MLB: 30 amazing records that will never be broken
![WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: The 2016 National League Cy Young Award is presented to Max Scherzer #32 of the Washington Nationals before the start of the Opening Day game against the Miami Marlins on April 3, 2017 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 4-2. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e9a3f26e1cd8086a328ea9e8bc605b823daa17e0e7db3822418775b13538bc17.jpg)
![Barry Bonds (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/b8ceece1f9a0d8e62b3116359d113165b3bb7d866aaf0a7ae07dc18bac819c2c.jpg)
Sit back and get comfortable. We’re fully aware that across all sports, records are meant to be broken but as we took a long hard look at some of the records that are currently present in major league baseball, we’ve come to the conclusion that, that statement is erroneous.
There is a long list of records that seem just about impossible to not only break but even get close to. In honor of them all, we’ve put together the 30 most unbreakable records in the history of the majors.
Considering that baseball is one of the oldest sports ever created, we had our work cut out for us as we sifted through numerous years and records to come up with the ones that stand out to us as otherwordly.
For some of you, these records will be viewed as a challenge to the players today. After all, their faster, bigger, stronger, and have more at their disposal in terms of rest, recuperation, and overall help. That said, with some of the changes that have been made in the game today, some of these records will last forever.
We’ll stop spoiling it for you and simply let you read the 30 most unbreakable records in MLB history.
![Barry Bonds (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/96b76ff69227cea799f24941febcef85f02241bb20465b2d7e1d62bdbf5c8e74.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 232 Walks in one season
Barry Bonds was in the midst of terrorizing the majors. It seemed as though every time he made his way up to the mound, the ball was bound to leave the park.
Bonds, of course, holds the major league record for home runs with 762. Although he was a great hitter, managers around the league were attempting to find ways around dealing with him at the plate.
On the heels of his fifth straight season with at least 45 home runs, including a major league record, 73, Bonds was having his normal terrific year for the San Francisco Giants in 2004. He finished off his season with 45 home runs, 101 RBIs and he led the league in several categories, including: batting percentage, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
The one statistic that stood out the most and will likely never be broken in major league history, is the 232 walks he aggregated during the year. Interestingly enough, the next closest person to Bonds is Bonds himself as he racked up 198 two years prior. Outside of those two seasons, the next closest is…Bonds. he registered 177 in 2001.
No one has come closer than 62 walks. Meaning, it’s going to be nearly impossible for anyone to pass Bonds and the 232 he piled up in 2004.
![Barry Bonds (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/60139c0256937ec794431f00f3dab21be0c5098063c08dee133387024b28f1ab.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 2,558 Walks in his career
For a pitcher, there was simply nothing scarier than Barry Bonds walking up to the plate during a close ball game. Their normally bare forehead immediately began sweating profusely as the images of Bonds landing a crushing homer flashed through their minds. And, more times than not, their worst fears would come to reality.
To put an end to Bonds and his home run hitting ways, he found himself walked…a lot.
Bonds and his 2,558 career walks are 350 more than second-place Rickey Henderson and his 2,190. While that may seem close, Henderson still poses no threat as he hasn’t stepped into the batter’s box in almost two decades.
In terms of whose his closest active competition, Bonds is somewhere laughing. Albert Pujols, who’s currently in his early 40s, doesn’t even crack the top 30, as he has just over 1,300 walks in his career.
The fear that Bonds placed in pitchers and managers was so ridiculous that the unthinkable happened. With the San Francisco Giants down by two, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth in 1998, the Arizona Cardinals intentionally walked him and allowed a run to score. Yup, that’s how scary he was.
![Nolan Ryan (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/99bb73a0c2c4c1f944e25f7bb730d6d138d2751ddf3ccda673410b4af99ad32b.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 7 No-hitters
Registering a no-hitter is extremely difficult for a pitcher. Not only are they depending on their defense to make sure that no “hit” balls land on the ground, but more than anything, they need to be practically perfect when they’re out there.
