YEAR-BY-YEAR LEADERS FOR HITS

MLB Hits Year-by-Year Leaders | Baseball Almanac

Ever wonder who had the most hits the year you were born? How about players from you favorite team — have they ever led the league in hits?

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a year-by-year leaderboard in Major League hits for every season since 1876. Note: A bold faced entry denotes that the player was active during the previous Major League season.

"There is no one correct way to bat, and so of course there is no one correct stance for it." - Hits Leader (1943-1944, 1946, 1948-1949, 1952) / Hall of Famer Stan Musial

Hits Year-by-Year Leaders \| '1876 - 2025'
Year	American League	Hits	Team(s)	Year	National League	Hits	Team(s)
1876	-	-	-	1876	Ross Barnes	138	Chicago
1877	-	-	-	1877	Deacon White	103	Boston
1878	-	-	-	1878	Joe Start	100	Chicago
1879	-	-	-	1879	Paul Hines	146	Providence
1880	-	-	-	1880	Abner Dalrymple	126	Chicago
1881	-	-	-	1881	Cap Anson	137	Chicago
1882	-	-	-	1882	Dan Brouthers	129	Buffalo
1883	-	-	-	1883	Dan Brouthers	159	Buffalo
1884	-	-	-	1884	Jim O'Rourke	162	Buffalo
1884	-	-	-	1884	Ezra Sutton	162	Boston
1885	-	-	-	1885	Roger Connor	169	New York
1886	-	-	-	1886	Hardy Richardson	189	Detroit
1887	-	-	-	1887	Sam Thompson	171	Detroit
1888	-	-	-	1888	Jimmy Ryan	182	Chicago
1889	-	-	-	1889	Jack Glasscock	205	Indianapolis
1890	-	-	-	1890	Jack Glasscock	172	New York
1890	-	-	-	1890	Sam Thompson	172	Philadelphia
1891	-	-	-	1891	Billy Hamilton	179	Philadelphia
1892	-	-	-	1892	Dan Brouthers	197	Brooklyn
1893	-	-	-	1893	Sam Thompson	222	Philadelphia
1894	-	-	-	1894	Hugh Duffy	237	Boston
1895	-	-	-	1895	Jesse Burkett	225	Cleveland
1896	-	-	-	1896	Jesse Burkett	240	Cleveland
1897	-	-	-	1897	Willie Keeler	239	Baltimore
1898	-	-	-	1898	Willie Keeler	216	Baltimore
1899	-	-	-	1899	Ed Delahanty	238	Philadelphia
1900	-	-	-	1900	Willie Keeler	204	Brooklyn
1901	Nap Lajoie	229	Philadelphia	1901	Jesse Burkett	226	St. Louis
1902	Charlie Hickman	193	Boston	1902	Ginger Beaumont	193	Pittsburgh
1902	Charlie Hickman	193	Cleveland	1902	Ginger Beaumont	193	Pittsburgh
1903	Patsy Dougherty	195	Boston	1903	Ginger Beaumont	209	Pittsburgh
1904	Nap Lajoie	211	Cleveland	1904	Ginger Beaumont	185	Pittsburgh
1905	George Stone	187	St. Louis	1905	Cy Seymour	219	Cincinnati
1906	Nap Lajoie	214	Cleveland	1906	Harry Steinfeldt	176	Chicago
1907	Ty Cobb	212	Detroit	1907	Ginger Beaumont	187	Boston
1908	Ty Cobb	188	Detroit	1908	Honus Wagner	201	Pittsburgh
1909	Ty Cobb	216	Detroit	1909	Larry Doyle	172	New York
1910	Nap Lajoie	227	Cleveland	1910	Bobby Byrne	178	Pittsburgh
1910	Nap Lajoie	227	Cleveland	1910	Honus Wagner	178	Pittsburgh
1911	Ty Cobb	248	Detroit	1911	Doc Miller	192	Boston
1912	Ty Cobb	226	Detroit	1912	Heinie Zimmerman	207	Chicago
1912	Joe Jackson	226	Cleveland	1912	Heinie Zimmerman	207	Chicago
1913	Joe Jackson	197	Cleveland	1913	Gavvy Cravath	179	Philadelphia
1914	Tris Speaker	193	Boston	1914	Sherry Magee	171	Philadelphia
1915	Ty Cobb	208	Detroit	1915	Larry Doyle	189	New York
