Official batting leaders according to Major League Baseball MLB records are based on years baseball players played and a minimum of number of lifetime at bats Note: Bold Type for baseball players in the Hall of Fame All-time Highest Career Batting Averages: #1 Ty Cobb .366 - 1905-1928... #2 Rogers Hornsby .358 - 1915-1937... #3 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson .356 - 1908-1920... #4 Ed Delahanty .346 - 1888-1903... #5 Tris Speaker .345 - 1907-1928... #6 Billy Hamilton .344 - 1888-1901... #6 Ted Williams .344 - 1939-1960... #7 George Herman 'Babe' Ruth .342 - 1914-1935... #7 Dan Brothers .342 - 1879-1904... #7 Harry Heilmann .342 - 1914-1932... #11 Pete Browning ..341 - 1882-1894...11 Wee Willie Keeler .341 - 1892-1910... #14 Lou Gehrig .340 - 1923-1939... #14 George Sisler .340 - 1915-1930... #16 Jesse Burkett .338 - 1890-1905... #16 Nap Lajoie .338 - 1896-1916... #16 Tony Gwynn .338 - 1982-2001... #18 Riggs Stephenson .336 - 1921-1934... #19 John McGraw .334 - 1891-1906... #19 Al Simmons .334 - 1924-1944 #21 Eddie Collins .333 - 1906-1930... #21 Mike Dolin .333 - 1899-1914... #21 Paul Waner .333 - 1926-1945... #24 Stan Musial .331 - 1941-1963... #25 Sam Thompson .331 - 1885-1906... #27 Heine Manush .330 - 1923-1939... #28 Cap Anson .329... 1871-1897... #29 Rod Carew .328 - 1967-1985... #29 Wade Boggs .328 - 1982-1999 #32 Honus Wagner .327 - 1897-1917... #33 Tip O'Neill .326 - 1883-892... #34 Earl Combs .325 1924-1935... #34 Joe DiMaggio .325 - 1936-1951... #34 Bob Fothergill .325 - 1922-1933... #34 Jimmie (Jimmy) Foxx .325 - 1925-1945... #37 Hugh Duffy .324 - 1888-1906... # 37 Babe Herman .324 - 1926-1945... #37 Joe Medwick .324 - 1932-1948 #40 Edd Roush .323 - 1913-1931... #41 Sam Rice .322 - 1915-1934... #41 Ross Youngs .322 - 1917-1926... #43 Kiki Cuyler .321 - 1921-1938... #44 Mickey Cochrane .320 - 1925-1937... #44 Charlie Gehringer .320 - 1924-1942... # 44 Chuck Klein .320 - 1928-1944... #44 Pie Traynor .320 - 1920-1937... #48 Ken Williams .319 - 1915-1929... #49 Earl Averill .318 - 1929-1941... #49 Arky Vaughan .318 - 1932-1943... Roger Connor .317 - 1880-1897 #51 Roberto Clemente .317 - 1955-1972... #51 Kirby Puckett .317 - 1984-1996... #51 Zack Wheat .317 - 1909-1927... #51 Joe Kelley .317 - 1891-1908... #51 Chick Hafey .317 - 1924-1937... #55 Goose Goslin .316 - 1921-1938... #55 George Van Haltren .316 - 1887-1903 baseballhistorian.com - Archives For complete stats of all baseball players, please see Players section on our home page The following is a list of leading baseball players according to baseball historian without regard to certain minimum at bats or games played. Note: this list is a work in progress, we are researching and always adding baseball players to this list. Please visit often Lefty O'Doul .349 - 1919-20, 1922-23, 1928-1934... Dave Orr .342 - 1883-1890... Bill Lange 1893-1899 - .330... Ross Barnes .319 - 1871-1881... Earl Averill .318 - 