What is Batting Average ?

Batting average (BA) is the number of hits divided by the number of at bats of a player over a defined period of time, typically a season or career. Generally, for Batting Average, higher is better. (Source)

What is a good Batting Average?

What does good Batting Average mean? "Good" baseball stats can be very subjective and mean different things to different people. I have attempted to quantify good and bad by taking season and career stats for MLB position players (not pitchers) with a minimum number of plate appearances. In this case 150 for career and 75 for a season. To find good and bad within this cohort of players I calculated the first and third quartiles, anything between these quartiles I consider average. This makes up the middle 50% of players. In an example where higher is better for a stat, below the first quartile (bottom 25% of players) would be bad and above the 3rd quartile (top 25% of players) would be good. For stats where lower is better, flip around good and bad.
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Career, Season, and Season Average Batting Average Records

For my hot take on Batting Average records most of the same rules apply from the first section. To be considered for my prestigious lists the player must meet a certain threshold of plate appearances. Since this is a Hitting stat to be considered for the career list the player must have over 150 plate appearances, for a season consideration the player must have had 75 plate appearances. Additionally, the player's final game must have been after 1899.
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Distribution of Career Batting Average by Player Generation

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Distribution of Season Batting Average by Player Generation

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Distribution of Career Batting Average by Player Position

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Distribution of Season Batting Average by Player Position

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