Nolan Ryan and his seven career no-hitters aren’t necessarily considered gaudy when juxtaposed to the other records on this list, but when you consider that his closest competition, Sandy Koufax, only has four, then maybe you’ll realize that it’s going to take someone with an incredible arm to dethrone him.
On average, no-hitters only occur approximately three times per season, making the chances of someone registering at least one per year incredibly unlikely. The consistency in which Ryan was able to rack up his no-hitters is also note-worthy. At the age of 26, Ryan picked up his first no-hitter. He didn’t waste time picking up another as he did so two months later. At 44, Ryan grabbed the final no-hitter of his career, proving that it didn’t matter if he was smack dab in the middle of his prime or in need of a walking cane to make his way to the mound. He was always a threat to put together a no-hitter.
![Joe DiMaggio (Photo by Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/5407a3614cd8953e2492ca683801332b6efc79676354ff07389d40eb295bc0bb.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 56 Consecutive hits
It may seem easy but registering a hit in an MLB game is incredibly difficult.
Once again, we have a record here that seems unbreakable mostly due to the way the game is played today. Back in 1941, outfielder Joe DiMaggio registered a hit in 56 consecutive games. It wasn’t as though DiMaggio was stepping up to the plate and bunting his way to the record or getting one hit per game.
In fact, by the time DiMaggio wrapped up his streak, he recorded 91 hits. Even more impressive than that, the 1955 Hall of Famer managed to hit .404 during those 56 games.
Currently, no one is within single digits of DiMaggio’s record. To make him feel even safer, it’s been roughly a decade and a half since a player has come even remotely close, and that would be Jimmy Rollins with 38 consecutive games with a hit from 2005-2006.
![Hack Wilson (Photo by Photo File/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/31422c1bcacb54de1823b211a6960f2e91385417b76bc943a457291749067a56.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 191 RBIs in a single season
There’s never been a player who registered at least 200 RBIs in a given season. But, Hack Wilson was as close as anyone will get.
Back in 1930, the Hall of Fame Centerfielder Wilson dominated the league in every possible way. He registered a batting average of .356, knocked 56 homers, leading the league, and more importantly, the reason why we’re all here, Wilson racked up 191 RBIs.
Second place Lou Gehrig isn’t that far behind, he registered 185 in 1931. But that feels like an anomaly. In more recent memory, no one has come close to Wilson’s record. In 2007, Alex Rodriguez did register 156. Outside of him, there isn’t a single player from the 21st century that ranks in the top 40.
With baseball more predicated on the long ball as opposed to players attempting to register a hit, it’s going to be an incredibly long time until someone breaks this record.
![Ichiro Suzuki (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/e2ea93c02885ff32547db7df32412ba37a73728a6bcac1c925b9f713346ee9db.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 262 Hits in one season
Unlike most records that occupy this list, this one feels attainable, somewhat.
Ichiro Suzuki currently holds the all-time record for the most hits in a single season with 262 in 2004. When taking a peek at the entire list, Suzuki only leads second-place George Sisler by five hits. But while his lead doesn’t exactly scream stranglehold, it does when you realize how difficult it is to actually surpass his 262 hits.
In recent history, only Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros has come even remotely close to Suzuki’s record as he racked up 225 hits in 2014.
Also helping his case, Suzuki appeared in 161 of 162 games that year. In a day and age where players get nicked up, banged up, and miss a ton of time, Suzuki was able to escape the injury bug all season long and put up monster numbers as a result.
In order for someone to catch Suzuki, they’ll not only need to rack up a ton of hits but they’ll have to play in practically every game in a given season, something that’s much easier said than done.
![Ty Cobb (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/6d8f90a196282014e4c2574f4a401853aaf09f9a4703b3eda69012e3c577d2e3.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: .366 All-time batting average
In today’s game, players are patted on the back more so than ever before when they knock one out of the park. As a result, players have placed most of their time and efforts in practice, perfecting the art of hitting home runs.
While fans might enjoy watching their favorite players knock a ball or two out of the park, a person who’s also enjoying it is Ty Cobb.
