If you'd like to see a list of all-time batting average leaders, go to http://www.Baseball-almanac.com/hitting/hibavg2.shtml. You can see that the .400 average has been surpassed about 33 times in the major leagues.
Joe Jackson of the 1911 Cleveland Indians hit .408 and lost the American League batting title to Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers who hit .420.
In MLB, yes. Shoeless Joe Jackson hit .408 in 1911 and lost the batting title to Ty Cobb who hit .420. Ty Cobb hit .401 in 1922 and lost the batting title to George Sisler who hit .420.
Mantle
being awesome
On May 23, 2009 Jason Giambi became the 44th player in MLB history to reach the 400 home run mark for a career. Through games played on May 24, 2009 Vladimir Guerrero has 393 career home runs and, barring disaster, will become the 45th player in MLB history to reach 400 career home runs.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols became the fastest in number of seasons to reach the 400 home run plateau. Alex Rodriguez is the youngest player to hit 400 HRs (29 years, 316 days). Mark McGwire had the least amount of ABs (4726) when he hit #400. Sammy Sosa had played the least amount games when he reached the 400 HR milestone (1354). Babe Ruth became the first player in MLB history to hit 400 home runs on September 2nd, 1927. I don't know who could run the fastest.
In MLB, yes. Shoeless Joe Jackson hit .408 in 1911 and lost the batting title to Ty Cobb who hit .420. Ty Cobb hit .401 in 1922 and lost the batting title to George Sisler who hit .420.
Although Ted Williams is known as the last Major League Baseball (MLB) player to obtain a single season batting average above .400, the following Hall of Famer's hit above .400 in a single season. In 1901, Napoleon "Larry" Lajoiewas hit .426. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1937. In 1924, Roger Hornsby hit .424, in 1925, he hit .403, and in 1922, he hit .401. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1942. In 1922, George Sisler hit .420 and in 1920, he hit .407. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1939. In 1911, Ty Cobb hit .420, in 1912, he hit .410, and in 1922, he hit .400. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. In 1941, Theodore "Ted" Samuel Williams hit .406. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1966. In 1923, Harry "Slug" Heilmann hit .403. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1952. In 1930, William "Memphis Bill" Terry hit .401. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1954. NOTE: In 1911, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson hit .408; however, he has not been inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame as a result of his alleged participation in the infamous 1919 Chicago Black Sox World Series Scandal.
Mantle
being awesome
13 players have batted at least 400 while getting enough ABs to qualify for the batting title. Nap Lajoie has the highest average of all, going .426 in 544 AB in 1901.
Hoyt Wilhelm. Wilhelm, a pitcher, had 432 at bats over his 21 season MLB career and the home run came in his third MLB game.
bunt
Strictly going by batting average, the best hitter in the history of MLB was Ty Cobb who batted .366 for a career that lasted 24 seasons (1905-1928). He hit over .400 in three seasons and, other than his rookie season when he had 150 at bats and hit .240, never batted below .316 for a season (his second season). For a four year stretch (1910-1913) he batted .402 (.4018). Rogers Hornsby is second in career MLB batting average with .3585 over a career that lasted 23 seasons (1915-1937). Hornsby hit over .400 in three seasons and did Cobb one better by having a FIVE season (1921-1925) batting average of .402 (.4024).
On May 23, 2009 Jason Giambi became the 44th player in MLB history to reach the 400 home run mark for a career. Through games played on May 24, 2009 Vladimir Guerrero has 393 career home runs and, barring disaster, will become the 45th player in MLB history to reach 400 career home runs.
Sure but hit it with 400 grit as the paint needs something to stick to
My vote goes to Beltin' Bill Melton, who hit 138 HR for the White Sox in the 70s, or maybe Bill Mueller, who hit .291 and won the batting title in 2003.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols became the fastest in number of seasons to reach the 400 home run plateau. Alex Rodriguez is the youngest player to hit 400 HRs (29 years, 316 days). Mark McGwire had the least amount of ABs (4726) when he hit #400. Sammy Sosa had played the least amount games when he reached the 400 HR milestone (1354). Babe Ruth became the first player in MLB history to hit 400 home runs on September 2nd, 1927. I don't know who could run the fastest.