Tougher Dimaggios 56 game hitting streak or Teds .406????

onebamafan · May 8, 2011 11:43PM

After watching Baseballs golden age last night, i started thinking, mmmmmmmmm, which would would be tougher? Neither has been broken or even seriously challenged in the previous 69 years. The show seemed to lean toward Dimaggio, because he had to get 1 hit every game during the streak, but, to hit .400 for a whole season, wow! The writers voted Dimaggio the MVP because there had been a .400 hitter eleven years previous and some before that. I am still undecided, what do you guys think?

Morgoth · May 8, 2011 11:52PM

I think hitting .406 or higher is almost impossible today with all the specialist pitchers out there. The players who hit .400 mostly did it against starting pitchers and not against 1 batter speicialists, relievers who throw 105 MPH etc.

The 56 hitting streak has been approached and I think someone can do it as its still only 1/3 of the season in length while hitting .400+ will require intense concentration all season long.

Can you imagine a player going (Brett and Gwynn both I believe were at close to .400 in the last month) into a final week of the season hitting over .400 and what the media scrutiny would be like. I am 100% sure that ESPN would show every AB.

bobbyw8469 · May 9, 2011 12:56AM

Both records are pretty mind boggling. However, near the end of Ted's magical season, the manager wanted to sit him the final game, and Ted said "No". That speaks volumes to me! Rather than just sit and rest, he put the average at risk. I believe near the end of Joe's streak, I believe there was some controversy over whether it was a "hit" or not. I don't know the entire story right off the top of my head....

akuracy503 · May 9, 2011 1:02AM

I think the hit streak is more difficult, there is less room for error.

mlbfan2 · May 9, 2011 1:17AM

In the past 30 years, there have been at least 4 players that hit .400+ over 162 games, over two seasons. But, no one has been close to Dimaggio's streak.

onebamafan · May 9, 2011 1:53AM

<< Both records are pretty mind boggling. However, near the end of Ted's magical season, the manager wanted to sit him the final game, and Ted said "No". That speaks volumes to me! Rather than just sit and rest, he put the average at risk. I believe near the end of Joe's streak, I believe there was some controversy over whether it was a "hit" or not. I don't know the entire story right off the top of my head.... >>

I think that is right, Williams was 6 for 8 and and i think it was a doubleheader.................you gotta love that!

jeffcbay · May 9, 2011 1:58AM

I think 56 is tougher.

hhmag70 · May 9, 2011 2:03AM

<< 

<< Both records are pretty mind boggling. However, near the end of Ted's magical season, the manager wanted to sit him the final game, and Ted said "No". That speaks volumes to me! Rather than just sit and rest, he put the average at risk. I believe near the end of Joe's streak, I believe there was some controversy over whether it was a "hit" or not. I don't know the entire story right off the top of my head.... >>

I think that is right, Williams was 6 for 8 and and i think it was a doubleheader.................you gotta love that! >>

In that program that aired it does mention Williams saying years later that if at the time he had realized exactly what was on the line he more than likely would have sat out the last day. At the time he thought batting .400 was not as big or as hard an accomplishment as what it was.

WalterSobchak · May 9, 2011 2:08AM

I believe .400 is more likely to happen again than hitting in 56 consecutive games.

mikeschmidt · May 9, 2011 2:16AM

56 is statistically tougher.

We had .394 in as recently as 1994, which can be significantly within the ballpark of .406. There has only been one ballplayer with even a 40 game hitting streak in the last 85 years.

No contest here.

mikeschmidt · May 9, 2011 2:17AM

shagrotn77 · May 9, 2011 2:18AM

This may not make sense, but I think the streak is more difficult and .406 is more impressive.

saucywombat · May 9, 2011 2:20AM

56 I would think is tougher, though even DiMaggio with that crazy consistency wasn't sniffing .406

Both are outstanding achievements, if I had to have one on my baseball team I'd probably take the guy hitting .400 over the guy capable of stringing together a long streak.

PowderedH2O · May 9, 2011 2:41AM

To me, the even more impressive thing with Dimaggio's streak is that when it ended he had another 16 game streak right away. 72 of 73 games. Almost half a season. Good grief!

VitoCo1972 · May 9, 2011 2:43AM

I think both are extremely difficult but someone at some point will get to or close to both. Orel's 59 consecutive scoreless streak is close and possibly even tougher. It doesn't get thought of that way because it was only 23 years ago but to me, that is right there with Ted and Joe D.

Sportsamerica · May 9, 2011 3:15AM

I don't think we will se the 56 again... .400 -- We will see this again, like earlier this has gotten closers then the 56 games.

59 Scoreless streak -- won't be seen in my lifetime...

Don't forgot about Ryans no hitters... Today's pitchers don't last past the 6th anymore.. This is will not be reached..

jeffcbay · May 9, 2011 3:19AM

So where does Cal's 2,632 games compare to Ted and Joe's record? Who's record would likely be broken first?

