Jimmy Rollins: 20 hits to ... Greatness?
By Ben Godar
If popular wisdom is to be believed, Jimmy Rollins could be just a few weeks and 20 hits away from the greatest single accomplishment in baseball history. If you think Jimmy Rollins as "all time great" sounds funny, you’re not alone. And you won’t be surprised to learn the clang originates from The Bronx.
Of course, we’re talking about Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak – the latest record to be widely touted as "unbreakable." For most of my life, the magic number was not 56, but 61. Travel back to 1997 and it was Maris’ whose achievement would stand forever. And that’s to say nothing of 714, formerly sacred digits about to be equaled by a side show attraction.
The elephant in this room is the New York Yankees. DiMaggio’s streak is only hallowed ground because too many sportswriters worship at the altar of pinstripes.
Nobody doubts that it takes great endurance and consistency to hit safely in 56 straight games. DiMaggio’s batting average during the streak was a robust .409. But Ted Williams batted .406 for that entire season – nearly 50 points higher than the Yankee Clipper. So even though it’s a statistical anomaly, it would be hard to argue the streak was even the most significant performance that season.
What makes "the greatest record of all time?" Is it just the fact that it’s unlikely to be broken? On April 23, 1999, Fernando Tatis became the first player to ever hit two grand slams in the same inning. That feat may never be replicated, but it’s hardly a mark of greatness. Or what about Dave Dravecky’s arm snapping on the mound? At some point we’ve got to draw a line between great achievement and freak occurrence.
I’d like to think that a few slap hits by J-Roll would send this DiMaggio record the way of Maris and Ruth, but stalwarts have an out. Because Rollins’ streak would be split over two seasons, debate will rage as to whether or not it equals DiMaggio. I’ve heard arguments that the six month break is a clear advantage, while others say it’s more difficult to end one season hot and then get off the schneid just as hot.
I say the fact that this debate even exists is proof positive that this record measures little more than a statistical anomaly. Consider the truly great numbers – 756, 5,714, even a juiced 73 – anyone who breaks these can board a train to Cooperstown. Is Jimmy Rollins on anybody’s ballot?
The odds are great that Jimmy Rollins will not equal DiMaggio’s mark, perhaps by doing something so detrimental as taking a walk or laying down a sac bunt. But just because DiMaggio’s record stands does not mean it’s great.
Author's note: Chan Ho Park gave up both grand slams to Tatis, and yes, he was on my fantasy team at the time. The bum.
If popular wisdom is to be believed, Jimmy Rollins could be just a few weeks and 20 hits away from the greatest single accomplishment in baseball history. If you think Jimmy Rollins as "all time great" sounds funny, you’re not alone. And you won’t be surprised to learn the clang originates from The Bronx.
Of course, we’re talking about Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak – the latest record to be widely touted as "unbreakable." For most of my life, the magic number was not 56, but 61. Travel back to 1997 and it was Maris’ whose achievement would stand forever. And that’s to say nothing of 714, formerly sacred digits about to be equaled by a side show attraction.
The elephant in this room is the New York Yankees. DiMaggio’s streak is only hallowed ground because too many sportswriters worship at the altar of pinstripes.
Nobody doubts that it takes great endurance and consistency to hit safely in 56 straight games. DiMaggio’s batting average during the streak was a robust .409. But Ted Williams batted .406 for that entire season – nearly 50 points higher than the Yankee Clipper. So even though it’s a statistical anomaly, it would be hard to argue the streak was even the most significant performance that season.
What makes "the greatest record of all time?" Is it just the fact that it’s unlikely to be broken? On April 23, 1999, Fernando Tatis became the first player to ever hit two grand slams in the same inning. That feat may never be replicated, but it’s hardly a mark of greatness. Or what about Dave Dravecky’s arm snapping on the mound? At some point we’ve got to draw a line between great achievement and freak occurrence.
I’d like to think that a few slap hits by J-Roll would send this DiMaggio record the way of Maris and Ruth, but stalwarts have an out. Because Rollins’ streak would be split over two seasons, debate will rage as to whether or not it equals DiMaggio. I’ve heard arguments that the six month break is a clear advantage, while others say it’s more difficult to end one season hot and then get off the schneid just as hot.
I say the fact that this debate even exists is proof positive that this record measures little more than a statistical anomaly. Consider the truly great numbers – 756, 5,714, even a juiced 73 – anyone who breaks these can board a train to Cooperstown. Is Jimmy Rollins on anybody’s ballot?
The odds are great that Jimmy Rollins will not equal DiMaggio’s mark, perhaps by doing something so detrimental as taking a walk or laying down a sac bunt. But just because DiMaggio’s record stands does not mean it’s great.
Author's note: Chan Ho Park gave up both grand slams to Tatis, and yes, he was on my fantasy team at the time. The bum.
posted by Ben Godar at 10:28 AM
1 Comments:
You are correct in your assessment of te media's love of pinstripes. It's a sickness that needs more exposure.
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