What is Major League Baseball's most unbreakable record?

[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!

[triwak]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

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

My brother was at that game, the lucky duck!!!

[CW]

I voted for Cy Young's record, but I would've also included, as already mentioned, Sam Crawford's career triples record.

[old-baseball]

Joe Sewell had:

4 Ks in 608 at bats for the Indians in 1925
6 Ks in 578 at bats for the Indians in 1926
7 Ks in 569 at bats for the Indians in 1927
4 Ks in 578 at bats for the Indians in 1929
3 Ks in 503 at bats for the Yankees in 1932
4 Ks in 524 at bats for the Yankees in 1933

For his career, he struckout out 114 times in 7132 at bats, the lowest strikeout/at bats ratio in the history of MLB (1 strikeout every 62.6 at bats).

[HercDriver]

Longest streak without a World Series Championship. 1908 until the sun burns out.

Geno

[queencitysportscards]

Has to be the Consecutive Games played record by Cal Ripken Jr. No modern day player will play in that many consecutive games...ever.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

Longest streak without a World Series Championship. 1908 until the sun burns out.

Geno

Haters gonna hate .

[egbeachley]

Many of these records will never be broken because the game has changed. However, it's possible that the game will change again in the opposite direction. Then they could easily be broken.

Example: Ratings are down therefore the rules change to lower the mound or shrink the strikezone. Batting average increases so that runs increase and millennial start watching. So in 2065, Bryce Harper Jr retires with a lifetime .402 batting average.

[Stampsfan]

Cy Young wins. With six inning starts being an accomplishment, middle relief pitchers, one out closers, more rest days between starts, and other ways the pitchers are handled, that will never be broken.

[camlov2]

Originally Posted by egbeachley

Many of these records will never be broken because the game has changed. However, it's possible that the game will change again in the opposite direction. Then they could easily be broken.

Example: Ratings are down therefore the rules change to lower the mound or shrink the strikezone. Batting average increases so that runs increase and millennial start watching. So in 2065, Bryce Harper Jr retires with a lifetime .402 batting average.

If we are going to bash the younger generations and their attention span I think the number of complete games will shoot back up when they decide to reduce the game to 6 or 7 innings...

[barrysloate]

With regard to the poll, virtually all of the choices would be nearly impossible to beat, many because of changes in the game. So a better question might be: could any of these accomplishments ever be surpassed? It's possible that none of them will, hence they are all equally difficult.

[yanks12025]

What about Yankees winning 5 world series in a row

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by yanks12025

What about Yankees winning 5 world series in a row

Brock,

I freely admit dropping the ball on that one. 5 WS Championships in a row is much more difficult than the '16 Giants streak.

When originally thinking of posting this thread, I thought of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings and their 57-0 season. However, that was before the current leagues, so I looked for the best MLB substitute.

There is a whole lot of great info posted by everyone. As a numbers guy, I give thanks to all who weighed in here. It is truly appreciated.

Please carry on.

Best Regards,

Eric

[irishdenny]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

With regard to the poll, virtually all of the choices would be nearly impossible to beat, many because of changes in the game. So a better question might be: could any of these accomplishments ever be surpassed? It's possible that none of them will, hence they are all equally difficult.

I certainly agree wit Mr. Sloate's Wisdom!
Also, Please Add:

"BiG Ed" Walsh's Lifetime ERA of 1.82 to this List,
imho... No One's TouchiN it!

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

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

This would be my pick

[Jason19th]

This may sound crazy but I actually think a potential change in relief pitcher use could put cys record in reach. Bill James has argued that basically the best way to use your best pitcher is basically to look and Andrew Miller and take it one step further - i.e. If it's the bottom of the forth and your up by two and it's 2nd and 3rd with no outs that when you bring in your best pitcher to give you somewhere between 7-9 outs. James argues and I agree that under this ussage a pitcher could easily win 30-35 games a year under the current scoring rules. I realize this would be a big change but at the same time think about how much the relief role has changed over the last 40 years

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by Jason19th

This may sound crazy but I actually think a potential change in relief pitcher use could put cys record in reach. Bill James has argued that basically the best way to use your best pitcher is basically to look and Andrew Miller and take it one step further - i.e. If it's the bottom of the forth and your up by two and it's 2nd and 3rd with no outs that when you bring in your best pitcher to give you somewhere between 7-9 outs. James argues and I agree that under this ussage a pitcher could easily win 30-35 games a year under the current scoring rules. I realize this would be a big change but at the same time think about how much the relief role has changed over the last 40 years

You've got to be kidding, right??

[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.