The Major League Batting Champ Who Lost The Batting Title

Eddie Murray lead Major League Baseball in 1990 with a .330 batting average. He would lose the National League batting title to Willie McGee who finished the season with a .324 average. How did this happen?
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[@homerun8032]

McGwire lead the Majors in homeruns in 97 , but is not recognized as the homerun champ of either league.

[@leonzaduncan2438]

Ironically that involved the Cardinals and A's again but in reverse. Lol

[@kellykarcher7179]

That's okay. McGwire was cheating when he hit all those homers. He didn't need any positive recognition. He did receive a lot of negative recognition though! :)

[@paleo704]

@@leonzaduncan2438lol yep

[@17Helton]

One of my favorite trivia questions of all time and it kind of defined Eddie's often overlooked/under appreciated career. For Eddie it was always the team winning/success first so he wouldn't care about something putting him before his team. .. but very quirky scenario to examine. Great video!

[@skiprockjr.6881]

Eddie was part of 2 of the worst teams in MLB history, the 1988 Orioles (54-107) and the 1993 Mets (59-103). During those seasons Eddie batted .284 with 27 HR's, and 84 RBI's with the Orioles and .285 with 28 HR's, and 100 RBI's with the Mets. You can't blame Eddie for those terrible seasons. I think he'll forever remain the only person in MLB history to have at least 75 RBI's in his first 20 seasons.

[@kpk33x]

A bit of a redirect. Murray had plenty of value. In 1986, Orioles owner Williams criticized his effort on his one trip in 10 years to the DL. Murray asked to be traded. Due to collusion, there were no takers. By the end of the 1988 season the Orioles had zero leverage and got nothing for him. Had they held onto him, they probably win the 89 division title and possibly 92 (because the Glenn Davis trade would not have happened). The Orioles didn't make the playoffs again until Murray returned in 96. As was often said: Murray's best season was every season.

[@henry-bo3np]

Eddie was special. I live in Maryland, followed Eddie's career closely, and well remember that 1990 season in which Eddie hit .330. This is a good video. Thank you for sharing.

[@Rockhound6165]

As a Phillies fan, Eddie Murray is my favorite player not on the Phillies. I still have his Topps rookie card. I got to see him play live as an Oriole and a Dodger. He hit a HR against the Phillies when I saw him with the Dodgers.

[@bacchys]

Great video. Some of my fondest childhood memories are joining the throng at the World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum, aka Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, in chaning "Ed-die! Ed-die!" I hated when he left the O's and was overjoyed on his return.

[@jmac212003]

My dad took me to a game in Anaheim as an Orioles fan living in Southern CA 1985 and by far my greatest sports memory, Eddie Murray hit 3 homeruns before the 7th inning. Game was out of hand by the time Murray came up in the 9th and the fans that remained chanting in perfect cadence as loud as i can remember “EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE”! wanting to see him hit #4 on the day. He took it to the warning track, we all thought he’d done it. Just fell short. Regardless, he was kind enough to give us a curtain call. He was my childhood hero. A game and moment I’ll never forget. Loved Eddie Murray 🙌

[@scottmitchell1974]

He's my all-time favorite player by a mile and remember following this season closely, especially towards the end and I hate, hate, hate how McGee won. By the rules it's fair, but I hate it. Well done! Great video.

[@michaelfogarty9806]

Cardinal fan here so I am biased as Willie Mc Gee was one of my favorite players. When Willie won the batting title in 1985 he was on a stacked team and he benefitted from Tommy Herr and Jack Clark hitting behind him and the speedy Vince Coleman ahead of him. He saw a lot of fastballs. How he won the batting title in 1990 is beyond me he was on a really bad Cards team that finished last. (ironically last years team was the first since then to finish last having almost an identical record) When other 80s stars dulled Willie's shined. I was crushed when he was traded to the As but was happy he got to play in the WS that year albeit losing to the Reds in a sweep. I would bet that Willie feels a little guilty about winning that batting title but those were the rules.

[@LiveFromThePorcelainPalace]

Best in the game and not getting recognized for it.. The 1981 Cincinnati Reds. Best record in MLB.. didn't make the playoffs

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

I love videos like this. Please do more.

[@BaseballQuotes1]

glad you enjoyed! Have a lot more planned don't worry!

[@davidwebb2332]

Batting average is hits divided by at bats, not plate appearances , which include HBP and BB McGee had 168 hits which gave him a .335 average. To determine the batting champ the player traded to the other league (no M 0:04 LB title at that time) had to have his hit total divided by the qualifying number of 502. That lowered McGee to a .334 average giving him the NL title The rules were the same in each league at that time.

[@mikemallery913]

i remember that year and being a McGee fan was very disappointed he was traded and also felt it was unfair to him he wasn’t going to be able playout the year in thebnational league where he knew the pitchers nor be able to compete to earn a higher average. If he had stayed in the NL he most likely would not have tailed off learning tonhitnagainst all nee pitchers. Willie!!!

[@Uns_Maps_8]

Batting avg is still as important as it was in 1990

[@jameshudson169]

BA is the name of the game. it is the end. baseball is a spectator sport. i watch to see who can have the highest BA. who's gonna win the batting title? that's the game.

[@bogle28]

I still value Batting Average and always will, but someone like Schwarber is still an amazing ball player even tho he doesn’t always hit that high

[@BaseballHistorian]

“Baseball, the only sport where someone can be the best in the league at something and not get the recognition for it.” *Mike Trout has entered the chat*

[@BaseballQuotes1]

ain't that the truth! lmao

[@sean7735]

100 % Murray

[@chrischar9428]

Opening statement, im done

[@CutterHistorical]

Yeah i thought it was bullshit myself

[@BaseballQuotes1]

wild how this was able to happen