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An interesting poll question this week on HOFN.com asks which MLB record will never be broken? Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games-played. Pete Rose’s 4,256 hits. Nolan Ryan’s 7 no-hitters. Cy Young’s 511 wins.
Despite the saying “records are meant to be broken,” I think all will stand the test of time. The game has changed too much for these records to be threatened. However, to play the ranking-game, here’s how I’d list the chances of them falling – with the least likely to be broken ranked #1.
5. DiMaggio’s 56: Of the five records, this could be in most jeopardy…someday. In recent years (1978), Pete Rose made it to 44-games. In 1987, Paul Molitor got stopped after 39. So while I think this record is safe, I would never say never.
4. Rose’s 4,256 hits: This record will not be broken in my lifetime, but who knows what the future could bring. Maybe there’s a Roy Hobbs out there in high school who will keep away from that enticing woman and soon make his mark in MLB. However, the young Mr. Hobbs better be more durable than today’s player, as it would take 213 hits per season for 20-years to overtake Pete.
3. Ryan’s 7 no-hitters: Not a chance. However, the next two records are even less likely to fall in my book, so Nolan gets the number 3 spot. Did you know he also threw 12 1-hitters and 18 2-hitters? And he never won a Cy Young award! Figure that one out. Nolan, your record is safe.
2. Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive games played: Can you imagine a MLB player going 16+ years without missing a game? First, try to get one to play 162 consecutive games. Many baseball experts were proven wrong when they said Gehrig’s 2,130 game streak would never be broken, but they broke the mold after Ripken, so this record will last forever.
1. Cy Young’s 511 wins: When hell freezes over. It boggles my mind every time I read Young’s stats. He also holds the record for innings pitched (7,355), games started (815), and complete games (749). He pitched for 22-years, so you do the math. I guarantee you’ll be amazed by the numbers per season. To break this record, all a pitcher need do is average 20.5 wins per year for 25-years. Never! Never! Never!
Is there an argument which record is #1? I think not.
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Cy Young for sure… but Ryan’s record isn’t far behind.
Comment by mrMet — September 28, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
WIth complete games rarities, and bullpens by committees, Cy Young’s records are forever safe.
Comment by Bostonian — September 29, 2008 @ 7:37 am
Hey Bostonian …. not to mention 5-man rotations. Young averaged 37 starts per season, and that includes his rookie year and last couple of seasons…
Comment by Manny — September 29, 2008 @ 9:08 am
I doubt any will ever be broken, but if I had to rank them, yes I’d say Cy Young would be least likely.
Comment by baseballGuy — September 29, 2008 @ 11:35 am
26 World Series Championships in the same Century……Yankees record will stand for all time…….Holy Cow you huckleberry
Comment by Scooter in Heaven — October 1, 2008 @ 7:12 am
Sounds like Scooter has a little anger problem. Have fun watching the playoffs this year.
Comment by Bostonian — October 1, 2008 @ 7:18 am
Bostonian: How do you get Anger out of that statement…..maybe Bostonian has an inferiority complex……cheesh, try and relax a little……will anybody match UCLA’s 11 in 13 years? Or Auerbach’s record? of course not…. similarly .no one will match 26 WS in a century……typical of Bostonian to turn something into a NY-Boston discussion…world does not revolve around NY and Boston……and for the record, I’m a Twins fan
Comment by Scooter in Heaven — October 2, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
It certainly doesn’t revolve around the Twin Cities!
Comment by mrMet — October 5, 2008 @ 8:51 am
And excepting the US Tennis Open it doesn’t revolved around Flushing Meadows either…..
Comment by Scooter in Heaven — October 6, 2008 @ 7:04 pm