At the moment, Cobb has a slim lead on the all-time batting average leaderboard with .366. To give you an idea of how safe Cobb’s record is, no active player is ranked in the top 100 all-time in terms of career batting average.
There are a lot of ways to sum up the career of Ty Cobb. Aside from the Hall of Fame placement, the MVP trophy, and the triple crown he also has sitting on his mantle, Cobb was excellent at getting a hit. On two separate occasions, Cobb batted over .400, something that hasn’t been done in decades.
Unless players start valuing hits over home runs, no one will ever catch Cobb and his outrageous batting average.
![Cal Ripken Jr. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/0a451cea336043b059a1f7400a1e6248da110829d04c087baf50390dfcd5aad2.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 2,632 Consecutive games
They say the best ability is availability. And no one took that to heart more than Cal Ripken Jr.
With 2,632 consecutive games played, it’s going to be virtually impossible for anyone to catch Ripken Jr. and his record-setting number. From the age of 21 up until he reached his late 30s, if there was a game that the Baltimore Orioles had to play, best believe Ripken Jr. was not only going to play, but he was going to do major damage when he was out there.
For his career, Ripken Jr. was a 19-time All-Star, two-time MVP, 1983 World Series winner, eight-time Silver Slugger, and unsurprisingly, a Hall of Famer.
In terms of competition for his consecutive games streak, Ripken Jr. isn’t losing any sleep. In this millennium, only Miguel Tejada and the 1,152 consecutive games he registered broke through the thousand-game mark. Other than him, no one has come even close.
Considering that rest is often prioritized over players playing in every single game year in and year out, Ripken Jr.’s record will be safe for at least the next century.
![Mariano Rivera (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/cf5813131b066fe5a3d476d0af929be20ee821d2c1fd02a8e6562b9c0dd12577.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 100% of the Hall of Fame vote
Getting into the Hall of Fame is the ultimate goal for any major league player. All of the years of hard work, at least for a select few, result in their enshrinement.
Yet, no matter how great their accomplishments, even the greatest of players are doubted.
From the very beginning, there was always pushback. Voters of the Hall would always find a way to doubt the credentials of some of the greatest players to ever play the game.
Consider this, Wille Mays was given only 94.68% of the total votes. Babe Ruth was a bit higher, checking in at 95.13% and Ken Griffey Jr. received 99.32% of the total vote as all but three of the 440 voters gave him the nod. Even Cy Young barely made the 75% Hall of Fame cut as he received 76.12%. Even then, he was forced to wait until his second time around on the ballot.
Mariano Rivera in 2019, however, did the unthinkable when he aggregated 100% of the vote. Mostly known as the greatest closer of all time, it could be a long until anyone receives 100% of the Hall of Fame vote on their first trip on the ballot.
Unless, of course, a player comes along who’s better than Ruth, Griffey Jr., and Mays. Either that, or maybe voters will give players a break.
![Cy Young award (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/872cfa4704b9dab5c06090fe6b4939cc9191547879ba6bd5ae726ed9cb67c0fd.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 749 Complete games
They just don’t make em like they used to.
At one point, pitchers prided themselves on going out on the mound for the entirety of the game. They weren’t interested in a mid-game reliever. And they certainly didn’t want to see a closer coming in during the final inning to finish things off. Normally, once a pitcher started, unless they were performing terribly, they finished the game.
During the career of Cy Young, he thoroughly enjoyed playing a complete game. As it currently stands, his 749 complete games are the most all-time.
In today’s day and age, it isn’t that players refuse to pitch for nine innings, but more so, management is mostly against it, teetering on the side of caution in an attempt to preserve a player’s arm.
Picture this, Justin Verlander, an all-time great player, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, and currently, still one of the best pitchers in the game today, has only 26 complete games in his career. In fact, no active pitcher is ranked in the top 1,000 in complete games. If you believe this record will ever be broken, you’re fooling yourself.
