Andrew McCutchen and Freddie Freeman are the latest MLB players to join the coveted 2,000-hit club, joining 289 other legends of the game who came before them. McCutchen collected his 2,000th hit with the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11, while Freeman collected his with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 25.
McCutchen is currently in his 15th season in the major leagues and has a career .277 batting average with 2,009 hits through 1,961 games. He has at least 150 hits in seven seasons and led the NL with a career-high 194 hits in 2012. He’s not the All-Star player he was 10 years ago, but he’s still productive.
Freeman is currently in his 14th season in the major leagues and has a career .299 batting average with 2,000 hits through 1,801 games. He has at least 150 hits in eight seasons, led the NL with 191 hits in 2018, and led the major leagues with a career-high 199 hits in 2022. He was named NL MVP in 2020.
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MLB Players With the Most Hits in MLB History
With McCutchen and Freeman joining the 2,000-hit club, there are now 291 MLB players with at least 2,000 hits in their careers. Considering how many players have graced the league over the past 150 years, being in a league with just a few hundred others is quite a special accomplishment for anyone.
And while the 2,000-hit club is certainly one to be proud of, it’s only scratching the surface of what we’ve witnessed in the past. To date, there are 100 MLB players with at least 2,500 career hits, 33 MLB players with at least 3,000 career hits, five MLB players with at least 3,500 hits, and only two with 4,000+ hits.
What McCutchen and Freeman have done is nothing short of incredible and deserves all the praise, but they’re nowhere near the top of the all-time leaderboard – which really puts things into perspective. In fact, being at 2,000 hits means you’re not even halfway to the record Pete Rose retired with in 1986.
Without further delay, let’s take a look at the current all-time leaders in hits – starting with Tony Gwynn at No. 20 all-time!
20. Tony Gwynn – 3,141 hits
Tony Gwynn spent his entire 20-year career with the San Diego Padres between 1982 and 2001. He retired with a .338 batting average and had 3,141 hits, 543 doubles, 85 triples, 135 home runs, 1,138 runs batted in, 1,383 runs scored, and 319 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Gwynn led the NL in hits seven times and led the entire MLB in hits in five of those seasons – surpassing 200 hits five times and 150 hits 14 times. He also led the NL in batting average eight times and the entire MLB five times. He was a 15-time All-Star, 5-time Gold Glove rightfielder, and 7-time Silver Slugger.
19. Robin Yount – 3,142 hits
Robin Yount spent his entire 20-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers between 1974 and 1993. He retired with a .285 batting average and had 3,142 hits, 583 doubles, 126 triples, 251 home runs, 1,406 runs batted in, 1,632 runs scored, and 271 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Yount led the MLB with 210 hits in 1982 – the only time he surpassed 200 hits in his career. With that said, he had at least 117 hits in all but one season (19 total) in his career, had at least 150 hits on 11 occasions, led the MLB in doubles twice (1980 and 1982), and led the AL in triples twice (1983 and 1988).
18. Paul Waner – 3,152 hits
Paul Waner spent 20 seasons in the major leagues between 1926 and 1945 – he spent 15 of those years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He retired with a .333 batting average and 3152 hits, 605 doubles, 191 triples, 113 home runs, 1,309 runs batted in, 1,627 runs scored, and 104 stolen bases in 2,549 games played.
Waner led the entire MLB in hits with 237 in 1927 and 217 in 1934. He also led the MLB in doubles twice and triples once, while leading the NL in runs twice, hits twice, doubles twice, triples twice, RBIs once, and batting average three times. He’s a former MVP and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1952.
17. George Brett – 3,154 hits
George Brett spent his entire 21-year career with the Kansas City Royals between 1973 and 1993. He retired with a .305 batting average and 3,154 hits, 665 doubles, 137 triples, 317 home runs, 1,596 runs batted in, 1,583 runs scored, and 201 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Brett led the AL in hits three times and the entire MLB in hits twice (1976 and 1979). He also led the AL in batting average three times (MLB once), doubles twice (MLB once), triples three times (MLB three times), and at-bats twice. He’s a former MVP, 13-time All-Star, and won the 1985 World Series with the Royals.
16. Adrian Beltre – 3,166 hits
Adrian Beltre spent 21 years in the MLB between 1998 and 2018 – he played for the Rangers (8 years), Dodgers (7 years), Mariners (5 years), and Red Sox (1 year). He retired with a .286 batting average, 3,166 hits, 636 doubles, 38 triples, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBIs, 1,524 runs, and 121 stolen bases.
He led the entire MLB with 199 hits in 2013 at the age of 34 years old. He also led the MLB in doubles in 2010 and triples in 2004. He had a career-high 200 hits in 2004 and had at least 140 hits on 15 occasions – including at least 170 hits on six occasions. He was a four-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger.
