Worst MLB hitters

Bill Bergen, catcher, played 11 seasons from 1901 to 1911 including stints with the Dodgers (8 years) and the Cincinati Reds (3 years).

In over 3,000 at bats over his career, his batting average was .170

He still ranks 9th on the all-time list for catchers with 1,400+ assists and had a fielding % one year of .989 which was a long standing record for catchers.

This is back in the days when hitting from the catcher position was "gravy". Defense ruled who played. He was never a full-time player, just the backup catcher which makes the career assists number even more outstanding.

Over-all, an outstanding player who just didn't "hit", chosen by "Total Baseball" as the 5th best catcher of all time.

obtw:
Al Pepper wrote a book called "Mendosa's Heroes" which picked out 50 of the worst hitters of all times and gave insight into their careers. Good read if you have a chance to catch it.

and yes, Bob Uecker made the list and the book.

Doesn't qualify but: (lowest single season batting average)

Corky Miller, 2004 CIN, .026 - 1 hit in 39 at bats
That is bad timing for a slump.

And how about this stat for an all time great player: (lowest batting average for a player with 3000 hits)

Cal Ripken Jr. - 3,184 career base hits in a 21 season career (1981-2001) with a .276 lifetime batting average, the lowest of any current member of the 3,000 Hit Club.

Pitcher category

Dean Chance
Twins, Angels
career .066
420 K's, 762 ab's

1966

.026
54 K's 76 ab's

Come on...lets look at a CAREER...one that spanned over at least 1000 games...
...I know of MLB guy with an .083 average over more than 1000 games!

For his career Rob Deer didn't hit his weight, but still works as a Padres hitting instructor.

How about this - Hall of Famer, hit home run in first major league at bat and then never hit another one in a 21 year career. Life time BA .088.

Yeah but he also won a few games on the bump! There are still a few pitchers that would love to trade hitting stats with Wilhelm. How about this guy?
.029 with over 200 AB!