Ty, Ted and Tony: The MLB’s Best Hitters of All Time (2025 Update)

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Who is the best hitter in MLB history? Are the best hitters those who constantly hit the ball out of the park or those with the best batting averages or RBI totals? Nowadays, Aaron Judge gets the plaudits every time he sends one over the fence, but Bobby Witt’s total hits and Shohei Ohtani’s RBIs are just as important in context. 

Some say this boom-or-bust mentality has compromised America’s favorite pastime, as baseball’s fundamentals require you to get your teammates on base and accumulate more runs than your opposition to win the game. Getting hits is an efficient way to accomplish that, so who’s been the best at it? Who are the MLB’s best hitters of all time?

The Greatest Baseball Hitters of All Time

Fundamentally, from a batting perspective, the baseballers with the most competitive runs are the players who get the numbers on the board and win games. However, we should never discount the game’s best MLB catchers and the best pitchers of all time when it comes to winning games. Every athlete can’t be proficient at multiple sports, like the Deion Sanders and the Bo Jacksons of baseball, so they focus on their chosen one to create history — which these guys all did with every additional hit they completed. 

Comparing a player from the early days of Major League Baseball to one in 2025 might be unfair with the game’s rules and dynamic changes. Still, the statistics ultimately count, so you’ll excuse any historical liberties we take in compiling the list. Before doing so, pay some attention to which players are best in these MLB statistical areas. 

The Most MLB Runs

The greatest baseball hitters of all time have all scored thousands of runs over long baseball careers. You’re substantially contributing to your team’s results if you’ve maintained a great average at bat.

1. 2,295 runs — Rickey Henderson (1979—2003)
2. 2,246 runs — Ty Cobb (1905—1928)
3. 2,227 runs — Barry Bonds (1986—2007)
4. 2,174 runs — Babe Ruth (1914—1935) *Better batting average
5. 2,174 runs — Hank Aaron (1954—1976)

• 1,300 runs (Active Player) — Freddie Freeman (2010—) 

The Best Batting Average

Although hitting significant home runs means you strike a ball cleanly and hit it a long way, how consistently you get the bat on the ball counts in how effective a hitter you truly are. 

1. .366 BA — Ty Cobb (1905—1928)
2. .358 BA — Rogers Hornsby (1915—1937)
3. .356 BA — Joe Jackson (1908—1920)
4. .346 BA — Ed Delahanty (1888—1903)
5. .345 BA — Tris Speaker (1907—1928)

• .306 BA (Active Player) — Jose Altuve (2011—) *Over 4,000 AB

The Most Runs Batted In

If you bat a run in, it means you’ve made a hit that resulted in scoring a run. You’re consistently moving your team up the scoreboard if you score a significant number of RBIs.

1. 2,297 RBI — Hank Aaron (1954—1976)
2. 2,218 RBI — Albert Pujols (2001—2022)
3. 2,086 RBI — Alex Rodriguez (1994—2016)
4. 1,996 RBI — Barry Bonds (1986—2007)
5. 1,995 RBI — Lou Gehrig (1923—1939)

• 1,236 RBI (Active Player) — Freddie Freeman (2010—)

The Most Home Runs

Hitting home runs provide the most excitement in any baseball game, and these quick runs have great value — especially with loaded bases.

1. 762 HR — Barry Bonds (1986—2007)
2. 755 HR — Hank Aaron (1954—1976)
3. 714 HR — Babe Ruth (1914—1935)
4. 703 HR — Albert Pujols (2001—2022)
5. 696 HR — Alex Rodriguez (1994—2016)

• 429 HR (Active Player) — Giancarlo Stanton (2010—)

The Most Hits

1. 4,256 hits — Pete Rose (1963—1986)
2. 4,189 hits — Ty Cobb (1905—1928)
3. 3,771 hits — Hank Aaron (1954—1976)
4. 3,630 hits — Stan Musial (1941—1963)
5. 3,514 hits — Tris Speaker (1907—1928)

• 2,270 hits (Active Player) — Freddie Freeman (2010—)

While the above statistics obviously have great bearing on any lists mentioning the best hitters of all time in the MLB, other factors are worth considering — the players’ longevity, popularity and several other factors all contribute to how baseball fans discuss their careers compared to other MLB greats while they’re chomping down on their “Ballpark franks” at the game. Considering everything, see if you agree with our list as we set out to establish who is the best hitter in baseball.  

