Now that Ryan Zimmerman's 30-game hitting streak is over, something needs to be said. Joe DiMaggio's streak of hitting in 56 straight games is the most overrated feat in the history of professional sports.
What? Are you some sort of idiot? Have you ever watched a game? Do you know how hard it is to get a hit in just one game?
Our answers in order: DiMaggio's streak doesn't mean anything it's pure fluff. Sure it's entertaining to follow, but it doesn't mean diddly squat. In fact, inside, we'll list 10 more impressive streaks. And yes, we watch games, all the time, and yes we know it's hard to hit. Even in a high school game, it's hard to get a hit in four straight games.
Doesn't mean much. What's wrong with you? This is the most unbreakable record in sports.
First off, we'd say Cy Young's 511 wins are more unbreakable, considering Walter Johnson is second on the list and almost a full 100 wins behind. However, we get your point. And if you want to find out the madness behind this logic, read on.
First, let's take a breather.
Here's what we admit.
- DiMaggio's streak is impressive. It's up there with Rickey Henderson's stolen base record, Frank Robinson's milestone of being the only player to win the MVP in both leagues and Nolan Ryan's no-hit record.
- We agree, it's a mark that will probably never be broken. Especially in today's media culture. No player will get past 36 without feeling more pressure than a presidential candidate.
- Joe DiMaggio is one of the 10 most iconic players of all time, and one of the 15 best to ever play the game. You can argue about where he belongs on that list, but you can't argue that he doesn't belong. For a guy who hit 361 homers while striking out just 369 times, who started his career with seven straight seasons of at least 110 runs batted in, who batted .325 for his career, he must be in that list.
Still, however, the streak's importance is way overblown.
The reason it is important is that it obliterated the previous record that had been held by Wee Willie Keeler and that it was set during one of the greatest seasons in history.
As for comparing it to Keeler's mark, it's very impressive how DiMaggio destroyed the previous record. Going into 1941, the mark stood at 44 and was thought to be unbreakable. When DiMaggio was through, he increased the mark by almost 25 percent.
Now, for the 1941 season, which saw the streak and Ted Williams bat .406. DiMaggio's team won the series that season and he won the MVP. Both accomplishments captured the heart of the country.
But it's funny to find out that DiMaggio went 91-for-223 - a .408 batting average.
Williams, however, during the same period, had a .412 batting average
And this is where the trouble begins for the idea that DiMaggio's streak is the all-time greatest in the sport.
Here are three problems with the hitting streak.
It doesn't mean anything other than a player got a hit. Theoretically a player could bat .230 during a 56-game hitting streak. He could go 1-for-4 or 1-for-5 during the entire thing. Sure, that's unlikely to happen, but while DiMaggio's streak accounts for a third of the season, a player could still not have a strong season despite having a 56-game streak, even if he hits very well during that time. What if a player bats .409 during those 223 at-bats but hits a respectable .280 in 350 at-bats?
That would give him a total of 573 at-bats, a usual amount for a starting player. That player would have batted .328 for the season, which is great, but probably won't even net the player a batting title.
Now, more importantly, the streak has no effect on a team, other than an individual player's statistics. And this doesn't even include runs being scored. This is one runner reaching base one time.
This is why we put more stock in streaks, with two exceptions, that put people in a position to win games.
As promised here are the streaks that The Southpaw finds much more impressive than 56-straight games with a hit.
10. Hank Aaron's 20 straight seasons with 20 home runs
Another of the sport's unbreakable marks. What's important is without this streak, Aaron probably never breaks the Babe's record. Like Hershiser, Aaron played in baseball's most competitive era.
9. Eight straight games with a home run.
This feat was accomplished by three players: Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr. Like Gehrig's streak, there's no guarantee you'll get a win, but you're at least getting a run.
8. Johnny Vander meer's back-to-back no-nos
This has a high freak quotient. So it could be higher, because it's inconceivable to think a pitcher can accomplish this.
7. Joe Sewell going 115 games without a strikeout.
This is absolutely insane. It has the random quotient and it doesn't mean a team is going to win, so it's lower on this list than it could be. But think about what can go wrong that would lead to a whiff. And that's what makes this streak impressive.
A long at-bat. A bad call. A bad day. And the streak ends. But Sewell, who struck out just 114 times in his Hall of Fame career, didn't go down on strikes for 115 games. To put that in perspective, David Wright hasn't had three games in a row without a strikeout this season. And he's batting .315.
