List of Major League Baseball progressive career hits leaders

This list displays a chronology of the annual top ten leaders in career base hits in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1876 through 2022.

The table assists in identifying the most significant players in each era, and helps to understand the importance of many past stars. Before Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's record for career hits, for example, Tris Speaker, Stan Musial, and Hank Aaron had each reached the number two spot in succession.

It is also quite valuable to identify the leaders during the 19th century, when seasons were shorter (usually from 60 to 130 games); while nearly 250 players have now reached the 2,000-hit plateau, barely a dozen had done so by the end of the 19th century.

In the era before 1893, when the distance between the pitcher and home plate was extended from 45 feet to 60 feet, long-neglected stars Deacon White and Paul Hines were mainstays among the top five, along with Cap Anson and Jim O'Rourke.

This chart uses the hit totals that Major League Baseball officially recognizes, as maintained and provided by the Elias Sports Bureau; they are derived from the annual official league statistics, even when those totals have been proven by later research to be in error. Particularly with regard to players from before 1920, these totals often differ from those used by ESPN, CNN/Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, the Baseball-Reference website, or by MLB's two longtime official encyclopedias, The Baseball Encyclopedia and Total Baseball. They are also not the same as the historical totals displayed on MLB's official website.

While the specific totals may vary between sources, and slight variations in the order may result, the leaders would overwhelmingly be the same regardless of which set of numbers is used; except for 1904, in no year does more than one player drop out of the top 10 when a different version of the statistics is employed. Furthermore, this table accurately represents what observers of each era believed to be true.

1876–1900 Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th10th (tie)1876Barnes138Peters111Anson110McVey107D White104Higham102 (tie)O'Rourke102 (tie)Hines101G Wright100G Hall98 1877D White186Anson177O'Rourke176McVey174Peters173G Hall167G Wright160Barnes157Hines152Clapp150 1878D White264Anson263McVey252Peters248O'Rourke246Start242Hines239Clapp224Ferguson220 (tie)G Wright220 (tie) 1879Hines384D White373O'Rourke372McVey357Anson353Start343Peters340G Wright328T York302Clapp300 1880Hines493O'Rourke472Anson470Start436Peters419D White412Clapp387Burdock376Morrill358McVey357 1881Anson607Hines594O'Rourke577Start550D White511Peters468Clapp452Morrill448Burdock443T York437 1882Anson733Hines711O'Rourke681Start667D White606Peters560Dalrymple547 (tie)Morrill547 (tie)T York523Burdock518 1883Anson860Hines843O'Rourke822Start772D White718Morrill676Dalrymple655Burdock650Sutton647K Kelly620 1884Anson1019Hines989O'Rourke979Start875D White860Dalrymple815Sutton803Morrill787K Kelly773Burdock744 1885Anson1163O'Rourke1122Hines1100Start978 (tie)D White978 (tie)Dalrymple950Sutton946K Kelly899Morrill876Shafer794 1886Anson1350O'Rourke1258Hines1252D White1120Sutton1084K Kelly1074Dalrymple1027Start1005Morrill982Connor960 1887Anson1574Hines1447O'Rourke1407D White1282K Kelly1281Sutton1192Connor1169Morrill1157Richardson1153Dalrymple1148 (tie)Stovey11481888Anson1751Hines1591O'Rourke1519D White1439K Kelly1421Stovey1319Connor1309Brouthers1269Morrill1253Richardson1230 1889Anson1928Hines1739O'Rourke1680K Kelly1570Stovey1499D White1496Connor1466Brouthers1450Richardson1393Glasscock1358 1890Anson2085O'Rourke1852Hines1832K Kelly1684Stovey1647Connor1646D White1612Brouthers1610Richardson1577Glasscock1530 1891Anson2243O'Rourke2019Hines1884Stovey1799Connor1786K Kelly1780Brouthers1770Richardson1646J Ward1645Glasscock1620 1892Anson2397O'Rourke2152Brouthers1967Connor1945Hines1884Stovey1876K Kelly1836J Ward1812Glasscock1774Richardson1705 1893Anson2520O'Rourke2313Connor2103Brouthers2060J Ward2006Glasscock1933Stovey1925Hines1884K Kelly1853Browning1716 1894Anson2657O'Rourke2313Connor2248Brouthers2242J Ward2151Glasscock2027Stovey1925Hines1884K Kelly1853McPhee1773 1895Anson2818Connor2379O'Rourke2313Brouthers2277J Ward2151Glasscock2079Stovey1925McPhee1902Latham1887Hines1884 1896Anson2953Connor2516Brouthers2349O'Rourke2313J Ward2151Glasscock2079McPhee2032Thompson1983Stovey1925Latham1894 1897Anson3081Connor2535Brouthers2349O'Rourke2313J Ward2151McPhee2117Glasscock2079Thompson1986T Brown1948Stovey1925 1898Anson3081Connor2535Brouthers2349O'Rourke2313McPhee2237J Ward2151Glasscock2079McKean2071J Ryan2044Thompson2009 1899Anson3081Connor2535Brouthers2349McPhee2342O'Rourke2313J Ryan2202J Ward2151McKean2147Duffy2140Glasscock2079 1900Anson3081Connor2535Brouthers2349McPhee2342J Ryan2317O'Rourke2313Van Haltren2245Duffy2194Delahanty2171J Ward2151

