Baseball trivia to stump ya

[barrysloate]

In 2012, Miguel Cabrera led the AL with a .330 average, and Buster Posey led the NL with .336. Posey's teammate Melky Cabrera batted .346, but was two plate appearance shy of qualifying. However, when you add an 0 for 2, he clearly beats both players by a wide margin.

Melky was given a 50 game suspension during the season, and MLB determined that he would not be awarded the batting title. And Melky agreed and said he would not accept it.

But...wouldn't that qualify him as having the highest average in the major leagues without winning the title? I believe there are two answers to this question. And incidentally if Melky won, both leagues would have been led by a Cabrera (unrelated).

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

In 2012, Miguel Cabrera led the AL with a .330 average, and Buster Posey led the NL with .336. Posey's teammate Melky Cabrera batted .346, but was two plate appearance shy of qualifying. However, when you add an 0 for 2, he clearly beats both players by a wide margin.

Melky was given a 50 game suspension during the season, and MLB determined that he would not be awarded the batting title. And Melky agreed and said he would not accept it.

But...wouldn't that qualify him as having the highest average in the major leagues without winning the title? I believe there are two answers to this question. And incidentally if Melky won, both leagues would have been led by a Cabrera (unrelated).

Implicit in the question is having enough plate appearances to qualify. Otherwise any guy who went 1 for 2 is also the right answer.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Implicit in the question is having enough plate appearances to qualify. Otherwise any guy who went 1 for 2 is also the right answer.

I don't think that's true Peter. In Melky's case, he was two plate appearances short. I believe the rule is if you added an 0 for 2, and he still had the highest average, he would be the batting champ. And I believe that has happened once or twice before. Wasn't George Brett a few appearances short the year he hit .390? I think that's the rule of major league baseball, just not 100% sure.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I don't think that's true Peter. In Melky's case, he was two plate appearances short. I believe the rule is if you added an 0 for 2, and he still had the highest average, he would be the batting champ. And I believe that has happened once or twice before. Wasn't George Brett a few appearances short the year he hit .390? I think that's the rule of major league baseball, just not 100% sure.

That is indeed the rule. I think Gwynn won one batting title that way.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

That is indeed the rule. I think Gwynn won one batting title that way.

Thanks Scott.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

1996 he was 4 PA's short but adding an 0 for 4 he still won. They give you credit for the average you actually accrued, but you wouldn't get the title if adding hitless AB's to get you up to 502 plate appearances dropped you below whoever was in 2nd.

[barrysloate]

Exactly. In Melky's case he still would have been around .343, which would have been the major league high.