Fans with an eye toward baseball’s rich history are very familiar with Joe DiMaggio’s record 56-game hitting streak. Compiled in 1941, it is one of the game’s most famous and arguably one of its most difficult to be broken.
On the National League side, many know Pete Rose holds a share of the longest at 44 games, set in 1978, tying Willie Keeler’s 1897 best. If you are like me, however, you didn’t know who holds the St. Louis Cardinals record.
The correct answer is not shortstop Ryan Theriot, whose 20-game streak ended at the hands of Houston’s Cardinal killer Bud Norris and reliever Mark Melancon on Wednesday night in Houston.
Theriot’s feat was non-trivial, however, and reached more than halfway to the team record. It is tied for 32nd-longest in team history and is the best streak by a Cardinal since Ryan Ludwick went 21 games two seasons ago.
I did find it interesting that Theriot’s .759 OPS during his streak was the lowest of any of the 42 streaks on the top list and his .326 batting average was third-worst.
Albert Pujols strung together 30 consecutive games with a hit back in his third season of 2003, the best performance by a Cardinal in the last decade. In the process, Pujols tied Stan Musial, whose 30 games in 1950 is the longest streak ever by a Cardinals left-handed hitter.
The overall team leader?
That would be Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby. “Rajah” hit safely in 33 consecutive games almost 89 years ago, in August and September 1922.
St. Louis Cardinals longest hitting streaks, consecutive games
| Rk | Hitter | Strk Start | End | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SO | BB | SB | CS | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 1 | Rogers Hornsby | 8/13/1922 | 9/19/1922 | 33 | 146 | 38 | 68 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0.466 | 0.494 | 0.808 | 1.302 |
| T2 | Albert Pujols | 7/12/2003 | 8/16/2003 | 30 | 118 | 29 | 46 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0.390 | 0.467 | 0.712 | 1.179 |
| T2 | Stan Musial | 6/27/1950 | 7/26/1950 | 30 | 121 | 21 | 47 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.388 | 0.435 | 0.661 | 1.096 |
| T4 | Curt Flood | 9/17/1961 | 5/4/1962 | 29 | 131 | 26 | 52 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0.397 | 0.429 | 0.588 | 1.016 |
| T4 | Ken Boyer | 8/10/1959 | 9/12/1959 | 29 | 117 | 14 | 41 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 20 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0.350 | 0.389 | 0.607 | 0.996 |
| T4 | Harry Walker | 7/21/1943 | 8/18/1943 | 29 | 114 | 23 | 46 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.404 | 0.438 | 0.491 | 0.929 |
| T7 | Red Schoendienst | 6/11/1954 | 7/9/1954 | 28 | 124 | 21 | 48 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.387 | 0.422 | 0.524 | 0.946 |
| T7 | Joe Medwick | 8/17/1935 | 9/11/1935 | 28 | 120 | 25 | 43 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.358 | 0.384 | 0.583 | 0.967 |
| 9 | Lou Brock | 4/30/1971 | 5/30/1971 | 26 | 112 | 29 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0.429 | 0.471 | 0.554 | 1.025 |
| 10 | Joe McEwing | 6/8/1999 | 7/4/1999 | 25 | 110 | 13 | 35 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.318 | 0.350 | 0.436 | 0.787 |
| T11 | Joe Torre | 9/30/1970 | 4/28/1971 | 24 | 96 | 14 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.427 | 0.444 | 0.615 | 1.059 |
| T11 | Wally Moon | 5/5/1957 | 5/31/1957 | 24 | 99 | 21 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.343 | 0.381 | 0.697 | 1.078 |
| T11 | Stan Musial | 6/6/1952 | 6/28/1952 | 24 | 90 | 23 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | 0.505 | 0.633 | 1.138 |
| T14 | Jose Oquendo | 6/28/1989 | 7/25/1989 | 23 | 84 | 15 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0.464 | 0.505 | 0.595 | 1.101 |
| T14 | Pepper Martin | 4/29/1935 | 6/3/1935 | 23 | 104 | 26 | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0.433 | 0.459 | 0.519 | 0.978 |
| T14 | Frankie Frisch | 8/12/1931 | 9/4/1931 | 23 | 99 | 22 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0.394 | 0.423 | 0.505 | 0.928 |
