The Greatest Hits in MLB History: Baseball's Greatest Hitters (2023)

Updated May 24, 2023

14h51

• Position:infield
• Active years:1963-1986
• Teams that played for:Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos

Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose not only ranks first in most hits, but leads the all-time MLB record for games played, hits and strikeouts.

During his 23-year career, Rose won three World Series wins, an NL Most Valuable Player award, two Golden Gloves, and was 1963 Rookie of the Year. was to be manager of the Reds from 1984-1989. Despite his off-field run-ins with illegal sports betting that prevented him from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rose was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016.

• Position:Campo central
• Active years:1905-1928
• Teams that played for:Detroit Tigers

Although he played in the league a century ago, Ty “Georgia Peach” Cobb broke his fair share of records, some of which remain to this day. His record for most hits has only been beaten by Pete Rose, but Cobb still holds the record for the highest career batting average at an impressive . He also holds the record for most career hitting titles. Cobb is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League All-Century Team.

• Position:right field
• Active years:1954-1974
• Teams that played for:Atlanta Braves (anteriormente Milwaukee Braves), Milwaukee Brewers

Hank "Hammer" Aaron is considered one of the best baseball players of all time. Aaron holds the record for most career RBIs, extra base hits, and total bases. Aaron was a World Series champion with the Milwaukee Braves (before the Braves moved to Atlanta) in 1957 and was also the NL MVP that same year.

He has his fair share of awards and honors, including being in the Baseball Hall of Fame, having his number retired by the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, and multiple Gold Gloves. The Hank Aaron Award is now given to the top offensive player in each league in honor of his legacy.

• Position:Outfielder, First Base
• Active years:1941-1944, 1946-1963
• Teams that played for:Saint Louis Cardinals

Stan Musial is a St. Louis Cardinal who helped lead the team to three World Series championships. He ranks in the top ten all-time in games played, at bats, doubles, runs, RBIs, and total bases. Musial was a consistent hitter throughout his career, which he finished with a . 331 batting average. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.

• Position:Campo central
• Active years:1907-1928
• Teams that played for:Boston Americans, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Philadelphia Athletics

Tris Speaker ranks fifth on the list of total career hits, but her career is perhaps even better known for being a phenomenal defender. Speaker has won a total of three World Series with two different teams. He is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as the MLB All-Century Team, and has the record for most double-doubles, as well as career outfield assists.

• Position:shortstop
• Active years:1995-2014
• Teams that played for:New York Yankees

Derek Jeter's legacy needs little introduction. He spent his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees, during which the team won five World Series.

He was the 2000 World Series MVP and served as captain of the Yankees from 2003 until he retired in 2014. Jeter's number was retired by the Yankees and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020, receiving all but one vote possible .

• Position:shortstop
• Active years:1897-1917
• Teams that played for:Louisville Coronels, Pittsburgh Pirates

Honus Wagner was a Hall of Fame inductee and World Series champion, who many would say is one of the greatest players of all time. He broke many records while he was an active player, some of which still top all-time lists. One cannot talk about Honus Wagner without mentioning that hisT206 baseball cardit is one of the rarest and most valuable cards in the world.

• Position:Left Field, Third Base
• Active years:1961-1983
• Teams that played for:Boston Red Sox

Carl Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year career with the Boston Red Sox. He was an All-Star for 18 of those 23 years, won a Gold Glove seven times, and was the AL MVP and Triple Crown winner in 1967.

Yastrzemski is second to Pete Rose in number of games played and third in line for total hits. He was also the first AL player to hit 400 total home runs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989. His number has since been retired by the Boston Red Sox.

• Position:First Base, Designated Hitter
• Active years:2001-2022
• Teams that played for:St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels (anteriormente Anaheim Angels), Los Angeles Dodgers

Albert “The Machine” Pujols is the most recently retired player on this list, playing through the final season of 2022.

Pujols played 10 years with the St. Louis Cardinals (11 total seasons, including his farewell season with the Cardinals in 2022). He won two World Series rings during his tenure with the Cardinals (2006 and 2011). In Game 3 of the 2011 World Series, Puljols joined Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game.

He has received nearly every offensive and defensive award a player can receive in modern baseball, including multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards, the NL Hank Aaron Award, the Roberto Clemente Award, and the NL MVP Awards. Many of his 3384 hits were accumulated during his last nine seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, when he will be an inductee.

• Position:second base
• Active years:1978-1998
• Teams that played for:Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays. Minnesota Twins

Paul Molitor's 21-year MLB career was a consistent showcase of remarkable hitting and fast base running. Molitor's longest stretch was with the Milwaukee Brewers, although his only World Championship ring was with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. He was awarded the World Series MVP after his five hits in Game 1 broke the record for most hits in a World Series game.

As a player, Molitor has won multiple Silver Slugger Awards, and during his stint as manager of the Minnesota Twins from 2015-2018, Molitor was awarded the AL Manager of the Year after the 2017 season. inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

• Position:second base
• Active years:1906-1930
• Teams that played for:Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox

Eddie "Cocky" Collins had many highly successful seasons at base during his career. He was a six-time World Series champion and also a major threat as a baserunner, leading in stolen bases for four seasons.

Although Collins was part of the infamous "Black Sox" team of 1919, he was acquitted of involvement with the group of conspirators. He retired with a career average of . 333 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.

• Position:Campo central
• Active years:1948-1973
• Teams that played for:Birmingham Black Barons, San Francisco Giants (anteriormente New York Giants), New York Mets

Willie “Buck” Mays had an unbelievable career that many would consider one of the greatest of all time. He was an astonishing 24-time All Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner, NL MVP, hitting champion, and home run leader.

Mays' number has been retired by the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants, and he was first inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. He began to rise to prominence while playing in the historic Negro American League and is tied for the best player in Everytime. leader for most Golden Gloves for an outfielder (12).

Mays' legacy is huge for the sport and even led to the MLB naming the World Series MVP after him.

• Position:First Base, Designated Hitter
• Active years:1977-1997
• Teams that played for:Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Anaheim Angels

Eddie Murray is a Hall of Famer and World Series champion who has always been an asset to his team as a hitter. He ranks in the top 5 in hits, home runs, and games played in Baltimore Orioles history.

He holds the record for most sacrifice flies and most assists by a first baseman. Murray's ability to make contact as a hitter and defend at first base was a huge asset to his team.

• Position:second base
• Active years:1986-1916
• Teams that played for:Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Naps

So prevalent was Nap Lajoie's popularity that while he was with Cleveland, the team was named after him, nicknamed the Cleveland Naps for several years. During their careers, Nap Lajoie and Ty Cobb constantly battled for batting titles and the two dominated the AL as hitters for many seasons.

Lajoie was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937.

• Position:shortstop, third base
• Active years:1981-2001
• Teams that played for:Baltimore Orioles

Cal Ripken is a Baltimore Oriole legend who is well decorated in awards for excelling both offensively and defensively. Ripken was recognized as an All-Star 19 times and broke the record for most fan votes for All Star Game selection.

He won multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards during his career and led the team to a World Series victory in 1983, the year after he was awarded AL Rookie of the Year. He also holds the record for the most consecutive games played (2,632), a record that will likely never be broken.

Ripken was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007, and his number has been retired by the Baltimore Orioles.

Slide 1 of 3