10 Baseball Records That Will Never Be Broken
Posted: May 29, 2009 Filed under: Baseball, Sports | Tags: all-time baseball leaders, baseball records, baseball records that will never be broken, Cal Ripken, Cy Young, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb 70 Comments »
No pitcher will ever equal the 511 wins chalked up by legendary hurler Cy Young.
They say that records are made to be broken. But there are exceptions to every rule.
These 10 baseball records (and some related ones) will never be broken.
1. Most wins, lifetime, Cy Young, 511
Young’s record spanned the 1890s and baseball’s modern era. To break this record, a pitcher would need to win 25 games for 20 years…and even then, he comes up a dozen short. Next closest is Walter Johnson with 417 wins.
Some other pitching longevity records that seem certain to withstand the test of time: Jack Chesbro’s 41 wins for the New York Highlanders in 1904, Ed Walsh’s 464 innings pitched for the Chicago White Sox in 1908; Walter Johnson’s 110 shutouts and Nolan Ryan’s 5714 career strikeouts.
2. Most triples, lifetime, Sam Crawford, 309
The current leader in the majors, Johnny Damon, has 94 career triples…and is 35 years old. In fact, since Stan Musial retired in 1963 with 177 three-baggers, nobody has had more than Willie Wilson’s 147. The record for triples in a single season, Chief Wilson’s 36 
for the Pirates in 1912, appears safe as well.
3. Highest batting average, lifetime, Ty Cobb, 366
Nobody has come within 25 points of Cobb, shown right, since Ted Williams retired in 1960 with a .344 average. Among all active players, Albert Pujols is the leader at .334.
4. Most consecutive games played, Cal Ripken, 2632 games
They said Lou Gehrig’s record of 2130 games played would last for all time…that is until Cal Ripken came along. Don’t see any more Ripkens on the horizon.
5. Highest batting average, season, Rogers Hornsby, .424 in 1924
The Rajah’s record stands secure; the last player to hit. 400 in a season was Ted Williams in 1941.
6. Longest hitting streak, Joe DiMaggio, 56 games in 1941
Pete Rose came closest with his National League record 44-game streak in 1978.
7. Most grand slams, one inning, Fernando Tatis, 2 in 1999
Tatis is the only man in history to hit two salamis in the same inning. Add in the fact that he did it against the same pitcher, Chan Ho Park, and you’re got a record that will never be broken.
8. Most home runs, World Series, Mickey Mantle 18
This legendary leader list, topped by Mantle, shown left, includes Babe Ruth with 15, Yogi Berra with 12, Duke Snider with 11 and Lou Gehrig with 10. No active player is even close. Speaking of World Series records, Whitey Ford’s 10 wins and Yogi Berra’s 71 hits and 10 championships will be tough to match.
9. Most consecutive no-hitters, Johnny Vander Meer, 2 in 1938
One no-hitter is an extreme rarity, but only Vander Meer, a Cincinnati left-hander, ever threw two in a row. He beat the Braves at Cincy’s Crosley Field on June 11, 1938, and four days later no-hit the Dodgers in the first night game ever played at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. Another record that should stand for all-time is Nolan Ryan’s career 7 no-hitters.
10. Toughest batter to strike out, Joe Sewell, 114 strikeouts in 7132 at-bats
A perennial .300 hitter over 14 seasons with the Yankees and Indians, Sewell’s career rate of one strikeout for nearly every 63 at-bats is by far the best in history. He struck out three times in 1932 — in 503 at-bats over the course of the entire season. Today’s players routinely strike out three times in a game and 114 times or more in a single season.
Hey Rick,
I have no idea why this popped in to my head but do you remember the 1962 movie with Mantle and Maris, Safe at Home? I didn’t tell you but I was a Yankee fan at first and seeing that movie was a highlight back then.
Wins in a season Happy Jack Chesbro-41….pitchers only start max 35 games in a season
You’re right, Chesbro’s record will stand the test of time.
It would take an ambidextrous pitcher to break Jack Chesbro’s 41 wins in one season, or Cy Young’s career wins of 511. Unless a great ambidextrous pitcher comes along, there recores look safe.
Bob, thanks for the comments. You make some great points about Chesbro, Cy Young, Ty Cobb et al. I’m going on record as saying we’ll never see three grand slammers in an inning, or three no-hitters in a row.
How safe do you see Nolan Ryan’s all-time strikeout record being?
If someone struck out 285 guys a year for 20 years he’d still come up short.
Ryan’s strikeout record is mark of stamina, and if someone pitches long enough the record conceivably could be broken.
In 1930, Hack Wilson drove in 191 runs. Babe Ruth said that is a record that will never be broken. So far, the Babe has been right
Tough to argue with the Babe.
Here is another record that should stand forever; Walter Johnson’s 110 career shutouts.
You’re right. I do mention Walter Johnson’s shutout record in the blog. It should stand the test of time.