1916	Tris Speaker	211	Cleveland	1916	Hal Chase	184	Cincinnati
1917	Ty Cobb	225	Detroit	1917	Heinie Groh	182	Cincinnati
1918	George Burns	178	Philadelphia	1918	Charlie Hollocher	161	Chicago
1919	Ty Cobb	191	Detroit	1919	Ivy Olson	164	Brooklyn
1919	Bobby Veach	191	Detroit	1919	Ivy Olson	164	Brooklyn
1920	George Sisler	257	St. Louis	1920	Rogers Hornsby	218	St. Louis
1921	Harry Heilmann	237	Detroit	1921	Rogers Hornsby	235	St. Louis
1922	George Sisler	246	St. Louis	1922	Rogers Hornsby	250	St. Louis
1923	Charlie Jamieson	222	Cleveland	1923	Frankie Frisch	223	New York
1924	Sam Rice	216	Washington	1924	Rogers Hornsby	227	St. Louis
1925	Al Simmons	253	Philadelphia	1925	Jim Bottomley	227	St. Louis
1926	George Burns	216	Cleveland	1926	Eddie Brown	201	Boston
1926	Sam Rice	216	Washington	1926	Eddie Brown	201	Boston
1927	Earle Combs	231	New York	1927	Paul Waner	237	Pittsburgh
1928	Heinie Manush	241	St. Louis	1928	Freddie Lindstrom	231	New York
1929	Dale Alexander	215	Detroit	1929	Lefty O'Doul	254	Philadelphia
1929	Charlie Gehringer	215	Detroit	1929	Lefty O'Doul	254	Philadelphia
1930	Johnny Hodapp	225	Cleveland	1930	Bill Terry	254	New York
1931	Lou Gehrig	211	New York	1931	Lloyd Waner	214	Pittsburgh
1932	Al Simmons	216	Philadelphia	1932	Chuck Klein	226	Philadelphia
1933	Heinie Manush	221	Washington	1933	Chuck Klein	223	Philadelphia
1934	Charlie Gehringer	214	Detroit	1934	Paul Waner	217	Pittsburgh
1935	Joe Vosmik	216	Cleveland	1935	Billy Herman	227	Chicago
1936	Earl Averill	232	Cleveland	1936	Joe Medwick	223	St. Louis
1937	Beau Bell	218	St. Louis	1937	Joe Medwick	237	St. Louis
1938	Joe Vosmik	201	Boston	1938	Frank McCormick	209	Cincinnati
1939	Red Rolfe	213	New York	1939	Frank McCormick	209	Cincinnati
1940	Doc Cramer	200	Boston	1940	Stan Hack	191	Chicago
	Barney McCosky		Detroit		Frank McCormick		Cincinnati
	Rip Radcliff		St. Louis		Frank McCormick		Cincinnati
1941	Cecil Travis	218	Washington	1941	Stan Hack	186	Chicago
1942	Johnny Pesky	205	Boston	1942	Enos Slaughter	188	St. Louis
1943	Dick Wakefield	200	Detroit	1943	Stan Musial	220	St. Louis
1944	Snuffy Stirnweiss	205	New York	1944	Phil Cavarretta	197	Chicago
1944	Snuffy Stirnweiss	205	New York	1944	Stan Musial	197	St. Louis
1945	Snuffy Stirnweiss	195	New York	1945	Tommy Holmes	224	Boston
1946	Johnny Pesky	208	Boston	1946	Stan Musial	228	St. Louis
1947	Johnny Pesky	207	Boston	1947	Tommy Holmes	191	Boston
1948	Bob Dillinger	207	St. Louis	1948	Stan Musial	230	St. Louis
1949	Dale Mitchell	203	Cleveland	1949	Stan Musial	207	St. Louis
1950	George Kell	218	Detroit	1950	Duke Snider	199	Brooklyn
1951	George Kell	191	Detroit	1951	Richie Ashburn	221	Philadelphia
1952	Nellie Fox	192	Chicago	1952	Stan Musial	194	St. Louis
1953	Harvey Kuenn	209	Detroit	1953	Richie Ashburn	205	Philadelphia
1954	Nellie Fox	201	Chicago	1954	Don Mueller	212	New York
1954	Harvey Kuenn	201	Detroit	1954	Don Mueller	212	New York
1955	Al Kaline	200	Detroit	1955	Ted Kluszewski	192	Cincinnati
