Hits : 1894 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

1894 Hits Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Hugh Duffy 237 Boston Beaneaters 1
Billy Hamilton 220 Philadelphia Phillies 2
Willie Keeler 219 Baltimore Orioles 3
Bobby Lowe 212 Boston Beaneaters 4
Steve Brodie 210 Baltimore Orioles 5
Lave Cross 204 Philadelphia Phillies 6
Ed Delahanty 199 Philadelphia Phillies 7
Joe Kelley 199 Baltimore Orioles  
Ed McKean 198 Cleveland Spiders 9
Walt Wilmot 197 Chicago Colts 10
Bug Holliday 190 Cincinnati Reds 11
Tommy McCarthy 188 Boston Beaneaters 12
Jesse Burkett 187 Cleveland Spiders 13
Jake Stenzel 185 Pittsburgh Pirates 14
Jake Beckley 183 Pittsburgh Pirates 15
Dan Brouthers 182 Baltimore Orioles 16
Oyster Burns 179 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 17
Bill Dahlen 179 Chicago Colts  
Sam Thompson 178 Philadelphia Phillies 19
Patsy Donovan 174 Pittsburgh Pirates 20
John McGraw 174 Baltimore Orioles  
Elmer Smith 174 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Tommy Corcoran 173 Brooklyn Bridegrooms 23
Eddie Burke 172 New York Giants 24
George Van Haltren 172 New York Giants  



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Jim Thome wore number twenty-five since he first came up with the Cleveland Indians making him the franchise record holder for that particular number (Mike Garcia is second).