10. Tony Gwynn (1982—2001)

Tony Gwynn is among the most underrated baseball players of all time. Oddly enough, he wanted to play basketball when he was a kid. Hence, a reality exists where we never get to see him in a Padres uniform. Gwynn only hit 135 home runs in his 20-year career but racked up 3,141 hits and eight NL batting titles — you could not stop Mr. Padre from getting on base in the late 1980s and into the 1990s! 

Gwynn’s 1994 season was nothing short of epic. After 110 games, the San Diego right fielder had a .394 batting average with an on-base percentage of .454. The MLB 1994 strike — the longest North American professional sports work stoppage at the time — ended the season early, so we’ll never know if Gwynn would’ve gotten to the coveted .400 batting average and become the first since Ted Williams in 1953 to do so.

Teams — San Diego

AB — 9,288

R — 1,383

H — 3,141

HR — 135

RBI — 1,138

AVG — .338

9. Ichiro Suzuki (2001—2019)

If your team needs a hit, Ichiro Suzuki is likely one of the first names in MLB history you’d choose to get one for you. The Japanese sensation, known by baseball fans by his first name, didn’t join the MLB until he was 28 but spent nearly 20 years playing at the highest level. 

Every player with more career MLB hits than Ichiro spent more years in the league than he did, with his close-on 3,100 hits coming with a .311 career batting average. Ichiro’s first decade in Seattle set him apart, as he earned 10 All-Star appearances, three Silver Slugger Awards and two AL batting titles. 

Teams — Seattle, New York and Miami

AB — 9,934

R — 1,420

H — 3,089

HR — 117

RBI — 780

AVG — .311

8. Ted Williams (1939—1960)

Teddy Ballgame may be the best player to wear a Red Sox uniform — at worst, he’s the best hitter the franchise has ever seen. Williams is among Major League Baseball’s best hitters of all time despite missing three seasons because of his WWII service. Williams finished his career with a .344 batting average, six American League (AL) batting titles and an on-base percentage of .482.

Ted Williams reached the magical .400 batting average in a season three times in his career, with his last — his .407 average in 1953, 72 years ago — being the last time an MLB player achieved the feat. Had the war not intervened, would Williams be closer to the top of our list?

Teams — Boston

AB — 7,706

R — 1,798

H — 2,654

HR — 521

RBI — 1,839

AVG — .344

7. Albert Pujols (2001—2022) 

Albert Pujols called time on his MLB career after the 2022 season, during which he hit 24 home runs — his most since 2016. It’s incredible to reflect on the legacy he’s left behind now that he’s hung up the bat and glove for good. The Machine is surely one of the best modern MLB hitters ever. 

The Dominican, who defied his 402nd overall 1999 draft pick status to become an MLB legend,  boasted six Silver Slugger awards, an NL batting title and an RBI-leading season in 2010. Such feats incentivize potential draftees from the best college baseball teams to succeed beyond their draft pick positions. Pujols’ 703rd home run stole the show in late 2022, with his overall big-hitting prowess landing him on this list despite not quite reaching a .300 career batting average.

Teams — St. Louis and Los Angeles

AB — 11,421

R — 1,914

H — 3,384

HR — 703

RBI — 2,218

AVG — .296

6. Roger Hornsby (1915—1937)

Roger Hornsby is a name the younger crowd may forget, but he’s certainly worth remembering. The Rajah was arguably the best hitter of the 1920s — even better than the Babe at some points. 

If you don’t believe us, look at his record — Hornsby won the National League (NL) batting championship seven times over the period, including six years between 1920 and 1928. He also led the NL in RBI and home runs multiple times and has the second-highest batting average in history. Put some respect on his name!

Teams — Seattle, New York, Boston and Chicago

AB — 8,173

R — 1,579

H — 2,930

HR — 301

RBI — 1,318

AVG — .358

5. Willie Mays (1951—1973)

Willie Mays was a fantastic hitter and overall player — it would be hard to disagree if you called him the baseball GOAT. The “Say Hey Kid” from Westfield, Alabama, would be hard to leave out of an all-time team with his 12 Gold Glove awards, but for this list, let’s focus on his batting. 