1956	Harvey Kuenn	196	Detroit	1956	Hank Aaron	200	Milwaukee
1957	Nellie Fox	196	Chicago	1957	Red Schoendienst	200	Milwaukee
1957	Nellie Fox	196	Chicago	1957	Red Schoendienst	200	New York
1958	Nellie Fox	187	Chicago	1958	Richie Ashburn	215	Philadelphia
1959	Harvey Kuenn	198	Detroit	1959	Hank Aaron	223	Milwaukee
1960	Minnie Minoso	184	Chicago	1960	Willie Mays	190	San Francisco
1961	Norm Cash	193	Detroit	1961	Vada Pinson	208	Cincinnati
1962	Bobby Richardson	209	New York	1962	Tommy Davis	230	Los Angeles
1963	Carl Yastrzemski	183	Boston	1963	Vada Pinson	204	Cincinnati
1964	Tony Oliva	217	Minnesota	1964	Roberto Clemente	211	Pittsburgh
1964	Tony Oliva	217	Minnesota	1964	Curt Flood	211	St. Louis
1965	Tony Oliva	185	Minnesota	1965	Pete Rose	209	Cincinnati
1966	Tony Oliva	191	Minnesota	1966	Felipe Alou	218	Atlanta
1967	Carl Yastrzemski	189	Boston	1967	Roberto Clemente	209	Pittsburgh
1968	Bert Campaneris	177	Oakland	1968	Felipe Alou	210	Atlanta
1968	Bert Campaneris	177	Oakland	1968	Pete Rose	210	Cincinnati
1969	Tony Oliva	197	Minnesota	1969	Matty Alou	231	Pittsburgh
1970	Tony Oliva	204	Minnesota	1970	Pete Rose	205	Cincinnati
1970	Tony Oliva	204	Minnesota	1970	Billy Williams	205	Chicago
1971	Cesar Tovar	204	Minnesota	1971	Joe Torre	230	St. Louis
1972	Joe Rudi	181	Oakland	1972	Pete Rose	198	Cincinnati
1973	Rod Carew	203	Minnesota	1973	Pete Rose	230	Cincinnati
1974	Rod Carew	218	Minnesota	1974	Ralph Garr	214	Atlanta
1975	George Brett	195	Kansas City	1975	Dave Cash	213	Philadelphia
1976	George Brett	215	Kansas City	1976	Pete Rose	215	Cincinnati
1977	Rod Carew	239	Minnesota	1977	Dave Parker	215	Pittsburgh
1978	Jim Rice	213	Boston	1978	Steve Garvey	202	Los Angeles
1979	George Brett	212	Kansas City	1979	Garry Templeton	211	St. Louis
1980	Willie Wilson	230	Kansas City	1980	Steve Garvey	200	Los Angeles
1981	Rickey Henderson	135	Oakland	1981	Pete Rose	140	Philadelphia
1982	Robin Yount	210	Milwaukee	1982	Al Oliver	204	Montreal
1983	Cal Ripken Jr.	211	Baltimore	1983	Jose Cruz	189	Houston
1983	Cal Ripken Jr.	211	Baltimore	1983	Andre Dawson	189	Montreal
1984	Don Mattingly	207	New York	1984	Tony Gwynn	213	San Diego
1985	Wade Boggs	240	Boston	1985	Willie McGee	216	St. Louis
1986	Don Mattingly	238	New York	1986	Tony Gwynn	211	San Diego
1987	Kirby Puckett	207	Minnesota	1987	Tony Gwynn	218	San Diego
1987	Kevin Seitzer	207	Kansas City	1987	Tony Gwynn	218	San Diego
1988	Kirby Puckett	234	Minnesota	1988	Andres Galarraga	184	Montreal
1989	Kirby Puckett	215	Minnesota	1989	Tony Gwynn	203	San Diego
1990	Rafael Palmeiro	191	Texas	1990	Brett Butler	192	San Francisco
1990	Rafael Palmeiro	191	Texas	1990	Lenny Dykstra	192	Philadelphia
1991	Paul Molitor	216	Milwaukee	1991	Terry Pendleton	187	Atlanta
1992	Kirby Puckett	210	Minnesota	1992	Terry Pendleton	199	Atlanta
1992	Kirby Puckett	210	Minnesota	1992	Andy Van Slyke	199	Pittsburgh
1993	Paul Molitor	211	Toronto	1993	Lenny Dykstra	194	Philadelphia
1994	Kenny Lofton	160	Cleveland	1994	Tony Gwynn	165	San Diego
1995	Lance Johnson	186	Chicago	1995	Dante Bichette	197	Colorado
