Standard Stats

For more than a century, statistics have been a staple of the game of baseball. Arguably no sport has a closer relationship with the stats that chronicle its every play.

Although the baseball industry has undergone a drastic and well-chronicled evolution in the statistical realm, many basic numbers have nonetheless maintained significant importance.

True, standard stats are rarely the central focus of Major League Baseball's decision makers -- who often utilize proprietary metrics -- yet they are ubiquitous in baseball writing and mass media. As such, most baseball fans have at least a basic understanding of the terms defined in this section.

Standard stats are widely used by those who play fantasy baseball. A typical fantasy baseball league will use the following statistics:

• For Hitters:
  • Batting Average
  • Home Runs
  • RBIs
  • Runs Scored
  • Stolen Bases
• For Pitchers:
  • Wins
  • ERA
  • WHIP
  • Strikeouts
  • Saves

As more and more stats enter the mainstream conversation, many fantasy leagues have begun to incorporate standard stats that perhaps better reflect the player pool's talent level. For instance, many leagues now use on-base percentage in lieu of batting average for hitters, and quality starts instead of wins for pitchers.

In this section, you will find explanations of baseball's standard stats. Often seen on the backs of baseball cards, these numbers help tell the tales of the game millions love.

The following are all of the terms defined within this section: