What's all this talk about .400??

[clydepepper]

UPDATED (trying to do it daily):


Here's a rundown of the most recent (since 1941) to 'flirt', even slightly, with that magical digit:


Listed are the last dates the hitter was at .400 or higher.


Tony Gwynn was at .408 thru May 15, 1994 playing in 30 of his team's 36 games (.394).

Larry Walker was at .400 thru May 26, 1999 playing in 33 of his team's 43 games (.376)

Ted Williams was at .401 thru June 5, 1957 playing in 41 of his team's 46 games (.388)

Chipper Jones was at .400 thru June 18, 2008 playing in 66 of his team's 73 games. (.364)


Luis Arraez is at .401 thru June 24, 2023 playing in 72 of his team's 78 games.


Tony Fernandez was at .400 thru June 28, 1999 playing in 71 of his team's 78 games. (.328)

Rod Carew was at .401 thru July 10, 1977 playing in 81 of his team's 85 games. (.388)

Stan Musial was at .403 thru July 11, 1948 playing in all of his team's 76 games. (.376)

Nomar Garciaparra was at .403 thru July 20 (1st game), 2000 playing in 75 of his team's 91 games (.372)

John Olerud was at .400 thru August 2, 1993 playing in 105 of his team's 107 games (.363)


THEN, it gets SERIOUS...hard to forget:


George Brett was at .400 thru September 19, 1980 playing 104 of his team's 148 games. (.390)


We should enjoy Arraez's attempt while it lasts.[/B][/SIZE]

[clydepepper]

oops! gotta go back and add Chipper

[mrreality68]

Its even more amazing in this era when power is the priority and average is not emphasized as much and not as many players even average over .300.
and Strike Outs are so high.

Makes me want to watch , enjoy and appreciate. Hope he keeps it going for a while. Such a great story

[Peter_Spaeth]

Ted Williams was at .399 with one doubleheader to play, although technically it would have rounded up to .400. It was suggested he sit out the doubleheader, which after all was meaningless. That was not Ted Williams' way. He played and went something like 6 for 8, and Connie Mack had ordered his pitchers not to groove any.

[packs]

I wonder how close Babe Herman got to actually hitting 400 and when it slipped away. He hit a forgotten 393 in 1930.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by packs

I wonder how close Babe Herman got to actually hitting 400 and when it slipped away. He hit a forgotten 393 in 1930.

August 18

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ted Williams was at .399 with one doubleheader to play, although technically it would have rounded up to .400. It was suggested he sit out the doubleheader, which after all was meaningless. That was not Ted Williams' way. He played and went something like 6 for 8, and Connie Mack had ordered his pitchers not to groove any.

I always liked Umpire Bill McGowan's actions in Teds first at-bat of the double header.

"Williams was batting cleanup, and Fowler retired the side in the first, so Ted led off the top of the second. “Bill McGowan was the plate umpire, and I’ll never forget it,” Ted recalled. “Just as I stepped in, he called time and slowly walked around the plate, bent over and began dusting it off. Without looking up, he said, ‘To hit .400 a batter has got to be loose. He has got to be loose.’”[fn]My Turn At Bat, 90.[/fn]
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