If you want to talk about records that are completely impossible to break, the #1 record would be Cy Young's 511 career wins. Hands down, impossible to achieve again.

sportscardtheory · May 9, 2011 3:35AM

This is the second time I have seen someone reference .406 as if it is a record.

mlbfan2 · May 9, 2011 3:42AM

<< So where does Cal's 2,632 games compare to Ted and Joe's record? Who's record would likely be broken first?

If you want to talk about records that are completely impossible to break, the #1 record would be Cy Young's 511 career wins. Hands down, impossible to achieve again. >>

It's breakable. 5-man rotations probably won't be around forever. With advance in medicine, who knows, pitchers could pitch until they're 60 (Jamie Moyer is 47, and plans on pitching again). Pitching for 30 years and winning 17.1 games/season (513 wins) doesn't sound impossible to me.

How about an ambidextrous pitcher that can pitch every other day?

I wouldn't bet that it'll be broken in my lifetime, but forever is a looooong time.

VitoCo1972 · May 9, 2011 3:43AM

<< This is the second time I have seen someone reference .406 as if it is a record. >>

While technically not a "record", nobody has hit .400 in 70 years so I don't think anyone is getting close to Lajoie's .426 or Duffy's .440.

shagrotn77 · May 9, 2011 4:14AM

Sorry dude, nobody will ever even approach Cy Young's 511 wins. It's as safe a record as can be. Just like Johnny VanderMeer's consecutive no-hitters. In order to 'break' that record, a pitcher would have to hurl three no-no's in a row!

jimrad · May 9, 2011 4:22AM

The 56 and .406 will both be broken some day - but no one will ever beat the Ovechtrick !

Stone193 · May 9, 2011 4:22AM

The 56 IMO.

Not only statistically challenging - but in this day - if a pitcher(s) in a game chooses - they can freeze you out and not pitch to ya.

mlbfan2 · May 9, 2011 5:45AM

<< Sorry dude, nobody will ever even approach Cy Young's 511 wins. It's as safe a record as can be. >>

Just your opinion, of course. They said the same thing about Gehrig's streak back in the day.

By the way, if you say that a record is unbreakable, you have no chance of ever being right, but you could possibly be wrong.

fiveniner · May 9, 2011 6:02AM

fkw · May 9, 2011 8:00AM

the 56 games is Much Tougher IMO,
...its just too easy to go 0-2 with 2 WALKS.... especially if your a great hitter who would get Walked alot if he was so Hot to hit in 56 in a row!

(ie Bonds, Brett, Carew, LWalker, Gwynn, etc.)........ the last few to come close to .400, with Gwynn only 6 points away 16 years ago (.394).

PS...
512 wins in MLB is IMPOSSIBLE now! (averaging 25 wins for over 20 seasons)
and Ripkens streak of showing up for work is not nearly as impressive as any stat involving throwing a ball, catching a ball, or swinging a bat.

Nathaniel1960 · May 9, 2011 8:17AM

Hit streak would become unbearable pressure after 40 games. Hitting .400 is fun until September, but you don't HAVE TO get a hit every night.

CollectorAtWork · May 9, 2011 8:25AM

I think 56 is much tougher. I think we saw this with Vlad a few years ago when he was on a hit streak late in the year, and teams started walking him. He would only get one real AB, and you can really start pressing because you fear you might get walked the rest of the game. On the flip side, I think intentional (or non-intentional intentional) walks would not have an effect or even possibly help the .400 batter because they reduce the total number of AB's, and you can be more selective. See Bonds during his heyday when he hit .370 and .362 with huge amounts of walks.

mexpo75 · May 9, 2011 8:30AM

Even Wilbur Wood pitching both games of doubleheaders would NEVER even come within 250 wins of Cy Young.

mlbfan2 · May 9, 2011 8:40AM

<< Even Wilbur Wood pitching both games of doubleheaders would NEVER even come within 250 wins of Cy Young. >>

He only started both ends of a doubleheader one time.

Mickey71 · May 9, 2011 8:51AM

56 games. I could make sure he doesn't get a hit....they issue you a few walks. Streak over. In some games you will get 1 AB because of the walks.

HeritageAddict · May 9, 2011 8:55AM

I think the 56 game hitting streak is much more difficult, mainly because a lot more luck is involved with it. A .400+ average is a much more impressive feat in my mind.

mexpo75 · May 9, 2011 9:09AM

I do know Wilbur only start the double header one time.

Tabe · May 9, 2011 9:12AM

The streak is definitely harder. With a hitting streak, you can't ever have an off-day. And you have to get hits early since you're going to get walked late if you're a star hitter at all. To hit .400, you can have bad games, but a great game offsets them. 0-for-5 is no big deal if you go 3-for-5 the next two days.

Tabe

Tougher Dimaggios 56 game hitting streak or Teds .406????

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