250 for 250: Top 10 records that define baseball

As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB's content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that made baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.

1. Hitting Streak
Joe DiMaggio's 56: May 15, 1941 – July 16, 1941

Over two glorious summer months in 1941, "The Yankee Clipper" Joe DiMaggio produced the most incredible display of hitting consistency in baseball history. DiMaggio recorded at least one hit in 56 consecutive games, batting .408 with 15 home runs over the stretch. The streak captivated a country on the brink of World War II and remains one of sport's most untouchable statistical feats.

2. Single-Season Home Runs
Barry Bonds' 73 in 2001

The single-season home run record is a sacred milestone, captivating the nation with every chase. From Babe Ruth’s 60 in 1927 to Roger Maris in 1961, the electrifying 1998 battle between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and, ultimately, Barry Bonds’ epic 2001, these pursuits transformed the game. Each historical chase pushed the boundaries of raw power and created memorable moments.

3. Career Home Runs
Barry Bonds' 762

One of sports’ ultimate crowns, the career home run record measures peak power and enduring longevity. Hank Aaron dethroning Babe Ruth in 1974 captivated a nation, showcasing incredible grace under intense pressure. Decades later, Bonds pushed the pinnacle to 762. These historic chases transcend generations, capturing the public imagination and defining baseball’s absolute summit of immortality.

4. Consecutive Games Played
Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632

Baltimore’s "Iron Man" Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed Lou Gehrig’s once-thought "unbreakable" mark of 2,130 consecutive games in front of a roaring home crowd at Camden Yards on Sept. 6, 1995. After making the record official following the fifth inning, Ripken hit a home run and took an iconic 22-minute lap around the field, restoring baseball’s heart and soul during a pivotal era for the game.

• 8 amazing facts about Ripken's streak

5. Career Hits
Pete Rose's 4,256

Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for his relentless grit, Pete Rose stepped into the batter’s box at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on Sept. 11, 1985, and lined a single off Padres pitcher Eric Show for his 4,192nd career hit. The hit officially broke Ty Cobb’s legendary, decades-old all-time record, triggering an emotional seven-minute standing ovation for Cincinnati's hometown hero.

6. Career Wins
Cy Young's 511

Denton True "Cy" Young defined durability and pitching mastery during baseball's dead-ball era. Accumulating 511 victories over 22 Major league seasons, Young threw more than 7,350 innings and completed 749 games. Given modern pitching rotations and bullpen management, his 511 career wins stand as a monument to endurance -- a record that will almost certainly never be touched.

7. Career Strikeouts
Nolan Ryan's 5,714

Armed with a blistering fastball and a devastating curve, Nolan Ryan redefined pitching power. On April 27, 1983, Ryan surpassed Walter Johnson’s 56-year-old record of 3,508 career strikeouts. He continued throwing heat for another decade, becoming the only pitcher in MLB history to cross the 5,000-K threshold and finishing with an unreachable career total of 5,714 strikeouts.

8. Career Stolen Bases
Rickey Henderson's 1,406

The ultimate leadoff hitter, Rickey Henderson weaponized baserunning like no one else. In 1982, he swiped an astounding 130 bases to break the modern single-season record. Nine years later, on May 1, 1991, Rickey stole his 939th career base to eclipse Lou Brock as the all-time king. Holding up third base above his head, he famously declared, "Today, I am the greatest of all time."

• 250 for 250: Top 10 moments of baserunning brilliance

9. The .400 Batting Average
Last achieved by Ted Williams in 1941

A .400 batting average represents baseball’s pinnacle of hit consistency and elite precision. Batting .400 means hitting safely in four out of every 10 at-bats over a full season -- a feat untouched since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941. Legendary figures who achieved it include Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby and Josh Gibson, while Hugh Duffy’s .440 mark with the 1894 Boston Beaneaters is untouched in AL/NL history.

• The day Ted Williams put his .400 season on the line

10. Single-Season ERA
Bob Gibson's 1.12 in 1968

The single-season ERA title remains the go-to metric for many to assess pitch-for-pitch dominance over an entire season. In 1968, Bob Gibson posted a 1.12 ERA -- the lowest in the live-ball era (since 1920). Tossing 304 2/3 innings with 28 complete games and 13 shutouts, Gibson’s mastery was so complete that MLB lowered the mound from 15 to 10 inches and shrunk the strike zone in 1969 to restore balance, cementing his 1968 campaign as immortal.

Honorable mentions

Single-Season Hits: Ichiro Suzuki's 262 (2004) Watch >
Single Season RBIs: Hack Wilson's 191 (1930)
Most Hits in 9 inning Game: Rennie Stennett's 7 (Sept. 16, 1975) Watch>
20 K's in One Game: Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood, Randy Johnson, Max Scherzer
Single-Season Wins (Modern Era): Jack Chesbro's 41 (1904)
Single-Season Steals: Rickey Henderson's 130 (1982) Watch >
Two Grand Slams In One Inning: Fernando Tatis Sr. (April 23, 1999) Watch >
Career No-Hitters: Nolan Ryan's 7
Consecutive Scoreless Innings: Orel Hershiser's 59 (1988) Watch >
Career Saves: Mariano Rivera's 652