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The batting championship is awarded to the Major League Baseball player in each of the American League and the National League who has the highest batting average in a particular season.

Currently, a player needs to accrue an average of at least 3.1 plate appearances for each game his team plays in order to qualify for the batting title. An exception to this qualification rule is that, if a player falls short of 3.1 plate appearances per game -- but would still have the highest batting average if enough hitless at-bats were added to reach the 3.1 average mark, the player still wins the batting championship.

The latest example of this exception being employed was in 1996, when Tony Gwynn had a .353 batting average, but only 498 plate appearances -- 4 short of the 502 necessary. Inasmuch as 4 additional hitless at-bats would have lowered his batting average to .349, but .349 was still better than anyone else in the league, Gwynn was named the National League batting champion. [1]

American League[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1901 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .426
1902 Template:Player[1] Washington Senators .376
1903 Template:Player Cleveland Naps .344
1904 Template:Player Cleveland Naps .376
1905 Template:Player Cleveland Naps .308
1906 Template:Player St. Louis Browns .358
1907 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .350
1908 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .324
1909 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .377
1910 Template:Player
Template:Player[2]
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Naps
.385
.384
1911 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .420
1912 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .409
1913 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .390
1914 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .368
1915 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .369
1916 Template:Player Cleveland Indians .386
1917 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .383
1918 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .382
1919 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .384
1920 Template:Player St. Louis Browns .407
1921 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .394
1922 Template:Player St. Louis Browns .420
1923 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .403
1924 Template:Player New York Yankees .378
1925 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .393
1926 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .378
1927 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .398
1928 Template:Player Washington Senators .379
1929 Template:Player Cleveland Indians .369
1930 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .381
1931 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .390
1932 Template:Player Detroit Tigers
Boston Red Sox
.367
1933 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .356
1934 Template:Player New York Yankees .363
1935 Template:Player Washington Senators .349
1936 Template:Player Chicago White Sox .388
1937 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .371
1938 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .349
1939 Template:Player New York Yankees .381
1940 Template:Player New York Yankees .352
1941 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .406
1942 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .356
1943 Template:Player Chicago White Sox .328
1944 Template:Player Cleveland Indians .327
1945 Template:Player New York Yankees .309
1946 Template:Player Washington Senators .353
1947 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .343
1948 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .369
1949 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .343
1950 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .354
1951 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .344
1952 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .327
1953 Template:Player Washington Senators .337
1954 Template:Player Cleveland Indians .341
1955 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .340
1956 Template:Player New York Yankees .353
1957 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .388
1958 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .328
1959 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .353
1960 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .320
1961 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .361
1962 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .326
1963 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .321
1964 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .323
1965 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .321
1966 Template:Player Baltimore Orioles .316
1967 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .326
1968 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .301
1969 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .332
1970 Template:Player California Angels .329
1971 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .337
1972 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .318
1973 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .350
1974 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .364
1975 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .359
1976 Template:Player Kansas City Royals .333
1977 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .388
1978 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .333
1979 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .333
1980 Template:Player Kansas City Royals .390
1981 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .336
1982 Template:Player Kansas City Royals .332
1983 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .361
1984 Template:Player New York Yankees .343
1985 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .368
1986 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .357
1987 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .363
1988 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .366
1989 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .339
1990 Template:Player Kansas City Royals .329
1991 Template:Player Texas Rangers .341
1992 Template:Player Seattle Mariners .343
1993 Template:Player Toronto Blue Jays .363
1994 Template:Player New York Yankees .359
1995 Template:Player Seattle Mariners .356
1996 Template:Player Seattle Mariners .358
1997 Template:Player Chicago White Sox .347
1998 Template:Player New York Yankees .339
1999 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .357
2000 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .372
2001 Template:Player Seattle Mariners .350
2002 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .349
2003 Template:Player Boston Red Sox .326
2004 Template:Player Seattle Mariners .372
2005 Template:Player Texas Rangers .331
2006 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .347
2007 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .363
2008 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .328
2009 Template:Player Minnesota Twins .365
2010 Template:Player Texas Rangers .359
2011 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .344
2012 Template:Player Detroit Tigers .330
  1. There has been contention that Nap Lajoie should be awarded the 1902 AL batting championship instead of Ed Delahanty because recent research by baseball historians has shown that Lajoie had a higher batting average. The 1902 AL batting championship was awarded to Ed Delahanty at the time, and MLB still credits Delahanty as the champion over Lajoie. The MLB Hall of Fame lists Lajoie's 1902 stats as being 129 H / 352 AB / .368 BA, but Baseball-reference.com lists them as 133 H / 352 AB / .378 BA, which would place Lajoie above Delahanty. However, Lajoie had only 371 plate appearances to Delahanty's 535 or 536 (depending on which source you use), so there is the issue of eligibility — Lajoie's 371 plate appearances falls well below the 424 that would be required under the current 3.1 plate appearances per team game standard of eligibility, and adding 53 hitless at bats would drop his average to .314. This discrepancy is somewhat significant, as Delahanty is regarded as the only player to win a batting title in both leagues (.410, 1899 Phillies), as of the end of the 2008 season.
  2. Different sources credit both Cobb and Lajoie as the 1910 batting champion due to possible statistical errors. Cobb was awarded the title at the time. Research in the 1990s shows Lajoie probably should have been awarded the title. MLB continues to recognize Cobb as the title holder. Baseball Reference statistics for Nap Lajoie.

