OCR Text |
Show SP5FI AX HEN Tommy Holmes of ths ' Boston Braves passed Rogers Hornsby's consecutive hitting record of 33 games, the time seemed to be about right for your correspondent correspond-ent to look up a few notable records that might last for generations. genera-tions. One of these is Joe DiMaggio'a consecutive hitting record for both leagues that totaled 1 56 contests. This took place in 1941. DiMaggiobegan collecting col-lecting base hits on May 15 and finally ceased firing on the 16th of July. Any record can be beaten, but this will be a tough one to crack. There are two other almost GrantlandRice P"8Dt0m largeuls that may never b surpassed. One is Lou Gehrig's consecutive con-secutive game record that carried on for a matter of 14 years and more than 2,000 contests. It will take a stronger combination of steel and concrete than we have ever seen so far in one human system to pass Lou Gehrig's mark. This must stand among the incredible features of sport. Lou began his long march in 1925 and finally came to the end of his career in 1939. The second untouchable untouch-able mark belongs to Babe Ruth and his count of 60 home runs, piled up in 1927. mere is anotner preny tair Dan player by the name of Tyrus Raymond Ray-mond Cobb who has to his credit a different set of figures that no one now living will ever see equaled. This record includes a lifetime total of 2,244 runs and 4,191 hits. Jimmy Foxx and Hank Greenberg almost caught up with Ruth's home run accumulation of 60 in a season, but no other ball player has even come close to Cobb's double mark. This same record also includes 892 stolen bases, well beyond Eddie Collins' Col-lins' turn of 744. Cobb, Ruth and Gehrig, all American Ameri-can Leaguers, complete the trio that offers the toughest targets on the batting side of the game. And when you mention the two greatest ball players of all time, Cobb and Ruth draw most of the votes although Hans Wagner still has a stout following follow-ing that refuses to be shaken loose. Mel Ott is the most redoubtable oi the National League record holders at bat and Mel is still underway under-way and increasing his lead. Mel sets a record of some sort every time he gets another hit or steps into another home run insofar as the National League is concerned. Stand-Out Pitchers Walter Johnson, another American Leaguer, is the pitcher that stands out as the main all-time target to knock over. But for all that even Old Barney isn't so far In front oi Cy Young. In fact, looking a trifle deeper into the matter, Young's mark may outlive all others. It consists con-sists largely of these figures games pitched 906, games won 510. When you figure that Walter Johnson is in second place, 97 winning games away at 413, you get a better idea of Cy's miraculous contribution to the art of piling up victories. One of Johnson's top marks is the count of 56 consecutive scoreless Innings, compiled In 1913. That means something better than six straight shutouts. For a career run Johnson also sets np two other tar- gets with 3,497 strikeouts and 113 shutouts, 23 beyond Grover Alexander's Alexand-er's total. But Old Pete must be drawn into this select society with the pitching he offered in 1916. That season, working in Philadelphia's bandbox ball park, where a looping fly was usually a homer, Alexander turned in 16 shutouts more shutouts in one season than most pitchers can call winning games. The two marks of 19 consecutive victories established by Tim Keefe and Rube Marquard of the Giants, form another elusive target that many have fired at through the years in vain. There was no record ever set that can't be broken. But those referred to in these brief dispatches are something more than records. They are landmarks. Even peering into the future, what batter is there to pile up 4,191 base hits? Or what pitcher can ever hope to win 510 games? Or what iron man can outlast out-last Gehrig's 14 seasons of consecutive consecu-tive play? These are the three toughest of them all to shatter or drive away from the record pages. For all three call not only for extreme ex-treme skill but also for the amazing amaz-ing stamina that few ever possess. Eisenhoicer, Ball Player Dear Grant 1 just checked over an old Reach Guide, 1910, and found this concerning a player by the name of Wilson, General Eisenhower's Eisenhow-er's alias while playing with Abilene in the Central Kansas League, season sea-son of 1909. A. S.B. Errors F.A. 29 20 31 .941 A.B. Runs Hits B.A. P.O. 219 43 63 . 283 461 Michael E. Bash, Flushing, N. Y. |