Records are made to be broken, but not these ones. Here are the 12 MLB records that will never be topped.
Cy Young’s 511 wins and 749 complete games
Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young holds the most wins and complete games ever, with 511 and 749, respectively. The current active leader in wins (262) and complete games (26) is 41-year-old Justin Verlander. There’s a very real chance we may never see another 300-game winner, let alone 200, and Young’s records will forever stand.
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive games played
Baltimore Orioles’ Cal Ripken Jr. helped bring baseball back after the 1994 MLB strike that wiped out the World Series when he broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak of 2,130. Ripken would extend the record to 2,632 straight games during his 21-year Hall of Fame career.
Walter Johnson’s 110 shutouts
Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson not only won 417 games and struck out 3,509 batters in 21 seasons, but he also recorded 110 career shutouts — the most all-time. The closest active player is Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw with 15. Johnson’s record remains untouchable.
Hank Aaron’s 6,856 total bases
Though he lost his home run crown to Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron’s total base record of 6,856 will stand forever. The current active leader, Freddie Freeman, sits at 3,866 — 2,990 behind “Hammerin’ Hank.”
Josh Gibson’s .372 career batting average and .466 single-season average
When MLB officially — and rightfully — incorporated Negro League statistics, it reshuffled career and single-season batting average leaders. Josh Gibson now holds both records with his .372 career average and .466 single-season mark. Gibson’s records appear unassailable, as the current active batting average leader, Jose Altuve, hits .306 — the only player above .300 with a minimum of 3,000 plate appearances.
Rickey Henderson’s 1,406 stolen bases and 130 steals in single-season
Rickey Henderson, baseball’s greatest baserunner, stole a record 1,406 bases, including 130 in a single season in 1982 with the Oakland Athletics. With teams taking fewer risks on the basepaths, these numbers will endure.
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Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts (383 single-season post-1900), 2,795 walks, and 7 no-hitters
In his 27-year career with four teams, Nolan Ryan dominated hitters with his blazing fastball, accumulating an unprecedented 5,714 strikeouts (including 383 in a single season post-1900), 2,795 walks, and seven no-hitters — all records that will likely stand forever.
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Tom Cheney’s 21 strikeouts in a game
On Sept. 12, 1962, Washington Senators’ Tom Cheney delivered the performance of his life against the Baltimore Orioles. In 16 innings and 228 pitches, Cheney struck out a record 21 batters. Only three other pitchers — Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, and Max Scherzer — have reached 20 strikeouts in a game. Given today’s pitching restrictions, Cheney’s record appears safe.
Pete Rose’s 4,256 hits and 15,890 plate appearances
Pete Rose earned his “Hit King” nickname over 24 seasons, accumulating 4,256 hits in 15,890 plate appearances — both all-time records. Even if a player averaged 200 hits annually for 20 years, they wouldn’t reach Rose’s mark. The current active leader, Freddie Freeman, has 2,267 hits. While Freeman might reach 3,000, 4,000 remains distant.
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Barry Bonds’ 232 walks in single season and 688 career intentional walks
Barry Bonds, baseball’s all-time (762) and single-season (73) home run leader, holds two additional untouchable records. In 2004, he drew 232 walks, including 120 intentional walks. His career record of 688 intentional walks demonstrates his fearsome presence at the plate — in 1998, the Arizona Diamondbacks even intentionally walked him with the bases loaded.
Ichiro’s 262 hits in single season
Ichiro, a near-unanimous Hall of Fame selection, stands among baseball’s greatest hitters. He recorded ten consecutive 200-hit seasons with the Seattle Mariners, setting the single-season record with 262 hits in 2004. This mark seems destined to endure.
Hack Wilson’s 191 RBI season
Chicago Cubs’ Hack Wilson’s 1930 season ranks among baseball’s finest. The MVP slugger drove in a record 191 runs while hitting 56 home runs with a 1.177 OPS. The closest challenge came from Manny Ramirez, who drove in 165 runs for Cleveland in 1999.
