Professional Sports Most Impressive Records

                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.