15. Cal Ripken Jr. – 3,184 hits
Cal Ripken Jr. spent his entire 21-year career with the Baltimore Orioles between 1981 and 2001. He retired with a .276 batting average, 3,184 hits, 603 doubles, 44 triples, 431 home runs, 1,695 runs batted in, 1647 runs, and 36 stolen bases in 3,001 games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ripken Jr. led the entire MLB with a career-high 211 hits in 1983 – he also led the MLB in doubles and AL in runs scored that season. He came close to topping his career-high with 210 hits in 1991 and had at least 150 hits on 15 occasions. He was a two-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, and won the 1983 World Series.
14. Nap Lajoie – 3,252 hits
Nap Lajoie spent 21 years in the major leagues between 1896 and 1916 – he played for the Cleveland Naps (13 seasons), Philadelphia Phillies (5 seasons), and Philadelphia Athletics (4 seasons). He had a .338 batting average, 3,243 hits, 657 doubles, 163 triples, 82 home runs, 1,599 RBIs, and 1,504 runs.
Lajoie led the MLB in hits four times in his career – he had 232 hits in 1901, 208 hits in 1904, 214 hits in 1906, and 227 hits in 1910. He also led the MLB in batting average four times, RBIs twice, doubles five times, home runs once, and runs once. He won a Triple Crown in 1901 and is now in the Hall of Fame.
13. Eddie Murray – 3,255 hits
Eddie Murray spent 21 years in the major leagues between 1977 and 1997 – he played for the Orioles (13 seasons), Dodgers (4 seasons), Guardians (3 seasons), Mets (2 seasons), and Angels (1 season). He had a .287 batting average, 3,255 hits, 560 doubles, 504 home runs, 1,917 RBIs, and 1,627 runs.
Murray had at least 150 hits on 14 occasions and had a career-high 186 hits in 1980. He led the AL in home runs (22) and RBIs (78) in 1981 and is the MLB’s all-time leader in sacrifice flies (128). He’s a former Rookie of the Year, 8-time All-Star, 1983 World Series champion, and is now in the Hall of Fame.
12. Willie Mays – 3,293 hits
Willie Mays spent 23 years in the major leagues between 1948 and 1973 – he played for the Giants (21 seasons) and Mets (2 seasons). He retired with a .301 batting average, 3,293 hits, 525 doubles, 141 triples, 660 home runs, 1,909 runs batted in, 2,068 runs scored, and 339 stolen bases in 3,005 games.
Mays led the entire MLB with 190 hits in 1960. He led the AL in runs scored twice, triples three times (MLB twice), home runs four times (MLB three times), and stolen bases four times (MLB three times). He was a two-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner, and is now in the Hall of Fame.
11. Eddie Collins – 3,315 hits
Eddie Collins spent 25 years in the major leagues between 1906 and 1930 – he played for the Chicago White Sox (12 seasons) and Philadelphia Athletics (13 seasons). He retired with a .333 batting average, 3,315 hits, 438 doubles, 187 triples, 47 home runs, 1,299 RBIs, 1,821 runs scored, and 741 stolen bases.
Collins never led the league in hits or batting average, but had at least 170 hits on 12 occasions and had a career-high 224 hits in 1920. He led the MLB in runs scored in three consecutive years and led the AL in stolen bases four times. He was MVP in 1914, won six World Series, and is now in the Hall of Fame.
10. Paul Molitor – 3,319 hits
Paul Molitor spent 21 years in the major leagues between 1978 and 1998 – he played for the Brewers (15 seasons), Twins (3 seasons), and Blue Jays (3 seasons). He retired with a .306 batting average, 3,319 hits, 605 doubles, 114 triples, 234 home runs, 1,307 RBIs, 1,782 runs, and 504 stolen bases.
Molitor led the AL in hits on three occasions and the entire MLB twice – he surpassed 200 hits in a single season on four occasions, including a career-high 225 hits in 1996 at the age of 39. He was a 7-time All-Star, 4-time Silver Slugger, 1993 World Series champion, World Series MVP, and Hall of Famer.
9. Albert Pujols – 3,384 hits
Albert Pujols spent 22 years in the major leagues between 2001 and 2022 – he played for the Cardinals (12 seasons), Angels (10 seasons), and Dodgers (1 season). He retired with a .296 batting average, 3384 hits, 686 doubles, 16 triples, 703 home runs, 2,218 RBIs, 1,914 runs scored, and 117 stolen bases.
Pujols led the NL with a career-high 212 hits in 2003 – the same season he led the MLB in batting average, runs, and doubles. He was a three-time MVP, 11-time All-Star, two-time World Series champ, six-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glove winner, and will certainly be in the Hall of Fame someday.
8. Carl Yastrzemski – 3,419 hits
Carl Yastrzemski spent his entire 23-year career with the Boston Red Sox between 1961 and 1983. He retired with a .285 batting average, 3,419 hits, 646 doubles, 59 triples, 452 home runs, 1,844 runs batted in, 1,816 runs scored, and 168 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1989.
Yastrzemski led the AL in hits twice, runs three times, doubles three times (MLB once) – he also led the MLB in home runs (44) and RBIs (121) in 1967 to complete the Triple Crown and win MVP. He was an 18-time All-Star, 7-time Gold Glove winner, won three batting titles, and is a former All-Star Game MVP.
