Of all the great American sports, none places greater emphasis on statistical achievement than baseball. Major League Baseball records connect the present with the past, pitting the legends of yesterday against the stars of today. Who is the greatest of all time? How would today’s power hitters fare during the Babe Ruth era? Is the launch in the game today higher than fifty years ago? These are some of the questions we may never answer, but the statistics allow us to frame the debate. It’s the in-game data that keeps us aware of lore by rekindling fond memories of how people performed during the respective eras of baseball. Here’s a look at some of Major League Baseball’s most notable records.
launch statistics
The Cy Young name is synonymous with pitching excellence. His 511 career wins are the first all-time in the history of the sport. In 22 seasons on the mound, he has top marks in categories like most innings pitched (7,355), most games started (815) and most complete games (749). He is also credited with pitching the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball. In his honor, the best pitcher in both leagues receives a coveted trophy named after him at the end of the season.
Baseball fans have always been in love with a good power pitcher. There’s nothing like the sound of a 98 mph fastball slamming into the catcher’s mitt for a third strike. The strikeout is one of the most exciting plays in baseball and Nolan Ryan is king. Known as the Ryan Express for his overwhelming fastball, he was one of the most intimidating sights to ever step on the mound. In 27 seasons, Ryan ranks first all-time with 5,714 strikeouts, he also threw seven no-hitters during his career, a feat no other player has surpassed.
batting statistics
In the summer of 1941, the world witnessed the longest hitting streak in the history of the game as Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 straight games. From May 15 to July 16, the Yankees center fielder wowed the world with one of the greatest sports achievements of all time. That same season, legendary Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams hit .406, the last time a player hit .400 at the professional level.
Two of the most controversial figures in the sport hold perhaps the most prestigious of all Major League Baseball records. No other player in the history of the game has more hits than Pete Rose’s 4,256. Often overshadowed by his lifetime ban from the sport for betting on his own team; Rose was known for the way he played the game with grit and determination. Barry Bonds is the all-time home run king with 762 long balls over the course of 21 seasons. Despite his alleged links to steroid use, Bond’s baseball arsenal of speed, power and intelligence still puts him in the company of the game’s elite players.
