Batting Average : 1881 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"The key for this year was staying healthy, playing 154 games (his biggest goal was to play 162 games). When I'm healthy, I'm can put up the best numbers I can." - Juan Gonzalez (1999)
 

1881 Batting Average Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Cap Anson .399 (.39942) Chicago White Stockings 1
Martin Powell .338 (.33790) Detroit Wolverines 2
Jack Rowe .333 (.33333) Buffalo Bisons 3
Joe Start .328 (.32759) Providence Grays 4
Fred Dunlap .325 (.32479) Cleveland Blues 5
Abner Dalrymple .323 (.32320) Chicago White Stockings 6
King Kelly .323 (.32295) Chicago White Stockings 7
Dan Brouthers .319 (.31852) Buffalo Bisons 8
Buttercup Dickerson .316 (.31608) Worcester Ruby Legs 9
Silver Flint .310 (.31046) Chicago White Stockings 10
Deacon White .310 (.31034) Buffalo Bisons 11
Pete Hotaling .309 (.30915) Worcester Ruby Legs 12
Tom York .304 (.30380) Providence Grays 13
Jim O'Rourke .302 (.30172) Buffalo Bisons 14
Charlie Bennett .301 (.30100) Detroit Wolverines 15
George Gore .298 (.29773) Chicago White Stockings 16
George Wood .297 (.29674) Detroit Wolverines 17
Roger Connor .292 (.29155) Troy Trojans 18
Ezra Sutton .291 (.29129) Boston Red Caps 19
Hardy Richardson .291 (.29070) Buffalo Bisons 20
John Morrill .289 (.28939) Boston Red Caps 21
Paul Hines .285 (.28532) Providence Grays 22
Bob Ferguson .283 (.28319) Troy Trojans 23
Sadie Houck .279 (.27922) Detroit Wolverines 24
Ned Hanlon .279 (.27869) Detroit Wolverines 25



Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Did you know that more than forty players have worn the number twenty-five for the Boston Red Sox — including Jack Clark, Denny Galehouse, Dizzy Trout and Tony Conigliaro.