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Progressive Leaders & Records for Batting Average


+ - Indicates Hall of Famer. Bold indicates active player.

Minimum of 3.1 PA/G, 1.0 IP/G, and 0.1 decision/G for single-season leaderboards generally needed for rate statistics. Explanation of min. requirements

Minimum of 1000 IP, 3000 PA and 100 decisions for career and active leaderboards for rate statistics.

This table lists the career, single-season, active, yearly (meaning perfomances solely from that year) leaders following each season of Major League Baseball. Note that a player is considered active between the first and last season of their career. Entries under Single-Season from 1871-1875 are not carried forward past 1875. Entries under Career and Active do include totals from the 1871-1875 seasons.

Year CareerBA  Single-SeasonBA  ActiveBA  YearlyBA
1871 Levi Meyerle .4923 Levi Meyerle .4923
1872 Levi Meyerle .4923 Ross Barnes .4304
1873 Levi Meyerle .4923 Ross Barnes .4312
1874 Levi Meyerle .4923 Levi Meyerle .3937
1875 Levi Meyerle .4923 Deacon White .3666

1876 Ross Barnes .4286 Ross Barnes .4286
1877 Ross Barnes .4286 Deacon White .3872
1878 Ross Barnes .4286 Paul Hines .3580
1879 Ross Barnes .4286 Paul Hines .3570
1880 Ross Barnes .4286 George Gore .3602
1881 Cap Anson+ .3542 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3542 Cap Anson+ .3994
1882 Cap Anson+ .3550 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3550 Pete Browning .3785
1883 Cap Anson+ .3497 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3497 Dan Brouthers+ .3741
1884 Cap Anson+ .3480 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3480 Fred Dunlap .4120
1885 Cap Anson+ .3442 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3442 Roger Connor+ .3714
1886 Cap Anson+ .3468 Ross Barnes .4286 Cap Anson+ .3468 King Kelly+ .3880
1887 Dan Brouthers+ .3470 Tip O'Neill .4352 Dan Brouthers+ .3470 Tip O'Neill .4352
1888 Pete Browning .3544 Tip O'Neill .4352 Pete Browning .3544 Cap Anson+ .3437
1889 Cap Anson+ .3462 Tip O'Neill .4352 Cap Anson+ .3462 Dan Brouthers+ .3732
1890 Pete Browning .3485 Tip O'Neill .4352 Pete Browning .3485 Pete Browning .3732
1891 Pete Browning .3454 Tip O'Neill .4352 Pete Browning .3454 Dan Brouthers+ .3498
1892 Dan Brouthers+ .3431 Tip O'Neill .4352 Dan Brouthers+ .3431 Dan Brouthers+ .3350
1893 Dan Brouthers+ .3428 Tip O'Neill .4352 Dan Brouthers+ .3428 Billy Hamilton+ .3803
1894 Dan Brouthers+ .3431 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Dan Brouthers+ .3431 Hugh Duffy+ .4397
1895 Billy Hamilton+ .3485 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Billy Hamilton+ .3485 Jesse Burkett+ .4054
1896 Billy Hamilton+ .3507 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Billy Hamilton+ .3507 Jesse Burkett+ .4096
1897 Jesse Burkett+ .3526 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Jesse Burkett+ .3526 Willie Keeler+ .4238
1898 Willie Keeler+ .3848 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3848 Willie Keeler+ .3850
1899 Willie Keeler+ .3838 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3838 Ed Delahanty+ .4096
1900 Willie Keeler+ .3809 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3809 Honus Wagner+ .3814
1901 Willie Keeler+ .3757 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3757 Nap Lajoie+ .4265
1902 Willie Keeler+ .3711 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3711 Nap Lajoie+ .3778
1903 Willie Keeler+ .3659 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3659 Honus Wagner+ .3555
1904 Willie Keeler+ .3639 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Willie Keeler+ .3639 Nap Lajoie+ .3761
1905 Nap Lajoie+ .3610 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3610 Cy Seymour .3769
1906 Nap Lajoie+ .3603 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3603 George Stone .3580
1907 Nap Lajoie+ .3545 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3545 Ty Cobb+ .3504
1908 Nap Lajoie+ .3481 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3481 Honus Wagner+ .3539
1909 Nap Lajoie+ .3464 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3464 Ty Cobb+ .3770
1910 Nap Lajoie+ .3496 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Nap Lajoie+ .3496 Nap Lajoie+ .3841
1911 Ty Cobb+ .3588 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3588 Ty Cobb+ .4196
1912 Ty Cobb+ .3658 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3658 Ty Cobb+ .4087
1913 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Ty Cobb+ .3902
1914 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Benny Kauff .3695
1915 Ty Cobb+ .3684 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3684 Ty Cobb+ .3694
1916 Ty Cobb+ .3686 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3686 Tris Speaker+ .3864
1917 Ty Cobb+ .3699 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3699 Ty Cobb+ .3826
1918 Ty Cobb+ .3707 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3707 Ty Cobb+ .3824
1919 Ty Cobb+ .3716 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3716 Ty Cobb+ .3843
1920 Ty Cobb+ .3695 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3695 George Sisler+ .4073
1921 Ty Cobb+ .3707 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3707 Rogers Hornsby+ .3970
1922 Ty Cobb+ .3725 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3725 George Sisler+ .4198
1923 Ty Cobb+ .3706 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3706 Harry Heilmann+ .4027
1924 Ty Cobb+ .3685 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3685 Rogers Hornsby+ .4235
1925 Ty Cobb+ .3689 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3689 Rogers Hornsby+ .4028
1926 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3682 Heinie Manush+ .3775
1927 Ty Cobb+ .3677 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3677 Harry Heilmann+ .3980
1928 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Rogers Hornsby+ .3868
1929 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3629 Lefty O'Doul .3981
1930 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3621 Bill Terry+ .4013
1931 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Al Simmons+ .3633 Al Simmons+ .3899
1932 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Lefty O'Doul .3609 Lefty O'Doul .3681
1933 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3593 Chuck Klein+ .3680
1934 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3592 Lou Gehrig+ .3627
1935 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3587 Arky Vaughan+ .3848
