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Last Updated: Aug 22, 2008 - 12:10:50 AM |
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When the Yankees Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single season home run record on October 1, 1961 by hitting his 61st round tripper of the season, a reporter overheard Yogi Berra talking to Maris. “Congratulations!” Yogi beamed, “I knew that record would stand until it was broken.”
Since that memorable occasion 47 years ago, several of Major League Baseballs’ single season and career records have been broken, some more than once. Barry Bonds (season, career home runs), Pete Rose (career hits), Ricky Henderson (season, career stolen bases, career runs scored), Cal Ripken Jr. (consecutive games played) to name just a few, have all broken records that were once thought to be nearly unassailable. Few if any records ultimately withstand the test of time, but I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the records that in my view are the “most unbreakable”. This is my list of records that when viewed in comparison to the stats of any active player, would stand closest to being unreachable, at least by any current player.
1. Cy Young, pitcher, 511 career wins. The current active leader is the Padres Greg Maddux at 353. The 42 year old Maddux, who has averaged 16 wins per year over his 23 Major League seasons would have to win 16 per year for the next 16 years just to equal Young.
2. Ty Cobb, outfielder, .366 lifetime batting average. The current active player with the highest career batting average is the Cardinals Albert Pujols who ranks only 27th on the all-time list with a .333 average. The highest career average by any players to have played since World War II is Ted Williams’ .344 and Tony Gwynn’s .338.
3. Cal Ripken, infielder, 2,632 consecutive games played. The current active leader is the Phillies Ryan Howard with 232, putting him on pace to pass Cal Ripkin Jr. in May 2023. This would seem to be practically untouchable.
4. Johnny Vander Meer, pitcher, consecutive no-hitters. On June 11, 1938, the Reds Vander Meer threw a no-hitter at home against the Boston Braves, followed by a no-hitter in his next start against the Brooklyn Dodgers on the road on June 15. To pass Vander Merr in the record books would take three in a row. Anyone think that’s probable?
5. Pete Rose, infielder, 4,256 career hits. The closest active player under the age of 35 is the Yankees Derek Jeter with 2,482 career hits. Jeter, who has averaged 177 hits per year in his 13 plus Major League seasons, would have to average 207 hits per year for the next 8.5 seasons to equal Rose.
Though no record in any sport is unbreakable, these five Major League Baseball records would seem to have the best chance to remain as such in our lifetimes, leaving the chase for baseball immortality to future generations of big league stars.
Our question of the week comes from Bob in Cedar Rapids. “In a minor league game I was watching some time ago, with one out and a runner on third, the team at bat looked to be attempting a suicide squeeze. As the ball was being pitched to the plate, the catcher, who had noticed the runner advancing to home, stepped in front of the plate, caught the ball and threw to the third baseman, who then threw the ball back to the catcher who tagged the runner sliding into home. Is the runner out?”
No, the run would count. Rule 7.07 states “If with a runner on third base and trying to score on a squeeze play or a steal, the catcher or any other fielder steps on or in front of home base without possession of the ball, or touches the batter or his bat, the pitcher shall be charged with a balk, the batter shall be awarded first base on the interference and the ball is dead.” A balk entitles all runners to advance one base, therefore the runner from third scores.
Send your questions to ref@eiherald.com or write to P.O. Box 336, Victor, IA, 52347.
© Copyright 2008 by The East Iowa Herald
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