| T17 | Willie McGee | 7/5/1990 | 8/1/1990 | 22 | 87 | 12 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0.414 | 0.446 | 0.517 | 0.963 |
| T17 | Vada Pinson | 7/6/1969 | 8/1/1969 | 22 | 89 | 14 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.326 | 0.365 | 0.449 | 0.814 |
| T17 | Harry Walker | 5/22/1943 | 6/15/1943 | 22 | 80 | 18 | 36 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.450 | 0.506 | 0.638 | 1.143 |
| T17 | Stan Musial | 5/16/1943 | 6/5/1943 | 22 | 83 | 18 | 32 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0.386 | 0.485 | 0.614 | 1.099 |
| T17 | Whitey Kurowski | 4/27/1943 | 5/23/1943 | 22 | 90 | 16 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0.356 | 0.389 | 0.478 | 0.867 |
| T17 | Johnny Mize | 8/2/1936 | 8/24/1936 | 22 | 82 | 20 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0.390 | 0.474 | 0.707 | 1.181 |
| T17 | Jim Bottomley | 8/4/1924 | 8/25/1924 | 22 | 87 | 17 | 40 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0.460 | 0.500 | 0.770 | 1.270 |
| T17 | Rogers Hornsby | 9/17/1920 | 4/25/1921 | 22 | 99 | 18 | 45 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0.455 | 0.491 | 0.636 | 1.127 |
| T25 | Ryan Ludwick | 9/17/2008 | 4/18/2009 | 21 | 77 | 15 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0.416 | 0.483 | 0.857 | 1.340 |
| T25 | Lou Klein | 5/9/1943 | 5/30/1943 | 21 | 89 | 17 | 27 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.303 | 0.361 | 0.539 | 0.900 |
| T25 | Enos Slaughter | 9/8/1940 | 9/26/1940 | 21 | 81 | 18 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0.420 | 0.472 | 0.667 | 1.139 |
| T25 | Joe Medwick | 7/1/1936 | 7/23/1936 | 21 | 87 | 18 | 43 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.494 | 0.532 | 0.736 | 1.268 |
| T25 | Ernie Orsatti | 5/30/1932 | 6/26/1932 | 21 | 81 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.370 | 0.400 | 0.519 | 0.919 |
| T25 | Les Bell | 7/7/1926 | 7/30/1926 | 21 | 79 | 19 | 41 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0.519 | 0.573 | 0.797 | 1.371 |
| T25 | Milt Stock | 9/15/1921 | 4/18/1922 | 21 | 84 | 17 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0.393 | 0.440 | 0.476 | 0.916 |
| T32 | Ryan Theriot | 5/15/2011 | 6/7/2011 | 20 | 86 | 8 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.326 | 0.352 | 0.407 | 0.759 |
| T32 | Placido Polanco | 7/21/2001 | 8/11/2001 | 20 | 84 | 13 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.364 | 0.464 | 0.828 |
| T32 | John Mabry | 5/19/1997 | 6/9/1997 | 20 | 79 | 11 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.418 | 0.447 | 0.544 | 0.991 |
| T32 | Lou Brock | 5/16/1967 | 6/6/1967 | 20 | 93 | 22 | 35 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 0.376 | 0.379 | 0.677 | 1.056 |
| T32 | Bill White | 7/23/1964 | 8/12/1964 | 20 | 81 | 14 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0.469 | 0.494 | 0.667 | 1.161 |
| T32 | Stan Musial | 9/23/1957 | 5/7/1958 | 20 | 75 | 16 | 41 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0.547 | 0.607 | 0.880 | 1.487 |
| T32 | Wally Moon | 7/16/1957 | 8/3/1957 | 20 | 74 | 14 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.392 | 0.466 | 0.527 | 0.993 |
| T32 | Stan Musial | 6/1/1957 | 6/20/1957 | 20 | 75 | 13 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0.400 | 0.453 | 0.747 | 1.200 |
| T32 | Stan Musial | 9/12/1953 | 4/19/1954 | 20 | 79 | 22 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0.443 | 0.516 | 0.848 | 1.364 |
| T32 | Terry Moore | 8/1/1942 | 8/22/1942 | 20 | 75 | 13 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.347 | 0.402 | 0.440 | 0.842 |
| T32 | Rogers Hornsby | 7/3/1923 | 7/22/1923 | 20 | 80 | 20 | 43 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0.538 | 0.575 | 0.875 | 1.450 |
Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for pulling the above table.
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Wang sounds like he walks on water. Any guess what level he starts at?
Frankie Piliere and I discuss that in the interview that I hope to post tomorrow.
