To find the "Koufax of singles hitters" since 1960, we look for players whose peaks were defined by an almost supernatural ability to put the ball in play and find holes in the defense, resulting in astronomical batting averages with very little "noise" from home runs.

These hitters weren't just "good"; during their 3-to-5-year peaks, they were virtually un-strikeout-able and treated the entire field like a target map.

Note (640kb): The logic behind the ranking↗

1. Tony Gwynn (Peak: 1993-1997)

• Peak Average: .368
• The Stretch: This is the ultimate "Koufax" peak for a contact hitter. Over these five seasons, Gwynn hit .358, .394, .368, .353, and .372. He struck out only 98 times in 2,416 plate appearances - an average of about one strikeout every 25 times he stepped to the plate. In the modern power era, this level of contact was essentially an anomaly.

2. Wade Boggs (Peak: 1985-1988)

• Peak Average: .363
• The Stretch: Boggs was a machine at Fenway Park. In these four seasons, he won four straight batting titles and led the league in On-Base Percentage every year. His slash line during this peak was an absurd .363/.460/.489. While he had a 24-HR "glitch" season in 1987, he was primarily known for his legendary discipline and inside-out swing that produced endless doubles and singles.

3. Rod Carew (Peak: 1973-1977)

• Peak Average: .358
• The Stretch: The prototype for this list. Carew won four consecutive batting titles from 1972-1975, but his peak culminated in 1977 when he hit .388 with 239 hits. He was a master of the bunt, the slap, and the late-inning single. During this 5-year window, he averaged just 5 home runs a year but reached base at a .425 clip.

4. Ichiro Suzuki (Peak: 2001-2004)

• Peak Average: .339
• The Stretch: Ichiro entered the MLB like a lightning bolt, amassing more hits (924) in his first four years than any player in history. His 2004 season is the singles-hitter's masterpiece: 262 hits (MLB record), 225 of which were singles. He was a "speed-contact" hybrid who forced defenses to play in on the grass, only to punch the ball over their heads.

5. Luis Arraez (Peak: 2022-2024)

• Peak Average: .328
• The Stretch: Arraez is the modern "throwback." In an era of "Three True Outcomes" (HR, Walk, K), Arraez has become the only player to win consecutive batting titles in different leagues. His 2023 season (.354) was the first time since Nomar Garciaparra (2000) that a righty or lefty contact specialist threatened .400 late into the summer.

6. Matty Alou (Peak: 1966-1969)

• Peak Average: .335
• The Stretch: Alou is perhaps the purest "singles hitter" ever to have an elite peak. In 1966, he won the batting title at .342. In 1969, he led the league with 231 hits - 210 of which were singles or doubles. He hit only 31 home runs in a 15-year career, but during this four-year run with the Pirates, he was as difficult to get out as any Hall of Famer.

7. Pete Rose (Peak: 1968-1973)

• Peak Average: .333
• The Stretch: While Rose's career average is .303, his peak years were elite. From 1968-1973, he won three batting titles and led the league in hits three times. In 1969, he hit .348 with 218 hits and just 16 home runs. He was a "high-volume" contact hitter who specialized in the "long single" (a hard-hit line drive that didn't leave the park).

8. Bill Madlock (Peak: 1974-1976)

• Peak Average: .335
• The Stretch: "Mad Dog" Madlock is one of the most underrated right-handed hitters in history. He won back-to-back batting titles in 1975 (.354) and 1976 (.339). He didn't walk much and didn't strike out much; he just put the ball in play with extreme authority. Over this 3-year peak, he was the gold standard for right-handed contact.

9. Ralph Garr (Peak: 1971-1974)

• Peak Average: .330
The Stretch: Nicknamed "The Road Runner," Garr was a blur of speed and contact. From 1971-1974, he averaged 203 hits per season. His 1974 season remains legendary: a .353 average and a league-leading 149 hits before* the All-Star break. He swung at everything and seemingly ran everything out.

10. Kenny Lofton (Peak: 1993-1996)

• Peak Average: .331
• The Stretch: Often remembered for his speed, Lofton's contact peak was remarkable. In the strike-shortened 1994, he hit .349 with 160 hits in just 112 games. Over this 4-year stretch, he averaged only 10 home runs a year while serving as the engine for the high-powered Cleveland Indians offenses.

08jan2026: Another good list from AI. Contact specialists, high average, low-homers, peak sustained seasons (not based on career values). You can't argue with the first 4 selections, they are automatic.

I went though the list a few times with AI because it included names like Roberto Clemente, Kirby Puckett and others... these are great hitters but they were not the contact, singles specialists I was looking for.

After some 'back and forth' finalizing the list... a rankings report↗ was created to explain the listed order.