Batting Average : 1980 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:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

1980 Batting Average Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Bill Buckner .324 (.32353) Chicago Cubs 1
Keith Hernandez .321 (.32101) St. Louis Cardinals 2
Garry Templeton .319 (.31944) St. Louis Cardinals 3
Bake McBride .309 (.30866) Philadelphia Phillies 4
Cesar Cedeno .309 (.30862) Houston Astros 5
Andre Dawson .308 (.30849) Montreal Expos 6
Steve Garvey .304 (.30395) Los Angeles Dodgers 7
Dave Collins .303 (.30309) Cincinnati Reds 8
Ted Simmons .303 (.30303) St. Louis Cardinals 9
George Hendrick .302 (.30245) St. Louis Cardinals 10
Jose Cruz .302 (.30229) Houston Astros 11
Gene Richards .301 (.30062) San Diego Padres 12
Jerry Mumphrey .298 (.29787) San Diego Padres 13
Dave Parker .295 (.29537) Pittsburgh Pirates 14
Ken Griffey .294 (.29412) Cincinnati Reds 15
Dusty Baker .294 (.29361) Los Angeles Dodgers 16
Manny Trillo .292 (.29190) Philadelphia Phillies 17
Steve Henderson .290 (.29045) New York Mets 18
Warren Cromartie .288 (.28811) Montreal Expos 19
Mike Schmidt .287 (.28650) Philadelphia Phillies 20
Jack Clark .284 (.28375) San Francisco Giants 21
Pete Rose .282 (.28244) Philadelphia Phillies 22
Chris Chambliss .282 (.28239) Atlanta Braves 23
Terry Puhl .282 (.28224) Houston Astros 24
Dale Murphy .281 (.28120) Atlanta Braves 25



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.

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?

Future Hall of Famer Sammy Sosa is best known for wearing number twenty-one; however, when the young slugger played for the Chicago White Sox (1989-1991) he only wore number twenty-five.