70 years ago today: Joey D begins his streak

about 1 year ago Clutch16 13 comments 0 recs |

Comments

The most interesting thing about that game...

… was that the Yankees lost it 13-1.

The Yankees went 41-13 during DiMaggio’s streak. (Two games wound up as ties.) He was 91-for-223 and hit .408/.463/.717 with 15 HR and 55 RBI during the 56 games.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2011 3:48 PM CDT reply actions

And yet Ted Williams out hit him during that streak on his way to batting .406

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on May 16, 2011 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

True, but not by much.

During DiMaggio’s streak, Williams played in 54 games and hit .414/.542/.688 with 12 HR and 49 RBI. More walks, fewer HR.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on May 16, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

that anyone outhit DiMaggio over that 56 game stretch is remarkable, by how much is irrelevant

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on May 17, 2011 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions

And just think

He could have been a Cub.

RIP Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010) and Ron Santo (February 25, 1940-December 2, 2010).
If you disagree with me in any way, you are wrong.

by Ace Venom on May 15, 2011 8:17 PM CDT reply actions

For those who don’t know the story, the Cubs were scouting him and ready to sign him. He suffered a minor knee injury and that made the Cubs back off. The Yankees jumped in and… well, you know the rest.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on May 16, 2011 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions

As a side note, didn't Joe D go on a 16 game hitting streak immediately after the 56 game streak ended?

can you imagine if he got a hit in game 57? We might be talking about a 73 game hitting streak?

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on May 16, 2011 11:59 AM CDT reply actions

Moving his record from "untouchable" to "unbelievable"

It would ruin a lot of baseball writers’ jobs though – their standard “look at this streak – can he make it 30/40/45 games?” articles wouldn’t be the staple they are now.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on May 16, 2011 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions

It still isnt the safest record in MLB

Cy Young’s 511 wins (and for that matter his losses too) takes that prize.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on May 17, 2011 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, that's correct.

72 out of 73 games.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on May 16, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I think in the minors he had a hitting streak of around 70 IIRC

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on May 16, 2011 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Of all the amazing stats that he and Williams put up that year,

I think the most amazing is that Dimaggio only struck out 13 times all year. That is ureal, and it wasnt like he wasnt hitting for power he had 84 extra base hits.

I am a traveler of both time and space to be where I have been. Robert Plant 1975

by cmpody on May 16, 2011 9:33 PM CDT reply actions