{"id":1454,"date":"2024-05-18T11:50:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-18T15:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/?p=1454"},"modified":"2025-11-20T14:03:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:03:34","slug":"top-11-players-with-the-highest-batting-averages-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/br-blog\/2024\/05\/top-11-players-with-the-highest-batting-averages-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Players with Highest Batting Averages of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on November 20, 2025)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2011, excluding the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, only one Major Leaguer has hit .350+ for a whole season: Luis Arr\u00e1ez<\/a> (.353 in 2023). Maintaining a .350 average over a career, however, is a very difficult feat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s highly unlikely we will ever see these records broken. Here are the players with the highest batting averages of all time<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t
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\"Photo\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tTy Cobb<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n

\n Position:<\/strong>\n Centerfielder\n \n<\/p>\n\n

\n\tBats: <\/strong>Left\n  \u2022 \n\tThrows: <\/strong>Right\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n

6-1<\/span>, 175lb<\/span> (185cm, 79kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n December 18<\/a>, 1886<\/a>\n <\/span>\n\n \n \n \n in Narrows, GA<\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n us<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

Died:<\/a><\/strong>\n July 17<\/a>, 1961<\/a>\n (Aged 74-211d)<\/span>\n \n in Atlanta, GA<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n Buried<\/a>:<\/strong>\n \n \n Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, GA\n \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n

High School:<\/strong> Franklin County HS (Royston, GA)<\/a><\/p>\n \n \n \n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n

Debut:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n August 30, 1905\n <\/a>\n (Age 18-255d,\n 2,754th in major league history)\n
   vs. NYY<\/a> 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB\n \n <\/p>\n\n \n

Last Game:<\/a><\/strong>\n September 11, 1928<\/a>\n (Age 41-268d)\n
   vs. NYY<\/a> 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n

\n Hall of Fame<\/a>:<\/strong> Inducted as Player in 1936.\n (Voted by BBWAA on 222\/226 ballots)\n
   Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939.\n
   View Ty Cobb’s Page<\/a><\/strong> at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).\n <\/p>\n \n\n\n\n

\n Rookie Status:<\/a><\/strong>\n \n Exceeded rookie limits during 1905 season\n \n \n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n

\n Full Name:<\/strong> Tyrus Raymond Cobb \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n

\n Nicknames:<\/strong>\n The Georgia Peach<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n\n

\n View Player Info<\/a> \n from the B-R Bullpen<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n

\n View Player Bio<\/a> \n from the SABR BioProject<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n