1995	Lance Johnson	186	Chicago	1995	Tony Gwynn	197	San Diego
1996	Paul Molitor	225	Minnesota	1996	Lance Johnson	227	New York
1997	Nomar Garciaparra	209	Boston	1997	Tony Gwynn	220	San Diego
1998	Alex Rodriguez	213	Seattle	1998	Dante Bichette	219	Colorado
1999	Derek Jeter	219	New York	1999	Luis Gonzalez	206	Arizona
2000	Darin Erstad	240	Anaheim	2000	Todd Helton	216	Colorado
2001	Ichiro Suzuki	242	Seattle	2001	Rich Aurilia	206	San Francisco
2002	Alfonso Soriano	209	New York	2002	Vladimir Guerrero	206	Montreal
2003	Vernon Wells	215	Toronto	2003	Albert Pujols	212	St. Louis
2004	Ichiro Suzuki	262	Seattle	2004	Juan Pierre	221	Florida
2005	Michael Young	221	Texas	2005	Derrek Lee	199	Chicago
2006	Ichiro Suzuki	224	Seattle	2006	Juan Pierre	204	Chicago
2007	Ichiro Suzuki	238	Seattle	2007	Matt Holliday	216	Colorado
2008	Dustin Pedroia	213	Boston	2008	Jose Reyes	204	New York
2008	Ichiro Suzuki	213	Seattle	2008	Jose Reyes	204	New York
2009	Ichiro Suzuki	225	Seattle	2009	Ryan Braun	203	Milwaukee
2010	Ichiro Suzuki	214	Seattle	2010	Carlos González	197	Colorado
2011	Adrian Gonzalez	213	Boston	2011	Starlin Castro	207	Chicago
2011	Michael Young	213	Texas	2011	Starlin Castro	207	Chicago
2012	Derek Jeter	216	New York	2012	Andrew McCutchen	194	Pittsburgh
2013	Adrián Beltré	199	Texas	2013	Matt Carpenter	199	St. Louis
2014	Jose Altuve	225	Houston	2014	Ben Revere	184	Philadelphia
2014	Jose Altuve	225	Houston	2014	Denard Span	184	Washington
2015	Jose Altuve	200	Houston	2015	Dee Strange-Gordon	205	Miami
2016	Jose Altuve	216	Houston	2016	Jean Segura	203	Arizona
2017	Jose Altuve	204	Houston	2017	Charlie Blackmon	213	Colorado
2018	Whit Merrifield	192	Kansas City	2018	Freddie Freeman	191	Atlanta
2019	Whit Merrifield	206	Kansas City	2019	Ozzie Albies	189	Atlanta
2020	José Abreu	76	Chicago	2020	Trea Turner	78	Washington
2021	Bo Bichette	191	Toronto	2021	Trea Turner	195	Los Angeles
2021	Bo Bichette	191	Toronto	2021	Trea Turner	195	Washington
2022	Bo Bichette	189	Toronto	2022	Freddie Freeman	199	Los Angeles
2023	Marcus Semien	185	Texas	2023	Ronald Acuña Jr.	217	Atlanta
2024	Bobby Witt Jr.	211	Kansas City	2024	Luis Arraez	200	Miami
2024	Bobby Witt Jr.	211	Kansas City	2024	Luis Arraez	200	San Diego
2025	Bobby Witt Jr.	184	Kansas City	2025	Luis Arraez	181	San Diego
Year	American League	Hits	Team(s)	Year	National League	Hits	Team(s)
Current Through End of 2025 Regular Season

Tris Speaker of the 1912 Boston Red Sox set the American and Major League record for most twenty game batting streaks during a single season with three.

Did you know that in 1914 Sherry Magee led the National League with one-hundred seventy-one hits — a Major League record for fewest hits during a full season by the league leader?

In 1973, Pete Rose led the National League with two-hundred thirty hits. In 1980, Willie Wilson led the American League with two-hundred thirty hits. Both are tied for the Major League record of most hits during a single season by a switch-hitter.