Have
you noticed the start of Derek Jeter’s 2012 baseball season? Once a week I go
to baseball reference.com just to do some research on stuff for these blogs or
other things. I saw that by the end of this season, barring some injury, Jeter is
going to past the likes of Robin Yount, Eddie Murray, Tony Gwynn, George Brett
and others on the career hit list. I also heard last week on the radio that
Jeter is on pace to pass baseball's most prolific record, 4256 hits set by Pete
Rose. It got me thinking not only about baseball's most impressive records, but
also professional sports most impressive records. Records today cannot be
viewed the same as they once were. For example, it's obvious that pitchers are
not used today the same way as they were say 100 years ago when the likes of Cy
Young, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson were basically expected to pitch
every other day and to go nine innings or more. So clearly baseball’s record
for most wins by pitcher, 511 by Cy Young, is probably not going to be
approached in anyone's lifetime. So for this list we are going to focus on
records, individual or team, that may or may not be obtainable. These records
need to stand the test of time nonetheless and contend with the other major
sports.
Before we get into the 12 most impressive records, we do have
one dishonorable mention:
The Pittsburgh Pirates – Last year, they set a record for
the most consecutive losing seasons with 19. They haven’t been over .500 since
1992. Hats off to the Buccos. Here’s to making it 20.
Without further ado,
the top 12 most impressive records in professional sports:
12. 336 single game receiving yards, Flipper Anderson, Los
Angeles Rams, 1989: Not Terrell Owens or Cris Carter nor Randy Moss, not even
Jerry Rice could approach what Willie “Flipper” Anderson did one night versus
the New Orleans Saints in 1989. 336 receiving yards, where was that in fantasy
football?
11. Seven career no-hitters - Nolan Ryan: Even some of baseball's
most mediocre pitchers can have the light shine on them for one day and for an
entire game not give up a hit. That is pure dominance. But to do that seven
different times over a Major League career? It is still unfathomable to think
that anybody can top Nolan Ryan’s seven career no-hitters.
10. 208 touchdowns, career - Jerry Rice: Perhaps the most
impressive thing about this record is that Jerry Rice, as a receiver, almost
always had to depend on the quarterback getting him the ball in the right spot
at the right time. To compare, the Dallas Cowboys gave the ball to Emmitt Smith
almost all the time and especially around the goal line. Still, he stands 33
touchdowns behind the greatest wide receiver of all-time.
9. 59 consecutive scoreless innings - Orel Hershiser, 1988:
In 1968, Don Drysdale set the record with 58 2/3 scoreless innings. At the time
it was considered an unbreakable mark until another Dodger right-handed pitcher
20 years later came along and “Bulldog”ed his way to one better. What makes
this record remarkable is that it came in Hershiser's 59 last regular-season
innings in 1988, and in the middle of a pennant race where the Dodgers had to
win every game.
8. 56 game hitting streak - Joe DiMaggio, 1941: We all know
the song, “Joe, Joe DiMaggio, we want you on our side.” It seemed for that
summer, the entire country was rooting for Mr. DiMaggio as he piled on the hits
day after day. The closest anyone has come: Pete Rose way back in the late 70s
with 44.
7. 15-1 NBA playoff record - Los Angeles Lakers, 2001:
Clearly the only way to break this record is to go a perfect 16-0 in the
playoffs. This team, led by superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, peaked
at just the right time on their run to the second of three consecutive NBA
championships.
6. 35 points in a quarter of a Super Bowl - Washington Redskins,
Super Bowl XXII: Some teams don't score 35 points total in a Super Bowl. In
fact, the year after, Super Bowl XXIII, the 49ers and Bengals combined for just
36 points. The Washington Redskins however, achieved virtual perfection for a
15 minute span versus John Elway’s Denver Broncos on that historic Sunday.
5. 72 win season, Chicago Bulls - 1995-96: When looking at
this team you have arguably the greatest basketball player of all-time,
arguably the perfect second option, arguably the greatest defensive power forward
in NBA history, and without a doubt, the greatest head coach in NBA history.
Put that all together and you have a 72 - 10 record, a mark that may go
untouched.
4. 4256 career hits - Pete Rose: As we mentioned at the top,
Jeter is on his way. However, he will have to play well into his mid-40s and
stay healthy for the rest of his career. Just think about that number 4256,
someone would have to AVERAGE 200 HITS FOR 21 SEASONS. And he would still be 56
hits short. Yet he is still not in the Hall of Fame. That’s still an impressive
record for Pete Rose.
3. 2857 career points
-Wayne Gretzky: Plain and simple, there has never been anyone to dominate a
sport like Wayne Gretzky did in the 1980s and 1990s. Look at it this way, had
Gretzky not scored a single goal in his career, his assists alone, 1963, would
still put him number one all-time in points ahead of Mark Messier and Gordie
Howe.
2. 100 points, single-game - Wilt Chamberlain 1963: We spoke
about this on the 50th anniversary of this historic night. It is still mind
boggling to think about 100 points in a single NBA game by one player. I find
it highly doubtful that anyone in NBA history will break that mark.
1. 33 consecutive wins - Los Angeles Lakers 1971-72: Let's
face it, were talking about the four major sports and when winning is all that
matters, the Los Angeles Lakers tallied 33 consecutive wins. Not only a record
in the NBA, a record amongst the four major sports. Without a doubt a record
that will never be touched, and without a doubt the most impressive record in
all the four major sports.