6. Mariano Rivera's consecutive-scoreless innings in postseason play
If a starter, who had to go through a lineup more than once, held this record it would be No. 1. This mark was recorded on baseball's highest stage, so it still holds a ton of weight.
5. Ray Grimes 17 straight games with a run batted in.
Who's Ray Grimes, you ask. No he's not Homer Simpson's co-worker. That's Frank Grimes. But they have something in common. Both are dead. Grimes was a Chicago Cub, who set the mark in 1922.
4. Carl Hubbell's 24 -straight wins.
The Hall of Famer was on. Absolutely on. He won 24 games in a row from midseason 1936 to July 1937. In 1936 he was the unanimous choice for MVP.
3. Lou Gehrig's 2,131 consecutive games played
The Iron Horse's streak came at a time when there was no medical care for players, there was no protective gadgets like elbow pads. The team traveled by train. It's just an insane streak.
2. Cal Ripken's 2,632 mark
Sure, it's no lock that the team is going to win a majority of those games, but if you're playing for that long, you're doing something right. And Ripken did it in an era of cross- country trips, with night games, and how many games were played on Astroturf? It's also more than 500 games longer than Gehrig's streak.
1. Orel Hershiser's 59 consecutive scoreless innings
If you pitch and the other team doesn't score, you don't lose. Simple as that.
I definitely agree with Hershiser being No. 1 on that list. As amazing as Zack Greinke's start was, he was still 21 innings, or about three games, away from catching Hershiser.
Another one to consider, albeit a bit more obscure ... Greg Minton's modern mark of 269 innings pitched without allowing a home run. The Giants closer went from his first game of 1979 through May 1, 1982, a span of 178 games before the Mets' John Stearns took him deep (Minton still got the save in that game). The relatively forgotten reliever allowed just 43 long balls over his 16-year career.
The importance of DiMaggio's streak has never been based on what it meant in pure baseball terms. It became important because of when it happened - or, rather, what would happen very, very shortly - after it took place.
Incredible article.
Great article Pat. The celebrity status that DiMaggio carries has definitely boosted his streaks attention.
Cy Young's win total will never be touched. Greg Maddux, arguably the best pitcher of our era is over 150 wins away.
Hey, Pat, nice stats on some impressive feats. Certainly these guys have stood out in the crowd. I wouldn't be so tough on DiMaggio though. While a 56 game hitting streak will not guarantee wins or even an impressive batting average, it can do so much to help the team, the fans, and the sport itself. Remember in the movie "Invincible" when Vince's Dad tells him about an Eagles' moment that helped him get through many tough time times in his life? There are a lot of people like that. 56 games is a long time and think of how excited people would get as the player edged closer. It would be an exciing time for the sport that would linger each day that it stays alive. Maybe I'm a loosing it as I get older but I think sometimes that the Game is more than just a game!
Everybody who's responded has good points. It's definitely something DiMaggio should have been proud of. And it's something to marvel. I always found it interesting that DiMaggio, who was known as such a team player, became famous for a streak that is so player-centric. It would have fit Williams more.
I agree DiMaggio's record is breakable. Most if not all records are, unless something drastic in the game changes. Like Cy Youngs 749 complete games. I'm 42 and in those years the closest pitcher in my lifetime was Gaylord Perry with about 300. Randy Johnson age 45 now has the most 100. Think of it. Also 511 wins. Almost impossible in todays baseball world. You would have to win 20 games for 25 years and still be short. Sam Crawford 312 triples (the game has changed since he played. He would have been a great home run hitter now a days). It still is possible to beat, but very hard. I won't mention the odd once in a lifetime thing like two grandslams in a row. Just bad pitching with a little luck. Johnson's 110 Shutouts another hard one, but Sutton Seaver and several others got up to 55-60 range. Ok I think DiMaggio's record will be very hard. When Pete Rose got close to the old NL record of 44 the pressure caused him to end his streak. So now - Records that will never be broke. 1. Cy Young 749 complete games. 2. Joe Sewell several records. over 7,000 at bats and 114 total strikeouts in 14 years, and 4 strike outs one season with 608 at bats, and no strikeouts in 115 games - That guy must have had some damn good eyes and reflexes. 3. Ty Cobb the .367 batting avg. great! But if baseball changes rules and along comes a baseball god it is possible to be break but I doubt. I think more impressive is Cobb's stealing home 54 times. Ball players don't have the guts or balls to try that. Just my opinion. The ones you listed are very good though. None will be easy. However Sewell and Young have a record or two that Jesus would have a hard time breaking.