Baseball All-Time Hits Leaders

Most of baseball’s cherished records are testaments to longevity. You don’t rack up a ton of victories, strikeouts, home runs or base hits if you don’t last a while.

Consider the list of the game’s all-time hits leaders. Each played at least 20 seasons, and the men in the first two spots each lasted a whopping 24 summers at or near the top of their craft.

It says something about talent and hard work, but having nearly a quarter century of reasonably good health didn’t hurt, either.

Here are the ones who put it all together:

1. Pete Rose (1963-86) — 4,256

2. Ty Cobb (1905-28) — 4,191

3. Hank Aaron (1954-76) — 3771

4. Stan Musial (1941-63) — 3,630

5. Tris Speaker (1907-28) — 3,514

6. Carl Yastrzemski (1961-83) — 3,419

7. Cap Anson (1871-97) — 3,418

8. Honus Wagner (1897-1917) — 3,415

9. Paul Molitor (1978-98) — 3,319

10. Eddie Collins (1906-30) — 3,315

Source: MLB.com