List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{multiple image
| footer = Wilbert Robinson (left) and Rennie Stennett (not pictured) hold the record for most hits in a nine-inning game with seven, while Cal McVey (right) amassed six hits in each of two consecutive games.
| image1 = Wilbert Robinson 1916.jpg
| alt1 = A man, wearing a baseball cap with a "B" in the center and a white baseball uniform with a square-pattern design and the Brooklyn Dodgers stylized "B" logo on the left breast, looks forward smiling.
| width1 = 193
| image2 =
| alt2 = A man, wearing a baseball cap with a stylized Pittsburgh "P" in the center, looks forward.
| width2 = 130
| image3 = Cal McVey.jpg
| alt3 = A man, wearing a baseball uniform with the words "BOSTON" in the center, leans on a bat held in his right hand.
| width3 = 200
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In baseball, a hit is credited to a batter when he reaches first base – or any subsequent base – safely after hitting a fair ball, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2016/official_baseball_rules.pdf|title=Official Rules: 9.05 – Base Hits|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804054928/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2016/official_baseball_rules.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/baseball/3294559.stm|title=Guide to baseball|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803060134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/baseball/3294559.stm|url-status=live}} One hundred nineteen different players have recorded at least six hits in a single nine-inning Major League Baseball game. Five players have accomplished the feat more than once in their career; no player has ever recorded more than seven hits in a nine-inning game. Davy Force was the first player to collect six hits in a single game, doing so for the Philadelphia Athletics against the Chicago White Stockings on June 27, 1876.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aS2_AAAAQBAJ&q=davy+force+6+hits&pg=PA127|title=This Day in Baseball: A Day-by-Day Record of the Events That Shaped the Game|date=December 16, 2008|publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing|first1=David|last1=Nemec|first2=Scott|last2=Flatow|pages=127|access-date=October 26, 2016|isbn=9781589794078}}
These games have resulted in other single-game MLB records being set in connection with the prodigious offensive performance. Shawn Green, for example, established a new major league record with 19 total bases and finished with a total of five extra-base hits,{{cite news|title=Green's Fantastic 4|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-24-sp-dodgers24-story.html|date=May 24, 2002|access-date=November 9, 2016|first=Mike|last=DiGiovanna|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203154607/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/may/24/sports/sp-dodgers24|archive-date=December 3, 2015}} tying a National League record that was also achieved by Larry Twitchell during the latter's six-hit game.{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/research/larry-twitchell-s-big-day|title=Larry Twitchell's Big Day|first=Brian|last=Marshall|work=Baseball Research Journal|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109163844/http://sabr.org/research/larry-twitchell-s-big-day|archive-date=November 9, 2016}} Four of Green's six hits were home runs, equaling the record for most home runs in one game. Jim Bottomley, Walker Cooper, Anthony Rendon, and Wilbert Robinson hit 10 or more runs batted in (RBI) to complement their six hits.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7CnkH2HIsQC&q=Wilbert+Robinson+11+runs+batted+in&pg=PA823|title=The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer|date=December 23, 2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|first=Dave|last=Blevins|pages=823|access-date=November 9, 2016|isbn=9781461673705}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO192409160.shtml|title=September 16, 1924 St. Louis Cardinals at Brooklyn Robins Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=September 16, 1924|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210910/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO192409160.shtml|url-status=live}} Robinson proceeded to collect a seventh hit and an eleventh RBI to set single-game records in both categories. Although his record of 11 RBIs has since been broken, Robinson's seven hits in a nine-inning game has been matched only by Rennie Stennett.{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-10-1892-seven-hits-seven-tries|title=June 10, 1892: Seven hits in seven tries for Wilbert Robinson|first=Jimmy|last=Keenan|work=Baseball Research Journal|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109185627/http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-10-1892-seven-hits-seven-tries|archive-date=November 9, 2016}}
Guy Hecker, the only pitcher to have accomplished the feat, also broke the single-game major league record for runs scored with seven.{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-15-1886-guy-hecker-hitting-pitcher|title=August 15, 1886: Guy Hecker – hitting pitcher|first=Bob|last=Bailey|work=Baseball Research Journal|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231746/http://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-15-1886-guy-hecker-hitting-pitcher|archive-date=March 3, 2016}} Cal McVey is the sole player to collect six hits in each of two consecutive games.{{cite web|url=http://research.sabr.org/journals/consecutive-game-hitting-streaks|title=Consecutive-Game Hitting Streaks|first=Ronald G.|last=Liebman|work=Baseball Research Journal|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701233814/http://research.sabr.org/journals/consecutive-game-hitting-streaks|archive-date=July 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.esb.com/cms/assets/ebbr-2013-sample.pdf|title=The Elias Book of Baseball Records (sample)|publisher=Elias Sports Bureau|editor-first=Seymour|editor-last=Siwoff|year=2013|page=13|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018154221/http://www.esb.com/cms/assets/ebbr-2013-sample.pdf|archive-date=October 18, 2016}} Seven players hit for the cycle during their six-hit game. Zaza Harvey has the fewest career hits among players who have six hits in one game with 86, while Ty Cobb – with 4,189{{refn|Baseball-Reference.com, the Hall of Fame, and the Society for American Baseball Research all credit Cobb with 4,189 hits,{{cite web|url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/cobb-ty|title=Ty Cobb|publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=December 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214092554/http://baseballhall.org/hof/cobb-ty|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7551754a|title=Ty Cobb|first=Daniel|last=Ginsburg|work=The Baseball Biography Project|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=July 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714022516/https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/7551754a|url-status=live}} while MLB.com lists 4,191.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/ty-cobb-112431|title=Ty Cobb Stats, Fantasy & News|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|access-date=May 8, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608115053/http://m.mlb.com/player/112431/ty-cobb|url-status=live}}|name=Cobb|group=upper-alpha}} – had more hits than any other player in this group and amassed the second most in major league history. Cobb, Cal Ripken Jr., and Paul Waner are also members of the 3,000 hit club.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Hits |work=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=November 7, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014200416/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml |archive-date=October 14, 2012 }}