![Cy Young (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/027e74d65d4ea54dff24939a03c285290725bdb9f012c4b3633d4a7fe54e3e1a.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 511 Wins by a pitcher
Cy Young was an incredible pitcher. His name is near the top of nearly every pitching category. He recorded the third-most wins above replacement with 163.6, he started the most games for a pitcher with 815, and last but certainly not least, his name is etched on the biggest award a pitcher can get his hands on.
We could spend practically all day speaking about how great he was throughout his career, or how vital he was to the Boston Americans Statistics 1903 World Series win. But, we’ll focus on his seemingly impossible wins record.
Young holds the major league record for wins by a pitcher with 511. The second closest is fellow Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson with 417. Discounting the final two years of his career and his first appearance in the majors, Young registered 19 straight seasons of double-digit wins.
While nothing is guaranteed, Young, at the very least, won’t lose this record for at least the next half-century. Currently, no active pitcher in the majors is ranked even close to the top 50. The two closest are Zach Greinke and Justin Verlander, a pair of pitchers who are in their late 30s.
![Rickey Henderson (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/61403c832f7b9098d2cd18e5a930c1805417f146edd269a615fb58cec1bdfc08.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 1,406 Stolen bases
When it came to stealing bases and putting yourself in the ideal position to score, Rickey Henderson is head and shoulders better than anyone.
There were plenty of great Hall of Fame players who stole bases early and often. Tim Raines ended his career with 808, while Ty Cobb blew past him by wrapping up his time in the majors with 897. Billy Hamilton and Lou Brock were even better, pushing past the 900 marks and ending their careers with close to 1,000 stolen bases.
While those numbers are great, they aren’t even close to Rickey Henderson. Over the course of a quarter century in the game, Henderson racked up 1,406 stolen bases. The 2009 Hall of Famer led the league in stolen bases a dozen times and registered triple digits in stolen bases for a season three times.
In all honesty, they should probably stop keeping track of stolen bases at this point. Henderson’s biggest competition comes from Dee Stranger-Gordon, who’s still an active player. He’s still a long way from catching up to Henderson as he’s racked up 333 stolen bases throughout his career.
Whether it’s decades from now or even centuries, we have a feeling this record isn’t going to get broken, ever.
![Cy Young award (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/96e0d76b2d42adc515fa091cd26eff9c0dc47d940d178e7618dcac2e88357d0a.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 315 Losses by a pitcher
He’s considered by some to be the greatest pitcher of all time. At the very least, Cy Young is firmly in the conversation. It’s hard to deny him when you consider that his name is etched on the one award all pitchers strives to win at the end of every season.
Place that to the side for the moment though, as we take a long, strong look at the deficiencies of Young’s game, most notably, his propensity to lose them.
In total, Young registered 315 losses throughout his Hall of Fame career. Outside of three seasons, Young registered double-digit losses in every season of his career. He rarely took time off for nagging injuries but maybe he should’ve. Only Young and Pud Galvin have cracked the 300 loss mark.
As badly as Young would love for someone to take the record off his hands, no active pitcher is currently ranked in the top 250 in losses all time. Get comfortable Young, your record is going to be there for a while.
![Nolan Ryan (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/1deb07d22bc50389a207cfd9945a621f01a4efe55ed006fca2c18211982cb47a.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 2,795 Walks
Nolan Ryan is safely in the conversation for the greatest pitcher of all time. He has eight All-Star appearances to his name, two ERA titles, played a major part in the New York Mets winning the 1969 World Series, and as you can tell by our list so far, he has some of the most unbreakable records in MLB history.
But, with so many gaudy numbers and jaw-dropping records, there were a few flaws to his game. The most glaring, was the number of batters he allowed to make it safely to first base. Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Ryan racked up 2,795 walks. That number is by far the most in history. The second highest is almost 1,000 away with 1,833 by pitcher Steve Carlton.
Ryan had just about every pitch in his tool bag. You needed someone who could zip the ball right by a batter before they could react? Ryan had you covered. How about a pitcher who could fool someone with a mean curveball? Ryan perfected that. It didn’t matter what pitch was needed from him, Ryan could dish them all out. But at times, he lost his target and the balls leaked past the strike zone.
