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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