If your batting average declines each year for 6 years straight, can you stay in the big leagues?

Although there are many new and more advanced statistics, batting average is still a useful measure of a player's ability.

Is 6 consecutive years of declining batting average irreversible?

Red Sox Dave Stapleton, an infielder who played from 1980-1986, is the only MLB player who played at least seven years whose batting average declined each year throughout his career. [1]

From a high of .321 in his rookie debut in 1980, Dave's batting average declined every year to a nadir of .128 in 1986.

Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1980-1986) Batting

Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1986 and Career Totals) 1B Fielding Stats 

Dave Stapleton is most well-known for what he didn't do than for what he may have done.

In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with the Red Sox leading by 2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, he was not inserted as a defensive substitution at 1st base, something that had been done throughout the regular season and the playoffs, coming in 25 times during the regular season and in all 7 winning playoff games (4 in the ALCS and 3 in the World Series) in 1986.

The losing play of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series [2] was on an error by the Red Sox 1st Baseman, which allowed the New York Mets to score the winning run and consequently forced a World Series Game 7, which the Red Sox also lost.

Had Dave Stapleton been playing in the field in that 10th inning, would that same result have occurred, and would the Red Sox have won the 1986 World Series subsequently?

Would a 1986 World Series win by the Red Sox helped him to continue his career? It's interesting to speculate on how one bouncing ball could have changed the course of history for a team and its players.

As it was, 1986 was Dave Stapleton's final season at the age of 32.

For him, 6 years of decline was not recoverable.

In his 6th down year

In 2025, another player has seen his batting average decline year after year for 6 years.

Tim Anderson, a former AL batting champion, silver slugger, and 2-time All-star has seen his batting average drop 6 straight years since winning the 2019 AL batting crown. It was not an errant ball, but perhaps an errant brawl that has symbolized Tim Anderson's decline. when he exchanged punches with Jose Ramirez after a dispute on the basepaths on August 5, 2023.

In his age 32 season, Tim Anderson was just released by the Los Angeles Angels on May 31, 2025.

Is this the end of the line for Tim Anderson?

Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2016-2025) Batting

Tim Anderson Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2024-2025 and Career Totals) Fielding

With above league average range factor per 9 innings (RF/9) and averaging 0.4 dWAR over the past two years.  Tim Anderson can still be a defensive asset for a team.

As an example, struggling Tigers' shortstop Javier Báez in the midst of 4 declining seasons of batting average, among other performance drops, had the opportunity to get a new lease on his career by moving to centerfield to start the season. While also playing 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base, Javier upped his batting performance and was selected to the AL all-star team as a starter as an outfielder.

Tim Anderson also had some reps in the outfield during Spring training but never started there in the regular season. With his previously shown talent, will Tim Anderson get a chance to reverse this six-year decline?

Sources:

[1] "Dave Stapleton". Sons of Sam Horn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.

[2] 1986 World Series - Wikipedia