Pillars of Dominance: The Best Of The Best From The Baseball Record Books

I am a baseball history buff as many know, and I know quite a bit about the game having played and coached, so I got to thinking about what are the most impressive records of all-time in the major leagues?

The records that make this list are records that cannot be inflated by the era in which the player played.  For example, home run records such as those by Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron are not in this group based on the various live and dead ball eras and the steroid era.  ERA records such as Bob Gibson's lowest season ERA of 1.12 are also not here due to live and dead ball eras.

Another feature of these records is that only one of them has anything to do with how long someone's career was.  The picture tells the story as to which one that might be.

The items in the list are not ranked as they are really not comparable at all.  They represent different types of feats.  Types of records are grouped together however.

TEAM RECORDS

Most wins in a single season - 116, by the 2001 Seattle Mariners

In 2001, the Mariners put together one of the greatest teams in baseball history, going an unfathomable 116-46 over a 162 game season.  The Mariners lost the AL Pennant that year to the Yankees, however, missing the franchise's best chance at making and winning a World Series.  The Cubs own the record for best winning percentage in a season however, but this day and age in baseball is significantly different.  The league now is a league of parity, and 116 wins completely obliterates parity in my opinion.

Most consecutive wins by a team - 26, by the 1916 New York Giants

In 1916, the Giants embarked upon a long journey that brought them into the record books of baseball.  The streak started on September 7 behind a dominant performance by Ferdie Schupp against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  After that game, the club was 60-62, 14 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.  The streak lasted all the way until September 30th, with the team going to 86-62, 5 games back.  Until the loss, they still had a chance at the playoffs, but the loss to Boston Braves finished them.

DEFENSIVE RECORDS

Most no hitters caught - 4, by Jason Varitek

The first of the individual records is the most near and dear to me.  Having been a catcher, the catcher takes more pride in the pitcher's performance than even the pitcher.  The catcher is the mastermind behind the shenanigans.  With Jon Lester's no hitters in May against the Kansas City Royals, Varitek had caught his fourth no-hitter as a major league player.  The funny thing about this one is that he caught each no-hitter from a different pitcher.  Varitek has caught no hitters from Lester, Clay Buchholz, Hideo Nomo, and Derek Lowe in his illustrious career.

Most consecutive chances at one position without an error - 2,002, by Kevin Youkilis (July 4, 2006 - June 8, 2008 at 1B)

First of all, Youkilis came through the minor leagues and through his collegiate career as a third baseman.  He had to learn to play the other side of the diamond.  Having done this, it is not an easy transition.  Third base is completely reaction; first base is a lot different in that you are somehow involved or are in motion on nearly every play.  There are so many chances to make errors, yet often times teams put their stiff there.  Youkilis is the exception.  This streak came to an end on a fairly routine play, but came to an end based on the aggressiveness of Youkilis.  A ball between first and second, he attempted to make a stab at it until he realized that Alex Cora could field the ball.  In his mad scamper to first base, the ball hit his glove and popped off, and thus ends the errorless streak on the 2,003 chance.

Most consecutive games by an infielder without an error - 149, by Placido Polanco (2006-2007)

This record deserves some qualification.  As it is written, Steve Garvey holds the record at 193 while playing first base from 1983-1985, but I have chosen to remove first basemen from consideration due to the fact that they very rarely have to throw the ball.  The other infielders have more complicated tasks to handle.  The streak ended twice actually.  The streak ended for the first time on August 25th, 2007 as Polanco committed an error in the first inning at Yankee Stadium.  The play was overturned later on in the week for a hit.  Polanco played two more games before committing his first error in over one full season at second base.

BASERUNNING

Most stolen bases in a season - 130, by Rickey Henderson in 1989.

Rickey will go into the Hall of Fame next year based in large part upon his capacity for larceny.  Consider that if Henderson played every game that year, this means that he stole roughly .85 bases per game.  Think of the impact of this type of accomplishment:  130 singles becoming doubles, getting a man to scoring position, or 65 singles becoming triples by stealing two bases, making an out score a run, or some combination of those.  Even half of this number would be considered fantastic.

BATTING

Career batting average - .367, by Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb may have been the most ornery player in the big leagues during his time.  No one liked him, but everyone could respect how he wielded his lumber.  Consider this:  Ty Cobb's career batting average was surpassed by the NL batting champ 26 times in the World Series era, and 25 times by the AL batting champ (when Cobb didn't win it).  These numbers reflect one season, not a massive career like that of Cobb's.

Most consecutive games with a hit - 56, by Joe DiMaggio

Everyone who has ever played the game has heard of this one.  It requires no explanation.  The closest anyone has come to this since it happened was 44, by Pete Rose.

PITCHING

Career no hitters - 7, by Nolan Ryan

Like the DiMaggio hit streak, everyone knows about this one.  It requires no explanation.  There have been 247 individual no hitters in ML History, and Ryan has 7 of them.  This feet can only be rivaled by Johnny Vander Meer throwing consecutive no hitters back on June 11 and June 15, 1938.

Most consecutive hitters retired - 41, by Jim Barr and by Bobby Jenks

Jim Barr pulled this trick as a starter without throwing a no-hitter.  He finished one game on a tear, and started a second on a tear.  Jenks is a reliever and did this very recently.  To put this in perspective, the number of batters represents 1.5 perfect games.  Jenks had 14 consecutive perfect appearances to record this number, going 27 calendar days without allowing a hit, giving up a walk, hitting a batter, or having an error committed behind him.

Most consecutive scoreless innings - 59, by Orel Hershiser

Let's put this in perspective:  if this were done in complete games, Hershiser would have thrown 6.5 complete games without giving up a run consecutively.  This is insane.  While he did play for the Dodgers at the time (pitcher friendly venue), this record is still massively impressive.  When we talk longevity of dominance pitching records, the only thing I can compare this to is the 2000 season by Pedro Martinez in Boston (what I would call the best season ever), going 18-6, with an ERA of 1.74 (compared to the league park-adjusted ERA of 5.07) and a WHIP of .737.

LONGEVITY

Most consecutive games started and played - 2,632, by Cal Ripken, Jr.

What is most impressive about this streak is that Ripken played every single day for over 16 years.  Ripken on numerous occasions was banged up, but he never sat.  Absolutely the ultimate gamer without question or debate.  The sheer enormity of that number is ridiculous.  Ripken played more consecutive games than Youkilis had consecutive chances without an error.  This record implies that Ripken was good enough to stay in the lineup that long as well.

So there you have it.  The list of what I see as the most impressive baseball records of all time that would stand up for any era of play.  The beauty of this is that they are capable of being repeated.

To all challengers:  good luck.  You have a mountain ahead of you!