Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and the Top 20 Players Hit By Pitches
Hughie Jennings and Craig Biggio, All-Time Hit By Pitch Leaders
What batter has been hit by the most pitches in baseball history? Don Baylor? Craig Biggio?
Nope.
There are two answers to the question: one modern, one ancient.
If we’re talking about the modern game, under the “Major League Baseball” league umbrella, then the answer is Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros.
But Hughie Jennings, who played for both the MLB and also the “American Association” league, was hit two more times.
The AA was a precursor league to the MLB. Back in the late 1800′s, the AA and the National League were the two biggest professional major leagues. After the 1891 season, the AA ceased operation and a few of their teams, including the Baltimore Orioles (cited frequently in today’s lists), joined the NL.
The American League (AL) of today’s game started as a minor league organization, but later competed with the NL beginning in 1901, a decade after the AA folded.
What’s with those old AA Baltimore Orioles, anyway? Seems like HBP’s were part of the game plan.
Take a look at today’s lists: Batters hit with the most pitches, career and single season.
What’s with those AL New York Yankees? Surprisingly, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have been some of the biggest “targets” to ever step to the plate (and Jason Giambi, too). Take out the old-old timers, and Giambi, A-Rod and Jeter are 8th, 10th and 11th, all-time, and counting.
Thanks for reading. Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
Batters with Most Hit-by-Pitches, Career
| 1. | Hughie Jennings | 287 | R | 1891-1903, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1918 |
| 2. | Craig Biggio | 285 | R | 1988-2007 |
| 3. | Tommy Tucker | 272 | B | 1887-1899 |
| 4. | Don Baylor | 267 | R | 1970-1988 |
| 5. | Jason Kendall | 254 | R | 1996-2010 |
| 6. | Ron Hunt | 243 | R | 1963-1974 |
| 7. | Dan McGann | 230 | B | 1896, 1898-1908 |
| 8. | Frank Robinson | 198 | R | 1956-1976 |
| 9. | Minnie Minoso | 192 | R | 1949, 1951-1964, 1976, 1980 |
| 10. | Jake Beckley | 183 | L | 1888-1907 |
| 11. | Andres Galarraga | 178 | R | 1985-2004 |
| 12. | Jason Giambi | 175 | L | 1995-present |
| 13. | Curt Welch | 173 | R | 1884-1893 |
| 14. | Carlos Delgado | 172 | L | 1993-2009 |
| 15. | Kid Elberfeld | 165 | R | 1898, 1899, 1901-1911, 1914 |
| 15. | Alex Rodriguez | 165 | R | 1994-present |
| 17. | Derek Jeter | 163 | R | 1995-present |
| 18. | Fernando Vina | 157 | L | 1993-2004 |
| 19. | Brady Anderson | 154 | L | 1998-2002 |
| 19. | Fred Clarke | 154 | L | 1894-1911, 1913-1915 |
Batters with Most Hit-by-Pitches, Single Season
| 1. | Hughie Jennings | 51 | R | 1896 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 2. | Ron Hunt | 50 | R | 1971 | Montreal Expos |
| 3. | Hughie Jennings | 46 | R | 1897 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 3. | Hughie Jennings | 46 | R | 1898 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 5. | Dan McGann | 39 | B | 1898 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 6. | Dan McGann | 37 | B | 1899 | Brooklyn Superbas / Washington Senators (defunct) |
| 7. | Curt Welch | 36 | R | 1891 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 8. | Don Baylor | 35 | R | 1986 | Boston Red Sox |
| 9. | Craig Biggio | 34 | R | 1997 | Houston Astros |
| 9. | Curt Welch | 34 | R | 1890 | Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 11. | Tommy Tucker | 33 | B | 1889 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 12. | Hughie Jennings | 32 | R | 1895 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 13. | Steve Evans | 31 | L | 1910 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 13. | Jason Kendall | 31 | R | 1997 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 13. | Jason Kendall | 31 | R | 1998 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 16. | Craig Wilson | 30 | R | 2004 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| 17. | Chief Roseman | 29 | R | 1890 | St. Louis Browns, Louisville Colonels |
| 17. | Tommy Tucker | 29 | B | 1887 | Baltimore Orioles (defunct) |
| 17. | Tommy Tucker | 29 | B | 1891 | Boston Beaneaters |
| 17. | Curt Welch | 29 | R | 1888 | Philadelphia Athletics |
Photo: ootpdevelopments.com / blog.chron.com
Posted on August 29, 2012, in MLB and tagged alex rodriguez, baseball, career, craig biggio, derek jeter, don baylor, hbp, history, hit by pitch, jason giambi, List, most, ron hunt, season, Yankees. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Comment.
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