The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 51 Times hit by pitch
It’s never any fun. In fact, it’s a moment that most players absolutely hate.
The most irritating and freighting part about standing in the batter’s box, is when a 100 mile per hour fastball suddenly gets off track and heads straight towards the direction of the hitter. It doesn’t matter if it’s done on purpose or by accident. It also doesn’t matter what body part gets blasted, it all hurts the same.
During the 1896 season, Hughie Jennings had himself a particularly painful year. In total, the Hall of Fame Shortstop and First Baseman was on the wrong end of a ton of bad pitches. By the end of the year, Jennings was hit 51 total times, the most in MLB history. Jennings also holds the record for the third and fourth most hit by pitches in a single season as well.
Considering that pitchers suffer huge suspensions for hitting batters today, the frequency in which it occurs isn’t nearly as high. Currently, Anthony Rizzo is the only active player who came within somewhat of shouting distance, registering 30 in 2017. Still, with Jennings holding the record for over a century, we doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.