Mendoza Line

Photo of Mario Mendoza


Mendoza line.

The figurative boundary in the batting averages between those batters hitting above and below .215. It is named for shortstop Mario Mendoza whose career (1974-1982) batting average for the Pirates, Mariners and Rangers was .215.

The figurative boundary in the batting averages between those batters hitting above and below .200. “When a struggling hitter pulls his average above .200, he has crossed the Mendoza Line.” (Sports Illustrated, Sept. 13, 1982.) Jim Henneman (Baltimore Sun, June 7, 1994) wrote of Brady Anderson: “A few years ago, when he was struggling to stay above the Mendoza (.200) line, Anderson commanded the same strategy.”

– The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary (via Al Pepper)

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