The internal force of rigid column base joints of steel frames is very large under earthquakes, making it prone to be damaged and destroyed, so the configurations of column bases of rocking structures should be optimized to improve the failure modes and structural performance. Lifting semi-rigid frame column base joints with buckling restraint steel plates (BRSPs) were proposed for seismic energy dissipation. The hysteretic behaviors of column base joints with BRSPs were analyzed based on three parameters: thickness ratio α, width ratio β, and axial stiffness ratio ω between BRSP and column flange, and the results were compared with those of traditional rigid column base joints. Results show that the energy dissipation capacity of BRSPs and lateral resistance of structures were improved with the increase in α and β, and the plastic damage of column bases was reduced. The structural performance was optimal under the conditions that α=0.85, β=0.50, and ω was in the range of [0.3,0.5]. The ratio of plastic dissipated energy of BRSPs to the total plastic dissipated energy was more than 80%, and the plastic damage was limited to the replaceable BRSPs. Contact analysis between BRSP, backing plate, cover plate, and base beam was conducted, and it was found that the cover plate could not only effectively restrain the out-plane buckling of the BRSPs, but also provide friction energy dissipation, 7% of the total dissipated energy. The proposed column base has great energy dissipation capacity, which can improve the seismic performance and resilience of structures.