On eight separate occasions, Ryan led the majors in walks. Even when he was in his prime and leading the league in strikeouts, he was likely going to lead it in walks as well. In the end, it doesn’t take away from his greatness but just like his other records on here, we find it impossible for anyone to surpass the number of walks he aggregated during his career.
![Nolan Ryan (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/0a513b5345c5c0bb02fef2958923915c6ee6e2ce08f32e4a8f6bd82b5d830989.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 5,714 Strikeouts
Technically, nothing is impossible. With talented baseball players appearing every year, at some point, just about every record will fall by the wayside. With that said, we can’t imagine anyone passing former pitcher Nolan Ryan for the all-time lead in strikeouts.
Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and a long list of other pitchers had Hall of Fame careers but the difference between the number of strikeouts they racked up and Ryan is laughable. With “only” 4,875 strikeouts, Johnson is almost 1,000 strikeouts off pace from Ryan’s 5,714.
It wasn’t just about the strikeouts for Ryan, but it was his overall ERA as well. In eight different seasons, Ryan ranked in the top ten in the league in that department. The biggest competition for Ryan and his strikeout record comes from active pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. At their current pace, they’ll have to continue throwing strikeouts until they’re about 400 years old before they can catch Ryan. We suppose that’s somewhat doable.
![Nolan Ryan (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/bcb1268edcb5cb6c167c1ec3e68f13a45a177d725212d1ac930544d79ff78565.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 4,256 Hits
Derek Jeter was universally praised when he cruised past the 3,000 hit mark. The number represented his Hall of Fame credentials and cemented him as one of the greatest hitters in MLB history.
But for as great as Jeter was, his 3,465 career hits don’t come within shouting distance of all-time leader Pete Rose and his 4,256. For the vast majority of his career, Rose registered triple digits in the hits department. He also easily pushed past 200 hits ten different times. Furthermore, Rose led the league in total hits seven times.
Of course, despite his credentials, Rose is mostly remembered for his gambling scandal as opposed to his ability to register hit after hit. Second place Ty Cobb is safely tucked into his position with 4,189 hits. But outside of those two, no other player has registered at least 4,000.
So what does that mean? Well, it’s going to be a very long time until someone comes even close to surpassing Rose for the all-time lead.
![Ty Cobb (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/ccb6dbfac894b4ccdf74991462fe28b015c0d90904e8a7d6fae5e8ed03d45a1f.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 9 Straight batting titles
This one should come as no surprise, but with Ty Cobb holding the major league record for batting average, it doesn’t shock us to see how many batting titles he won in a row.
As a member of the Detriot Tigers in AL, Cobb’s name repeatedly rose to the top of the charts in terms of batting titles at the end of the season. By the time Cobb wrapped up his Hall of Fame career, he managed to pile up nine straight batting titles from 1907-1915.
Impossible is such a strong and direct word. Essentially, it indicates that no matter how hard someone tries, they’ll simply never be able to accomplish something. And while we know anything is possible, the likelihood of someone passing this record is extremely minuscule.
There has been several great players who strung together a few batting titles such as Nap Lajoie, Rod Carew, and Wade Boggs, all who registered four straight but no one has been able to truly challenge Cobb’s and at this point, barring some ridiculously talented player who eventually makes their way to the majors, this record will stand forever.
![Joe Sewell](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/449a293bc6b6c0db1aad39acd9ddcac95de553558c915677fd9abe2268f0bb54.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 3 Strikeouts
Strikeouts come in bunches in today’s day and age. With some of the best players having a tendency to swing for the fences, strikeouts happen early and often.
While no one wants to take the long walk of shame back to the dugout after striking out, the rewards for swinging big can pay off in a huge way, like in the form of home runs.
Although players aren’t castigated too much for ineffective play at the plate, Joe Sewell was never interested in having three strikes called against him. And during the 1932 season, he was flat-out outrageous at the plate. On the year, Sewell struck out, are you ready for this? Three times.