Yes, Walter Johnson’s 110 shutouts looks safe. No one today even pitches that many complete games. Roy Halladay ( at age 35 ) leads active pitchers with 66 complete games.
For this reason, Cy Young’s 749 complete games is possibly the safest of all records.
I would add to this, longest home run hit in cominsky park. Dave Nicholson, my cousin, played for the white sox in the 1960′s. It remains a record because the park no longer exist.
That’s a record that will never be broken.
Any safe baseball record list should include the one for most consecutive games without being shutout. New York Yankees 308 games.
Amazing record, that’s almost the equivalent of two full seasons…..actually it was two full season when you consider they played 154 games a year when the Yankees set the record.
there will be some team that every hitter is a power threat or someone who gets 200 hits a year it will be a while before its broken
There are easy ones like most wins in a season. They just don’t play like that anymore. That is safe. Things like Ryan’s strike out record is reachable, but not likely to be broken. And really for the same reason. Pitchers don’t get 250+ innings hardly ever anymore. Someone could come along and do something freaky like hit in 56+ games, pitch 3 no hitters in a row (don’t let me lie. No one will ever do this)…Who am I trying to kid. This is a great list, and these records won’t be broken. Great list.
Bill, thanks for your comments. Had a lot of fun with this one.
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE. THE MOST HOME RUNS HIT IN A NINE INN GAME. THE RECORD STANDS AT 4. I T WAS DONE BY 12 DIFFERENT PLAYERS
Thanks for your interest. Wonder if anyone will ever hit five?
It could be done. I believe someone did it in the minors a few years. I think played for Columbus (OH) which was then the Yankees AAA team.
The record for most complete games in a season was set by William H. White of Cincinnati in 1879. White pitched 74 complete games on his way to setting the record for most innings pitched in a season with 683!
That is one player with TWO records that will never be broken set during the same season!
Another record that will never be broken (now that managers over manage with pitchers pitching to ONE batter) is who pitched the most consecutive innings before being relieved? The answer is John W. Taylor who pitched 1,727 consecutive innings before being relieved. His streak went for all of 4 seasons and parts of two and ran from the second game on June 20, 1901 to August 9, 1906. During his streak, Taylor had 188 complete games and 15 games he finished for another pitcher.
You’re right Thomas, these records should stand for all time.
Rickey Henderson stole 132 bases in a year. I doubt we will ever see anyone ever steal 100 a year again. I think that record is pretty safe
Bill thanks. Rickey actually had 130 steals in 1982, including 84 by the All-Star break. Don’t forget at one time people thought Ty Cobb’s single season mark (96 in 1915) would stand forever, but in 1962 Maury Wills stole 104 bases and then in 1974 Lou Brock swiped 118. So it can happen again.
there will be someone who runs absolutely every time he gets on base so maybe
Here’s a record that was expected to be broken almost as soon as it was set and was disparaged even as it was being set. Earl Webb’s single season record of 67 doubles in 1931. At the time Fenway Park had odd dimensions with lots of foul ground in left, as the left field stands had burned down a few years before. Nevertheless the record stands today.
I think it’s safe to say that the day will come when somebody hits 5 hr’s in a game. Someday someone will outdo DiMaggio’s streak..
Thanks for your interest. Amazingly, Earl Webb’s doubles record has stood for 79 years. Jayson Werth of the Phillies already has 22 doubles this year, and is on pace to at least threaten Webb’s mark. Five home runs could happen. Not sure if anyone will ever break DiMaggio’s record, nobody has come close yet.
Jamie Moyer broke Robin Roberts record for home runs allowed in a career today by giving up his 506th. Roberts record stood for over 43 years (last hr allowed: Willie Stargell, 9-3-1966)
Moyer’s record should stand for some time, esp with starting pitchers being limited to pitch counts in today’s game.
Ricky Henderson 130 stolen bases in one season, 1406 stolen bases all time
Henderson’s marks are impressive, but some speedster will come along and break Henderson’s record at some point. That’s my prediction.
Excuse me, but every one of those “can’t-be-broken” records can, mathematically, be surpassed, not that I expect any of them will. But here’s a record that can’t even be broken: a perfect game. Even someone doing it twice is only tying the record.
True, mathematically they could be broken. Heck theoretically you could have a game where everyone gets a hit or everyone makes an out that could go on forever. But show me the pitcher who’s going to win 512 games.
It took 95 years for a team to win 116 games in a season and then only a .716 winning percentage. The 1906 Cubs were 116-36 with a .763 winning percentage, maybe the greatest team ever if they had won the WS. The 1927 Yankees .714 winning % are always considered the greatest because they won the WS. So .763, hard to beat, as of 2010, 104 years and still standing.
The Cubs were a good team in 1906, but couldn’t win the World Series despite 116 wins. Of course the Mariners couldn’t do it either.
cy young
751 complete games
Absolutely. Good one.
