Batting Average : 1896 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:

"Over 162 games, if my big guys are hitting and we get even halfway decent pitching, we'll beat their (our opponents) brains out." - Cincinnati Reds' Manager Sparky Anderson
 

1896 Batting Average Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Jesse Burkett .410 (.40956) Cleveland Spiders 1
Hughie Jennings .401 (.40115) Baltimore Orioles 2
Ed Delahanty .397 (.39679) Philadelphia Phillies 3
Willie Keeler .386 (.38603) Baltimore Orioles 4
Mike Tiernan .369 (.36852) New York Giants 5
Billy Hamilton .365 (.36520) Boston Beaneaters 6
Joe Kelley .364 (.36416) Baltimore Orioles 7
Elmer Smith .362 (.36157) Pittsburgh Pirates 8
Jake Stenzel .361 (.36117) Pittsburgh Pirates 9
Cupid Childs .355 (.35542) Cleveland Spiders 10
Fielder Jones .354 (.35443) Brooklyn Bridegrooms 11
Bill Dahlen .352 (.35232) Chicago Colts 12
Tom McCreery .351 (.35147) Louisville Colonels 13
George Van Haltren .351 (.35053) New York Giants 14
Gene DeMontreville .343 (.34334) Washington Senators 15
Herman Long .343 (.34331) Boston Beaneaters 16
Eddie Burke .340 (.33973) Cincinnati Reds 17
Jack Doyle .339 (.33881) Baltimore Orioles 18
Ed McKean .338 (.33800) Cleveland Spiders 19
Fred Tenney .336 (.33621) Boston Beaneaters 20
Bill Joyce .333 (.33263) Washington Senators 21
New York Giants  
Cap Anson .331 (.33085) Chicago Colts 22
Jim Donnelly .328 (.32828) Baltimore Orioles 23
Bill Lange .326 (.32623) Chicago Colts 24
Fred Clarke .325 (.32495) Louisville Colonels 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 first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.

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?