As impressive as Sewell was that season, he was always effective during his career. For nine straight seasons, Sewell registered single-digit strikeout seasons. His closest competition comes from Nellie Fox. He struck out 12 times in both 1961 and 1962.
Unless players begin settling for making contact as opposed to swinging for homers, Sewell’s record will last forever.
![Hughie Jennings (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/c12f3011a7c4a1ffb649b32b6b9f2c46f1e62cce8a2382d93699e48d5da49929.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 51 Times hit by pitch
It’s never any fun. In fact, it’s a moment that most players absolutely hate.
The most irritating and freighting part about standing in the batter’s box, is when a 100 mile per hour fastball suddenly gets off track and heads straight towards the direction of the hitter. It doesn’t matter if it’s done on purpose or by accident. It also doesn’t matter what body part gets blasted, it all hurts the same.
During the 1896 season, Hughie Jennings had himself a particularly painful year. In total, the Hall of Fame Shortstop and First Baseman was on the wrong end of a ton of bad pitches. By the end of the year, Jennings was hit 51 total times, the most in MLB history. Jennings also holds the record for the third and fourth most hit by pitches in a single season as well.
Considering that pitchers suffer huge suspensions for hitting batters today, the frequency in which it occurs isn’t nearly as high. Currently, Anthony Rizzo is the only active player who came within somewhat of shouting distance, registering 30 in 2017. Still, with Jennings holding the record for over a century, we doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.
![Chicago Cubs (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/010626515e76d368502cd84c1905ee13ea9cf66e735679a92c6dea5a81ebcf4c.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 108 Years of waiting
Not every team is the New York Yankees. Meaning, not every franchise will find itself winning World Series on a consistent basis.
The Cleveland Indians currently hold the record for the longest World Series drought with 72 years. No matter how ashamed Cleveland fans are, they don’t hold the record for the longest World Series drought in MLB history. That belongs to the Cubs.
The Chicago based franchise went a ridiculous 108 years between World Series Championships. They officially ended their drought in 2016 against ironically enough, the Cleveland Indians. In all honesty, the Cubs were just a few plays away from continuing their streak.
After dropping three of the first four games, the Cubs were forced to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to get the job done. They ultimately went on to win both Game 5 and 7 by a single run.
In the end, the Cubs may have ended the longest championship drought in MLB history but considering that they are now starting over, having traded away essentially their entire core, they could be in stored for another long title drought.
![Yankees logo (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/e2b8340e7caa3ce1efe76940df34f43cb582a551a380a5c8e109e67987d26f1f.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 15 World Series appearances in 18 years
The New York Yankees are by far the most accomplished franchise in MLB history. With 40 appearances in the World Series, along with 27 titles, no one else compares. Their closest competition, the Arizona Cardinals, aren’t even in the same galaxy as they’ve won 11 World Series.
As impressive as winning 27 World Series is, that’s not the reason why we have them on this list.
Over a half-century ago, the Yankees went on the most ridiculous run in history. From 1947-1964, the Yankees appeared in 15 World Series. We’re fairly confident that it’ll never happen again.
Not only did they make 15 appearances in 18 seasons but they also made the best of those title shots. In total, the Yankees won 10 championships during their run, including five straight.
While players are generally bigger, stronger, and faster in today’s game, they also move around frequently. During the earlier years of baseball, it was commonplace for a player to spend the vast majority of his career in one destination. Now, with teams loading up consistently, going on the sort of run the Yankees did a half-century ago, simply isn’t going to happen.
![Walter Johnson (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/6b49db332cb207e07e71bc0aa2c1523716b21f43daec9bfd4b2f23c97e829069.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 110 shutouts by Walter Johnson
There are a few things that a pitcher can look back on and smile about. Number one on their list is most likely a perfect game. Much like the name indicates, it gets no better than that. After that would be to have a no-hitter. Putting together a game where either of those occurs would be about as good as it gets.
But, to have a game in which a shutout takes place, a pitcher would gladly take it. Leaving the opposing team on donut is a symbol of dominance and embarrassment for the opposite side.