1929-1941... James Bug Holliday .316 - 1889-1898... Cecil Travis .314 - 1933-1941, 1945-47... Hank Geenberg .313 - 1930-1941, 1945-47... Elmer Flick .313 - 1898-1910... Bill Dickey .313 - 1928-1943... Jack Fournier .313 - 1912-1928 Johnny Mize .312 - 1936-1942, 1946-53... Fred Clarke .312 - 1894-1915... Joe Sewell .312 - 1920-1933... Barney McCosky .312 - 1939-1942, 1946-53... Nomar Garciaparra .312 - 1996-2008... Bill Keister .312 - 1896, 1898-1903... Dale Mitchell .312 - 1946-1956... Edgar Martinez .312 - 1987-2004... Manny Ramirez .312 - 1993-2008 Jackie Robinson .311 - NL 1945, ML 1947-1956... Mike Tiernan .311 - 1857-1899 ... Raymond Rip Radcliff .311 - 1934-1943... Tafty Wright .311 - 1938-1942, 1946-1949... Hughie Jennings .311 - 1891-1918... Ginger Beaumont .311 - 1899-1910 Luke Appling .310 - 1930-1950... Jim Bottomley .310 - 1922-1937... Sam Crawford .310 - 1899-1917... Jim O'Rourke .310 - 1896-1893, 1904... Bubbles Hargrave .310 - 1913-1915, 1921-1930... Bobby Veach .310 - 1912-1925 ... Ernest Babe Phelps .310 - 1931, 1933-1942 Jack Tobin .309 - 1914-16, 1918-1927... Bob Meusel .309 - 1920-1930 Richie Ashburn .308 - 1948-1962... Jake Beckley .308 - 1888-1907... King Kelly .308 - 1878-1893... Virgil Spud Davis .308 - 1928-1941, 1944-45 ... Mike Piazza .308 - 1992-2007 Frank Home Run Baker ..307 - 1908-1922... Hack Wilson .307 - 1923-1934 ... Stuffy McInnis .307 - 1909-1927... Johnny Pesky .307 - 1942, 1946-54... George H. Burns .307 - 1914-1929... Joe Vosmik .307 - 1930-1941, 1944 ... Zeke Bonura .307 - 1934-1940... Patsy Donovan .307 - 1890-1907... Don Mattingly .307 - 1982-1995... Matty Alou .307 - 1960-1974... George Kell .306 - 1943-1957... Ernie Lombardi .306 - 1931-1947... Paul Molitor .306 - 1978-1998... Dixie Walker .306 - 1931, 1933-1949... Jimmy Ryan .306 - 1885-1903 ... Magglio Ordonez .306 - 1997-2011 Hank Aaron .305 - 1954-1976... George Brett .305 - 1973-1993... Chick Stahl .305 - 1897-1906... Bill Madlock .305 - 1973-1987... Mel Ott .304 - 1926-1947... Billy Herman .304 - 1931-1947... Tony Oliva .304 - 1962-1976... Manny Mota .304 - 1962-1983 Pete Rose .303 - 1963-1988... Mark Grace .303 - 1988-2003... Harvey Keunn .303 - 1952-1966... Deacon White .303 - 1876-1890... Cy Seymour .303 - 1896-1913... Will Clark .303 - 1986-2000... Buddy Myer .303 - 1925-1941... Gene DeMontreville .303 - 1894-1904... Al Oliver .303 - 1968-1985... Steve Brodie .303 - 1890-1902... Cy Seymour .303 - 1896-1910, 1913 ... Charlie Jamieson .303 - 1915-1932 Willie Mays .302 - 1951-1952, 1954-1973... Hal Trosky .302 - 1933-1941, 1944, 1946... Ed McKean .302 - 1887-1899... Tommy Holmes .302 - 1942-1952... Carl Reynolds .302 - 1927-1939... Stan Hack .301 - 1932-1947... Ray Blades .301 - 1923-1932... Rube Bressler .301 - 1914-1932... Johnny Mostil .301 - 1918-1929 Emmett Hendrick .300 - 1898-1904, 1908... Thomas Oyster Burns .300 - 1884-1895... Earl Sheely .300 - 1921-1927, 1929, 1931... Ethan Allen .300 - 