The Most Impressive Rookie Sports Streaks in Recent History
Like being a freshman in high school or college, a rookie in pro sports is on the low end of the totem pole, being hazed and playfully joked with by older teammates.
Assigned to pick up donuts, dress in awkward costumes and pay their dues, rooks can have a tough time adjusting to the pro game.
Some first-year players find it a little less difficult, though, as a few have burst onto the scene and have helped establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Sure, they might not all last over the long haul, but, in some cases, these rookies have done some of the most impressive things ever in their sports, breaking records and streaks that are usually reserved for all-time greats.
To show some love for these rookies, I've decided to give you the most impressive streaks ever seen by the young ones, showing that they, too, have some serious game.
10. 30 Straight for Nomar Garciaparra
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For nearly a decade, former shortstop Nomar Garciaparra epitomized what a Boston Red Sox player was supposed to be.
Gritty, talented and, back then, a lovable loser in attempts to break the Curse of the Bambino, Garciaparra was a fan favorite after making five All-Star Games and finishing in the top 10 in AL MVP voting five times.
One of his greatest feats, though, came in his very first year with the team in 1997 when he hit in 30 straight games, proving early on that he had quite the eye when in the batter's box.
Going on to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award that season, the 30-game hit streak no doubt helped his cause.
9. Evgeni Malkin Lights It Up
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Selected No. 2 overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL draft, Evgeni Malkin has had a pretty decent career in his decade in the league thanks to a few All-Star nods, a Conn Smythe and Hart Memorial Trophy apiece and, more importantly, a Stanley Cup championship ring on his finger.
And although Malkin didn't enter the league as much of an acclaimed goal scorer as the man taken in front of him, Alex Ovechkin, it was Malkin who made headlines during his rookie campaign of 2006-07.
That's because Malkin tied an NHL rookie record that was first set in the inaugural NHL season in 1917-18 by scoring goals in each of his first six games.
The Russian may be better known as a playmaker, but he proved as a rookie that he knows how to get hot when it comes to putting the puck in the net, too.
8. Jose Abreu Knows How to Rake
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I mentioned former MLB All-Star Nomar Garciaparra earlier, who hit for a 30-game hit streak in his rookie campaign, but Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu might have even outdone him.
That's because last year, the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year became just the second first-year player to record two 18-game hit streaks, joining one of the best hitters ever, Ichiro Suzuki, who did so in 2001.
With a batting average of .338, eight homers and 18 RBI during the run, Abreu proved that he has the makeup of a star in the making.
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7. Jairus Byrd Plucks Footballs
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When a guy plays safety, there are two things that he should know how to do really well—tackle and have the instinct to intercept passes.
Lucky for former Buffalo Bills player Jairus Byrd, he did both pretty well when he first came into the league out of Oregon in 2009, as he tied an NFL record by having at least two interceptions in three consecutive games, which was first set in 1960.
Just one turnover can change the entire outcome of a game, so seeing Byrd give his Bills offense two extra possessions had to be a welcome sight for his teammates—even if the offense wasted the extra opportunities as the team sputtered to a 6-10 record in Byrd's rookie campaign.
6. Joc Pederson Hits a Homer in Five Straight Games
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Not only have the Los Angeles Dodgers gotten off to a strong start, currently sitting in first place in the NL West, but one of their best players has emerged early this year, too—and he happens to be a rookie.
Blasting a homer in five straight games to tie the MLB rookie record, Pederson was close to getting his sixth straight, but the ball he launched hit of the "375" sign, which was the closest he got to extending the impressive feat.
While the MLB record is at eight straight games—with one of the three players holding it being Dodgers manager Don Mattingly—Pederson's power surge is nothing to turn a blind eye to.
5. Odell Beckham Gets His
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If there's one thing football fans discovered last season, it was that New York Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is pretty damn good.
Want to know how we know that? Well, just look at all the records that he had during his first season.
In addition to setting both team and league records, one of the more impressive streaks that this year's Madden cover boy had was his four consecutive games with at least 130 yards receiving and one touchdown—he's the only player in NFL history to do so.
Still just 22 years old, I have a feeling OBJ will have plenty of other streaks and records before all is said and done.
4. Brad Ziegler Keeps 'Em from Crossing Home Plate
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There aren't too many people who expect a 20th-round selection in the MLB draft to start his career as amazingly as Brad Ziegler did.
Breaking into the majors at 28 years old with the Oakland A's, the submarine-throwing reliever still holds the record for consecutive scoreless innings by a pitcher to start a career, 39 innings.
Surpassing the old MLB record holder, George McQuillan—who set the record in 1907 at 25—Ziegler may not see his current record break for a long, long time.
3. Nathan MacKinnon Breaks 34-Year-Old Streak Held by 'The Great One'
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Still just 19 years old, former No. 1 overall pick Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche has shown that he has some tremendous upside.
In addition to winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2014, MacKinnon passed the greatest hockey player ever, Wayne Gretzky, by earning at least one point in 13 consecutive games at just 18 years old, which "The Great One" held for 34 years.
Recording a point in 13 straight games is impressive enough, but doing it while still in your teens is even more ridiculous. Talk about an easy adjustment to the pro game, huh?
2. Allen Iverson Overtakes Wilt
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For those who might not have had the privilege of seeing former guard Allen Iverson play hoops during his prime, you more than missed out on seeing one of the best, pound-for-pound, players in league history.
Taken No. 1 overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Iverson was a bad, bad man on the floor, capable of torching opponents with his ball-handling and scoring—just ask Michael Jordan about it.
Playing with reckless abandonment for a guy his size, A.I. had an innate skill at getting to the basket and dropping in points, which he proved early on in his NBA career when he scored a league-record 40 points in five straight games, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain as the only rookie to achieve such a feat.
Seeing as how Iverson finished in the top five in scoring average eight times during his 14-year career, maybe we shouldn't be that shocked that he owns such a record.
1. Ben Roethlisberger Wins His First 14 NFL Starts
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One of the best quarterbacks of the past decade, Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger proved early on in his career that he might just have what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
Selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 11 overall pick in 2004, the team couldn't have ever guessed the return on the pick would be so immediate, as Big Ben ran off an incredible 14-game win streak to start his career—which includes a first-round playoff victory.
Taking over the starting role in Game 2 of the 2004 regular season, Roethlisberger has changed the position for the franchise and has proven to be one of the best ever.
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