 All these impressive statistics were just a prelude to , when Brett won the American League MVP and batted .390, a modern record for a third baseman.Brett's batting average was at or above .400 as late in the season as September 19, and the country closely followed his quest to bat .400 for an entire season, a feat which has not been accomplished since Ted Williams in .Brett's 1980 batting average of .390 is second only to Tony Gwynn's average of .394 (Gwynn played in 110 games and had 419 at-bats in the strike-shortened season, compared to Brett's 449 at bats in 1980) for the highest single season batting average since 1941.