That was very in depth. Not to mention enjoyable, and easy enough for a baseball dummy like me to follow.
Dagnabit, I meant for that to be a reply to comment #1.
Glad you enjoyed it.
If only Theriot could channel Ozzie Smith he would be perfect.
I try very hard to be happy that he is hitting, but every time I see him watch those ground balls go into the outfield, especially after watching Brendan Ryan go after them, I just want to throw things.
As Dennis Green might say, “He is what we thought he would be.”
CRD…………….Theriot has been rejected by two teams………he basically doesn’t have a secure defensive position anywhere………and he knows it……….. his position here is…..and always has been a fantasy grant…….based on the expected lower productions from the rest of the rabble………he is worried…and he should be.
We have got to get a decent SS some time. The position has been a revolving door for years and with our ground ball pitching staff it is the one position we have to have a good glove at. Jose Reyes would be great, but expensive and from what I hear, not the best clubhouse guy.
It is frustrating as all get out to me.
This is not the right market place for Jose……….. in many modes of consideration. We have quite a number of players that are struggling around strong pitching………..as that fades, and it is, the hatchet will have to fall somewhere. Will Holiday become a stroboscopic talent this year………… Berkman is showing the grind in his everyday gate………. He must have rest. Someone has to start feeding. The Skip / Theriot experiment has to evolve…………
1. Theriot, SS
2. Jay, LF
3. Pujols, 3B
4. Berkman, RF
5. Hamilton, 1B
6. Cruz, C
7. Rasmus, CF
8. Greene, 2B
9. Lynn, P
I think you can see my projection for Colby sitting on Sunday……….if Craig was healthy he would be ……..
Where’d you find the lineup? I was refreshing the STL MLB page and it’s still not up
Here is an insider’s tip from me to you. There is a site, BaseballPress, whose operators scan the web for all teams and get the lineups posted as soon as whichever source has them first. It is worth a bookmark, IMO.
The P-D has had it up for a while Kansas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/article_fe589076-92dc-11e0-9745-001a4bcf6878.html
Thanks everyone. I’m always learning here.
Lynn did a nice job getting out of that jam. But, damn, he has to not get into jams.
Must have heard me, 1,2,3 fourth. Maybe he’s settling down.
I wonder if Bourn was surprised to be gunned down by Tony Cruz
Just as surprised as Cruz.
I doubt Mr. Bourn was surprised to whiff with the bases loaded and no outs. Somebody is helping Houston battle the Cubs in the race to the last.
Bourn is very tentative this year running against the Cards. Got burned by Yadi too many times last year I guess. Now he has Cruz to worry about on top of it.
Lynn put up a nice line. Bet we see Franky Lights Out again.
8 quality AB’s…………the guys who were being walked……..walked……..nice set up by Berkman…..Danny D. stays on top and gets it done…………….. Theriot, not so much.
Good point about taking the walks, Westy.
Tony made a good call with miller……….. he put his glove over his mouth when he was coming out……. that was interesting………………… Batista doesn’t appear to be a long man……… Sanchez better have his spikes on…………
That was a good job by Motte against Pense……… He located very well against a guy who came up there hacking…………. nice touch with off speed up to beat him…………almost a change up………..
Sad to see Matt Carpenter laboring……… I like him as a player and a hitter……..he just can’t get it going. Next time maybe…………
He’s realy lookes overmatched. Seems like he needs another couple hundred ABs at AAA and try again. He’s got Cox in his rearview mirror.
I think he a player BB…….he is just pressing at this point……I don’t think he’s used to it……..he will go down soon enough.
I like that he doesn’t wear batting gloves, old school
Sanchez has such good stuff……….. he is just over throwing most of it……….he needs to stay around the Zone…….too many chances to relax for the hitters.
That was night and day for Sanchez………… he is going 2 innings……….Dave had a chance to focus him between innings……..his body was much quieter………….still plenty of ju ju to spare.
A message to Colby………………thats how you hit a HR ……….Lance has a very relaxed grip, almost like a golfer……..he doesn’t squeeze until its time to milk the cow…………..
Good to go into Milwaukee up 2 1/2.
Its shocking that the Pirates are only 6 1/2 back.
Radar just reported Berkman’s HR ball coming down in Milwaukee.
that was a bomb
Cards go against a lefty tomorrow…………….. if Holiday was back Colby sits………if Craig is back….Colby sits……….. no way be plays Greene in the outfield……..