Every sport has its legendary figures and household names—players who have revolutionized the game and stood out among their peers for their excellent athleticism and passion. Baseball is not any different. In the over 120 years that Major League Baseball (MLB) has existed, it has seen magnificent hitters, pitchers, catchers, infielders, and outfielders.
However, some of the most impressive names to have graced Major League Baseball have typically been hitters, with Babe Ruth being one of the most magnificent of them all. This article explores seven of the greatest hitters in MLB history.
What Makes a Hitter Great?
Kate Richardson, a tipster at MightyTips examines the key metrics that make a hitter great across multiple generations. These metrics have also been used by top bookmakers to formulate odds during games, allowing punters to wager on their favorite baseball hitters while they were active sportsmen.
That said, here are the characteristics of a great hitter:
- Career batting average
- On-base percentage
- Home runs and slugging percentage
- Run production (RBIs, runs scored)
- Era dominance and longevity
- Postseason impact and historical influence
- Plate discipline and consistency
- Performance against elite pitchers
All of these factors combined with fan love and an overall influence on the game has distinguished good hitters from the supreme masters of the bat.
Ranking the 7 Most Outstanding Hitters in MLB’s History
Now that you know all the qualities to expect in a great batter, let’s take a rundown through the profiles of the greatest MLB offensive stars.
Babe Ruth
Popularly considered as the singular most iconic baseball player ever, Babe Ruth was a freak of nature. His 714 home runs and career OPS of 1.164 completely transformed MLB, with the latter standing as an unbreakable record to date. Even better, Ruth dominated games both as a hitter and as a pitcher, especially in the early days of his career.
“It wasn’t that he hit more home runs than anybody else, he hit them better, higher, farther, with more theatrical timing and a more flamboyant flourish. Nobody could strike out like Babe Ruth. Nobody circled the bases with the same pigeon-toed, mincing majesty,” famous American sportswriter Red Smith said, quoted in the award winning “Grand Slams and Fumbles” by Peter Beilenson.
Ted Williams
To date, Ted Williams is the last player to ever hit over .400 in a season, which he did in 1941. Despite spending five years of his prime in military service, Williams hit a career total of 521 home runs and had an OBP of .482, the highest of all time in MLB history. The former Boston Red Sox outfielder is praised as one of the greatest pure hitters the sport has ever seen.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds holds MLB’s all-time home run record with a whopping 762 home runs, beating previous records set by Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. In 2001, Bonds hit 73 home runs, setting the MLB record for the most home runs in a single season. Additionally, Bonds won seven Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and boasts career OPS and WAR that places him among the best ever.
Hank Aaron
Before Barry Bonds surpassed him, Hank Aaron became the first player to break Babe Ruth’s longstanding home run record by finishing his career with 755 home runs. Aaron drove in 2,297 runs, a record that still stands, and amassed 3,771 hits. By the time he hung his bat, Aaron had been an MLB All-Star twenty-five times, an evidence of his longevity and consistency.
Stan Musial
Stan the Man, as he was more famously referred to, was a fan favorite throughout his career. He donned the No. 6 jersey for the St. Louis Cardinals and recorded a mind-blowing total of 3,630 hits, with half of each split between home and away games. Musial tallied 475 home runs, 1,951 RBIs, and maintained a .331 batting average, achievements that contributed to him earning three MVP awards over his career.
Lou Gehrig
Although his career was tragically cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Lou Gehrig was one of the most consistent players of his time. He hit 493 home runs and posted a .340 average in his 13-year career. Lou Gehrig also played a record-setting 2,130 consecutive games, a milestone which stood unbroken for over 50 years.
In his final years, Gehrig gave his famous “Luckiest Man” speech with the popular quote “For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb holds the highest career batting average in MLB history at an astounding .367—a record that remains untouched to this day. During his legendary career with the Detroit Tigers and later the Philadelphia Athletics, he amassed an incredible 4,191 hits and 897 stolen bases, solidifying his place as one of baseball’s most dynamic and influential players..
Honourable Mentions
There are other legends who had dominant displays during their baseball careers. Some of them include:
- Albert Pujols (703 home runs and 2,218 RBIs)
- Miguel Cabrera (.306 AVG and 3,174 hits)
- Willie Mays (660 home runs and 3,283 hits)
- Pete Rose (MLB’s all-time hits leader)
- Alex Rodriguez (696 home runs and 2,086 RBIs)
Final Thoughts on the Legends that Redefined Baseball
In conclusion, the hitters whose names have featured on this list did not just accumulate stats, but were the very definition of excellence at their sport. From Ruth’s thunderous swing to Bond’s statistical dominance, each of these greats brought something special that improved the game.
As the game of baseball continues to evolve, newer stars are emerging. But we’ll always remember the legacies and gold standard of Ruth and his peers, perhaps forever.
