** is a [baseball statistics](/source/Baseball_statistics) database maintained by [Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference). The site provides career statistics for [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) players and teams as well as records, [MLB draft](/source/MLB_draft) history, and [sabermetrics](/source/Sabermetrics).

## History

Founder Sean Forman began developing the website while working on his Ph.D. dissertation in [applied math](/source/Applied_math) and [computational science](/source/Computational_science) at the [University of Iowa](/source/University_of_Iowa). While writing his dissertation, he had also been writing articles on and blogging about sabermetrics. Forman's database was originally built from the *[Total Baseball](/source/Total_Baseball)* series of baseball [encyclopedias](/source/Encyclopedia).[2]

The website went online in April 2000, after first being launched in February 2000 as part of the website for the *Big Bad Baseball Annual*. It was originally built as a web interface to the [Lahman Baseball Database](/source/Sean_Lahman), though it now employs a variety of data sources.

In 2004, Forman founded [Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference). Sports Reference is a website that came out of the Baseball Reference website. The company was [incorporated](/source/Incorporation_(business)) as Sports Reference, LLC in 2007.[3][*[new archival link needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Archiving_a_source)*] In 2006, Forman left his job as a math professor at [Saint Joseph's University](/source/Saint_Joseph's_University) to focus on Baseball Reference full-time.[2][1][4]

In February 2009, Fantasy Sports Ventures took a minority stake in Sports Reference, for a "low seven-figure sum".[5]

In late April 2021, the site changed a number of identifying names, "discontinuing the use of nicknames that are racially or ethnically influenced" and "names based upon a player's disability", such as [Chief Bender](/source/Chief_Bender) and [Dummy Hoy](/source/Dummy_Hoy), who are now listed as Charles Bender and Billy Hoy, respectively.[6]

## Features

### Statistics

The site has season, career, and [minor league](/source/Minor_league_baseball) records (when available, back to [1888](/source/1888_in_baseball)) for everyone who has played Major League Baseball, year-by-year team pages, all final league standings, all postseason numbers, voting results for all historic awards such as the [Cy Young Award](/source/Cy_Young_Award) and [MVP](/source/Most_valuable_player), head-to-head batter vs. pitcher career totals, individual statistical leaders for each season and all-time, managers' career records, the full results of all MLB player drafts, [Negro leagues](/source/Negro_league) statistics (Baseball Reference added Negro League statistics to its website in 2021), a baseball encyclopedia (the Bullpen),[7] and box scores and game logs from every MLB game back to [1901](/source/1901_in_baseball), among other features.[6]

To compare ballplayers to one-another it offers "Black Ink" and "Gray Ink" tests, which tally a player's dominance and overall productivity against his peers. In 2012, it began to offer Jay Jaffe's [Jaffe Wins Above Replacement Score](/source/Jaffe_Wins_Above_Replacement_Score) (JAWS) statistic for comparing players of different eras against each other by weighing their performance in the prime as well as their entire career.[8]

Baseball Reference began including its version of [Wins Above Replacement](/source/Wins_above_replacement) (WAR) in 2010.[9] Its version determining a player's value differs slightly from other baseball statistics websites, including [FanGraphs](/source/FanGraphs) and [Baseball Prospectus](/source/Baseball_Prospectus).[10][11]

### Bullpen

Baseball Reference has its own baseball encyclopedia, a [wiki](/source/Wiki) called "Baseball Reference Bullpen", which can be edited by anyone and is modeled after [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia). As of November 2025,[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baseball_Reference&action=edit) the Bullpen contains more than 123,000 articles.[7]

### Easter eggs and other humor

There are a number of what the website calls "Frivolities."[12] Examples include:

- The Oracle of Baseball, which is no longer active on the website,[13] linked any two players by common teammates in the way the pop culture website "[Oracle of Bacon](/source/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon)" does.

- A page devoted to [Keith Hernandez](/source/Keith_Hernandez)'s mustache,[4] which is the only "fictional" page on Baseball Reference.[14]

- The site made "[Tungsten Arm O'Doyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:April_Fools/April_Fools%27_Day_2023/Tungsten_Arm_O%27Doyle)", an internet meme associated with [Shohei Ohtani](/source/Shohei_Ohtani), a redirect to Ohtani's page.[15]

- Although the standard player page notes a given player's favored batting and throwing arms, [Paul O'Neill](/source/Paul_O'Neill_(baseball))'s page adds his kicking leg and a link to a video of the 1989 game when he kicked the ball from the outfield to first base.[16] Likewise, the page for [Jim Abbott](/source/Jim_Abbott) (who was born without a right hand) adds "Fields: Left as well" in addition to him batting and throwing left handed.[17]

- The [2021 Seattle Mariners](/source/2021_Seattle_Mariners_season) page lists the team's "fun differential" of +90, based on a comment from manager [Scott Servais](/source/Scott_Servais) on the team's negative [run differential](/source/Run_differential).[18][19][20]