1926-1938... Billy Goodman .300 - 1947-1962... Roberto Alomar .300 - 1988-2004... Pedro Guerrero .300 - 1978-1992... Wally Berger .300 - 1930-1940 Near .300 Batters Barry Bonds .299 - 1986-2006... Frank McCormick .299 - 1934, 1937-48... Kenny Lofton .299 - 1991-2007... Carl Furillo .299 - 1946-1960... Mickey Mantle .298 - 1951-1968... Dom DiMaggio .298 - 1940-1942, 1946-1953... Jim Rice .298 - 1974-1989... Pepper Martin .298 - 1928-1944... Minnie Minoso .298 - 1949-64, 1976, 1980... Cecil Cooper .298 - 1971-1987... Julio Franco .298 - 1982-2008... Gabby Hartnett .297 - 1922-1941... George Kelly .297 - 1915-17, 1919-32... Al Kaline .297 - 1953-1974... Orlando Cepeda .297 1958-1974 ... Joe Torre .297 - 1960-1977... Jeff Bagwell .297 - 1991-2005 Ken Griffey Sr .296 - 1973-1991... Keith Hernandez .296 - 1974-1990... Doc Cramer .296 - 1929-1948... Johnny Hopp .296 - 1939-1952... Lou Boudreau .295 - 1938-1952... Barry Larkin .295 - 1986-2004... Jimmy Collins .294 - 1895-1908... Frank Robinson .294 - 1956-1977... Fred Tenney .294- 1894-1909, 1911... Tim Raines .294 - 1979-2002... Steve Garvey .294 - 1969-1987... Gee Walker .294 - 1931-1945... Tommy Davis .294 - 1959-1976 ... Phil Cavarretta .293 - 1934-1955 ... Jeff Heath .293 - 1936-1949... Lou Brock .293 - 1961-1979... Hal Chase .291 - 1905-1919... Wally Moses .291 - 1935-1951... Pete Runnels .291 - 1951-1964 John Anderson .290 - 1894-1908...Dave Parker .290 - 1973-1991... Ken Griffey Jr .290 - 1989-2008... Jeff Kent .290 - 1992-2008... Red Schoendienst .289 - 1945-1963... Bruce Campbell .290 - 1930-1942... Carney Lansford .290 - 1978-1992 Harold Baines .289 - 1980-2001... Bobby Doerr .288 - 1937-1944, 1946-51... Bill Buckner .289 - 1969-1990 ... Rafael Palmeiro .288 - 1986-2005... Eddie Murray .287 - 1977-1997... George J. Burns .287 - 1911-1925... Ken Boyer .287 - 1955-1969 ... MIckey Vernon .286 - 1939-1943, 1946-1960 Clyde Milan .285 - 1907-1922... Andy Pafko .285 - 1943-1959... Alan Trammell .285 - 1977-1996... Mike Kreevich .283 - 1931, 1935-1945... Les Mann .282 - 1913-1928... Bil Moose Skowron .282 - 1954-1967 Roger Bresnahan .280 - 1897-1915 ... Hank Majeski .279 - 1939-1955... Joe Adcock .277 - 1950-1966... Sammy Sosa .274 - 1989-2005 Hall of Fame Baseball Players Yogi Berra c .285 - 1946-1985... Carl Yastrzemski of .285 - 1961-1983... Robin Yount ss/cf .285 - 1974-1993... Larry Doby .283 - 1947-1959... Dave Bancroft ss .279 - 1915-1929... Ralph Kiner of .279 - 1946-1955... Rickey Henderson of .279 - 1979-2003... Andre Dawson .279 - 1976-1996 ... Ron Santo .277 - 1960-1974 Roy Campanella c .276 - NL 1941-47, ML 1948-1957... Cal Ripken Jr ss .276 - 1981-2001... Ernie Banks .274 - 1953-1971... Phil Rizzuto .273, 1941-42, 1946-1956... Joe Flash Gordan 2b .268 - 1938-43, 1946-50... Eddie Mathews 3b .271 - 1952-1968... Pee Wee Reese ss .269 1940, 1942, 1946-1957... Brooks Robinson 3b, .267 - 1955-1977... Luis Aparicio, ss .262 - 1956-1973... Ozzie