What is Major League Baseball's most unbreakable record?

[MattyC]

As someone said above, the game has changed so that many of those pitching marks will be insanely hard to approach.

I'd be very curious to see how votes would shake out if the question were parsed into most unbreakable hitting record, single season record, career record, etc.

[Sean]

Adrian getting to 500 posts in less than six weeks.

[Bocabirdman]

Most career steals of first base....Germany Schaefer - One!

[DaveW]

It's so hard to win 300 games anymore, but to get to 512 would be unthinkable unless we allow guys with bionic arms to pitch.

[Shoele$$]

Two come to mind....511 wins and a .366 lifetime average. Will never be broken. Hell nobody has even approached a .400 season since Teddy Ballgame, Cobb did it three times. Those two records are untouchable.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by DaveW

It's so hard to win 300 games anymore, but to get to 512 would be unthinkable unless we allow guys with bionic arms to pitch.

Perhaps if someone trained themselves to throw ambidextrously so that they could pitch right handed in the starting rotation one day and left handed a different day and also throw a knuckleball so that they could pitch until they are 50 years old - all of that could drastically increase the odds. In addition this person could spot relieve and pick up more wins. One cut throat way to get additional wins would be to pull the starting pitcher with a lead after pitching 4-2/3 innings thus making that starting pitcher ineligible for the win and thus making the relief pitcher eligible for the win provided he pitch effectively for an inning for so. Mike Marshall made 106 appearances in one season. Pitching with both arms could make that pitcher eligible everyday in theory.

[conor912]

I have to give it to Cy Young, but not for wins. He hurled 749 complete games. That's 30 a year every year for 25 years and over 90% of his decisions. Completely mind blowing if you think about, particularly by today's standards.

[tcdyess]

Originally Posted by conor912

I have to give it to Cy Young, but not for wins. He hurled 749 complete games. That's 30 a year every year for 25 years and over 90% of his decisions. Completely mind blowing if you think about, particularly by today's standards.

And he never had Tommy John surgery!!! Completely mind numbing!!!!

[brob28]

Lots of great points, but I agree with most that Cy Young's career wins seems as close to impossible as can be. I agee with earlier post that Chesboro's single season mark will stand as well.

[barrysloate]

Fernando Tatis's two grand slams in one inning...to break it you would have to hit three!

[Hankphenom]

Germany Schaefer actually stole first base twice, so he did break his own record. And as impressive as Cy Young's records are, when do "modern" records begin? Not that his or Walter's records will ever be broken, but I've always thought it not completely implausible that at some point pitching strategy will revert to that of my youth, when the starting pitcher was expected to go all the way. It seemed to work so well for so many pitchers in the past, and freed up roster spots for specialty utility guys on the bench. Has it been proven that pulling the stud pitchers of the past in the last two or three innings and substituting a "closer" would have saved their teams games? Or is it just that because they don't pitch as much as they did in the old days, now they CAN'T pitch as much? How about injuries? Seems like they're almost all brittle now, whereas before, a 15 to 20 year career was more or less standard for the starters. I wouldn't rule out a reversal at some point, where they start working them more in the minors to prepare for a career more like those before the shorter and shorter starts began in the 1960s or 70s. Or, if they keep going the way they are, the very concept of a "starter" could disappear, and he would just be the first guy handed the ball and expected to go the first two or three innings before the next guy came in.

[frankbmd]

Joe Who?? you ask.

Well Joe has the highest career ERA in Major League history.

He accomplished this feat in a one game career in 1945.

He faced nine batters with the following results

3 hits
5 walks
1 strike out &
7 earned runs

for an ERA of

189.00

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Joe Who?? you ask.

Well Joe has the highest career ERA in Major League history.

He accomplished this feat in a one game career in 1945.

He faced nine batters with the following results

3 hits
5 walks
1 strike out &
7 earned runs

for an ERA of

189.00

You know, I think that I could break this record if only I could get an MLB team to let me pitch for one inning. Maybe the Astros in late August ....

[triwak]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Highest career ERA in Major League history. 189.00

I think the Cardinal's reliever, Mitchell Boggs might have a chance at this one.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

?. and also throw a knuckleball so that they could pitch until they are 50 years old - all of that could drastically increase the odds. In addition this person could spot relieve and pick up more wins. One cut throat way to get additional wins would be to pull the starting pitcher with a lead after pitching 4-2/3 innings thus making that starting pitcher ineligible for the win and thus making the relief pitcher eligible for the win provided he pitch effectively for an inning for so. Mike Marshall made 106 appearances in one season. Pitching with both arms could make that pitcher eligible everyday in theory.