7. Honus Wagner – 3,430 hits
Honus Wagner spent 21 years in the major leagues between 1897 and 1917 – he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (18 seasons) and Louisville Colones (3 seasons). He retired with a .328 batting average, 3,420 hits, 643 doubles, 252 triples, 101 home runs, 1,732 RBIs, and 1,739 runs scored.
Wagner led the NL in hits twice, including a career-high 201 hits in 1980 – which led the entire MLB. He also led the NL in doubles seven times, triples three times, RBIs four times, stolen bases five times, batting average eight times, and runs scored twice. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
6. Derek Jeter – 3,465 hits
Derek Jeter spent his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees between 1995 and 2014. He retired with a .310 batting average, 3,465 hits, 544 doubles, 66 triples, 260 home runs, 1,311 runs batted in, 1,923 runs scored, and 358 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 2020.
Jeter led the entire MLB in hits twice – he had 219 hits in 1999 and 216 hits in 2012. He finished with at least 200 hits on five other occasions and had at least 170 hits in 15 seasons during his career. He was a 14-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 5-time champion, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
5. Tris Speaker – 3,514 hits
Tris Speaker spent 22 seasons in the MLB between 1907 and 1928 – he played for the Guardians (11 years), Red Sox (9 years), Senators (1 year), and Athletics (1 year). He retired with a .345 batting avg., 3,514 hits, 792 doubles, 222 triples, 117 home runs, 1,531 RBIs, 1,882 runs, and 436 stolen bases.
Speaker led the AL in hits twice – he had 193 hit in 1914 and 211 hits in 1916 (which also led the MLB). He led the league in doubles on eight occasions and is also the all-time leader in doubles. He was named MVP in 1912 and won three World Series titles before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937.
4. Stan Musial – 3,630 hits
Stan Musial spent his entire 22-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals between 1941 and 1963. He retired with a .331 batting average, 3,630 hits, 725 doubles, 177 triples, 475 home runs, 1,951 runs batted in 1,949 runs scored, and 78 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1969.
Musial led the MLB in hits five times in his career, including a career-high 230 hits in 1948 – he also had 228 hits in 1946. He led the NL in runs five times, doubles eight times, triples five times, and RBIs twice. He was a three-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, three-time World Series champ, and won seven batting titles.
3. Hank Aaron – 3,771 hits
Hank Aaron spent 23 years in the major leagues between 1954 and 1976 – he played for the Braves (21 seasons) and Brewers (2 seasons). He retired with a .305 batting average, 3,771 hits, 624 doubles, 98 triples, 755 home runs, 2,297 runs batted in, 2,174 runs scored, and 240 stolen bases in 3,298 games.
Aaron led the MLB in hits on two occasions – he had 200 hits in 1956 and 223 hits in 1959. He led the NL in runs three times, doubles four times, home runs four times, RBIs four times, and batting average twice. He’s tha all-time leader in RBIs and total bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
2. Ty Cobb – 4,189 hits
Ty Cobb spent 24 years in the major leagues between 1905 and 1928 – he played for the Tigers (22 seasons) and Athletics (2 seasons). He retired with a .366 batting average (all-time leader) 4,189 hits, 724 doubles, 295 triples, 117 home runs, 1,944 runs batted in, 2,245 runs scored, and 897 stolen bases.
Cobb led the AL in hits on eight occasions and surpassed 200 hits nine times – he had a career-high 248 hits in 1911. He was named the MVP in 1911 and won a Triple Crown in 1909 when he led the league in hits, home runs, and RBIs. He won 12 batting titles and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.
1. Pete Rose – 4,256 hits
Pete Rose spent 24 years in the major leagues between 1963 and 1986 – he played for the Reds (19 seasons), Phillies (5 seasons), and Expos (1 season). He retired with a .303 batting average, 4,256 hits, 746 doubles, 135 triples, 160 home runs, 1,314 runs batted in, 2,165 runs scored, and 198 stolen bases.
In addition to being the all-time leader in hits, Rose is the all-time leader in games played, at-bats, and plate appearances. He led the league in hits on seven occasions and surpassed 200 hits 10 times in his career. He was a 17-time All-Star, three-time champion, 1973 MVP, and one-time World Series MVP.
Most Career Hits Among Active MLB Players
Of the 20 MLB players listed above, only one of them is currently playing in the league today – Miguel Cabrera. Aside from him, there are only five other active MLB players with at least 2,000 hits in their careers – Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, Andrew McCutchen, and Freddie Freeman.
With that said, neither of those five MLB players has more than 2,100 hits – which, again, puts into perspective how rich and deep the history of baseball is. The next closest active player to 2,000 hits is Jose Altuve, who is just 31 hits away (as of June 25). He’ll join the club by the end of the season.
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Other active players to keep an eye on are Evan Longoria (1,911 hits), Paul Goldschmidt (1,834 hits), Eric Hosmer (1,753 hits), Manny Machado (1,659 hits), Charlie Blackmon (1,646 hits), DJ LeMahieu (1,630 hits), Mike Trout (1,614 hits), Nolan Arenado (1,598 hits), and Carlos Santana (1,590 hits).
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