Using my new SQL skills (thanks Colin!) I ran a few queries. The one I'm publishing today was simple: since 1900, I wanted the highest BABIPs for players with 450+ at-bats as well as 150+ strikeouts. The at-bats weren't really necessary, unless someone struck out more than 50% of the time, but whatever. I assumed players with high strikeout totals would have more extreme BABIPs because they're obviously putting less balls into play. Little did I know how extreme they would turn out.
Here's everyone with a BABIP over .350.
Player | Team | Year | AB | H | HR | BB | SO | BABIP |
Jose Hernandez | MIL | 2002 | 525 | 151 | 24 | 52 | 188 | 0.405 |
B.J. Upton | TBA | 2007 | 474 | 142 | 24 | 65 | 154 | 0.393 |
Bobby Bonds | SFN | 1970 | 663 | 200 | 26 | 77 | 189 | 0.387 |
Mo Vaughn | BOS | 1997 | 527 | 166 | 35 | 86 | 154 | 0.384 |
Dick Allen | PHI | 1965 | 619 | 187 | 20 | 74 | 150 | 0.367 |
Mo Vaughn | BOS | 1996 | 635 | 207 | 44 | 95 | 154 | 0.366 |
Mark Bellhorn | BOS | 2004 | 523 | 138 | 17 | 88 | 177 | 0.365 |
Sammy Sosa | CHN | 2000 | 604 | 193 | 50 | 91 | 168 | 0.363 |
Matt Kemp | LAN | 2008 | 606 | 176 | 18 | 46 | 153 | 0.361 |
Andres Galarr. | MON | 1988 | 609 | 184 | 29 | 39 | 153 | 0.361 |
Ryan Howard | PHI | 2006 | 581 | 182 | 58 | 108 | 181 | 0.356 |
Preston Wilson | FLO | 1999 | 482 | 135 | 26 | 46 | 156 | 0.356 |
Jorge Posada | NYA | 2000 | 505 | 145 | 28 | 107 | 151 | 0.355 |
Jim Thome | CLE | 1999 | 494 | 137 | 33 | 127 | 171 | 0.354 |
Ben Grieve | TBA | 2001 | 542 | 143 | 11 | 87 | 159 | 0.353 |
Jim Thome | CLE | 2001 | 526 | 153 | 49 | 111 | 185 | 0.353 |
Ray Lankford | SLN | 1998 | 533 | 156 | 31 | 86 | 151 | 0.352 |
See, Jose Hernandez knew he was being highly successful when he put balls in play, so he figured he'd just swing at anything and watch it turn into a hit. Bobby Bonds proves that his family's name is on top of any stat report, ever. Mo Vaughn and Mark Bellhorn represent Boston well (I guess?) and then there's Matt Kemp. The 24 year old who-probably-should-not-play-center-but-had to-because-his-team-cannot-judge-defensive-talent Dodger who hit well enough for an OPS just a tick below .800. Not bad for only his second season with more than 300 plate appearances, even if he did go down on strikes 153 times this season.
For those wondering, Dave Kingman's 1981 season was the lowest with an average of .206. Jose Canseco appears to be the only other player on record with these restrictions and a BABIP below .250, although over the years Rob Deer and Jeff Burroughs gave it a legitimate run.