# Sports Reference API

> Sports Reference returns player career statistics and season leaders as a workflow and API.

Get player career returns regular-season statistics, awards, and season-by-season records for a named player; sport is optional. List season leaders returns players ranked by a statistic for a chosen sport and season; provide a statistic and sport, with season optional.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/sports-reference
- Handle: `@sports-reference`
- Category: [Sports](https://fous.com/workflows/category/sports)
- Source website: https://sports-reference.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Sports Reference.

## Methods

### Get player career

Operation `get_player_career`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Get a player’s regular-season career statistics, awards and season-by-season record across basketball, football, baseball or hockey. Totals reflect the leagues shown on the player page; playoff statistics are excluded.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `sport` | string | no | `"football"` | Sport to search, for example basketball. All searches four sports and picks the strongest match. |
| `player` | string | yes | `"Tom Brady"` | The player name, for example Michael Jordan. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "player"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "sport": {
      "enum": [
        "all",
        "basketball",
        "football",
        "baseball",
        "hockey"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Sport to search, for example basketball. All searches four sports and picks the strongest match.",
      "examples": [
        "football",
        "baseball",
        "hockey"
      ]
    },
    "player": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "The player name, for example Michael Jordan.",
      "examples": [
        "Tom Brady",
        "Michael Jordan",
        "Clayton Kershaw"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "sport": "football",
      "player": "Tom Brady"
    },
    {
      "player": "Michael Jordan"
    },
    {
      "sport": "baseball",
      "player": "Clayton Kershaw"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `sport` | string | `"basketball"` |  |
| `teams` | array |  |  |
| `player` | string | `"Michael Jordan"` |  |
| `seasons` | array |  |  |
| `seasons[].age` | integer or null | `21` |  |
| `seasons[].hits` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].runs` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].team` | string or null | `"CHI"` |  |
| `seasons[].wins` | number | `5` |  |
| `seasons[].games` | integer or null | `82` |  |
| `seasons[].goals` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].sacks` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].saves` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].league` | string or null | `"NBA"` |  |
| `seasons[].losses` | number | `5` |  |
| `seasons[].points` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].season` | string | `"1984-85"` |  |
| `seasons[].assists` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].tackles` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].shutouts` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].home_runs` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].page_link` | string | `"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1985/"` |  |
| `seasons[].plus_minus` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].receptions` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].strikeouts` | number | `100` |  |
| `seasons[].completions` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].stolen_bases` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].interceptions` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].passer_rating` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].passing_yards` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].rushing_yards` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].shots_on_goal` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].forced_fumbles` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].runs_batted_in` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].batting_average` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].blocks_per_game` | number | `0.8` |  |
| `seasons[].innings_pitched` | number | `107.2` |  |
| `seasons[].points_per_game` | number | `28.2` |  |
| `seasons[].receiving_yards` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].save_percentage` | number | `1` |  |
| `seasons[].steals_per_game` | number | `2.4` |  |
| `seasons[].assists_per_game` | number | `5.9` |  |
| `seasons[].field_goals_made` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].passing_attempts` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].rushing_attempts` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].rebounds_per_game` | number | `6.5` |  |
| `seasons[].earned_run_average` | number | `4.26` |  |
| `seasons[].on_base_percentage` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].passing_touchdowns` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].rushing_touchdowns` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].slugging_percentage` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].interceptions_thrown` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].receiving_touchdowns` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].field_goal_percentage` | number | `0.515` |  |
| `seasons[].free_throw_percentage` | number | `0.845` |  |
| `seasons[].goals_against_average` | number | `0` |  |
| `seasons[].on_base_plus_slugging` | number |  |  |
| `seasons[].walks_hits_per_inning` | number | `1.495` |  |
| `seasons[].three_point_percentage` | number | `0.173` |  |
| `positions` | array |  |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "player": "Michael Jordan"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "sport": "basketball",
  "teams": [
    "CHI",
    "WAS"
  ],
  "player": "Michael Jordan",
  "seasons": [
    {
      "age": 21,
      "team": "CHI",
      "games": 82,
      "league": "NBA",
      "season": "1984-85",
      "page_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1985/",
      "blocks_per_game": 0.8,
      "points_per_game": 28.2,
      "steals_per_game": 2.4,
      "assists_per_game": 5.9,
      "rebounds_per_game": 6.5,
      "field_goal_percentage": 0.515,
      "free_throw_percentage": 0.845,
      "three_point_percentage": 0.173
    },
    {
      "age": 22,
      "team": "CHI",
      "games": 18,
      "league": "NBA",
      "season": "1985-86",
      "page_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1986/",
      "blocks_per_game": 1.2,
      "points_per_game": 22.7,
      "steals_per_game": 2.1,
      "assists_per_game": 2.9,
      "rebounds_per_game": 3.6,
      "field_goal_percentage": 0.457,
      "free_throw_percentage": 0.84,
      "three_point_percentage": 0.167
    },
    {
      "age": 23,
      "team": "CHI",
      "games": 82,
      "league": "NBA",
      "season": "1986-87",
      "page_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01/gamelog/1987/",
      "blocks_per_game": 1.5,
      "points_per_game": 37.1,
      "steals_per_game": 2.9,
      "assists_per_game": 4.6,
      "rebounds_per_game": 5.2,
      "field_goal_percentage": 0.482,
      "free_throw_percentage": 0.857,
      "three_point_percentage": 0.182
    }
  ],
  "positions": [
    "Shooting Guard",
    "Small Forward"
  ],
  "player_code": "jordami01",
  "years_active": "1984-85 to 2002-03",
  "player_page_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html",
  "awards_and_honors": [
    "Hall of Fame",
    "14x All Star",
    "10x Scoring Champ"
  ]
}
```

### List season leaders

Operation `list_season_leaders`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