Smith ss .262 - 1978-1996... Bill Mazeroski 2b .260 - 1956-1972... Harmon Killebrew 3b/1b/of .260 - 1954-1973 Additional Leading Baseball Players and Leading Batsmen 1850s to 1920s Dead Ball Era Baseball players Henry Larkin .303 - 1884-1893 ... Gene DeMontreville .303 - 1894-1904... Joe Start .300 - 1876-1886 ... Hardy Richardson .299 - 1879-1892... Ed Swartwood .299 - 1881-1892 ... Jack Dirty Jack Doyle .299 - 1889-1905... Charley Jones .299 - 1876-1888... Ralph Socks Seybold .294 - 1899-1908... Duff Cooley .294 - 1893-1903... Jimmy Barrett .291 - 1899-1908 ... William Chicken Wolf .290 - 1882-1892 Jack McCarthy .287 - 1893-1907... Dan McGann .284 - 1896, 1898-1908...Tilly Walker .281 - 1911- 1923 ... Bad Bill Dahlen .274 - 1881-1911... Bobby Wallace .268 - 1894-1918 1920s to 1940s Joe Vosmik .307 - 1930-1941, 1944 ... Curt Walker .304 - 1919-1930 ... George Harper .303 - 1916-1918, 1922-29... SAm WEst .299 - 1927-1942 ... Frank Demaree .299 - 1932-1944... Pete Fox .298 - 1933-1945... John Buddy Lewis .297 - 1935-1949... Indian Bob Lee Johnson .296 - 1933-1945... James Shanty Hogan .295 - 1925-1937... Mule Haas .292 - 1925, 1928-1938 ... Les Bell .290 - 1923-1931... Odell Hale .289 - 1931, 1933-1941... Julious Moose Solters .289 - 1934-1942 ... Carson Skeeter Bigbee .287 - 1916-1926... Lu Blue .287 - 1921-1933... Walter Holke .287 - 1914, 1916-1925... Earl Sparky Adams .286 - 1922-1934... Ralph Red Kress .286 - 1927-1940, 1946 Adam Comorosky .285 - 1926-1935 ... Dick Rowdy Richard Bartell .284 - 1927-1943, 1946... Andy High .284 - 1922-1934... Frankie Pytlak .282 - 1932-1941, 1945-46... Rudy York .271 - 1934, 1937-1948 ... Max Bishop .271 - 1924-1935 ... Bill Werber .271 - 1930, 1933-1942 1940s thru 1960s Harry the Hat Walker .296 - 1940-1943, 1946-1951, 1955 ... Gene Woodling .284 - 1943, 1946-1962... Sid Gordon .283 - 1941-43, 1946-55 ... Elmer Valo .282 - 1940-1943, 1946-1961 ... Vic Wertz .277 - 1947-1963 ... Harry Peanuts Lowery .273 - 1942-43, 1945-1955 ... Dave Philley .270 - 1941, 1946-1962 1950s to 1980s Rico Carty .299 - 1963-1979... .. Don Mueller .296 - 1948-1959... Bob Nieman .295 - 1951-1962... Forrest Smoky Burgess .295 - 1949-1967... Mike Easler .293 - 1973-1987... Dick Allen .292 - 1962-1977... Pete Runnels .291 - 1951-1964... Frankie Baumholtz .290 - 1947-1957... Bob Elliott .289 - 1939-1953... Alvin Dark .289 - 1946, 1948-1960... Ken Boyer .287 - 1955-1969 Dee Fondy .286 - 1951-1958... Bill White .286 - 1956, 1958-1969... Vada Pinson .286 - 1958-1975... Felipe Alou .286 - 1958-1974... Lee Lacy .286 1972-1987... Del Ennis of .284 - 1946-1969... Glenn Beckert .283 - 1965-1975 ... Fred Lynn .283 - 1974-1990 Bobby Avila .281 - 1949-1959... Gus Bell .281 - 1951-1964... Maury Wills .281 - 1959-1972 ... Cleon Jones .281 - 1963-1976... Jesus Alou .280 - 1963-1979 Hank Bauer .277 - 1948-1961... Richie Hebner .276 - 1968-1985 ... Lee Maye .274 - 1959-1971 ... Bill Bruton .273 - 1953-1964... Dwight