There was no one in the history of the game who was better at pitching a shutout than Walter Johnson. Currently, he has the all-time lead with 110. The next highest on said list is Pete Alexander with 90.
In 11 seasons, Johnson managed to pitch shutouts six different times and he’s the only pitcher in history to hit triple digits. If you’re waiting and hoping that someone will eventually surpass Johnson’s record, get comfortable. Even Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer and considered one of the best ever, isn’t registered in the top 400.
As for the number he has at the moment, well, he only has 15.
![Hank Aaron (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/a66d6980db892936d763f67df1d921a2e98a5007004c10f0ccf8f02933751a46.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 25 All-Star selections
This record is a bit unfair but that’s exactly why it will never be broken.
Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Hank Aaron managed to rack up 25 All-Star selections. His all-time record in that department has a bit of an asterisk next to it though. Technically, on paper, Aaron was chosen to the All-Star game in every season other than his first and last. Considering that he played 23 seasons, that would mean that Aaron was selected to 21 All-Star games.
Bear with us though, as we break out the pen and paper and work on our math skills.
From 1959-1962, there were two All-Star Games played. The reasoning behind the additional All-Star Game was to raise money for several causes, one being the player’s pension. The whole experiment didn’t last very long but in the process, it allowed Aaron to pile up an additional four more selections.
Unless someone plays at an extremely high level for roughly three decades, or they bring back the multiple All-Star Games, there’s a good chance no one will play long enough and well enough to catch Aaron.
![Nolan Ryan (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/2662a4762c3e1e248e3bb0e2e2e8e52b4703a9c8d3aed8928d14d64488bb7137.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: Back to back no-hitters
Now yes, we’ve touched upon Nolan Ryan and his ridiculous record of seven no-hitters. But no matter how great he was at racking them up he, and everyone else for that matter, never put together back-to-back no-hitter games.
Well, no one other than Johnny Vander Meer.
It may have taken place before most of our readers were born but we can assure you it actually happened. Back in 1938, Vander Meer, in only his second season, registered a no-hitter against the Boston Bees. Four days later, in his next start, he did it again, this time against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
As difficult as it is to get one no-hitter, it’s almost impossible to string together two in a row. But, in all fairness, Max Scherzer almost pulled it off in 2015. He managed to register one no-hitter and followed it up with a one-hitter in his next start.
Ultimately though, getting close isn’t going to pry this record away from Vander Meer. In the end, throughout the history of baseball, only one man has recorded back-to-back no-hitters. And by the looks of it, his name will stand alone in the record books.
![Sam Crawford (Photo Reproduction by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/f224d67c835ec5590ee56fee93dd6163b5c2411e4c84edf9964b81c625a6397a.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 309 Career triples
It’s fairly difficult to get a good read on the ball when it’s hit. At times, once a batter registers a hit, they simply throw down their bat and make a run for the bases. Their of course aided by their coaches who ultimately tell them when to stop and when to take a chance.
When it comes to putting enough mustard on the ball for a single or double, it’s fairly easy to tell. But when it comes to taking that extra base and turn a double into a triple, that’s when things get tricky. Although they are generally hard to come by, Sam Crawford found a way to master the art of hitting them.
In total, Crawford racked up 309 triples for his career. He’s the only player in MLB history to push through the 300 barrier. Some of the greatest hitters the game has ever seen, don’t even come close to Crawford’s numbers.
Babe Ruth and Pete Rose, both considered all-time greats, managed to put together 271 triples which aren’t that far off from Crawford. But when you realize that their number represents their combined efforts, maybe then you’ll have a deeper appreciation for Crawford and what he was able to accomplish.
Presently, no current player has managed to even register triple digits in career triples. Meaning, Crawford’s record is as safe as they come.
![Mets. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/355c7dcc867d9597d0bad1aae8bc7011bb9b2e098ee3976c5856e7cd7dc834bf.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: Lead off homers
Now we know that most of the records on this list seem to have taken place in the stone ages. But, we have one that took place extremely recently.
