Baseball Reference Blog
MLB Players with Highest Batting Averages of All Time
Posted by Andrew Weiser on May 18, 2024
(last updated on November 20, 2025)
Since 2011, excluding the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, only one Major Leaguer has hit .350+ for a whole season: Luis Arráez (.353 in 2023). Maintaining a .350 average over a career, however, is a very difficult feat.
Batting average is one of the key traditional statistics in baseball, and batting average records are some of the most lauded in the game. It takes a high level of consistency and skill to hit for average, and any player who can hit for over .350 in their career, no matter the era, solidifies their place in baseball history. The list of who has the highest batting average of all time is a list of some of the greatest hitters of the early 20th century. Given advances in pitching and fielding skills, it’s highly unlikely we will ever see these records broken. Here are the players with the highest batting averages of all time.
Ty Cobb
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg)
Born: December 18, 1886 in Narrows, GA us
Died: July 17, 1961 (Aged 74-211d) in Atlanta, GA
Buried: Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, GA
High School: Franklin County HS (Royston, GA)
Debut:
August 30, 1905
(Age 18-255d,
2,754th in major league history)
vs. NYY 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 11, 1928
(Age 41-268d)
vs. NYY 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1936.
(Voted by BBWAA on 222/226 ballots)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.
View Ty Cobb’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1905 season
Full Name: Tyrus Raymond Cobb
Nicknames: The Georgia Peach
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
151.5
11440
4189
117
.366
2245
1944
897
.433
.512
.944
168
Inarguably one of the greatest players from any era of baseball, Ty Cobb leads all of professional baseball with the highest batting average of all time. A career .366 hitter, Cobb won 12 batting titles in his 22-year career, including his MVP 1911 season, in which he hit .419. Cobb has 4,189 career hits, the second most of all time. In discussion of sports’ most unbreakable records, Cobb’s career batting average should be considered at or near the top of that list. It is highly unlikely we will ever see any player in the modern game come anywhere near the .360 career mark.
Oscar Charleston
Positions: Centerfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-8, 185lb (173cm, 83kg)
Born: October 14, 1896 in Indianapolis, IN us
Died: October 5, 1954 (Aged 57-356d) in Philadelphia, PA
Buried: Floral Park Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN
Debut: 1920 (4,833rd in major league history)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1976.
(Voted by Negro League Committee)
View Oscar Charleston’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1920 season
Full Name: Oscar McKinley Charleston
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Bennie Charleston
Career
48.1
3317
1210
143
.365
854
853
210
.449
.615
1.064
184
Not only is Oscar Charleston’s .364 career average one of the highest batting averages of all time in professional baseball, it is the highest all time in the Negro Leagues. Charleston played for 18 seasons in the Negro Leagues, batting at least .300 in 14 of them, including his career high of .433 in the 1921 season. Charleston recorded 1,210 hits, 143 home runs and 853 RBI in his career. Charleston was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.
Rogers Hornsby
Positions: Second Baseman, Shortstop and Third Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-11, 175lb (180cm, 79kg)
Born: April 27, 1896 in Winters, TX us
Died: January 5, 1963 (Aged 66-253d) in Chicago, IL
Buried: Hornsby Bend Cemetery, Hornsby Bend, TX
High School: Northside HS (Fort Worth, TX)
Debut:
September 10, 1915
(Age 19-136d,
4,411th in major league history)
vs. CIN 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
July 20, 1937
(Age 41-084d)
vs. NYY 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1942.
(Voted by BBWAA on 182/233 ballots)
No induction ceremony in Cooperstown held (until 2013).
View Rogers Hornsby’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1916 season
Full Name: Rogers Hornsby
Nicknames: Rajah
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
127.0
8173
2930
301
.358
1579
1584
135
.434
.577
1.010
175
Hall of Fame infielder Rogers Hornsby played for five teams in 23 seasons of professional baseball between 1915 and 1937. He won seven batting titles and hit for a career-high .424 in 1924. His lifetime .358 average places him third among the highest batting averages of all time. Hornsby hit over .400 in three separate seasons: 1922, 1924 and 1925. He retired from the game with 2,930 career hits and was inducted into the Hall in 1942. Hornsby passed away in 1963 at the age of 66.
