26 Baseball Records That May Never Be Broken

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2026 by Jake Cain

Baseball is such a unique sport where so many variables can affect the outcome. With so many ways that a game can go, there are many accomplishments that have happened in history that may never happen again.

Athletes have changed drastically over the years, to the point where the way they play today could make it impossible to even touch some of the records you're about to see on this list. That's what makes this fun. We're about to go over history that will never be repeated.

26. Johnny Vander Meer – Back-to-back No Hitters

So many dominant pitchers have looked unhittable throughout baseball history. From Walter Johnson to Nolan Ryan to Randy Johnson, none have been able to do what Johnny Vander Meer did in mid-June of 1938. The opponents he did it against are fun to talk about too.

His first of the back-to-back records came against the Boston Bees. That was a brief period away from the Braves name before going back. Then he went to Brooklyn and no-hit the Dodgers in the first night game at legendary Ebbets Field.

Johnny Vander Meer — Career	Total
W	119
L	121
ERA	3.44
G	346
IP	2104.2
SO	1294
WHIP	1.39
SV	2
All-Star selections	4
World Series titles	1

25. Nolan Ryan – 5,714 Career Strikeouts (HOF)

It's hard to believe that pitchers back at the very start of baseball were tasked with giving hittable pitches to batters every time. Batters would have to proclaim what pitch and where they would like it to be.

Fast forward 90 years, and Nolan Ryan would tell batters to sit back down after hurling three blazing fastballs. Even if the strikeout is what modern training is trying to achieve, there is no way that we'll see another pitcher with the longevity to dominate as Nolan Ryan did for 27 years.

Nolan Ryan Jr. — Career	Total
W	324
L	292
ERA	3.19
G	807
IP	5386.0
SO	5714
WHIP	1.25
SV	3
All-Star selections	8
World Series titles	1

Career Achievements:

24. Cy Young – 511 Career Wins (HOF)

Wins are an argued stat among fans today. It's such a difference between generations that I wouldn't be surprised if only half of the baseball fandom really respects what Cy Young did.

It was such a different time and so long ago that this record seems disconnected from the modern game. With the way bullpens are utilized, there is no way this will ever be approached, and coaches would rather that be the case anyway.

Cy Young — Career	Total
W	511
L	316
ERA	2.63
G	906
IP	7356.0
SO	2803
WHIP	1.13
SV	17
World Series titles	1

23. Jack Chesbro – 41 Wins in 1904 (HOF)

This record isn't even about the wins. It's the fact that Jack Chesbro got all of those wins while pitching 48 complete games in 51 starts. None of those numbers will ever be matched the way today's pitchers are used.

The Dead-ball Era was just different, and you'll see a number of records on this list from that time that make you wonder what it was really like to catch a game back then.

Jack Chesbro — Career	Total
W	198
L	132
ERA	2.68
G	392
IP	2896.2
SO	1265
WHIP	1.15
SV	5

Season Highlights:

22. Will White – 75 Complete Games In A Season

Speaking of complete games, there are some records that seem more for a slow-pitch softball league than pro baseball. I know there are some kids today who would look at the way they were pitching back in the 1870s and think that they were throwing batting practice. I know of coaches who wouldn't even be able to throw batting practice for 75 complete games in a season.

Will White — Career	Total
W	229
L	166
ERA	2.28
G	403
IP	3542.2
SO	1041
WHIP	1.11
SV	0

Notable Achievements:

Career Highlights:

21. Walter Johnson – 110 Shutouts (HOF)

There is a reason why Walter Johnson's name comes up when talking about the greatest pitchers of all time. Getting wins is one thing, completing games is another, but throwing shutouts is a whole other level.

When you think about it, there have been measurements that suggest that he was approaching the mid-90s in fastball velocity. He did that in the Dead-ball Era, which probably made it even more impossible to get hits off of.

Walter Johnson — Career	Total
W	417
L	279
ERA	2.17
G	802
IP	5914.1
SO	3508
WHIP	1.06
SV	34
World Series titles	1

Career Overview:

Record Highlights:

20. Charles Radbourn – 59 Wins in a Season (HOF)

Old Hoss Radbourn just racked up wins. He didn't have the consistency or longevity that could match Cy Young, but Radbourn found a season where he was able to combine good pitching with good run support at an incredible level.

