1. What is Batting Average?

Batting average (BA) is a statistic in baseball that measures a batter's success rate in achieving a hit during an at bat. It is calculated as the ratio of hits to at bats.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( H \) — Number of hits
• \( AB \) — Number of at bats

Explanation: The result is typically rounded to three decimal places and read as if it were a thousandths number (e.g., .300 is "three hundred").

3. Importance of Batting Average

Details: Batting average has been a standard measure of batting performance for over a century. While modern analytics use more comprehensive metrics, BA remains a fundamental statistic.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter whole numbers for hits and at bats. Hits cannot exceed at bats. At bats must be at least 1.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good batting average?
A: In modern MLB, .300 is excellent, .270 is average, and below .230 is poor. Historical averages were higher.

Q2: What doesn't count as an at bat?
A: Walks, hit-by-pitch, sacrifices, and catcher's interference don't count as ABs but do count as plate appearances.

Q3: Why is batting average limited as a metric?
A: BA doesn't account for power (extra base hits) or walks, which is why metrics like OBP and OPS are now more valued.

Q4: What's the highest possible batting average?
A: 1.000 (a hit every at bat), though this is only theoretically possible in very limited appearances.

Q5: Who holds the career batting average record?
A: Ty Cobb holds the MLB record with .366 over 24 seasons (1905-1928).