To evaluate the top ten hitters since 1960 based on sustained peaks (3-5 years), we look for the "Koufax of hitting" - players who reached a stratosphere of production so high that their best years are essentially incomparable to the average All-Star.

When focusing on peak rather than career, high batting averages and extreme OPS+ (which measures how much better a hitter was than the league average) become the primary filters. Here are the top ten hitting peaks in MLB since 1960.

1. Barry Bonds (2001-2004)

• Peak Stats: .349 AVG, .559 OBP, .809 SLG, 256 OPS+
• The Stretch: This is the greatest 4-year peak in baseball history. During this time, Bonds averaged 52 home runs per season while walking more than twice as often as he struck out. His 2004 season (263 OPS+) is the statistical pinnacle of modern hitting; he reached base in over 60% of his plate appearances.

2. Frank Thomas (1991-1994)

• Peak Stats: .330 AVG, .452 OBP, .604 SLG, 186 OPS+
• The Stretch: Before injuries slowed him down, "The Big Hurt" was a freak of nature. He is the only player in history to have seven consecutive seasons (1991-97) with a .300+ AVG, 100+ Walks, 100+ RBI, 100+ Runs, and 20+ HR. In the strike-shortened 1994, he was hitting .353 with a 212 OPS+.

3. Aaron Judge (2022-2024)

• Peak Stats: .310 AVG, .435 OBP, .680 SLG, 211 OPS+
• The Stretch: Judge's current peak is arguably the highest for a right-handed hitter since the 1920s. In 2022 and 2024, he posted OPS+ marks of 211 and 223, respectively. Unlike the power hitters of the 70s or 80s, Judge maintains a high batting average (~.320-.330 in his best years) alongside historic power.

4. Albert Pujols (2005-2009)

• Peak Stats: .334 AVG, .438 OBP, .636 SLG, 181 OPS+
• The Stretch: Pujols' peak was defined by "The Machine-like" consistency. From 2001 to 2010, he never hit below .312 or had an OPS+ below 147. His 5-year peak from '05-'09 saw him win three MVPs and average 40 HR with only 60 strikeouts per season.

5. Jeff Bagwell (1994-1998)

• Peak Stats: .312 AVG, .431 OBP, .605 SLG, 175 OPS+
• The Stretch: Bagwell's 1994 season (213 OPS+) is one of the five best hitting seasons since 1960. He combined elite power with a very high batting average and gold-standard plate discipline. Over this five-year window, he averaged 38 HR and 17 steals, providing a rare "power-speed-average" peak.

6. Mike Trout (2012-2016)

• Peak Stats: .310 AVG, .410 OBP, .569 SLG, 173 OPS+
• The Stretch: Trout entered the league at age 20 and immediately became the best player in baseball. In his first five full seasons, he finished 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, and 1st in MVP voting. His peak was a "five-tool" masterpiece, hitting for average, power, and drawing walks at an elite rate.

7. Miguel Cabrera (2010-2013)

• Peak Stats: .337 AVG, .418 OBP, .607 SLG, 179 OPS+
• The Stretch: During this four-year run, Cabrera won three batting titles and the first Triple Crown (2012) in 45 years. At his peak, he was widely considered the most "complete" hitter in the game, capable of hitting .340 with 40 homers and driving the ball to all fields with ease.

8. Mark McGwire (1996-1999)

• Peak Stats: .288 AVG, .443 OBP, .722 SLG, 191 OPS+
• The Stretch: While his career average was lower, McGwire's 4-year peak was an explosion of power. He hit 52, 58, 70, and 65 home runs in consecutive years. His OPS+ of 216 in 1998 remains one of the highest ever, and his ability to draw walks kept his OBP elite even when his average dipped.

9. Willie Mays (1962-1965)

• Peak Stats: .308 AVG, .391 OBP, .612 SLG, 175 OPS+
• The Stretch: Playing in a much lower-scoring era than the 1990s, Mays' numbers are even more impressive when adjusted. In 1965, he hit 52 home runs with a .317 average in a pitcher's park. His 185 OPS+ that year is higher than almost any year from the "career" greats like Aaron or Robinson.

10. George Brett (1976-1980)

• Peak Stats: .335 AVG, .402 OBP, .545 SLG, 161 OPS+
• The Stretch: Brett's 1980 season (.390 AVG, 203 OPS+) is the highest single-season peak for a "pure" hitter in the last 60 years. Over this 5-year stretch, he was the most difficult out in the American League, culminating in a season where he had more RBIs (118) than games played (117).

08jan2026: This is a good start by AI. I intend to revisit constantly over many months because it's such a fun list. (Also, I need to verify the actual data that AI displayed here)

Great to see Willie Mays on this list. The greatest 5-tool player to ever put on the uniform. And Barry Bonds? Of course he's here! Of course he's number 1.

I regret that I don't follow baseball as much as I did. This caused me to miss Mike Trout play. He's on every hitting list, it seems. I can't visualize how good he was (is?)

Any... it's going to be fun as I go through individual players not currently on the list to see if they can replace anyone here (Sosa, Belle, Robinson, others...)?