This was back when the Providence Grays were dominating baseball, and it makes you wonder what they would look like today if they were still around.

Old Hoss Radbourn — Career	Total
W	309
L	195
ERA	2.67
G	528
IP	4535.1
SO	1830
WHIP	1.15
SV	2

19. Rickey Henderson – 1,406 Steals (HOF)

Here's our first entry to have played in the 21st century. That's pretty wild to say considering Rickey played some games in the 1970s. It's fun that the stolen base has worked its way back into the game of baseball today. Even so, no speedster will even come close to this record.

When second place is almost 500 steals behind, this record seems video game-like.

Rickey Henderson — Career	Total
G	3081
AB	10961
H	3055
HR	297
RBI	1115
SB	1406
AVG	.279
OBP	.401
SLG	.419
OPS	.820
MVP	1
All-Star selections	10
Gold Gloves	1
Silver Sluggers	3
World Series titles	2

18. Pete Rose – 4,256 Hits In A Career

This record is mired in controversy, as is the rest of Pete Rose's career. But the further we have gotten away from it in time, the more we appreciate the reverence of this record. I just think there are a lot of people who would be fine with Pete Rose going into the Hall of Fame today.

Not only is this record unattainable, but it even seems like becoming just a third player to hit the 4,000-hit threshold is an impossible endeavor.

Pete Rose — Career	Total
G	3562
AB	14053
H	4256
HR	160
RBI	1314
SB	198
AVG	.303
OBP	.375
SLG	.409
OPS	.784
MVP	1
All-Star selections	17
Gold Gloves	2
Silver Sluggers	1
World Series titles	3
Rookie of the Year	1

Achievements:

17. Joe DiMaggio – 56 Game Hit Streak (HOF)

Every once in a blue moon, there is a great hitter who gets on a hot streak. I think every person has their own threshold for when to mention Joe DiMaggio's name.

For me, I think the player has to get to at least 25 games before we can even have a hint of a thought that the record is being challenged. 40 games is even its own accomplishment. But 56? There is just no way.

Joe DiMaggio — Career	Total
G	1736
AB	6821
H	2214
HR	361
RBI	1537
SB	30
AVG	.325
OBP	.398
SLG	.579
OPS	.977
MVP	3
All-Star selections	13
World Series titles	9

16. Ichiro Suzuki – 262 Hits in a Season (HOF)

Ichiro Suzuki made hitting cool. Remember that this was during a time when sluggers were taking steroids to break home run records. While they did that, Ichiro was breaking records in his own way and doing it with grace.

There are a lot of kids today who can look at that record and think that it's attainable because it was so recently done. They just don't realize how good Ichiro actually was.

Ichiro Suzuki — Career	Total
G	2653
AB	9934
H	3089
HR	117
RBI	780
SB	509
AVG	.311
OBP	.355
SLG	.402
OPS	.757
MVP	1
All-Star selections	10
Gold Gloves	10
Silver Sluggers	3
Rookie of the Year	1

15. Maury Wills – 165 Games in a Season

Funny enough, the record that Maury Wills broke in this season that was more famous at that time was not the number of games he played, but the number of steals he got in a season.

The games part definitely seems to be more of an impossibility due to rules than due to the way the game is played today. At that time, ties for the pennant were decided by three-game series. That's just how the Dodgers had to play in 1962.

Maury Wills — Career	Total
G	1942
AB	7588
H	2134
HR	20
RBI	458
SB	586
AVG	.281
OBP	.330
SLG	.331
OPS	.661
MVP	1
All-Star selections	5
Gold Gloves	2
World Series titles	3

14. Tris Speaker – 792 Doubles (HOF)

Doubles are such an underrated part of offense in baseball. I think the way that we value hitters can be overly weighted toward whether they can hit a home run or not.

Tris Speaker was able to drive the ball into gaps and put pressure on opposing pitchers just as effectively as home run hitters could. Imagine that this was in the Dead-ball era. You have to wonder how many home runs he actually could have hit with a live ball.

