Playing Low-Ball

Catcher Mike Lieberthal of the Philadelphia Phillies is on a pace for 436 at-bats despite hitting only .197 this season. A look at the lowest single-season batting average at each position (minimum 400 at-bats):

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POS. PLAYER TEAM YEAR AVG. C Billy Sullivan Chicago White Sox 1908 .191 1B Mark McGwire Oakland A’s 1991 .201 2B Billy Hallman Cle./Phila., 1918 .185 3B Eddie Zimmerman Brooklyn Dodgers 1911 .185 SS Ed Brinkman Washington Senators 1965 .185 OF Rob Deer Detroit Tigers 1991 .178

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And here are the lowest career batting averages by position (minimum 3,000 at-bats):

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POS. PLAYER YEARS AVG. C Bill Bergen 1901-11 .170 1B Steve Balboni 1981-93 .229 2B Bobby Knoop 1964-72 .236 3B Lee Tannehill 1903-12 .220 SS Bobby Wine 1960-72 .215 OF Rob Deer 1984-96 .220

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Researched by HOUSTON MITCHELL / Los Angeles Times