Joe Jackson
Position: Outfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-1, 200lb (185cm, 90kg)
Born: July 16, 1887 in Pickens County, SC us
Died: December 5, 1951 (Aged 64-142d) in Greenville, SC
Buried: Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, SC
Debut:
August 25, 1908
(Age 21-040d,
3,082nd in major league history)
vs. CLE 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 27, 1920
(Age 33-073d)
vs. DET 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1910 season
Full Name: Joseph Walker Jackson
Nicknames: Shoeless Joe Jackson
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
62.2
4981
1772
54
.356
873
792
202
.423
.517
.940
170
Though his career .356 average gives “Shoeless” Joe Jackson the fourth-highest batting average of all time, MLB has barred Jackson from the Hall of Fame due to his association with the infamous “Black Sox” scandal. Jackson hit at least .300 in every season after he exceeded his rookie limits, including a career-high .408 in 1911 with the Cleveland Naps. Shockingly, he did not win the batting title that year as Ty Cobb hit .419 that season on his way to the MVP award. Jackson was the league leader in hits twice in his career, back-to-back seasons in 1912 and 1913. After 13 professional seasons, Jackson retired with 1,772 hits in 4,981 at bats.
Jud Wilson
Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Outfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
5-8, 190lb (173cm, 86kg)
Born: February 28, 1896 in Remington, VA us
Died: June 24, 1963 (Aged 67-116d) in Washington, DC
Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, VA
Debut: 1923 (5,540th in major league history)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2006.
(Voted by Negro League Committee)
View Jud Wilson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1923 season
Full Name: Ernest Judson Wilson
Nicknames: Boojum
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
33.3
3082
1080
77
.350
625
728
104
.434
.524
.958
154
Two-time Negro League batting champ Jud Wilson hit for a career .350 average, the fifth highest in the history of professional baseball. In 1927, Wilson hit a career-high .422 for the Baltimore Black Sox and New York Lincoln Giants. Wilson played for 21 seasons, an enormous accomplishment considering he was 27 years old during his rookie season in 1923. Playing well into middle-age, Wilson retired in 1945 at the age of 49. At the end of his career, in addition to having one of the highest batting averages of all time, he had 1,080 career hits and 728 career RBI. Wilson became a Hall of Famer in 2006 via the Committee on African-American Baseball.
Lefty O’Doul
Positions: Leftfielder and Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 180lb (183cm, 81kg)
Born: March 4, 1897 in San Francisco, CA us
Died: December 7, 1969 (Aged 72-278d) in San Francisco, CA
Buried: Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, CA
High School: Bay View HS (San Francisco, CA)
Debut:
April 29, 1919
(Age 22-056d,
4,742nd in major league history)
vs. PHA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 1934
(Age 37-210d)
vs. BRO 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1923 season
Full Name: Francis Joseph O’Doul
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
25.7
3264
1140
113
.349
624
542
36
.413
.532
.945
143
Outfielder Lefty O’Doul is remembered as a great ambassador of the game, helping to germinate the popularity of baseball in Japan. As a player, he wasn’t too shabby either as his .349 career average is one of the highest batting averages of all time. Though he primarily played left field, O’Doul pitched more than a few innings as well, mostly during his 1923 season with the Boston Red Sox. Where he really shined was at the plate where he recorded 1,140 hits in 3,264 at bats in his 11 seasons. On top of being a great hitter for average, O’Doul had some power too with 113 home runs and 542 career RBI.
Turkey Stearnes
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-11, 175lb (180cm, 79kg)
Born: May 8, 1901 in Nashville, TN us
Died: September 4, 1979 (Aged 78-119d) in Detroit, MI
Buried: Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton Township, MI
High School: Pearl HS (Nashville, TN)
Debut: 1923 (5,540th in major league history)
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2000.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Turkey Stearnes’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1923 season
Full Name: Norman Thomas Stearnes
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
49.5
3807
1326
187
.348
917
1009
130
.417
.616
1.032
177
Five-time All-Star and two-time Negro League batting champ Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes holds a .348 career batting average, the seventh-highest batting average of all time. Stearnes played for 18 seasons in the Negro Leagues from 1923 to 1940. Though he never broke the .400 mark in a single season, he hit for at least .350 in 10 seasons, including his career high of .390 in 1929. A fearsome hitter who could hit for power and average, Stearnes was a six-time home run leader in the Negro National League, and his .616 slugging percentage is fifth all time in MLB. Stearnes made it into the Hall of Fame in 2000, voted in by the Veterans Committee.
Ed Delahanty
Positions: Leftfielder, First Baseman and Second Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 170lb (185cm, 77kg)
Born: October 30, 1867 in Cleveland, OH us
Died: July 2, 1903 (Aged 35-245d) in Niagara Falls, Canada
Buried: Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland, OH
Debut: May 22, 1888 (Age 20-205d, 1,269th in major league history)
Last Game:
June 25, 1903
(Age 35-238d)
vs. CLE 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1945.
(Voted by Old Timers Committee)
No induction ceremony in Cooperstown held (until 2013).