Of the 75 players eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame who have recorded six hits in a nine-inning game, eighteen have been elected, three on the first ballot.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof.shtml|title=Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=November 7, 2016|archive-date=January 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104093600/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof.shtml|url-status=live}} Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played in at least 10 MLB seasons, and have either been retired for five seasons or deceased for at least six months.{{cite web|url=http://baseballhall.org/hall-famers/rules-election/bbwaa |title=Rules for Election |publisher=National Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=October 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530074537/http://baseballhall.org/hall-famers/rules-election/bbwaa |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }} These requirements leave six players ineligible who are active, six players ineligible who are living and have played in the past five seasons, and twenty-six players ineligible who did not play in 10 seasons.
Players
File:Ian Kinsler April 2009.jpg is one of seven players to record six hits and hit for the cycle in the same game.|alt=A man in a blue baseball uniform with a blue helmet watches the ball fly after swinging his black bat.]]
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Key !scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Player {{small|(X)}} |Name of the player and number of six hit games they had at that point |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Date
|Date of the game |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Team
|The player's team at the time of the game |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Lge.
|The league the player's team is a member of |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|NL |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|AL |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|AA |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|PL |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Opposing team
|The team against whom the player had six hits |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|AB
|Number of times at bat the player was credited with |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Hits
|Number of hits the player was credited with |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2B
|Number of hits that were doubles |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|3B
|Number of hits that were triples |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|HR
|Number of hits that were home runs |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Career hits
|The number of hits the player had in his MLB career |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Box
|Box score with play by play (if available) |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD;"|^
|Indicates the player hit for the cycle |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"|{{dagger}}
|Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#cfecec;"|{{double-dagger}}
|Player is active |
=Six hits in extra-inning games=
File:Jimmie Foxx 1937 cropped.jpg amassed six hits in an extra-inning game twice.|alt=A man is pictured from his belt up looking to the left of the camera. His button-down baseball jersey says "RED SOX" across it and he is wearing a baseball cap.]]
{{As of|2019}}, 47 different players have recorded at least six hits in an extra-inning Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Only Jimmie Foxx has accomplished the feat more than once in his career and no player has ever amassed more than nine hits in a game, with Johnny Burnett holding that distinction.{{cite news|title=Brandon Crawford gets 7 hits in a game, ties 1975 record|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2016/08/09/brandon-crawford-gets-7-hits-in-a-game-ties-1975-record.html|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=November 9, 2016|first=Christopher|last=Stock|newspaper=Toronto Star|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109001937/https://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2016/08/09/brandon-crawford-gets-7-hits-in-a-game-ties-1975-record.html|archive-date=November 9, 2016}} Kirby Puckett is the only player to collect six hits in both a nine-inning and an extra-inning game.
The following list is kept separate from the above list of players who have six or more hits in a nine-inning game. This is due to the differing number of innings played during an extra-inning game, the lack of a definitive endpoint to the game that would otherwise allow for a fair comparison to be made, and the advantage of having more opportunities at bat during an extra-inning game as opposed to one lasting nine innings.
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Key !scope="row" style="text-align:centre"|Inn. |Innings played during the game |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#ddbbdd"|§
|Indicates the player recorded six hits before the end of the ninth inning{{#tag:ref|The end of the ninth inning marks the start of extra innings if the game remains tied.|group=upper-alpha}} |
|---|
See also
Notes
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References
General
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/6_hits_1_game.shtml|title=Six Hits in One 9-Inning Game|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=October 30, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211326/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/6_hits_1_game.shtml|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/hits.shtml|title=Hits Records (for extra innings; scroll down near the bottom)|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=October 30, 2015|archive-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331195531/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/hits.shtml|url-status=live}}
- {{cite book|title=The Complete Baseball Record & Fact Book|publisher=Sporting News Publishing Company|year=2008|oclc=234952886|pages=131–133}}
- {{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=six_hit_game|title=Six-hit games (from 1900 onwards)|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108022541/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=six_hit_game|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/share.cgi?id=wo0ll|title=Six hit games from 1916 to 2013|date=May 29, 2013|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=October 8, 2016}}
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Specific
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{{Baseball records}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hits, Single Game, Major League Baseball}}