15 Most MLB Hits of all Time

Who has the most MLB hits to date, and what is their record? Go on and make a guess who those wonderful players are.

Be ready to get blown away as we have come up with this new article that answers the above-mentioned question, including the benchmark these legends have set. 

It covers brief information about those 15 legendary players who have made a record above 3000 during their professional career in MLB. 

So, without wasting time further, let’s go on with our no 15 from the list of most MLB hits.

15 Most MLB Hits of all Time

Well, this list of “15 Most MLB Hits” has been created concerning Baseball Reference.

15. Cal Ripken Jr.

Nicknamed “The Iron Man,” Cal Ripken Jr. is a former third baseman and baseball shortstop. Ripken played 21 seasons in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles (1981-2001) during his baseball career.

Moreover, the Gold Glove Award winner compiled 3,184 hits, 1,695 runs batted in, and 431 home runs throughout his career. Ripken was also named the American League Most Valuable Player two times. 

Besides this, he was also a 19-time All-Star player. Similarly, he holds the record for consecutive games played, i.e., 2,632.

Above all, Ripken was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. He was selected with the sixth-highest election percentage ever, votes being 98.53%. 

14. Nap Lajoie

Born on September 5, 1874, Napoleon “Nap” Lajoie is among the oldest players on this list. Nicknamed “The Frenchman,” he was a professional baseball second baseman and a player-manager.

He played for the Philadelphia Athletics (twice), the Cleveland Naps, and the Philadelphia Philreer. Similarly, he managed the Cleveland Naps from 1905 to 1909.

Lajoie, during his time at the American League, led in the batting average five times. Similarly, Lajoie won the batting title with an average batting of .380 at the age of 42. 

Therefore, Lajoie is ranked at number 14 in today’s ranking of most MLB hits with total hots of 3,252.

13. Eddie Murray

Eddie Clarence Murray, or “Steady Eddie,” is a former designated hitter and first baseman in MLB. Ranked fourth in plays and hits, he spent most of his league career at the Baltimore Orioles. 

Murray was nominated for the Most Valuable Player award multiple times but wasn’t successful in getting it. However, due to his excellent reputation and skills, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, 2003. 

Similarly, Murray is considered the fifth-best first baseman in the New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, 2001. Also, in The Sporting News (1998), he is ranked 77th on the list of the Baseball’s 100 Greatest Players.

Currently, Murray sits at the 13th spot for most MLB hits, with a total of 3,255 hits to his name. 

12.  Willie Mays

“The Say Hey Kid” or Willie Howard Mays Jr. is the American former professional baseball center fielder, ranked 12th in the most MLB hits list. With a total of 3,283 hits, he is considered one of the greatest baseball players in the world. 

Moreover, Mays has multiple prestigious awards to his name; some of them are; World Series champion (1954), NL Rookie of The Year (1951), 2 times NL MVP (1954, 1965), 12 times Gold Glove Award (1957–1968). 

In 1979, Willie was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Similarly, in 1999, he was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, where he was ranked second on the list of the 100 greatest baseball players by The Sporting News.

Likewise, in 2015, former President Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

11. Albert Pujols

On the 11th ranking, we have Albert Pujos. Nicknamed  “The Machine,” Pujols ranks high on the most MLB hits list with a total of 3,301 hits to his name. 

The 44 year old is a professional first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In addition, throughout his career, Pujols has played in the MLB for the Los Angeles Angels for 10 seasons and 11 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals.

During his time in the Cardinals, Pujols was awarded the National League’s Most Valuable Player award three times (2005, 2008, 2009). Moreover, he is also a nine times All-Star player (2001, 2003-2010). Likewise, Pujols was voted the NL Rookie of the Year (2001).

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10. Eddie Collins

Edward Trowbridge Collins Sr. is among the few other baseball players on the list from the early 1900s. Nicknamed “Cocky,” he is ranked 10th in today’s listing. Above all, he has a total hit of 3,315 hits. 

Similarly, Collins used to be a professional baseball player, manager, and executive. During his second baseman days (1906 to 1930) in the MLB, he played for the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics. 

After his retirement, Collins managed and coached in the major leagues. Also, he worked as a general manager of the Boston Red Sox. Most importantly, in 1939, Collins was included in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

9. Paul Molitor

Besides Paul Leo Molitor being his real name, there were two other names he is widely remembered as, i.e., “Molly” and “The Ignitor.” 

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Moreover, Molitor is ranked 9th in the most MLB hits list. With 3,319 hits, the former baseball player and former manager of the Minnesota Twins is considered one of the best. 

Similarly, Molitor has a collection of multiple prestigious awards. Some of them are; World Series Champion (1993), World Series MVP (1993), four times Silver Slugger Award (1987, 1988, 1993, 1996), American Family Field Walk of Fame, AL Manager of the Year (2017) and many more.

8. Carl Yastrzemski

Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former baseball player of the Boston Red Sox. He is ranked 8th on the most MLB hits list, with a total of 3,419 hits to his name. 

Carl Yastrzemski played his entire baseball career (23 years) with the Boston Red Sox. Most of the time, he played as a left fielder but later also changed hands and played as a third baseman, first baseman, and designated hitter.

Moreover, Yastrzemski is a Baseball Hall of Famer of 1989. Plus, he is the possessor of seven Gold Gloves, 18 times All-Star, and the first AL player to gain over 400 home runs.

Similarly, in 1967 he became the American League MVP along with winning the Triple Crown. 

