The Classic Measure of Contact
Since the invention of professional baseball in the 19th century, the Batting Average (AVG) has been the most famous and universally understood statistic in the sport. It answers a very simple question: When this player steps up to the plate, what is the mathematical probability that they will get a hit?
For over a century, winning the "Batting Title" (having the highest AVG in the league) was considered the ultimate achievement for a hitter.
The Mathematics of the Hit
Batting Average is a simple ratio of success to failure.
The Formula
To calculate AVG, you divide the total number of Hits (Singles, Doubles, Triples, and Home Runs) by the total number of official At-Bats.
AVG = Hits / At Bats
What is a "Good" Average?
Baseball is a sport built on failure. If a player fails to get a hit 70% of the time, they are considered a Hall of Fame talent.
- .200 (The Mendoza Line): This is considered the absolute baseline of acceptability. Hitting below .200 usually gets a player demoted to the minor leagues.
- .250 to .270: The standard average for an everyday Major League starter.
- .300+: The benchmark of an elite hitter.
- .400: A legendary, mythical number. Ted Williams was the last player to hit over .400 for a full season, batting .406 in 1941.