- [Oddibe McDowell](/source/Oddibe_McDowell)'s page features his monthly water bill payments from February 2011 to March 2012, which were public record for [Broward County, Florida](/source/Broward_County%2C_Florida) and subsequently were featured in a recurring fashion on [Deadspin](/source/Deadspin).[21][22]

## See also

- [Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)

- [Pro Football Reference](/source/Pro_Football_Reference)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-About_Sports_Reference_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-About_Sports_Reference_1-1) ["About Sports Reference"](https://www.sports-reference.com/about.html). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042104/https://www.sports-reference.com/about.html) from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rs_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rs_2-1) Weinreb, Michael (October 28, 2015). ["The Sublime Simplicity of Baseball-Reference.com"](https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/the-sublime-simplicity-of-baseball-reference-com-20151028). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180613234446/https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/the-sublime-simplicity-of-baseball-reference-com-20151028) from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BusinessweekOverview2_3-0)** ["Company Overview of Sports Reference, LLC"](http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=53311244). *[Bloomberg Businessweek](/source/Bloomberg_Businessweek)*. Retrieved November 8, 2013.{{[cite magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_magazine)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) ["Keith Hernandez Mustache Statistics and History"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernake01mustache.shtml). *Baseball Reference*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241125133511/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernake01mustache.shtml) from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FSV_5-0)** Fisher, Eric (February 16, 2009). ["FSV buys stake in reference sites"](http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/02/16/This-Weeks-News/FSV-Buys-Stake-In-Reference-Sites.aspx). *[Sports Business Journal](/source/Sports_Business_Journal)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190901234503/https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2009/02/16/This-Weeks-News/FSV-Buys-Stake-In-Reference-Sites.aspx) from the original on September 1, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_6-1) Foreman, Sean (April 30, 2021). ["Changing Player Identification Names from Player Nicknames to Given Names"](https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2021/04/sports-reference-changing-player-identification-names-from-player-nicknames-to-given-names/). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. Retrieved May 10, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-main_page2_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-main_page2_7-1) ["Main Page – BR Bullpen"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Main_Page). *Baseball Reference*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090617181542/http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Main_Page) from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Jaffe WAR Score system (JAWS) for HOF Evaluations"](https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2012/11/jaffe-war-score-system-jaws-for-hof-evaluations-baseball-reference-com/). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Baseball-Reference.com WAR Explained"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_explained.shtml). *Baseball Reference*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["2024 FanGraphs WAR Update"](https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2024-fangraphs-war-update/). *[FanGraphs](/source/FanGraphs)*. April 5, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["WAR Comparison Chart"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_explained_comparison.shtml). *Baseball-Reference.com*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Baseball Frivolities and Fun Stuff"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/). *Baseball Reference*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Foreman, Sean (May 28, 2024). ["Baseball Reference is sunsetting the Oracle of Baseball"](https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2024/05/baseball-reference-is-sunsetting-the-oracle-of-baseball/). *[Sports Reference](/source/Sports_Reference)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241217235047/https://www.sports-reference.com/blog/2024/05/baseball-reference-is-sunsetting-the-oracle-of-baseball/) from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Perry, Dayn (April 30, 2013). ["Keith Hernandez's mustache has its own Baseball-Reference page"](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/22171252). *[CBS Sports](/source/CBS_Sports)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160413033757/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/22171252) from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Curtis, Charles (March 31, 2023). ["Who's Tungsten Arm O'Doyle? The legendary Angels meme involving Shohei Ohtani, explained"](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/who-is-tungsten-arm-o-doyle-angels). *[For the Win](/source/For_the_Win_(website))*. [USA Today](/source/USA_Today). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240622215021/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/who-is-tungsten-arm-o-doyle-angels) from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Paul O'Neill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o%27neipa01.shtml). *Baseball Reference*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241208134311/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/o%27neipa01.shtml) from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Jim Abbott Statistics and History"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/abbotji01.shtml). *Baseball Reference*. Retrieved July 20, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["2021 Seattle Mariners Statistics"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2021.shtml). *Baseball Reference*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Brock, Corey (August 25, 2021). ["'Fun differential' on the rise, as Mariners finish road swing with a 6-2 record"](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2788125/2021/08/24/fun-differential-on-the-rise-as-mariners-finish-road-swing-with-a-6-2-record/). *[The Athletic](/source/The_Athletic)*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Bucholtz, Andrew (August 25, 2021). ["Baseball-Reference actually adds a "fun differential" stat for the Mariners following Scott Servais' comments"](https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/baseball-reference-adds-a-fun-differential-stat-for-the-mariners.html). *Awful Announcing*. Retrieved May 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Oddibe McDowell Statistics and History"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcdowod01.shtml). *Baseball Reference*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Petchesky, Barry (April 6, 2012). ["An Oral History Of Oddibe McDowell's Water Bill"](https://deadspin.com/an-oral-history-of-oddibe-mcdowells-water-bill-5899242/). *[Deadspin](/source/Deadspin)*. Retrieved July 20, 2025.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.baseball-reference.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Baseball Reference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Reference) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Reference?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.