1901–1960 Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th10th (tie)1901Anson3081Connor2535Van Haltren2431Delahanty2363Brouthers2349McPhee2342J Ryan2317O'Rourke2313Duffy2282Burkett2248 1902Anson3081Delahanty2541Connor2535J Ryan2470Van Haltren2455Burkett2416Beckley2351Brouthers2349McPhee2342O'Rourke2313 1903Anson3081Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Burkett2568Connor2535Van Haltren2527Beckley2501Brouthers2349McPhee2342O'Rourke2313 1904Anson3081Burkett2725Beckley2680Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527Brouthers2349McPhee2342Cross2337 1905Anson3081Burkett2872Beckley2827Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527Keeler2493Cross2492Brouthers2349 1906Anson3081Beckley2906Burkett2872Keeler2673Cross2622Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527G Davis2472 1907Anson3081Beckley2930Burkett2872Keeler2772Cross2654Delahanty2593G Davis2583J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527 1908Anson3081Beckley2930Burkett2872Keeler2857G Davis2674Cross2654Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527 1909Anson3081Keeler2952Beckley2930Burkett2872G Davis2683Cross2654Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Connor2535Van Haltren2527 1910Anson3081Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872G Davis2683Cross2654Delahanty2593J Ryan2577Clarke2574Connor2535 1911Anson3081Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2701G Davis2683Cross2654Wagner2646Delahanty2593Lajoie2581 1912Anson3081Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Wagner2827Lajoie2746Clarke2701G Davis2683Cross2654Delahanty2593 1913Anson3081Keeler2955Wagner2951Beckley2930Lajoie2902Burkett2872Clarke2702G Davis2683Cross2654Delahanty2593 1914Wagner3090Anson3081Lajoie3010Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2702G Davis2683Crawford2671Cross2654 1915Wagner3245Lajoie3147Anson3081Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Crawford2854Clarke2703G Davis2683Cross2654 1916Wagner3369Lajoie3252Anson3081Keeler2955Crawford2946Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2703G Davis2683Cross2654 1917–1918Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2703G Davis2683Cross2654 1919Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Cobb2715Clarke2703G Davis2683 1920Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Cobb2858Clarke2703G Davis2683 1921Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Cobb3055Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2703G Davis2683 1922Wagner3430Cobb3266Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Clarke2703G Davis2683 1923Cobb3455Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872Speaker2794Collins2758 1924Cobb3666Wagner3430Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Speaker2961Keeler2955Collins2952Beckley2930Burkett2872 1925Cobb3823Wagner3430Lajoie3252Speaker3128Collins3099Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872 1926Cobb3902Wagner3430Speaker3292Lajoie3252Collins3228Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Burkett2872 1927Cobb4077Speaker3463Wagner3430Collins3304Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Wheat2884 1928–1929Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Wheat2884 1930–1932Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Wheat2884 1933Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930Hornsby2898 1934–1936Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930 1937–1940Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964Keeler2955Beckley2930 (tie)Hornsby29301941Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964P Waner2956Keeler2955 1942Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Anson3081P Waner3042S Rice2987Crawford2964Keeler2955 1943Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3112Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964Keeler2955 1944–1956Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964Keeler2955 1957Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964Musial2957 1958Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Musial3116Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964 1959Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252Musial3203P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964 1960Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Musial3294Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford2964

1961–2020 Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th1961Cobb4191Speaker3514Wagner3430Musial3401Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford29641962Cobb4191Musial3544Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford29641963–1969Cobb4191Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson3081S Rice2987Crawford29641970Cobb4191Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Lajoie3252P Waner3152Aaron3110Anson3081Mays30651971Cobb4191Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Aaron3272Lajoie3252Mays3178P Waner3152Anson30811972Cobb4191Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Aaron3391Collins3314Lajoie3252Mays3239P Waner3152Anson30811973Cobb4191Musial3630Speaker3514Aaron3509Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson30811974Cobb4191Musial3630Aaron3600Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson30811975Cobb4191Aaron3709Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson30811976–1977Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner3152Anson30811978Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252Rose3164P Waner31521979Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Rose3372Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner31521980Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Rose3557Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252P Waner31521981Cobb4191Aaron3771Rose3697Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie3252Yastrzemski31921982Cobb4191Rose3869Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3318Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie32521983Cobb4191Rose3990Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie32521984Cobb4191Rose4097Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie32521985Rose4204Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie32521986–1996Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Collins3314Mays3283Lajoie32521997Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Collins3314Mays3283Murray32551998–2011Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Molitor3319Collins3314Mays32832012Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Molitor3319Collins3314Jeter33042013Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Molitor3319Jeter3316Collins33142014–2020Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Jeter3465Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Molitor3319Collins3314

2021– Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th2021Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Jeter3465Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Molitor3319Collins33142022-2025Rose4256Cobb4191Aaron3771Musial3630Speaker3514Jeter3465Wagner3430Yastrzemski3419Pujols3384Molitor3319