Adjusted batting average


The adjusted batting average is a baseball statistic that compensates for factors inherently unique to each individual hitter such as era, home ballpark, pitching trends, rule changes, and handedness; it also counts only the first 8,000 at-bats to account for late career decline. It was first formulated in 1999 by statistician Michael J. Schell in the book Baseball's All-time Best Hitters: How Statistics Can Level the Playing Field published by Princeton University Press. Using his calculations from said formula, Schell posited that Tony Gwynn is the greatest MLB hitter of all-time with the highest adjusted batting average of.342. Joseph Gallian, a mathematician who independently analyzed Schell's formula in a book published by the Mathematical Association of America wrote, "Of course, Schell's adjusted batting average is far superior to the traditional batting average."
NameAdjusted batting averageYears played
Tony Gwynn.342
Ty Cobb.340
Rod Carew.332
Joe Jackson.331
Rogers Hornsby.330
Ted Williams.327
Stan Musial.325
Wade Boggs.324
Tris Speaker.322
Willie Mays.314