Tristram Speaker — Career	Total
G	2792
AB	10195
H	3515
HR	117
RBI	1529
SB	432
AVG	.345
OBP	.428
SLG	.500
OPS	.928
World Series titles	3

13. Sam Crawford – 309 Triples (HOF)

Naturally, we go from doubles to triples, and Sam Crawford has a record that is so impressive that it's funny to think that it affects his slugging percentage almost like he is a power hitter. He utilized his drives into places of the outfield where he could scamper around the bases and reach third.

Back then, triples were probably as valuable as home runs. Even in today's game, a triple can be just as exciting a play to watch in person.

Sam Crawford — Career	Total
G	2517
AB	9570
H	2961
HR	97
RBI	1525
SB	366
AVG	.309
OBP	.362
SLG	.452
OPS	.814

12. Hugh Duffy – .440 National League Batting Average (HOF)

Even though this isn't the highest overall batting average in a season all-time, this is still an impressive single-season average. This also gives us an opportunity to talk about the fact that Hugh Duffy played for the Boston Beaneaters. Duffy was generating a lot of hits while his team's name suggests that their diet generated a lot of fiber for their bodies.

Hugh Duffy — Career	Total
G	1737
AB	7042
H	2292
HR	106
RBI	1302
SB	574
AVG	.325
OBP	.386
SLG	.449
OPS	.835

11. Hack Wilson – 191 RBI Season (HOF)

Ever since meeting friends who are more into advanced metrics and valuing hitters in a vacuum, I have had to change my opinions on the RBI. There is still a lot of love for this stat, but it does have the requirement of seeing a lot of teammates do their job in front of you.

Hack Wilson certainly had some great teammates in front of him, but he still had to be the one who brought them in. He did so in the most consistent fashion the game has ever seen.

Hack Wilson — Career	Total
G	1348
AB	4760
H	1461
HR	244
RBI	1063
SB	52
AVG	.307
OBP	.395
SLG	.545
OPS	.940

10. Joe Sewell – Three Strikeouts in 1932 (HOF)

Today's teachings don't really focus on strikeouts as a hitter as much as they used to. I can only imagine what kind of coaching Joe Sewell got when he was growing up, because this man never wanted to go down via the strikeout.

He wasn't even that amazing of a hitter. He batted .272 with a very average 96 OPS+ in 1932. It's just the fact that he had 503 at-bats and only struck out three times.

Joe Sewell — Career	Total
G	1903
AB	7132
H	2226
HR	49
RBI	1055
SB	74
AVG	.312
OBP	.391
SLG	.413
OPS	.804
World Series titles	2

9. Chief Wilson – 36 Triples in a Season

Triples are such an exciting way to get on base for players and fans alike. Being able to do it at a higher rate than anyone else in baseball is such a cool thing to be known for. Wilson's 36 triples in a season are just a dream.

Today's players would be lauded if they even got 20 triples in a single season. Wilson would agree, as he didn't even hit 15 triples in a season for the rest of his career.

Chief Wilson — Career	Total
G	1280
AB	4624
H	1246
HR	59
RBI	571
SB	98
AVG	.269
OBP	.311
SLG	.391
OPS	.702
World Series titles	1

8. Hank Aaron – 6,856 Total Bases Career (HOF)

Total Bases is kind of a fun stat. I think it combines the ability to get on base with the ability to slug in such a unique way. Hank Aaron got on base in such a powerful way and at such a consistent rate that I have no problem with anyone who says he is still the greatest power hitter of all time. Even though the next entry on this list is a record he no longer holds, this one still shows his greatness.

Hank Aaron — Career	Total
G	3298
AB	12364
H	3771
HR	755
RBI	2297
SB	240
AVG	.305
OBP	.374
SLG	.555
OPS	.929
MVP	1
All-Star selections	21
Gold Gloves	3
World Series titles	1

Career Highlights:

7. Barry Bonds – 762 Home Runs Career

I know I don't have to tell you about the controversy that surrounds this record. I don't even have to tell you about what this record means to the game of baseball. It's just the fact that this record doesn't even fully tell you how dominant he truly was at the plate.

Other than his 73-homer year, Bonds didn't even reach 50 home runs in a season. Why? 2,558 walks and 688 intentional walks (both untouchable records as well). That's why.