How about Nolan Ryan’s 7 no hitters? No pitcher today has even 2 no hitters
and Sandy Koufax only (only) had 3. Never to be broken Nolan Ryan record
which may be a greater feat than his lifetime strikeout record.
Lew, you’re probably right. One of the many records (more than 10) that will never be broken. BTW, Koufax had four no-hitters.
justin verlander has 2 and just about every month he takes a no hitter into the 6
agree also Nolan had (19) 1 HITTERS.EVERY TIME HE TOOK THE MOUND A NO HITTER WAS POSSIBLE,,,,,
Dave, thanks. Nolan Ryan did some incredible things on the mound.
Take this into consideration. We say these records can’t b broken. Well, these players were capable of putting up these numbers. So to say it can’t b done isn’t quit right. Before nolan Ryan u wouldn’t of thought he would ever put those numbers up and yet he did. Sum can’t b broke due to the change of the game over the years. Jus remember these players put up the numbers so many can b done. Theirs always freaks of nature in all sports that come along.
To me, the 56 game streak is going to go at some point. Someone else will hit 2 slams in an inning (a freak event, but freak events repeat), and 5 homers can happen (as can Stennet’s 7-7 night). The ones that will not go are the career records – pitching records are safe as houses because pitching has changed. Ripken? All you need is a player to decide they want it, make it a contract condition that they always play at least an inning…
Good points, but remember nobody has really come close (within 12 games) of Joe D’s record in 70 years. Suppose two slams could happen — how about two slams against the same pitcher in one inning. And 5 homers — wow, that would be something. Agree that a lot of cumulative pitching records will stand the test of time. Ripken’s record will not be broken in our lifetimes.
Thats right Ripkens record is a record that should make everybody proud and show kids how attendance is so important at work or in school. Thats the greatest record of all time..
An amazing record — Ripken beat Gehrig’s streak, and broke the record they said couldn’t be broken.
Career records and even seasons records, once tied are likely to be broken. But two record mentioned here, though they may be tied, will probably never be broken. Two grand slams in one inning is freakish. A third grand slam in the same inning – you can bet your life that’s not going to happen. Back to back no hitters is an incredible pitching feat. Three consecutive no hitters? Maybe with a 110 mph knuckleball.
Tom McCreery (October 19, 1874 – July 3, 1941)
On July 12,1897 he hit three inside-the-park home runs, becoming the first and only player in major league history to hit three inside-homers in a single game.
Never heard that one before, it will be tough to top.
what about pete rose’s record of 4,256 hits.that record won’t be broken because the athletes of today are spoiled ,lazy & overpaid
Pete Rose’s hit record may be broken someday.
If Ichiro came into the major at 21 or 22… he would be the one to do it.
Good point Jon, Ichiro might have challenged Pete Rose’s all-time hit record of 4256 if he had started his MLB career earlier. It would have been interesting to see. Ichiro does hold the record for most hits in a single season with 262 in 2004.
I dont think this one was mentioned,
59 Consecutive Shutout Innings Pitched By Orel Hershiser.
Hershiser broke the record set by another, Don Drysdale, in 1968. It could happen again.
I think the greatest record of all time is Cal Ripkens game streak. Its a record that even kids can learn from go into work everyday no matter what. If your hurting sick he still played that record makes me so proud of him. For one thing attendance is everything in school. Thats the most important thing in any situation. I think thats the greatest record of all time.
A lot of these records will never be broken because they were strong records when they were set, and since then the game has changed too much. 60 or 70 years ago players would come out of HS, go to 1yr of the minors, then get called up when they were 18 or 19 so if they played until they were 40 they has 22 or 23 seasons to put up stats. Hank Aaron is a great example. If a player starts really early and has stamina they can beat a lot of these records. Plus pitching id different now since players are on a 4-5 game rotation. Back 100 years ago some pitchers threw both ends of a double header.
Seems like Cal Ripkens is the easiest to beat, all you need to do is show up every day.
I would think Ty Cobs record of stealing home 54 times is one of the hardest to beat. All of baseball only sees 1 or 2 every year.
Thanks Tim man. I don’t think Ripken’s or Cobb’s record will ever be broken.
Ty Cobb stole home 54 times? Were the pitchers on drugs?
Cy Young has lots of records that will never be broken.
felix hernandez will come close he has 71 wins,and 53 loses, His is just 25 years old.
will someone come along and pitch as long as jamie moyer has into his late 40′s,and get 512 wins.
Not even close. Do the math. To win 500 games, a pitcher would have to win 25 games a year for 20 years.
yeah but hes on the mariners put him on the tigers,rangers or yankees
Billy Hamilton in the minors has more than 132 stolen bases and his season is still going if hes brought to mlb he might break it
Eddie, thanks for your comments, you make some good points.