Evans .272 - 1972-1992... Lee May .267 - 1965-1982 ... Roger Maris - .260 1957-1968 1970s to 2000s John Kruk .300 - 1986-1995... Manny Sanguillen .296 - 1967, 1969-1980... Willie McGee .295 - 1982-1999... John Olerud .295 - 1989-2005 ... Bob Watson .295 - 1966-1984 ... Kevin Seitzer .295 - 1986-1997... Lance Johnson .291 - 1987-2000 ... Carlos Baerga .291 - 1990-2005... Brett Butler .290 - 1981-1997... Roberto Kelly .290 - 1987-2000 ... Johnny Ray .290 - 1981-1990 Wally Joyner .289 - 1986-2001... Paul O'Neil .288 - 1985-2001... Andres Galarraga .288 - 1984-98, 2000-04... Tony Fernandez .288 - 1983-2001...Lonnie Smith .288 - 1978-1994... Dion James .288 - 1983-1996 ... Garry Maddox .285 - 1972-1986... Dusty Baker .278 - 1968-1986... Lou Whitaker .276 - 1977-1995... 1990s to 2010s Magglio Ordonez .309 - 1997-2011 ... Ivan Rodriguez .296 - 1991-2011 ... Edgar Renteria .286 - 1996-2011 ... Jim Edmonds .284 - 1993-2010... Baseball Players in Baseball History Notes: Francis Lefty O'Doul batted .349 in 3264 at bats spanning 970 games. Lefty O'Doul was a pitcher during his first four seasons, 1919-20, 1922-1923, 1928-34. Dave Orr compiled a robust .342 careeer bating average, 1883-1890, and in 1886 became the first baseball player to line 300 total bases in one season - a then 132-game schedule. Dave Orr, stood 5-ft 11-inches and weighed in at least 250 pounds. From 1884 thru 1990 he batted .354, .342, .338, .368, .305, .327 and .371. In October of 1890 Dave Orr suffered a stroke which paralyzed his left side and he never played again. Ross Barnes was the first National League batting champion. He hit .404 in 1876. Ross Barnes hit over .400 four times in 11 seasons. Bubbles Hargrave was first major league catcher to win a batting title. In 1926 while playing with the Chicago Cubs, Eugene Bubbles Hargrave led the National League with a .353 batting average. Phil Weintraub, a first baseman, broke into professional baseball in 1926 at age 18 with Rock Island of MSVL . From 1931-1940 when his first statistics were recorded with various Double-A minor league teams under the New York Giants affiliate, Phil Mickey Weintraub hit .372, .337, .323, .352, .296, .401 in 101 games, .369, .371, .361, .269, .345, .331, .347. Weintraub couldn't break into the majors with the NY Giants because future Hall of Famer Bill Terry, a career .341 hitter and who hit .401 in 1930 (the last NL player to hit .400) was playing first base. As a 27-year-old rookie Phil hit .351 in 31 games in 1934 with Giants and later at age 37 had 11 RBIs in one game on April 30, 1944. Phil Weintraub compiled a .295 MLB career batting average in 7 seasons, 444 games. played in minors under New York Giants affiliate and Many baseball players missed seasons during the 1910s -1930s, 1940s thru 1970s because they proudly served in the US Military. For complete stats on all baseball players, please see Players section on our home page Page 106 |