National League[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1876 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .429
1877 Template:Player Boston Red Caps .387
1878 Template:Player Providence Grays .358
1879 Template:Player Providence Grays .357
1880 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .360
1881 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .399
1882 Template:Player Buffalo Bisons .368
1883 Template:Player Buffalo Bisons .374
1884 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .354
1885 Template:Player New York Giants .371
1886 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .388
1887 Template:Player Detroit Wolverines .372
1888 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .344
1889 Template:Player Boston Beaneaters .373
1890 Template:Player New York Giants .336
1891 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .340
1892 Template:Player Brooklyn Grooms .335
1893 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .380
1894 Template:Player Boston Beaneaters .440
1895 Template:Player Cleveland Spiders .409
1896 Template:Player Cleveland Spiders .410
1897 Template:Player Baltimore Orioles .424
1898 Template:Player Baltimore Orioles .385
1899 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .410
1900 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .381
1901 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .376
1902 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .357
1903 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .355
1904 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .349
1905 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .377
1906 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .339
1907 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .350
1908 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .354
1909 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .339
1910 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .331
1911 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .334
1912 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .372
1913 Template:Player Brooklyn Superbas .350
1914 Template:Player Brooklyn Superbas .329
1915 Template:Player New York Giants .320
1916 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .339
1917 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .341
1918 Template:Player Brooklyn Robins .335
1919 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .321
1920 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .370
1921 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .397
1922 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .401
1923 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .384
1924 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .424
1925 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .403
1926 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .353
1927 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .380
1928 Template:Player Boston Braves .387
1929 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .398
1930 Template:Player New York Giants .401
1931 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .349
1932 Template:Player Brooklyn Dodgers .368
1933 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .368
1934 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .362
1935 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .385
1936 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .373
1937 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .374
1938 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .342
1939 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .349
1940 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .352
1941 Template:Player Brooklyn Dodgers .343
1942 Template:Player Boston Braves .330
1943 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .357
1944 Template:Player Brooklyn Dodgers .357
1945 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .355
1946 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .365
1947 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals
Philadelphia Phillies
.363
1948 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .376
1949 Template:Player Brooklyn Dodgers .342
1950 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .346
1951 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .355
1952 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .336
1953 Template:Player Brooklyn Dodgers .344
1954 Template:Player New York Giants .345
1955 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .338
1956 Template:Player Milwaukee Braves .328
1957 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .351
1958 Template:Player Philadelphia Phillies .350
1959 Template:Player Milwaukee Braves .355
1960 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .325
1961 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .351
1962 Template:Player Los Angeles Dodgers .346
1963 Template:Player Los Angeles Dodgers .326
1964 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .339
1965 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .329
1966 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .342
1967 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .357
1968 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .335
1969 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .348
1970 Template:Player Atlanta Braves .366
1971 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .363
1972 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .333
1973 Template:Player Cincinnati Reds .338
1974 Template:Player Atlanta Braves .353
1975 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .354
1976 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .339
1977 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .338
1978 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .334
1979 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .344
1980 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .324
1981 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .340
1982 Template:Player Montreal Expos .331
1983 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .323
1984 Template:Player San Diego Padres .351
1985 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .353
1986 Template:Player Montreal Expos .334
1987 Template:Player San Diego Padres .370
1988 Template:Player San Diego Padres .313
1989 Template:Player San Diego Padres .336
1990 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .335
1991 Template:Player Atlanta Braves .319
1992 Template:Player San Diego Padres .330
1993 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .370
1994 Template:Player San Diego Padres .394
1995 Template:Player San Diego Padres .368
1996 Template:Player San Diego Padres .353
1997 Template:Player San Diego Padres .372
1998 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .363
1999 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .379
2000 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .372
2001 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .350
2002 Template:Player San Francisco Giants .370
2003 Template:Player St. Louis Cardinals .359
2004 Template:Player San Francisco Giants .362
2005 Template:Player Chicago Cubs .335
2006 Template:Player Pittsburgh Pirates .344
2007 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .340
2008 Template:Player Atlanta Braves .364
2009 Template:Player Florida Marlins .342
2010 Template:Player Colorado Rockies .336
2011 Template:Player New York Mets .337
2012 Template:Player San Francisco Giants .336

American Association[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1882 Template:Player Louisville Eclipse .378
1883 Template:Player Pittsburgh Alleghenies .357
1884 Template:Player New York Metropolitans .354
1885 Template:Player Louisville Colonels .362
1886 Template:Player Louisville Colonels .341
1887 Template:Player St. Louis Browns .435
1888 Template:Player St. Louis Browns .335
1889 Template:Player Baltimore Orioles .372
1890 Template:Player Louisville Colonels .363
1891 Template:Player Boston Reds .350

Federal League[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1914 Template:Player Indianapolis Hoosiers .370
1915 Template:Player Brooklyn Tip-Tops .342

Player's League[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1890 Template:Player Cleveland Infants .373

Union Association[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1884 Template:Player St. Louis Maroons .412

National Association[]

Year Player Team(s) Average
1871 Template:Player Philadelphia Athletics .492
1872 Template:Player Boston Red Stockings .432
1873 Template:Player Boston Red Stockings .425
1874 Template:Player Chicago White Stockings .394
1875 Template:Player Boston Red Stockings .367

References[]

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