During a game this season between two teams that unsurprisingly won’t be making a playoff appearance, let alone a World Series run, both the New York Mets and Miami Marlins made a bit of history.
Starting in his customary lead-off role, Miguel Rojas stepped up to the plate in the first inning for the Marlins. Pitcher Carlos Carrasco took a long look at his man and let his first pitch rip. Rojas liked what he saw and cranked one out of the park. Not to be outdone, Jonathan Villar kicked things off for the Mets in the bottom of the inning. While pitcher Sandy Alcantara attempted to get his man to swing at a bad pitch, Villar’s swing actually resulted in an instant home run.
It was the first time in MLB history that both teams hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch. Could a pair of leadoff hitters eventually duplicate that feat? Considering that both were able to hit homers on the very first pitch, we have our doubts.
![Vlad Guerrero Jr. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/39c5bbf3bc815575d14b38c49f21ac4cc704c0c5c074204795ca705ee91eb4b6.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 91 Home Run Derby Homers
It may have been viewed as just a fun way to entertain the fans, but that doesn’t mean a record wasn’t set on the night.
In 2019, Vlad Guerrero Jr. showed up and showed out. Winning the Home Run derby usually indicates that a possible star could be on the horizon. Guerrero Jr. may have ultimately lost, but he still made sure his name is known in MLB circles.
On the night, Guerrero Jr. blasted an MLB record 91 home runs. It was by far the most homers in the event’s history. The second closest at the time was Giancarlo Stanton who sent 61 homers into the bleachers in 2016. Since then, Pete Alonso has inched closer, registering 74 home runs in 2021.
No matter how impressive Guerrero Jr.’s performance actually was, he’s still kicking himself for allowing the moment to slip through his fingers. After both players made it through the first few rounds, everything was on the line in the finals. In true movie-like fashion, Alonso managed to creep ahead and take down his man by a score of 23-22.
It was a heartbreaking way to go out. And while we’re sure Guerrero Jr. wishes he took home the win, his record-setting 91 homers should placate his shortcomings.
![Hank Aaron (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/6593ff7b03231142ff87710b4f0b05644be3a9c63eb218d881eebf9f7cc59349.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: 6,856 total bases
Hank Aaron was one of the best players to get on base. No matter the circumstances, more times than not, his team could depend on him to make the best of his plate appearances.
By the time he wrapped up his Hall of Fame career, Aaron managed to collect 6,856 total bases, an all-time record. Stan Musial and Willie Mays both cracked through the 6,000 barrier but neither man could overtake Aaron for the lead.
While Aaron is enjoying his time sitting at the top of the charts, he’s keeping a close eye on Albert Pujols. Currently, the future first ballot Hall of Famer has just a shade over 6,000, the only active player to do so. It’s unlikely, however, that Pujols has enough time in the majors to surpass Aaron as he’s well into his early 40s.
Throughout his career, Aaron’s name continually pops up on the all-time leaderboards in several statistics. He’s ranked number seven all-time in Wins Above Replacement with 143.1, third in games played with 3,298, and fourth in runs scored with 2,174.
Although several of his records have been broken, he’ll sit at the top of the total bases charts for an incredibly long time.
![Atlanta Braves logo (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/27544767660b37c3e1f8bcdce23c7dda8e57c95589593c7b144e92c1ecc22cb6.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: Two grand slams in one inning
Hitting a home run is special. The sound of the ball cracking off the bat as the crowd rises to its feet to watch it leave the park. It’s one of the best feelings for a hitter and one of the most embarrassing for a pitcher.
But while hitting one is already special, hitting a grand slam is the ultimate accomplishment for a hitter. Their team has done everything right. Each of their teammates occupies the first, second, and third base, and their simply waiting on you to send one ball out of the park. Although it’s rare, grand slams happen during the course of a season. However, it’s virtually impossible for a player to hit two of them…in the same inning.
Yet, that’s exactly what Fernando Tatis was able to accomplish in 1999 as a member of the Atlanta Braves against the Los Angles Dodgers.
After hitting a grand slam in the third inning, the Braves, and more importantly, