The career home run record was the "most hallowed" record in sports, or was it?

Question

Has everyone forgotten about Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak? I think that is the most unbreakable record in Sports. I would like to hear your thoughts.

Answer 1

I think you are just wrong on all counts.

First, the career home run record is the "most hallowed" record in sports. It is the one record that sports fans keep an eye on, waiting for that next player that shows signs of reaching it. No one pays attention to DiMaggio's hit streak, sure we talk about it if someone gets a hit streak of 25+ games, but even that isn't an everyday occurence. That home run record, that we all watch, and we all talk about.

As for DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, I would say there is a much better chance of that being broken than Cy Young's 511 career wins. Just think, when Glavine got to 300 wins there was talk that he might be the last person ever to get to 300, you think anyone will ever approach 500? Its just not going to happen.

Answer 2

I do think the career HR record is the most hallowed record in sports. At least, it used to be. Only time will tell if Bonds' mark will still be respected in the years to come. Possibly because the record has been broken so infrequently, the HR mark has had a mystique for decades.

I don't think that DiMaggio's record is 'unbreakable'. That term should be used only for records that can't be touched because the game has changed too much. The only real change in MLB that would affect the consecutive-game hit streak is the decrease in the size of the ballparks, and I don't think that is enough to insulate Joe D's record. Of course, I used to insist that Gehrig's consecutive-game playing streak was unbreakable, too.

Answer 3

Growing up, the big three records were Ruth's 714 homers, DiMaggio's hitting streak, and Gehrig's 2130 consecutive game streak. I never really thought I'd see any of them broken. Well, I'm down to one.

I think we can throw out such things as Cy Young's 511 wins and Ty Cobb's career batting average, as they were done in vastly different conditions. So DiMaggio's streak probably is the biggest one around now, particularly since no one has really made a good run at it since Rose got to 44 in the 70's. The cloud over Bonds probably has moved DiMaggio's number up in the minds of many.

Answer 4

I'm just going to repeat what everyone else is saying. Hallowed doesnt mean unbreakable.

The only other record in baseball that I would consider "hallowed" would be Pete Rose's 4,200+ hits, or Nolan Ryan's 5,000 K's, but the HR record would be the "most hallowed"

Answer 5

most hallowed doesnt necessarily mean most unbreakable. joe D's record probably is safe, especially with the smaller parks (less area for the ball to land). the wins record is safe too 511 yeah right there may only be a few more that make it to 300 if any. but everybody digs the long ball so when records like that get broken its a huge deal.

Answer 6

As a Yankee fan I would like to say that is the most hallowed record in sports but it is not.

Ty Cobbs lifetime .366 bating average is.

No player today can hit .366 for his whole career.

Answer 7

What about ironman Cal's 2632 consecutive games? That record is unbelieveable not only because of durability, but consistency. NO ONE will ever even come close again in any sport...

Answer 8

Hallowed DOESN'T mean unbreakable. If that was the case I could start getting into other records by the Pitchers mostly.

Answer 9

well in about 4-5 years AROD will be the new home run champ but yea i think joe d's record will never get broken and if it does then it would be really awesome

Answer 10

No record is even close to being as "hallowed" as the HR record.
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