The Greatest Hitters in Major League Baseball History

Although baseball, like all sports, has reams of statistics to pore over, there are always going to be debates over who the best players were throughout history. That is just the nature of sports and fans will always have their own favorites – usually influenced by which team they get behind.

But when it comes to big hitters, the general consensus is usually a little bit more solid. There might be certain pitchers that have their own fans, and teams that have been successful but rubbed people up the wrong way. But the big hitters are universally loved and that is usually why people feel confident to bet on baseball games in the first place.

With technological developments and changes in the rules, the statistics for sports can be debated forever. But here are some of the biggest hitters that Major League Baseball has ever produced – and one that is lighting up the crowds in the modern-day era.

Ty Cobb

Nicknamed “The Georgia Peach”, Ty Cobbs played the majority of his baseball career with the Detroit Tigers, retiring and then returning to play one more season for the Philadelphia Athletics. His achievements have been mired in controversy but there is no doubt that the man could hit a baseball.

Although he played during the dead-ball era, characterized by a lack of home runs, Cobb regularly led the batting charts and was the AL Batting Champion on 12 occasions. He never did win a World Series but will go down in history as one of the best hitters of all time and was the very first person inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Babe Ruth

One of George “Babe” Ruth’s other nicknames was “The Sultan of Swat”, so that will probably give you some idea of his batting style. He actually began his career as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox but was converted to an outfielder and became arguably the best player the game has ever known.

Ruth hit an incredible 714 home runs in his career, with 59 in 1921 alone. Unlike Cobb, Ruth was a multiple World Series-winning athlete, claiming the title with both the Red Sox and the New York Yankees, who he controversially signed for in 1920. It is no overstatement that Babe Ruth dominated and changed the sport of baseball during a glittering career.

Ted Williams

Playing his entire career at the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams’ batting numbers would probably have been even more impressive if his playing days were not interrupted by his service in both WW2 and the Korean War. That being said, he is still considered to be one of the best hitters of all time.

A 19-time All-Star player, “Teddy Ballgame” is still the last player to hit over .400 in a season and also remains the record holder for on-base percentage. Another top player who never actually tasted glory at the World Series, Williams is still fondly remembered by all in the baseball family.

Hank Aaron

Remember that career home run record that we talked about with Babe Ruth a moment ago? Well, Hank Aaron was the man who beat it. He remained the career leader for another 33 years until Barry Bonds surpassed the total of 755 in 2007. He played the majority of his career for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves before finishing off as a Milwaukee Brewer.

Aaron did manage to win the World Series in 1957, when he also picked up the NL MVP award, but it is his hitting records that still stand to this day that he is rightly remembered for. He still leads the way for RBIs, extra base hits, and total bases. He was also a 25-time All-Star, for good measure.

Willie Mays

The fact that Willie Mays has made it onto our list for being one of the greatest hitters of all time is even more impressive when you consider he is widely regarded as the best five-tool player of all time. That means he was excellent in all five of the main skills needed in baseball – as well as just his slugging.

Mays won the MVP award twice (and probably should have won more) and is celebrated for being one of the top players in the league throughout his 23-year MLB career. Not only did he have over 3,000 hits and 660 home runs to his name, but he was perceived as such a danger on the plate that he led the league in walks in his final season at the age of 40.

And One for this Generation – Aaron Judge

It feels as if we have traveled too far in the past to bring you the biggest hitters enjoyed by Major League Baseball fans down through the years. So, here’s one that is currently delighting fans with his home run-hitting skills and is likely to be breaking a few records of his own before he eventually retires.

Judge is a six-time MLB All-Star and was unanimously voted as the AL Rookie of the Year in 2017. His six-foot seven-inch, 282-pound frame must be imposing for opposing pitchers and he has consistently hit them out of the park in his time in the league. In fact, he actually hit a home run in his very first at bat in the league and managed 62 in 2022, breaking a 61-year record in the process.

Fans Love Sluggers

The performances of Aaron Judge prove that there will always be new big hitters for baseball fans to enjoy. As much as the record books celebrate the likes of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, new stars are joining the league all the time.

For many fans, there is nothing better than seeing a ball leave a bat and fly into the stands. There are many key players on a baseball roster, but none of them are quite as revered as the big hitters.