What is an Extra-Base Hit (XBH) in Baseball?

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There are four main types of hits a baseball player can get, and most people know the names for these hits quite well even if they are not baseball fans: single, double, triple, and home run. However, there is another term you might hear used to describe a type of hit that is a little less straightforward: extra-base hit.

An extra-base hit refers to any kind of hit other than a single. This includes doubles, triples, and home runs. In other words, it is not a unique type of hit, but rather a category that includes several types of hits. It is called an extra-base hit because the batter advances more than one base on a single ball in play.

A single is often referred to as a base hit, because the batter advances one base when they move from home plate to first. Similarly, a double can be called a “two-base hit” and a triple can be called a “three-base hit”. Sometimes a home run is even referred to as a “four-bagger” Extra-base hit is a catch-all term that refers to any hit where the batter moves up multiple bases. Thus, while the name is not quite as straight forward as single, double, triple, or home run, it is actually a very simple concept indeed.

What Are the Types of Extra-Base Hit?

Broadly speaking, there are three types of extra-base hit: doubles, triples, and home runs. A double is when a hitter reaches second base safely on a hit, a triple is when a hitter reaches third base safely on a hit, and a home run is when a hitter reaches home plate safely on a hit. However, there a few different types of double and home runs, all of which still count as extra-base hits.

Most home runs are hit when the batter gets the ball over the wall in the outfield, but it is also possible to hit an inside-the-park home run, as long the the batter can run all the way around the bases before the opposing team tags them out. What’s more, a hitter can also earn a double by hitting the ball over the outfield fence if the ball bounces in the field of play first. This is what is commonly referred to as a ground rule double or an automatic double. All of these types of hits – whether the ball goes over the wall or not – are considered extra-base hits.

What Happens If a Batter Advances Extra Bases on an Error?

If the batter gets a base hit and is able to advance to second base, third base, or home because of a misplay by the defensive team, the batter will not be credited with an extra-base hit. Similarly, if the batter is able to move up an additional base because the defense is focused on a different base runner, the batter will not be credited with the extra-base hit. In other words, the batter must “earn” an extra base hit themselves in order to be credited with one.

How Do You Calculate Extra-Base Hits?

Calculating extra-base hits is a simple task. To do so, all you need to do is add up a hitter’s total number of doubles, triples, and home runs. The formula looks like this: XBH = 2B + 3B + HR. Alternatively, you can take a batter’s total number of hits and subtract their total number of singles, since extra-base hits include all hits other than singles. That formula would look like this: XBH = H – 1B.

How Many XBH is a Lot?

Recording one hundred extra-base hits in a single season is considered a special achievement, and it has only been done 13 times in Major League Baseball history. It is still very impressive to hit 75-90 extra-base hits in a season, and these days, the very best power hitters tend to hit that many. Still, it is rare for more than a small handful of players to have 75+ XBH in a single year.

Who Has the Most XBH in MLB history?

The individual player with the most extra-base hits in his career was Henry Aaron, who had 1,477 XBH. He has held the record for nearly 50 years. Aaron played for the Braves and the Brewers from 1955 to 1976.

The record for most extra-base hits in a single season belongs to Babe Ruth, who had 119 XBH in 1921. He played for the Yankees that season. Ruth has held this particular record for over 100 years.

The active player with the most extra-base hits, both in a single season and in his career, is Albert Pujols. Pujols has 1,405 career XBH, which ranks third all-time behind Henry Aaron and Barry Bonds. His single-season record is 99, which is tied for 16th in baseball history. Pujols, however, is set to retire after the 2022 season. Once he retires, the active players with the most XBH in a single season will be José Ramírez and Giancarlo Stanton, who both had 91 XBH in 2017. The active player with the most XBH in his career will be Miguel Cabrera, who ranks 16th on the all-time list with 1,131 XBH.

Which Team Has the Most XBH in MLB history?

The 2003 Boston Red Sox hold the record for most extra-base hits by a team in a single year, with 649. However, the Minnesota Twins came very close to breaking the record in 2019, recording 648 XBH that season.

The Chicago Cubs hold the all-time MLB team record for most extra-base hits. The Cubs have existed as a franchise since 1876, and they have 55,250 XBH to show for it. That’s over 2,000 more XBH than the next-best team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Which Pitchers Have Allowed the Most XBH in MLB history?

Robin Roberts, who pitched from 1948 to 1966, holds the record for most extra-base hits allowed in a single season. He gave up 118 XBH in 1956 as a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Funnily enough, Roberts also holds the record for most extra-base hits allowed in a career. In 676 total games, he gave up 1488 XBH.

The team with the most extra-base hits allowed in a single year is the 2001 Texas Rangers, who gave up a whopping 660 XBH in 2001. In MLB history, the franchise with the most total XBH given up is the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have been around since 1883, and they have allowed 45,582 extra-base hits in that time. That’s over 1,000 more than the team with the next highest total, the Cincinnati Reds.

Does a Home Run Count as an Extra-Base Hit?

Yes, a home run counts as an extra-base hit. Sometimes people wonder if a home run counts as a hit or an extra-base hit, because it leaves the field of play and because the batter returns to the dugout after running all around the bases. However, the answer is clear and definitive: a home run is both a hit and an extra-base hit.

How Many Extra Base Hits Is A Home Run?

Every type of extra-base hit, be it a double, a triple, or a home run, is still counted as only one extra-base hit. In other words, to determine a player’s total number of XBH, you simply add up how many double, triples, and home runs that player hit. There are no extra points awarded for hitting a home run, even though a batter advances more bases on a home run than on any other type of hit. Therefore, the simple answer to this question is that a single home run counts as one extra-base hit.

However, there is another, somewhat similar statistic called “total bases.” To calculte this statistic, different types of hits are weighted differently, and so a home run counts as more total bases than a triple, a double, or a single.