Dodgers history: Freddie Freeman, Eddie Murray & the 184-for-558 club

Freddie Freeman is leading the major leagues in batting average. Eddie Murray did the same 32 years ago. Murray played at least 155 games in a season a dozen times, and 160+ games six times. Freeman played a 12-year career in Atlanta and was 33 years old in his first season in Los Angeles. Their batting averages are similar this year. Freddie Freeman has 181 hits in 550 at-bats. Only three Dodgers have had more hits than 184 in their first 558 at bats in the modern era. The answer is three. The number of Dodgers who were 184-for-558 is the number it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.

Willie McGee was traded to the A's on August 29. He was hitting .335 with 542 plate appearances. With two weeks left in the season, he was still in contention for the batting title. Eddie Murray was hot down the stretch, getting up to .329 on September 21. Murray won the title with a .330 average. George Brett was next at .328. 324. The A’s manager Tony LaRussa said that McGee earned the championship. It was his third career batting championship, after winning it in 1990.

Andy High had his558th at-bat on September 20, 1924, against the Pirates. He had exactly 184 hits in 558 at bats. Andy High was a third-year second baseman for Brooklyn. He hit .284 as a career. High entered the game hitting .325.

Billy Herman made seven straight All-Star Games with the Cubs and three more with Brooklyn. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1943 with Dodgers he had his highest finish in the batting title race. On September 26, 1943, he entered a doubleheader against his old team at Wrigley Field with 183 hits in 551 at-bats, hitting .332. To open the 7th inning, in his 558th at bat, Herman doubled off Ed Hanyzewski for his 184th hit.

There were a few near misses in Dodgers joining the vaunted 184-for-558 club. Willie Keeler entered the final day of the season with 184 hits in 555 at-bats. Goody Rosen made the NL All-Star team in 1945. Steve Garvey had a chance to be 183- for-557 in 1974, but he hit a line drive that was caught by Ken Oberkfell. Freddie Freeman can join the club with three hits within his next eight at bats.