List of Major League Baseball career singles leaders

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Pete Rose, the all-time leader in singles Pete rose at bat.jpg
Pete Rose, the all-time leader in singles

In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball (thus becoming a runner) and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out. As an exception, a batter-runner reaching first base safely is not credited with a single when an infielder attempts to put out another runner on the first play; this is one type of a fielder's choice. Also, a batter-runner reaching first base on a play due to a fielder's error trying to put him out at first base or another runner out (as a fielder's choice) is not credited with a single.

Contents

On a single hit to the outfield, any runners on second base or third base normally score, and sometimes the runner from the first base can advance to third base. Depending on the location of the hit, a quick recovery by the outfielder can prevent such an advance or create a play on the advancing runner.

Pete Rose [1] [2] is the all-time leader in singles with 3,215 career. Ty Cobb [3] (3,053) is the only other player in MLB history with over 3,000 career singles.

As of March 29, 2024, no active players are in the top 100 of career singles. The active leader is Elvis Andrus in 180th with 1,558.

Key

RankRank amongst leaders in career singles. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player (2024 1Bs)Number of singles hit during the 2024 Major League Baseball season.
1BTotal career singles hit.
*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.
BoldDenotes active player. [lower-alpha 1]

List

RankPlayer (2024 1Bs)1B
1 Pete Rose 3,215
2 Ty Cobb*3,053
3 Eddie Collins*2,643
4 Cap Anson*2,614
5 Derek Jeter*2,595
6 Ichiro Suzuki 2,514
7 Willie Keeler*2,513
8 Honus Wagner*2,424
9 Rod Carew*2,404
10 Tris Speaker*2,383
11 Tony Gwynn*2,378
12 Paul Molitor*2,366
13 Nap Lajoie*2,341
14 Hank Aaron*2,294
15 Jesse Burkett*2,273
16 Sam Rice*2,271
17 Omar Vizquel 2,264
18 Carl Yastrzemski*2,262
19 Wade Boggs*2,253
Stan Musial*2,253
21 Lou Brock*2,247
22 Paul Waner*2,243
23 Rickey Henderson*2,182
Robin Yount*2,182
25 Frankie Frisch*2,171
26 Doc Cramer 2,163
27 Luke Appling*2,162
28 Nellie Fox*2,161
29 Eddie Murray*2,156
30 Roberto Clemente*2,154
31 Jake Beckley*2,130
32 George Sisler*2,121
33 Richie Ashburn*2,119
34 Luis Aparicio*2,108
35 Cal Ripken Jr.*2,106
36 Zack Wheat*2,104
37 Sam Crawford*2,097
38 Lave Cross 2,056
39 Craig Biggio*2,046
40 George Brett*2,035
Al Kaline*2,035
42 Lloyd Waner*2,033
43 Fred Clarke*2,030
Brooks Robinson*2,030
45 George Van Haltren 2,028
46 Rabbit Maranville*2,020
47 Miguel Cabrera 2,019
48 Max Carey*2,017
Dave Winfield*2,017
50 Adrián Beltré*2,015
RankPlayer (2024 1Bs)1B
51 Bill Buckner 1,994
52 Albert Pujols 1,979
53 George Davis*1,976
54 Stuffy McInnis 1,972
55 Willie Mays*1,967
56 Ozzie Smith*1,961
57 Jim O'Rourke*1,960
58 Patsy Donovan 1,957
59 Julio Franco 1,952
60 Harold Baines*1,945
61 Charlie Gehringer*1,935
62 Al Simmons*1,932
63 Roberto Alomar*1,930
64 Rogers Hornsby*1,919
65 Al Oliver 1,918
66 Brett Butler 1,913
67 Iván Rodríguez*1,910
68 Johnny Damon 1,903
69 Tim Raines*1,892
70 Vada Pinson 1,889
71 Rusty Staub 1,878
72 Maury Wills 1,866
73 Fred Tenney 1,862
74 Red Schoendienst*1,860
75 Jake Daubert 1,855
76 Juan Pierre 1,850
77 Willie Davis 1,846
78 Steve Garvey 1,844
79 Harry Hooper*1,842
80 Alex Rodriguez 1,840
81 Buddy Bell 1,832
82 Rafael Palmeiro 1,828
83 Pie Traynor*1,823
84 Larry Bowa 1,815
85 Goose Goslin*1,814
86 Mel Ott*1,805
87 Bill Dahlen 1,801
88 Kenny Lofton 1,799
89 Dave Concepción 1,788
Ed Delahanty*1,788
91 Billy Hamilton*1,787
Edd Roush*1,787
Jimmy Ryan 1,787
94 Harry Heilmann*1,784
95 Tommy Corcoran 1,781
96 Willie Randolph 1,775
97 Dave Parker 1,772
98 Bert Campaneris 1,771
99 Tony Pérez*1,769
100 Heinie Manush*1,763
Billy Williams*1,763

Notes

  1. A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit (baseball)</span> Hitting the ball into fair territory and safely reaching base without an error or fielders choice

In baseball statistics, a hit, also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches or passes first base after hitting the ball into fair territory with neither the benefit of an error nor a fielder's choice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stolen base</span> In baseball, when a runner advances one or more bases before the ball has been batted

In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base unaided by other actions and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or out at the next base, but the official scorer rules on the question of credit or blame for the advance under Rule 10 of the MLB's Official Rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single (baseball)</span> A one-base hit in baseball

In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out. As an exception, a batter-runner reaching first base safely is not credited with a single when an infielder attempts to put out another runner on the first play; this is one type of a fielder's choice. Also, a batter-runner reaching first base on a play due to a fielder's error trying to put him out at first base or another runner out is not credited with a single.

In baseball, fielder's choice refers to a variety of plays involving an offensive player reaching a base due to the defense's attempt to put out another baserunner, or the defensive team's indifference to his advance. Fielder's choice is not called by the umpires on the field of play; rather, it is recorded by the official scorer to account for the offensive player's advance without crediting him with an offensive statistic such as a hit or stolen base.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double (baseball)</span> Two-base hit in baseball

In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice. A double is a type of hit and is sometimes called a "two-bagger" or "two-base hit". For statistical and scorekeeping purposes it is denoted by 2B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple (baseball)</span> Three-base hit in baseball and softball

In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice. A triple is sometimes called a "three-bagger" or "three-base hit". For statistical and scorekeeping purposes it is denoted by 3B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Error (baseball)</span> Baseball statistic

In baseball and softball statistics, an error is an act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to advance one or more bases or allows a plate appearance to continue after the batter should have been put out. The term error is sometimes used to refer to the play during which an error was committed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outfielder</span> Defensive position in baseball

An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch fly balls and ground balls then to return them to the infield for the out or before the runner advances, if there are any runners on the bases. As an outfielder, they normally play behind the six players located in the field. By convention, each of the nine defensive positions in baseball is numbered. The outfield positions are 7, 8 and 9. These numbers are shorthand designations useful in baseball scorekeeping and are not necessarily the same as the squad numbers worn on player uniforms.

References

  1. "Pete Rose Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. Sturgill, Andy (May 1, 2014). "Pete Rose Biography". Society For American Baseball Research. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. "Ty Cobb Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2021.