Batting Average (AVG)

The ratio of hits to at-bats — the oldest and most recognized offensive stat in baseball.

Batting average is calculated by dividing a player's hits by their official at-bats. A .300 average is considered excellent; the historical major league average hovers around .250. Ted Williams was the last player to hit .400 in a full season (.406 in 1941).

While batting average remains a familiar benchmark, modern analysis has shifted toward more comprehensive metrics like OPS, wRC+, and WAR, which capture the full value of a hitter including walks, extra-base hits, and park factors. A player can hit .250 with exceptional power and walks and be more valuable than a .310 contact hitter with no power.

For Hall of Fame purposes, batting average retains cultural weight. A career average above .300 has historically been a signal that voters value — but increasingly, voters weigh OPS and WAR more heavily than batting average alone.