MLB Single-Season Hits Record Progression

Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.

The MLB single-season hits record is 262, set by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004. It has stood for 21 years. The mark has been raised 13 times since 1871.

AVG HR RBI H R SB OPS OBP SLG 2B 3B XBH TB BB SO PA AB G

Record Holders

14 marks since 1871

Year	Player	H	Stood for
2004	Ichiro Suzuki	262	still standing
1920	George Sisler	257	84 years
1911	Ty Cobb	248	9 years
1896	Jesse Burkett	240	15 years
1894	Hugh Duffy	237	2 years
1887	Tip O'Neill	225	7 years
1886	Dave Orr	193	1 year
1884	Fred Dunlap	185	2 years
1883	Dan Brouthers	159	1 year
1879	Paul Hines	146	4 years
1875	Ross Barnes	143	4 years
1873	Ross Barnes	138	2 years
1872	Ross Barnes	99	1 year
1871	Cal McVey	66	1 year

The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.

Every Season

168 seasons

Year	Leader	H
2025	Bobby Witt	184
2024	Bobby Witt	211
2023	Ronald Acuña	217
2022	Freddie Freeman	199
2021	Trea Turner	195
2020	Trea Turner	78
2019	Whit Merrifield	206
2018	Whit Merrifield	192
2017	Charlie Blackmon	213
2016	Jose Altuve	216
2015	Dee Strange-Gordon	205
2014	Jose Altuve	225
2013	Matt Carpenter	199
2013	Adrian Beltre	199
2012	Derek Jeter	216
2011	Michael Young	213
2011	Adrian Gonzalez	213
2010	Ichiro Suzuki	214
2009	Ichiro Suzuki	225
2008	Ichiro Suzuki	213
2008	Dustin Pedroia	213
2007	Ichiro Suzuki	238
2006	Ichiro Suzuki	224
2005	Michael Young	221
2004	Ichiro Suzuki	262	new record
2003	Vernon Wells	215
2002	Alfonso Soriano	209
2001	Ichiro Suzuki	242
2000	Darin Erstad	240
1999	Derek Jeter	219
1998	Dante Bichette	219
1997	Tony Gwynn	220
1996	Lance Johnson	227
1995	Tony Gwynn	197
1995	Dante Bichette	197
1994	Tony Gwynn	165
1993	Paul Molitor	211
1992	Kirby Puckett	210
1991	Paul Molitor	216
1990	Willie McGee	199
1989	Kirby Puckett	215
1988	Kirby Puckett	234
1987	Tony Gwynn	218
1986	Don Mattingly	238
1985	Wade Boggs	240
1984	Tony Gwynn	213
1983	Cal Ripken	211
1982	Robin Yount	210
1981	Pete Rose	140
1980	Willie Wilson	230
1979	George Brett	212
1978	Jim Rice	213
1977	Rod Carew	239
1976	Pete Rose	215
1976	George Brett	215
1975	Dave Cash	213
1974	Rod Carew	218
1973	Pete Rose	230
1972	Pete Rose	198
1971	Joe Torre	230
1970	Pete Rose	205
1970	Billy Williams	205
1969	Matty Alou	231
1968	Pete Rose	210
1968	Felipe Alou	210
1967	Roberto Clemente	209
1966	Felipe Alou	218
1965	Pete Rose	209
1964	Tony Oliva	217
1963	Vada Pinson	204
1962	Tommy Davis	230
1961	Vada Pinson	208
1960	Willie Mays	190
1959	Hank Aaron	223
1958	Richie Ashburn	215
1957	Red Schoendienst	200
1956	Hank Aaron	200
1955	Al Kaline	200
1954	Don Mueller	212
1953	Harvey Kuenn	209
1952	Stan Musial	194
1951	Richie Ashburn	221
1950	George Kell	218
1949	Stan Musial	207
1948	Stan Musial	230
1947	Johnny Pesky	207
1946	Stan Musial	228
1945	Tommy Holmes	224
1944	Snuffy Stirnweiss	205
1943	Stan Musial	220
1942	Johnny Pesky	205
1941	Cecil Travis	218
1940	Rip Radcliff	200
1940	Doc Cramer	200
1940	Barney McCosky	200
1939	Red Rolfe	213
1938	Frank McCormick	209
1937	Joe Medwick	237
1936	Earl Averill	232
1935	Billy Herman	227
1934	Paul Waner	217
1933	Chuck Klein	223
1932	Chuck Klein	226
1931	Lloyd Waner	214
1930	Bill Terry	254
1929	Lefty O'Doul	254
1928	Heinie Manush	241
1927	Paul Waner	237
1926	Sam Rice	216
1926	George Burns	216
1925	Al Simmons	253
1924	Rogers Hornsby	227
1923	Frankie Frisch	223
1922	Rogers Hornsby	250
1921	Harry Heilmann	237
1920	George Sisler	257	new record
1919	Ty Cobb	191
1919	Bobby Veach	191
1918	George Burns	178
1917	Ty Cobb	225
1916	Tris Speaker	211
1915	Ty Cobb	208
1914	Benny Kauff	211
1913	Shoeless Joe Jackson	197
1912	Ty Cobb	226
1912	Shoeless Joe Jackson	226
1911	Ty Cobb	248	new record
1910	Nap Lajoie	227
1909	Ty Cobb	216
1908	Honus Wagner	201
1907	Ty Cobb	212
1906	Nap Lajoie	214
1905	Cy Seymour	219
1904	Nap Lajoie	208
1903	Ginger Beaumont	209
1902	Ginger Beaumont	193
1902	Charlie Hickman	193
1901	Nap Lajoie	232
1900	Willie Keeler	204
1899	Ed Delahanty	238
1898	Willie Keeler	216
1897	Willie Keeler	239
1896	Jesse Burkett	240	new record
1895	Jesse Burkett	225
1894	Hugh Duffy	237	new record
1893	Sam Thompson	222
1892	Dan Brouthers	197
1891	Tom Brown	189
1890	Chicken Wolf	197
1889	Jack Glasscock	205
1888	Jimmy Ryan	182
1887	Tip O'Neill	225	new record
1886	Dave Orr	193	new record
1885	Pete Browning	174
1884	Fred Dunlap	185	new record
1883	Dan Brouthers	159	new record
1882	Dan Brouthers	129
1881	Cap Anson	137
1880	Abner Dalrymple	126
1879	Paul Hines	146	new record
1878	Joe Start	100
1877	Deacon White	103
1876	Ross Barnes	138
1875	Ross Barnes	143	new record
1874	Cal McVey	123
1873	Ross Barnes	138	new record
1872	Ross Barnes	99	new record
1871	Cal McVey	66	new record