The Unbreakable Record

Ryan Ritchey (Lead Analyst): @BaseballAddicts

Credit: New York Daily News
Looking back at some of the record in Major League Baseball, the one that pops
in your head first has to be the hit streak. The 56 game hit streak by Joe DiMaggio
back in 1941 stills stands today. Will it ever be broken?  

Every year someone asks if any of the single season records will be broken. Some even ask if some of the all-time records could be broken this season. Not only do they ask but they predict, as we all do. Everyone predicts who's going to win each division and then the World Series. You never hear anyone put a name on who is going to break the all-time hit streak record of 56 set by Joe DiMaggio though do you?
You never know who is going to go on that hot streak in the middle of May through June and hopefully into July to make a run at DiMaggio's record, you just hope someone gives it a shot. This year is no different. As I sit here on July 1st we have a 27 game hit streak by Michael Cuddyer of the Colorado Rockies. If he gets a hit today, he will be half way to DiMaggio's record of 56 and a spot in the history books forever. Will he break it?

In the past ten years the closest to get to DiMaggio's record was Jimmy Rollins in 2005-2006 when he hit safely in 38 consecutive games between the two seasons. That is still 18 games away from tying the all-time record. The closest anyone has gotten since 1941 is the hit king Pete Rose who hit safely in 44 in a row. That is why I don't believe the record will be broken. If the all-time hit king can't do it, I don't think anyone can. The last guy to hit .400, Ted Williams, never had a hit streak hit 30. There is no doubt in my mind that this record will stay in the record books forever. With the match-ups that teams have now, bringing in a new pitcher every inning after the sixth, the hitters have a harder time getting a hit in every game. 

As you  look at some of the other records in Major League Baseball like Cal Ripken Jr's most consecutive games played record, that will most likely not be broken either because of giving guys days off now. The hit record of 4,256, is a tough one as you have to have 200 hits in over 23 seasons to break it. In my opinion the hit streak is the most unbreakable record in all of sports because you have to get a base hit in 57 consecutive games. We may have someone 10 years from now have a hit in 50 consecutive but no one will ever have a hit in 57 consecutive games.  

Credit: Heritage Baseball
Joe DiMaggio breaking through the 56 banner after the streak had ended

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of deucesgonewild.com ***

This article was written by our lead analyst Ryan Ritchey. Ryan is a sophomore at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Ryan is a huge baseball fan and has been writing about baseball since his sophomore year high school. His all-time favorite player is Barry Larkin and after he graduates he wants to be a broadcaster or beat writer for a professional baseball team.