Mays added the 1954 NL batting championship, the NL MVP, and a Golden Glove to the World Series win. His consistency separates the 22-year baseball professional from many peers, as he scored 660 home runs and hit over 100 RBI 10 times during his career. Combined, Willie Mays completed 1,903 RBI, which sees him holding 10th position on the all-time MLB career list. 

Teams — New York and San Francisco

AB — 10,881

R — 2,062

H — 3,283

HR — 660

RBI — 1,903

AVG — .302

4. Barry Bonds (1986—2007)

Barry Bonds is another player you might include in an all-time all-around MLB team, but also in one that consists of the most controversial characters in baseball. After being named in baseball’s “steroid scandal” in the early 2000s, the courts eventually exonerated Bonds, and his impressive MLB records still stand.

Whether you like him or not, Bonds holds the record for the most career home runs, with 762, and he’s the only player in MLB history to have at least 500 home runs and 500 stolen bases. He also holds a record for the 73 home runs he hit in the 2001 season, which remains the most in a single campaign. Despite a relatively poor comparative career-.298 batting average, Barry Bonds must be one of the finest hitters to ever grace MLB stadiums.

Teams — Pittsburgh and San Francisco

AB — 9,847

R — 2,227

H — 2,935

HR — 762

RBI — 1,996

AVG — .298

3. Babe Ruth (1914—1935)

You cannot say much about the Babe that people haven’t already said. Shohei Ohtani’s pitching and batting prowess likely make him the closest thing to Babe Ruth in a hundred years, although the latter was shorter and enjoyed his beer a lot more.

The Bambino was famous for his home runs but also had plenty of hits and finished his career with a high batting average of .342. While it’s not the highest, it still puts him joint-eighth on the all-time list, ahead of the likes of Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio. Let’s put Ruth’s career average in perspective for today’s players — Jose Iglesias topped the 2024 MLB batting averages with .337! The Bambino bettered that mark in 10 of his 22 active seasons. 

Teams — Boston and New York

AB — 8,399

R — 2,174

H — 2,873

HR — 714

RBI — 1,983

AVG — .342

2. Hank Aaron (1954—1976)

Hammer Aaron holds pride of place among MLB hitters with the most individual career records in pro baseball. His 755 home runs place him second on the all-time MLB home run list, seven behind Barry Bonds, and he reached 6,856 bases, RBI 2,297 times and achieved 1,477 extra-base, or long, hits — all surpassing any other player, past or present. 

Hank Aaron is only one of four players with at least 17 seasons of 150 or more hits and was an NL All-Star for 20 seasons over his career. Alongside Willie Mays and Stan Musial, he played a joint-record 24 All-Star games. Hammerin’ Hank is widely reputed to be one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time.

Teams — Milwaukee and Atlanta

AB — 12,364

R — 2,174

H — 3,771

HR — 755

RBI — 2,297

AVG — .305

1. Ty Cobb (1905—1928)

Ty Cobb was among the most controversial MLB players ever, but his talent on the field is unequivocal. The Georgia Peach’s longevity is rare in baseball, so he’s set some major records. Cobb totaled 4,189 hits in his 24-season career, making him one of only two players with 4,000 hits and second in history behind only Pete Rose’s 4,256. Batting .366 at the top level is tough in a season, so doing it over almost a quarter century is certainly nothing to sneeze at! Cobb tops the all-time MLB batting average list, with the next best being Hornsby’s .358. 

In addition, Ty Cobb also scored 2,246 runs to lie second on that list behind Rickey Henderson, who played 25 top-level seasons. Remember, you almost always have to hit the ball to score runs, and Cobb managed to do this more often than any other player on average, which makes him the best batter in MLB history and certainly among the best hitters.

Teams — Detroit

AB — 11,434

R — 2,246

H — 4,189

HR — 117

RBI — 726

AVG — .366

Ranking the Best Hitters of All Time

Thousands of players have suited up for an MLB game, so whittling down the best hitters of all time list to only 10 guys is hard. Who did we miss? “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, likely one of the best contact hitters of all time with an incredible career batting average, might be unlucky to miss out. Maybe Alex Rodriguez could have squeezed onto the list, but he surely deserves a mention.

Who is the best hitter in baseball today? Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are potential future inclusions on this list, while Mookie Betts and Juan Soto must also be up there. Let’s see what 2025 in the MLB brings.

Originally posted Dec 05, 2023 – Updated April 03, 2025