<P> In baseball , batting average ( AVG ) is a measure of a batter 's success rate in achieving a hit during an at bat , and is calculated by dividing a player 's hits by his at bats . The achievement of a . 400 batting average in a season is recognized as `` the standard of hitting excellence '' , in light of how batting . 300 in a season is already regarded as solid . Twenty players have recorded a batting average of at least . 400 in a single Major League Baseball ( MLB ) season as of 2017 , the last being Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox in 1941 . Three players -- Ed Delahanty , Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby -- have accomplished the feat in three different seasons , and no player has ever hit over . 440 , a single - season record established by Hugh Duffy in 1894 . Ross Barnes was the first player to bat . 400 in a season , posting a . 429 batting average in the National League 's inaugural 1876 season . </P>
<P> In baseball , batting average ( AVG ) is a measure of a batter 's success rate in achieving a hit during an at bat , and is calculated by dividing a player 's hits by his at bats . The achievement of a . 400 batting average in a season is recognized as `` the standard of hitting excellence '' , in light of how batting . 300 in a season is already regarded as solid . Twenty players have recorded a batting average of at least . 400 in a single Major League Baseball ( MLB ) season as of 2017 , the last being Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox in 1941 . Three players -- Ed Delahanty , Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby -- have accomplished the feat in three different seasons , and no player has ever hit over . 440 , a single - season record established by Hugh Duffy in 1894 . Ross Barnes was the first player to bat . 400 in a season , posting a . 429 batting average in the National League 's inaugural 1876 season . </P>
who has the highest single season batting average in mlb history
who has the highest single season batting average in mlb history
Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy