43. Pete Rose’s Career Hits Record — 4,256
When it comes to pure, relentless contact, nobody did it like Pete Rose. “Charlie Hustle” played the game with an all-consuming drive — piling up a record 4,256 career hits across 24 seasons with the Reds, Phillies, and Expos.
To break it today, a player would need to average 200 hits every single year for more than 21 straight seasons — in an era where 200-hit seasons are rare and players rarely log that kind of longevity.
Ichiro Suzuki came the closest in the modern era, finishing with 3,089 big-league knocks after arriving from Japan at age 27 (and over 4,000 if you combine NPB stats). Even he fell more than 1,000 MLB hits shy.
Between the durability required, the changing approach at the plate, and the grind of modern pitching, Pete Rose’s career hits record isn’t just safe — it might be the single most untouchable milestone in MLB history.