7. Honus Wagner

Okay, so here we have the oldest player on today’s list. Making on to the 7th list with 3,420 hits to his name, we have Johannes Peter “Honus” Wagner. 

Born on February 24, 1874, Honus Wagner was among the founding member of MLB. In other words, he played in the MLB for 21 seasons, i.e., from 1897 to 1917. Reasoning his superb speed and German heritage, he was nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman.” 

Similarly, he holds some of the most prestigious awards and achievements to his name. Some of them are; World Series Champion 1909, 8 times NL batting champion (1900, 1903, 1904, 1906–1909, 1911), 5 times NL RBI leader (1901, 1902, 1908, 1909, 1912), 5 times NL stolen base leader (1901, 1902, 1904, 1907, 1908), and many more.

6. Derek Jeter

With a total hit of 3,465, Derek Jeter sits at the sixth number spot on today’s most MLB hits list. He is a former professional baseball shortstop, businessman, and baseball CEO/part-owner of the Miami Marlins of MLB. 

Above all, Jeter played in the MLB for 20 years. At the same time, he spent his entire baseball career with the New York Yankees. 

Similarly, Jeter became the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020; here, he received 396 votes out of 397 possible votes. This is the second-highest percentage in MLB history and also the highest by a position player.

In addition, some of his prestigious awards are; 14 times All-Star (1998–2002, 2004, 2006–2012, 2014), 5 times World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000, 2009), World Series MVP in 2000, AL Rookie of the Year 1996, 5 times Gold Glove Award (2004–2006, 2009–2010), Monument Park honoree, and many more.

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5. Tris Speaker

Nicknamed “The Gray Eagle”, Tris Speaker is another player on the list from the 1800s. Ranked 5th on the most MLB hits list; Speaker has a career total of 3,514 hits.

Most importantly, Tris Speaker was considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of MLB. Overall, he holds the career records for double plays, assists, and unassisted double plays done by an outfielder.

Similarly, Speaker’s fielding glove was known as the place “where triples go to die.”

Moreover, some of his awards consist of; 3 times World Series champion (1912, 1915, 1920), American League MVP 1912, AL batting champion (1916), AL home run leader (1912), and RBI leader (1923).

Additionally, he was named Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame and Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame.

4.  Stan Musial

StanlBaseball Musial was a professional baseball outfielder and first baseman. He spent 22 seasons playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Most importantly, in baseball history, he is considered one of the greatest and most consistent hitters. 

Musial is ranked 4th in today’s ranking, with a total of 3,630 hits recorded. Similarly, his records are; 1,951 runs batted in, 3,026 games played, 10,972 at-bats, 1,949 runs scored, and 725 doubles.

Consequently, he has achieved many awards; some of them are; 4 times All-Star (1943, 1944, 1946–1963), 3 times World Series champion (1942, 1944, 1946), 3 times NL MVP (1943, 1946, 1948), and many more.

3. Hank Aron

Ranked third on the list, we have Henry Louis Aaron (Hank Aaron), nicknamed “Hammer,” he has a total hit record of 3,771 hits. 

Aron had a professional baseball career of 23 seasons. He played as a right fielder for 21 seasons for Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and two seasons for Milwaukee Brewers.

Similarly, Aron is one of the only two players to hit 30 or more home runs in a single season. Aron is ranked fifth on the list of the “100 Greatest Baseball Players” published by The Sporting News, 1982.

In addition, some of Aron’s achievements are; 25 times All-Star (1955–1975), NL MVP 1957, 3 times Gold Glove Award (1958–1960), 2 times NL batting champion (1956, 1959), Braves Hall of Fame, and many more.

2. Ty Cobb

Just like Hank Aron and the others, Tyrus Raymond Cobb is among the older generation professional MLB players on today’s list. More importantly, Cobb is on the second ranking with a long unbeatable record of 4,191 hits. 

Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”, Cobb spent 22 years of his professional career for the Detroit Tigers. Cobb spent the last six years as a team player-manager, finishing his career with the Philadelphia Athletics. 

Similarly, Cobb received the most votes on the inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, i.e., 222 out of 226 votes.

Moreover, some of his awards are; AL MVP 1911, Triple Crown 1909, 12 times AL batting champion (1907–1915, 1917–1919), AL home run leader 1909, 4 times AL RBI leader (1907–1909, 1911), and many more. 

1. Pete Rose

With the highest record ever recorded in the history of MLB, Peter Edward Rose Sr. tops our list today. Rose is the number one player with the most MLB hits ever done by a player, i.e., 4,256 hits. 

Also known as “Charlie Hustle”, Rose is a year-old former player/manager.

Moreover, Rose spent his professional playing career with the Cincinnati Reds, i.e., from 1963 to 1986. Similarly, during the last days of his professional career, he worked as the manager of his team (from 1984 to 1989).

In addition, some of his achievements and awards are; 17 times All-Star (1965, 1967–1971, 1973–1982, 1985), 3 times World Series champion (1975, 1976, 1980), NL MVP 1973, World Series MVP 1975, 2 times Gold Glove Award (1969, 1970), and many more.

Conclusion

The world of the MLB is ever-growing and ever expanding. As the popularity and the fanbase of the sport grow, so do new players and talents. As a result, more records and hits.

Just like Ty Cobb’s long-lasting unbeatable record hit was beaten by Pete Rose. Someday Pete Rose’s number one record will also be beaten. Only time can tell when it is. 

With the emergence of promising new players each season, it won’t be long until the record is broken.