Originally Posted by itjclarke

I think the only way any of the pitching marks, especially career/single season wins could ever be approached is if a team has a rubber armed knuckleballer and isn't afraid (meaning he's not a bonus baby) to use him on shorter rest than the rest of the staff (Wilbur Wood did this correct?). They'd also probably need to use him out of the bullpen where he'd be able to pick up 4-5 more wins per year.

That said, I still vote Cy's as most unbreakable, and agree Chesbro's 41 /Hoss's 59 (or 60) are unbreakable.

We're thinking alike Dan. To the point about ambidextrous pitchers.. There was at least one guy pitching in an independent league a few years ago that could use both arms. He had a special glove that fit either hand. He was more geared toward using it to his advantage in various lefty/righty matchup situations, than he was to pitch everyday. It was pretty crazy though.. I think he once had an impasse with a switch hitter, where he'd switch then the hitter would switch, so on. The baseball rules have accounted for switch hitting, but don't think they ever made rules for switch pitching (can you change hands after 2 strikes, etc).

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

We're thinking alike Dan. To the point about ambidextrous pitchers.. There was at least one guy pitching in an independent league a few years ago that could use both arms. He had a special glove that fit either hand. He was more geared toward using it to his advantage in various lefty/righty matchup situations, than he was to pitch everyday. It was pretty crazy though.. I think he once had an impasse with a switch hitter, where he'd switch then the hitter would switch, so on. The baseball rules have accounted for switch hitting, but don't think they ever made rules for switch pitching (can you change hands after 2 strikes, etc).

Yes, great point on Wilbur Wood. He pitched on two days rest in his prime. As for the ambidextrous pitcher, my guess is that he'd more likely pitch with both arms in one game rather than alternative days so that he would have an advantage on left or right handed batters. I don't know if they made rules for switch pitching or not. It would also require a special glove. It's hard enough to make to the big leagues on one great arm, let alone two.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

Yes, great point on Wilbur Wood. He pitched on two days rest in his prime. As for the ambidextrous pitcher, my guess is that he'd more likely pitch with both arms in one game rather than alternative days so that he would have an advantage on left or right handed batters. I don't know if they made rules for switch pitching or not. It would also require a special glove. It's hard enough to make to the big leagues on one great arm, let alone two.

I've got to think there aren't any rules for switch pitching (as long as he avoids balks), since it's probably only been attempted a handful of times. The guy in the minors did have a special glove and was able to alternate pitch to pitch if he chose. I totally agree, it's greatest use would be for righty/lefty matchups, but could also play havoc with batters mid at bat/managers/switch hitters. Can you imagine how nasty a guy would be if he threw from different angles per side? Say over the top right handed, but sidearm or submarine left handed, and change mid at bat. That could screw a hitter up.

BTW- love the Willie "Pops" Stargell avatar, a true gentleman and N CA baseball great. Anytime I read one of your posts, I just assume you're a nice guy like Stargell.

[packs]

I don't think anyone will hit home runs in 9 straight games. Donnie Baseball and Griffey each had 8.

Ken Brett hit a home run in 4 consecutive starts. I think that's the pitcher record.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

I've got to think there aren't any rules for switch pitching (as long as he avoids balks), since it's probably only been attempted a handful of times. The guy in the minors did have a special glove and was able to alternate pitch to pitch if he chose. I totally agree, it's greatest use would be for righty/lefty matchups, but could also play havoc with batters mid at bat/managers/switch hitters. Can you imagine how nasty a guy would be if he threw from different angles per side? Say over the top right handed, but sidearm or submarine left handed, and change mid at bat. That could screw a hitter up.

BTW- love the Willie "Pops" Stargell avatar, a true gentleman and N CA baseball great. Anytime I read one of your posts, I just assume you're a nice guy like Stargell.

No doubt that if a pitcher can throw effectively with both hands could be a hitter's worst nightmare.

Thanks for the kinds words. I enjoy your insightful posts also.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

I've got to think there aren't any rules for switch pitching (as long as he avoids balks), since it's probably only been attempted a handful of times. The guy in the minors did have a special glove and was able to alternate pitch to pitch if he chose. I totally agree, it's greatest use would be for righty/lefty matchups, but could also play havoc with batters mid at bat/managers/switch hitters. Can you imagine how nasty a guy would be if he threw from different angles per side? Say over the top right handed, but sidearm or submarine left handed, and change mid at bat. That could screw a hitter up.

BTW- love the Willie "Pops" Stargell avatar, a true gentleman and N CA baseball great. Anytime I read one of your posts, I just assume you're a nice guy like Stargell.

There is a rule MiLB created because of Pat Venditte, I imagine that if he came to the Majors the rule would have to be adopted by MLB.

There have been a couple of other switch pitchers but the only one that anyone here may remember would be Greg Harris