What is the minimum number of at bats to qualify for batting title?

Answer 1

Generally 400 but the amount has varied as the number of games played changes. For instance George Brett won the batting title with a .390 average in a strike shortened season. Nevertheless walks do not count, since they do not count as at bats. In the early 70s a player lost the batting crown with 399 at bats when 400 were required. This rule has changed however. Now, a player just short of the required at bats could ADD the number of hitless at bats (generally meaning walks) to the number of at bats which will permit the player to still win the batting crown as long as the average does not drop below the player just below him. ---- To win a batting title in MLB, a batter must have a minimum of 502 total plate appearences for the season. Yes, any at bat that results in a non-official at bat (walk, sacrifice, hit by pitch) counts towards the total number of plate appearances.

Answer 2

There is no minimum number of at bats required but there is a minimum number of plate appearances required.

MLB uses the formula of 3.1 times the number of games in the regular season to determine the minimum number of plate appearances required to qualify for the batting title. In a 162 game season, the minimum number of plate appearances needed is 502.

Plate appearances are used instead of at bats because walks, hit by pitch, sacrifices, sacrifice flies, and catcher interference do not count as an at bat. It would be possible for a player who played a full season to have less than 502 at bats even though the player had well over 502 plate appearances. As an example, Barry Bonds won the NL batting title in 2004 at .362 but had only 373 at bats. This was because he was walked 232 times.