1936 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3588 Luke Appling+ .3878
1937 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rogers Hornsby+ .3585 Joe Medwick+ .3744
1938 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Paul Waner+ .3426 Taffy Wright .3498
1939 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Paul Waner+ .3417 Joe DiMaggio+ .3810
1940 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3431 Debs Garms .3548
1941 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3453 Ted Williams+ .4057
1942 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3391 Ted Williams+ .3563
1943 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3391 Stan Musial+ .3566
1944 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3391 Dixie Walker .3570
1945 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Joe DiMaggio+ .3391 Phil Cavarretta .3554
1946 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3533 Stan Musial+ .3654
1947 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3516 Harry Walker .3626
1948 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3540 Stan Musial+ .3764
1949 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3525 George Kell+ .3429
1950 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3499 Billy Goodman .3538
1951 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Stan Musial+ .3473 Stan Musial+ .3547
1952 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3467 Stan Musial+ .3356
1953 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3478 Carl Furillo .3445
1954 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3476 Willie Mays+ .3451
1955 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3480 Al Kaline+ .3401
1956 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3478 Mickey Mantle+ .3527
1957 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3504 Ted Williams+ .3881
1958 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3491 Richie Ashburn+ .3496
1959 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3456 Hank Aaron+ .3545
1960 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ted Williams+ .3444 Dick Groat .3246
1961 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Stan Musial+ .3334 Norm Cash .3608
1962 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Stan Musial+ .3332 Tommy Davis .3459
1963 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Stan Musial+ .3308 Tommy Davis .3255
1964 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Hank Aaron+ .3203 Roberto Clemente+ .3392
1965 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Hank Aaron+ .3201 Roberto Clemente+ .3294
1966 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Hank Aaron+ .3168 Matty Alou .3421
1967 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Hank Aaron+ .3161 Roberto Clemente+ .3573
1968 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Hank Aaron+ .3141 Pete Rose .3355
1969 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Roberto Clemente+ .3143 Pete Rose .3477
1970 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Roberto Clemente+ .3161 Rico Carty .3661
1971 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Roberto Clemente+ .3175 Joe Torre .3628
1972 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Roberto Clemente+ .3173 Billy Williams+ .3328
1973 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3160 Rod Carew+ .3500
1974 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3234 Rod Carew+ .3639
1975 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3276 Rod Carew+ .3589
1976 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3280 Bill Madlock .3385
1977 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3345 Rod Carew+ .3880
1978 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3344 Dave Parker .3339
1979 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3334 Keith Hernandez .3443
1980 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3332 George Brett+ .3898
1981 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3319 Bill Madlock .3405
1982 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3311 Willie Wilson .3316
1983 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3315 Wade Boggs+ .3608
1984 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3301 Tony Gwynn+ .3515
1985 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Rod Carew+ .3278 Wade Boggs+ .3675
1986 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3521 Wade Boggs+ .3569
1987 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3539 Tony Gwynn+ .3701
1988 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3557 Wade Boggs+ .3664
1989 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3522 Kirby Puckett+ .3386
1990 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3462 Eddie Murray+ .3298
1991 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3448 Julio Franco .3413
1992 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3377 Edgar Martinez .3428
1993 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3347 Andres Galarraga .3702
1994 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Wade Boggs+ .3351 Tony Gwynn+ .3938
1995 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3361 Tony Gwynn+ .3682
1996 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3371 Alex Rodriguez .3577
1997 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3396 Tony Gwynn+ .3716
1998 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3386 Larry Walker .3634
1999 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3386 Larry Walker .3790
2000 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3383 Todd Helton .3724
2001 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Tony Gwynn+ .3382 Larry Walker .3501
2002 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Todd Helton .3331 Barry Bonds .3697
2003 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Todd Helton .3373 Albert Pujols .3587
2004 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Todd Helton .3387 Ichiro Suzuki .3722
2005 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Todd Helton .3366 Derrek Lee .3350
2006 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Todd Helton .3329 Joe Mauer .3474
2007 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Ichiro Suzuki .3335 Magglio Ordonez .3630
2008 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Albert Pujols .3344 Chipper Jones .3645
2009 Ty Cobb+ .3664 Hugh Duffy+ .4397 Albert Pujols .3337 Joe Mauer .3652