Hitters who got Close to .400
Since the final day of the 1941 MLB season, when Ted Williams famously went 6 for 8 to finish the season with a .406 batting average, no one has crossed the same threshold. Nevertheless, there have been a handful of players who have approached the elusive number, and it’s no surprise that the contenders have been some of the best ballplayers of all time.
Before looking at those who have targeted the batting average summit since 1941, it’s worth mentioning a few of those who did it before Williams. In 1901, Nap Lajoie posted a season batting average of .426 in 131 games, the highest average of all-time. Ty Cobb exceeded the number twice, hitting .409 in 1912 and .420 in 1911. Rogers Hornsby and George Sisler both crossed .400 twice, and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s .408 in 1911 deserves mention.
The inclusion of Negro League statistics in the MLB record book has expanded the club’s membership. Josh Gibson, Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, and Oscar Charleston (who did it three times) all landed above .400 over the course of full seasons.
Here’s a look at the eight players (excluding Williams himself who posted .388 in 1957) who have come closest since 1941.
Ichiro Suzuki – .372 in 2004
Following his stunning 2001 MVP rookie season, which featured a .350 average, Ichiro finished the 2004 season with a .372 average on a whopping 704 at-bats. He finished above .300 in each of his first 10 seasons, and his lifetime average of .311 makes it clear that his 2004 season was no fluke.
Suzuki is eligible for Hall of Fame status in 2025 and seems to be a sure bet. His 2001 Bowman Chrome® rookie card (#351) is one of his most highly prized cards.
Todd Helton – .372 in 2000
Although some curmudgeons felt that Colorado’s Coors Field was artificially inflating hitters’ numbers, Helton was still hovering around .400 in late August of 2000. He supplemented his .372 average with 59 doubles and 147 RBIs.
Like Ichiro, Helton strung together ten consecutive seasons above .300, and his lifetime .316 average and 369 HR was enough to earn him a spot in Cooperstown. The 1993 Topps Bazooka #11 rookie card, featuring Helton in a Team USA jersey, is not an easy card to find.
Nomar Garciaparra – .372 in 2000
Following a 1999 season in which he hit .357, the Boston Red Sox SS went even higher in 2000, leading the AL with a .372 average. The former Rookie of the Year and six-time All-Star finished his career with an impressive .313 average.
Garciaparra’s rookie card is the 1992 Topps Traded #39T. His 1994 Stadium Club Draft Picks #69 card is also one to watch.
Stan Musial – .376 in 1948
It’s not hyperbole to call Musial’s 22-year MLB career legendary. A three-time MVP and seven-time batting average leader, Musial was an All-Star for 20 consecutive seasons. His career stats are astonishing. He led the league in runs, hits, doubles, triples, and RBIs numerous times. Musial was such a proficient hitter that his .376 average in 1948 hardly even registered as unusual.
He posted season averages above .350 five times in his career and finished with a lifetime average of .331. His 1948 Leaf rookie card #4 and the 1948 Bowman #36 are both extremely valuable cards.
Larry Walker – .379 in 1999
Walker, like Helton one year after him, was accused of hitting on easy mode at Coors Field, but from 1997-2001, nobody rivaled Walker when it came to hitting for average. Over the course of a 17-year career, he earned one MVP award, was a five-time All-Star, won seven gold gloves, and finished with a lifetime .313 average.
He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020. His 1990 Topps Tiffany #757 rookie card comes from the junk-wax era, but it’s a solid addition to any collection.
Rod Carew – .388 in 1977
In 1977, playing with Minnesota, Rod Carew was hitting .400 on July 10, but struggled through the rest of that month. Then he caught fire, hitting .441 in the last 31 games of the season. His 128 runs and 239 hits were enough to earn him the MVP award that year.
Like Musial, Carew finished five seasons above .350, and he amassed more than 3,000 hits during his Hall of Fame career. His rookie card is the 1967 #569 that featured both Carew and Hank Allen, and his 1968 #80 is also highly prized.
George Brett – .390 in 1980
Brett’s run at .400 was perhaps the most legitimate effort since Williams, as he remained at .400 as late as September 19. The Hall of Fame left-handed hitter was a 13-time All-Star and won the MVP award in 1980. That season, Brett struck out only 22 times in 515 plate appearances. His rookie card is the 1975 Topps Baseball #228, and the parallel mini version is a must-have for Brett loyalists.
Tony Gwynn – .394 in 1994
Gwynn, who studied tapes relentlessly and continually refined his technique, was famous for approaching hitting as a science, and by 1994, he had mastered his swing. Over his Hall of Fame career, Gwynn went above .350 seven times, but it was the strike-shortened 1994 season that left fans wondering what might have been.
In 110 games and 419 at-bats, Gwynn made the elusive .400 number seem possible. The Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star followed up the 1994 season with .368 in 1995, .353 in 1996, and .372 in 1997. The 1983 Topps Baseball #482 is certainly Gwynn’s most iconic card.
