In baseball, an extra base hit (EB, EBH or XBH), also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner (see fielder's choice). Extra base hits are often not listed separately in tables of baseball statistics, but are easily determined by calculating the sum total of a batter's doubles, triples, and home runs.
The record for most extra-base hits by one batter, in one game, is five, held by several different players, including Joe Adcock and Lou Boudreau. The record for most career extra-base hits is 1,477, held by Hank Aaron.
Another related statistic of interest that can be calculated is "extra bases on long hits". A batter gets three of these for each home run, two for each triple, and one for each double. Thus, leading the league in "Most extra bases in long hits" is a significant accomplishment in power hitting.
Famous quotes containing the words extra, base and/or hit:
“Three early risings make an extra day.”
—Chinese proverb.
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“At about that time I was once sitting at my place and whispering—it was naughty, I know—with my neighbor. Then you, Herr Professor Rudner, got up from your desk, came calmly down the aisle to me: “Did you speak?” and slapped me smack in the face. And I—the fury is inside me to this day—I didn’t hit back. Such were the methods of objectivity.”
—Alfred Döblin (1878–1957)