Highest single season batting average for balls in play

[Brooklyn]

Who has the highest single season batting average for balls in play (defined as H / (AB - SO)?

[RuthMayBond]

Would Hornsby's 32 K in 1924 put him over the top?

[Brooklyn]

Would Hornsby's 32 K in 1924 put him over the top?

I have him 6th post-1900.

[gman5431]

So its someone who hit for a high average but also struck out quite a bit (relatively). How bout Ruth.

G Man

[RuthMayBond]

So its someone who hit for a high average but also struck out quite a bit (relatively). How bout Ruth.

G Man1923, perhaps? :think:

[Utter Chaos]

Looks like Manny's 2000 season barely edges out Ruth's 1923 season.

Manny - 439 AB, 154 H, 117 SO = .47826
Ruth - 522 AB, 205 H, 93 SO = .47786

Ruth also hold down the #3 spot from 1920. The fourth spot is a surprise. In 2006 Ryan Howard was 182 for 581 with 181 strikeouts. His balls in play average was 182/400 or .455.

[Brooklyn]

Looks like Manny's 2000 season barely edges out Ruth's 1923 season.

Manny - 439 AB, 154 H, 117 SO = .47826
Ruth - 522 AB, 205 H, 93 SO = .47786

Ruth also hold down the #3 spot from 1920. The fourth spot is a surprise. In 2006 Ryan Howard was 182 for 581 with 181 strikeouts. His balls in play average was 182/400 or .455.

That is correct.

Interestingly enough, David Wright is currently at 74 hits in 209 at bats with 56 k's, or a .484 balls-in-play average, which would be the highest of all time. Of course, the season is still young, but he is having a unique high average / high strikeout season

[RuthMayBond]

That is correct.

Interestingly enough, David Wright is currently at 74 hits in 209 at bats with 56 k's, or a .484 balls-in-play average, which would be the highest of all time. Of course, the season is still young, but he is having a unique high average / high strikeout seasonHere's my stupid little chart to add to the mix

Led league in K AND H
1891 Tom Brown

Led league in K AND OBP
1916 Cravath
1923, 24, 27 Ruth
1929 Foxx
1983 Schmidt

[Brooklyn]

Here's my stupid little chart to add to the mix

Led league in K AND H
1891 Tom Brown

Led league in K AND OBP
1916 Cravath
1923, 24, 27 Ruth
1929 Foxx
1983 Schmidt

Intersting. Anyone lead the league in K and BA?

[RuthMayBond]

Intersting. Anyone lead the league in K and BA?I couldn't find any, but you best ask smarter minds :nod:

[Trivia Guy]

Intersting. Anyone lead the league in K and BA?

Using the stats from Lee Sinins' program and bringing it into Excel, I came up with the list below. This is from 1910 to 2008 in the NL and 1913 to 2008 in the AL. There were the first years where both stikeouts and at-bats were "offical" in the same season.

Zoilo Versalles -- 1965
Juan Samuel -- 1984, 1985, and 1987. (Tied for 1st in Ks in 1985).
Travis Fryman -- 1994

[Brooklyn]

Using the stats from Lee Sinins' program and bringing it into Excel, I came up with the list below. This is from 1910 to 2008 in the NL and 1913 to 2008 in the AL. There were the first years where both stikeouts and at-bats were "offical" in the same season.

Zoilo Versalles -- 1965
Juan Samuel -- 1984, 1985, and 1987. (Tied for 1st in Ks in 1985).
Travis Fryman -- 1994

your were dyslexic with my acronym - I was asking for batting average, not at bats

[Trivia Guy]

your were dyslexic with my acronym - I was asking for batting average, not at bats


Oops! I sure was. I'll check on that one later when I get time.

[Buzzaldrin]

Intersting. Anyone lead the league in K and BA?

Babe Ruth in 1924, Jimmie Foxx in 1933, can't think of anyone else off the top of my head.

[Trivia Guy]

Babe Ruth in 1924, Jimmie Foxx in 1933, can't think of anyone else off the top of my head.

I just ran the numbers using the same method as I did when I accidnetally used at-bats --- and got the same thing that you did. Ruth in 1924 and Foxx in 1933.