View Ed Delahanty’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1888 season
Full Name: Edward James Delahanty
Nicknames: Big Ed
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Frank Delahanty, Jim Delahanty, Joe Delahanty, Tom Delahanty
Career
69.6
7510
2597
101
.346
1600
1466
456
.411
.505
.917
152
When Ed Delahanty’s career ended in 1903, his .346 average was the highest batting average of all time. Several players in the early half of the 20th century went on to pass him, but his record still stands as the eighth-highest batting average in baseball history. Delahanty won two batting titles, including his career-best 1899 season in which he hit .410 with 238 hits and 137 RBI, leading the National League in all three categories. Delahanty’s career was cut short in the middle of the 1903 season after he tragically drowned in the Niagara River. The specifics around his death are still uncertain. His career numbers were still Hall of Fame-worthy as his .346 career average and 2,597 hits were enough to carry him into the Hall in 1945.
Tris Speaker
Position: Centerfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-11, 193lb (180cm, 87kg)
Born: April 4, 1888 in Hubbard, TX us
Died: December 8, 1958 (Aged 70-248d) in Lake Whitney, TX
Buried: Fairview Cemetery, Hubbard, TX
High School: Hubbard HS (Hubbard, TX)
School: Texas Wesleyan University (Fort Worth, TX)
Debut:
September 12, 1907
(Age 19-161d,
2,971st in major league history)
vs. PHA 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
August 30, 1928
(Age 40-148d)
vs. BOS 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1937.
(Voted by BBWAA on 165/201 ballots)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.
View Tris Speaker’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1908 season
Full Name: Tristram Edgar Speaker
Nicknames: The Grey Eagle
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Uncle of Tex Jeanes
Career
134.9
10195
3514
117
.345
1882
1531
436
.428
.500
.928
158
The all-time leader in doubles, Tris Speaker also hit for one of the highest batting averages of all time at .345. He won one AL batting title in 1916 while hitting .386; however, he hit for an even higher average in 1920 and 1925 hitting .388 and .389, respectively. A member of the elite 3,000-hit club, Speaker recorded 3,514 hits in his career, the fifth most all time. Speaker was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, less than a decade after he retired. Speaker died at the age of 70 in 1958.
Billy Hamilton
Position: Outfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-6, 165lb (168cm, 74kg)
Born: February 15, 1866 in Newark, NJ us
Died: December 15, 1940 (Aged 74-304d) in Worcester, MA
Buried: Eastwood Cemetery, Lancaster, MA
Debut: July 31, 1888 (Age 22-167d, 1,290th in major league history)
Last Game:
September 16, 1901
(Age 35-213d)
vs. NYG 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1961.
(Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
View Billy Hamilton’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1888 season
Full Name: William Robert Hamilton
Nicknames: Sliding Billy
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
63.2
6283
2164
40
.344
1697
742
914
.455
.432
.888
141
Outfielder Billy Hamilton played most of his 14-season career in the 19th century and was one of the best players of the 1890s. His rookie season in 1888 and his final season in 1901 were the only years he batted below .300. A two-time NL batting champ, Hamilton’s best season came in 1894, in which he hit .403 and scored 198 runs. This record remains the MLB record for runs scored to this day … 13 decades later. Hamilton’s .344 career average is the 10th best of all time. Hamilton passed away in 1940, while many of the other players on this list were still playing. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961, 60 years after his retirement.
Ted Williams
Position: Leftfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-3, 205lb (190cm, 92kg)
Born: August 30, 1918 in San Diego, CA us
Died: July 5, 2002 (Aged 83-309d) in Inverness, FL
Buried: Frozen
High School: Herbert Hoover HS (San Diego, CA)
Debut:
April 20, 1939
(Age 20-233d,
8,627th in major league history)
vs. NYY 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 28, 1960
(Age 42-029d)
vs. BAL 3 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1966.
(Voted by BBWAA on 282/302 ballots)
View Ted Williams’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1939 season
Full Name: Theodore Samuel Williams
Nicknames: The Kid, Teddy Ballgame, Splendid Splinter or Thumper
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
121.8
7706
2654
521
.344
1798
1839
24
.482
.634
1.116
191
Tied with Hamilton with the 10th-highest batting average of all time at .344 is Hall of Fame outfielder Ted Williams. One of the greatest players in Boston Red Sox history, Williams is still the most recent player to hit for over .400 in a season, a feat that may never be accomplished again. One of the greatest pure hitters to play the game, Williams earned six batting titles in his career. Williams was also a 19-time All-Star, two-time MVP (1946 and 1949) and two-time Triple Crown winner (1942 and 1947). Williams retired in 1960 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame six years later, his first year of eligibility. Williams passed away in 2002.
FAQs
In 1943, Dominican ballplayer Tetelo Vargas hit .471 while playing for the New York Cubans of the Negro National League. For MLB, Hugh Duffy hit .440 in 1894 for the Boston team of the National League. After 1900, the highest average in a single season was when Nap Lajoie hit .426 for the 1901 Philadelphia Athletics.
Ty Cobb holds a .366 career batting average, the highest career batting average of all time.
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