Barry Bonds — Career	Total
G	2986
AB	9847
H	2935
HR	762
RBI	1996
SB	514
AVG	.298
OBP	.444
SLG	.607
OPS	1.051
MVP	7
All-Star selections	14
Gold Gloves	8
Silver Sluggers	12

6. Cal Ripken Jr. – 2,632 Consecutive Games (HOF)

There was a long span of time when people thought that this same record category could not be beaten. That was when it was held by Lou Gehrig. It is also why a record like this was so highly celebrated when Cal Ripken Jr. broke it.

This record means so much more than just a number. It is the culmination of dedication, loyalty, and perseverance. That was Cal Ripken Jr. In a nutshell, he was the perfect man to rewrite the history books.

Cal Ripken Jr. — Career	Total
G	3001
AB	11551
H	3184
HR	431
RBI	1695
SB	36
AVG	.276
OBP	.340
SLG	.447
OPS	.787
MVP	2
All-Star selections	19
Gold Gloves	2
Silver Sluggers	8
World Series titles	1
Rookie of the Year	1

5. Fernando Tatis – 2 Grand Slams In One Inning

I remember being taught as a kid that home runs are a stroke of luck. I think in this day and age, it isn't just luck that gets you a home run. However, it is luck that gets you to the plate to hit two grand slams in a single inning.

So many things have to go a certain way in order to do what Fernando Tatis Sr. did back in 1999. For the Dodgers starter Chan Ho Park, he unfortunately has to be known as the pitcher who gave up both of them.

Fernando Tatis — Career	Total
G	949
AB	3051
H	807
HR	113
RBI	448
SB	50
AVG	.265
OBP	.344
SLG	.442
OPS	.786

Highlights:

4. Mickey Mantle – 18 World Series Home Runs (HOF)

Teams that weren't the Yankees had to work so much harder to get to the World Series for many years. I'm not trying to downplay the skill of Mickey Mantle. He is absolutely an all-time player.

But this record has as much to do with the fact that he had more chances to play in a World Series game than many other players in history, and as little to do with his ability to hit a home run on the biggest stage.

Mickey Mantle — Career	Total
G	2401
AB	8102
H	2415
HR	536
RBI	1509
SB	153
AVG	.298
OBP	.421
SLG	.557
OPS	.978
MVP	3
All-Star selections	16
Gold Gloves	1
World Series titles	7

3. Yogi Berra – Catching Both Games of 117 Doubleheaders (HOF)

The double header just doesn't happen as much as it used to. Modern-day teams have found ways to make up games on different days.

But something about thinking of an all-time catcher enduring that many doubleheaders makes me want to give him even more respect than I already have. I wish I knew of a Yogi-ism that would fit this situation. Maybe it's just as simple as it's deja vu all over again.

Yogi Berra — Career	Total
G	2120
AB	7555
H	2150
HR	358
RBI	1430
SB	30
AVG	.285
OBP	.348
SLG	.482
OPS	.830
MVP	3
All-Star selections	15
World Series titles	10

2. Lenny Harris – 212 Pinch Hits

The art of being a pinch hitter has kind of been lost to time and modern-day rule changes. Ever since the National League fully switched over to using the designated hitter, the pinch-hitting role has diminished.

A guy like Lenny Harris can't exist today because a consistent pinch hitter isn't getting as many chances as they used to. Unless rules revert back to what they used to be in the National League, I think Harris can feel safe about this unique record.

Statistic	Value
Pinch Hits	212
MLB Teams Played	8
MLB Debut	September 7, 1988
Final MLB Game	October 2, 2005

1. Ted Williams – 84-Game On-Base Streak (HOF)

Getting on base has still been the name of the game, even in today's teachings. Ted Williams took those old-school teachings and applied them in the most consistent way that we've ever seen. 84 games seems like such a daunting task to be able to contribute offensively in such a hard game. Williams made it look easy.

The greatest players seem to play better as the season wears on, and that's what Williams did. This on-base streak went from July through September as he pushed Boston to some big wins down the stretch.

Ted Williams On-Base Streak	Detail
Duration	July 1 – September 27, 1949
Games Played	84
Method of Reaching Base	Hits, Walks, Hit by Pitch

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