Jose vs. Cleon vs. Oly

[G-Fafif]

As you probably know, Cleon Jones batted .340 in 1969, an unassailable team record for nearly three decades. Then John Olerud came along in 1998 and batted .354, smashing Cleon's record and establishing a standard I for one never thought would be neared.

But it's half a season just about and it's being neared. Let us track how the Mets' most above-average player is doing when it comes to average.

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 79 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .354
2011: REYES -- .349
1998: Olerud -- .326

[dinosaur jesus]

I'd love to see it.

Olerud was only getting started, by the way. He hit .378 the rest of the season. That guy could hit.

[G-Fafif]

Olerud was just finishing up his only bad month -- only sub-.300 month -- of 1998 that June, when he hit .222. He really did pour it on late, batting .413 in September.

[Benjamin Grimm]

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

300/400/500. That's really beautiful when a guy does that.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 80 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .352
2011: REYES -- .349
1998: Olerud -- .328

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 81 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .352 (.3519)
2011: REYES -- .352 (.3517)
1998: Olerud -- .330

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 82 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .352
1969: Jones -- .347
1998: Olerud -- .326

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 83 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .354
1969: Jones -- .346
1998: Olerud -- .326

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 84 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .354
1969: Jones -- .349
1998: Olerud -- .325

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 85 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .354
1969: Jones -- .350
1998: Olerud -- .320

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 86 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .354
1969: Jones -- .349
1998: Olerud -- .330

Ten-point leap for Oly, going 4-for-4 in the 86th game of the 1998 season, the same night Todd Hundley returned from the DL and mastered left field.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Gilkey 1996 is down to .302. Wright 2007 is at .293, with his best yet to come.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 87 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .354
1969: Jones -- .345
1998: Olerud -- .328

In case you're beginning to wonder, Jose has enough plate appearances right now to keep him eligible for the batting title through 122 games. (Biting my tongue even as we speak.)

[G-Fafif]

Batting average tracker suspended until Jose is again batting.

[Ceetar]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 96 NYM Games

2011: REYES -- .355
1969: Jones -- .342
1998: Olerud -- .323

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 97 NYM Games

2011: REYES -- .350
1969: Jones -- .344
1998: Olerud -- .324

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 98 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .349
1969: Jones -- .346
1998: Olerud -- .325

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 99 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .349
1969: Jones -- .346
1998: Olerud -- .323

This is the nadir for Olerud's BA. Watch out!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Always nice to see a Met living on such a lofty plane that he goes 2-6 only to see his batting average drop.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 100 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .352
1969: Jones -- .346
1998: Olerud -- .325

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 101 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .353
1969: Jones -- .348
1998: Olerud -- .328

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 102 NYM Games
2011: REYES -- .351
1969: Jones -- .350
1998: Olerud -- .329

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 103 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .347
2011: REYES -- .346
1998: Olerud -- .334

Closest three-man gap since we began tracking 24 days ago.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 104 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
2011: REYES -- .347
1998: Olerud -- .337

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 105 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .352
2011: REYES -- .343
1998: Olerud -- .336

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 106 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .351
2011: REYES -- .343
1998: Olerud -- .338

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 107 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .350
2011: REYES -- .340 (.339901)
1998: Olerud -- .340 (.339779)

Oly on a tear, Jose in a swoon.

[G-Fafif]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 108 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .350
2011: REYES -- .341
1998: Olerud -- .340

[batmagadanleadoff]

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY Through 107 NYM Games 1969: Jones -- .350 2011: REYES -- .341 1998: Olerud -- .340

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY
Through 107 NYM Games
1969: Jones -- .350
2011: REYES -- .34146
1990: Magadan --.3405
1998: Olerud -- .33978

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