by Doug Weir

Created on: April 26, 2010   Last Updated: April 28, 2010

     There is no doubt, in my mind, that Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak is by far the hardest record to break in Major League Baseball. Many 20 years ago, may have said Babe Ruth's home run record, this of course before the steroid era really hit. The other most people would argue is ted Williams hit .406for a season. While thi is a fantastic batting average for a season it definitely is not an untouchable one. Many players have flirted with hitting .400. Tony Gwynn made a run at it a few time, George Brett came the closest in recent years hitting .390 and recent players such as Ichiro have made runs at this record as well, it is just a matter of time before someone hits that number again. Joe's streak began on May 15th of 1941 and did not end until July 17th of 1941, over four months the streak lasted. Pete Rose has come the closest with a 44 game hitting streak and Paul Moliter once hit for 39 straight.

     Hitting safely in 56 straight games is the hardest thing to do in baseball for a number of reasons. The first and major reason is longevity, its hard enough for players in baseball today to play 56 game in a row, with coach's giving them a day of "rest" or the day off players hardly play that many games in a row, and while you could say that the streak doesn't end until they come back and don't get a hit, Joe did the old fashioned way, he played in 56 straight games and he hit in 56 straight games.

     The second reason is because of pitching, today's pitchers are so good that hitters can have a tough time getting a single hit off a pitcher all year, today's pitching is also designed for specific situations, such as getting one batter out. the pitchers throw harder, with more control, and more velocity as a whole than we have ever seen in baseball. The third is the competitiveness of these pitchers. When Barry Bonds was on his home run pace he could go 0-1 with four walks because nobody wanted to be part of the memorable home run season. Today's pitchers don't want to be known as "the guy who gave up the 56th game in a row hit".

     The last reason it will never be broken is just the shear greatness it will take, many call Ted Williams the greatest hitter to ever play and he obviously never broke it. Ted Williams was never able to amass a streak of more than 30.  I mentioned earlier that Rose is the closest to breaking the record since Joltin Joe did it in 1941, the difference is the greatness. Over his streak Joe hit .409 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. In the streak by Rose he had no home runs and only 11 RBIs. The year Joe did this was also the year Ted hit .406, and as great as that was it was overshadowed by the streak, the streak had gained recognition all over the world. Also while doing this he earned the MVP for the A.L. and he did all this while playing for the New York Yankees and the pressures that come along with it, and he played it all out with the dignity to the game of baseball, and that is why it is the most unlikely record to ever have broken in Major League Baseball.

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