List league leaders for a season and statistic in basketball, football, baseball, or hockey. The latest season with published leaders is used if no season is given; supported baseball statistics include common batting and pitching categories.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `stat` | string | yes | `"points per game"` | Statistic in plain words. Example: points per game. |
| `sport` | string | yes | `"basketball"` | Sport: basketball, football, baseball, or hockey. Example: basketball. |
| `season` | integer | no | `2025` | Year the season ends, for example 2025. Defaults to the latest season with stats. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `25` | Number of leaders to list, for example 10. Default 10, maximum 50. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "sport",
    "stat"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "stat": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Statistic in plain words. Example: points per game.",
      "examples": [
        "points per game",
        "passing yards",
        "home runs"
      ]
    },
    "sport": {
      "enum": [
        "basketball",
        "football",
        "baseball",
        "hockey"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Sport: basketball, football, baseball, or hockey. Example: basketball.",
      "examples": [
        "basketball",
        "football",
        "baseball"
      ]
    },
    "season": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Year the season ends, for example 2025. Defaults to the latest season with stats.",
      "examples": [
        2025
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Number of leaders to list, for example 10. Default 10, maximum 50.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        25,
        20,
        30
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "stat": "points per game",
      "sport": "basketball",
      "season": 2025
    },
    {
      "stat": "passing yards",
      "sport": "football",
      "season": 2025,
      "max_results": 25
    },
    {
      "stat": "home runs",
      "sport": "baseball",
      "season": 2025,
      "max_results": 20
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `sport` | string | `"basketball"` |  |
| `league` | string | `"NBA"` |  |
| `season` | integer | `2025` |  |
| `leaders` | array |  |  |
| `leaders[].rank` | integer | `1` |  |
| `leaders[].team` | string or null | `"OKC"` |  |
| `leaders[].value` | number | `32.7` |  |
| `leaders[].player` | string | `"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander"` |  |
| `leaders[].player_link` | string | `"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilgesh01.html"` |  |
| `stat_name` | string | `"Points Per Game"` |  |
| `leaders_page_link` | string | `"https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_leaders.html#leaders_pts_per_g"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "stat": "points per game",
  "sport": "basketball",
  "season": 2025
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "sport": "basketball",
  "league": "NBA",
  "season": 2025,
  "leaders": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "team": "OKC",
      "value": 32.7,
      "player": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander",
      "player_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilgesh01.html"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "team": "MIL",
      "value": 30.4,
      "player": "Giannis Antetokounmpo",
      "player_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/antetgi01.html"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "team": "DEN",
      "value": 29.6,
      "player": "Nikola Jokić",
      "player_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jokicni01.html"
    }
  ],
  "stat_name": "Points Per Game",
  "leaders_page_link": "https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_leaders.html#leaders_pts_per_g"
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@sports-reference",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_player_career",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "sport": "football",
    "player": "Tom Brady"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@sports-reference\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_player_career\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"sport\": \"football\",\n    \"player\": \"Tom Brady\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@sports-reference",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_player_career",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "sport": "football",
    "player": "Tom Brady"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@sports-reference","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Compare a player's regular-season records across seasons.
- Review a player's awards and career statistics.
- Find the leaders for a sport and statistic in a season.
- Compare player values within a season's leader list.

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Sports Reference?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Sports Reference. This workflow reads the public sports-reference.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Sports Reference account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from sports-reference.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### What are a player's career statistics by season?

Get player career returns regular-season statistics, awards, and season-by-season records for a named player.

### Who led a sport in a particular statistic?

List season leaders returns ranked players for a supplied sport, statistic, and optional season.

## Related

- [Yahoo Sports API](https://fous.com/workflows/yahoo-sports.md): Yahoo Sports returns date-based scores and schedules, seasonal standings, and player regular-season and career stats when Yahoo provides them; unavailable data may be missing.
- [MLB API](https://fous.com/workflows/mlb.md): MLB provides scores, schedules and game details for one date or up to seven days, regular-season division standings defaulting to the current year, and player profiles with regular-season stats for a selected season and career.
- [ESPN API](https://fous.com/workflows/espn.md): ESPN provides daily scores and schedules, team results, player statistics, matchup summaries, and latest topic-specific headlines; coverage and published details vary, especially for college and soccer.
- [NFL API](https://fous.com/workflows/nfl.md): NFL provides weekly scores and schedules, regular-season standings, current rosters, and player season and career stats; released players are excluded, and ages or stats may be unavailable.
- [NHL API](https://fous.com/workflows/nhl.md): NHL provides games, schedules, and scores when published, standings by date, and player profiles with regular-season stats; dates outside a season have no teams, and unavailable stats are null.
- [Premier League API](https://fous.com/workflows/premier-league.md): Premier League provides current/chosen-season tables and recent form, date-range fixtures/results (up to 380), player profiles and stats, and seasonal leaders; older-season stats may be limited.
- [NBA API](https://fous.com/workflows/nba.md): NBA provides up-to-seven-day schedules and scores, seasonal standings, player bios and available regular-season averages, plus matchup box scores, with undated matchups showing the latest.
- [SofaScore API](https://fous.com/workflows/sofascore.md): SofaScore provides live sports scores and match statistics, plus football match details for the most recent played or live match and player season statistics.
- [All Sports workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/sports)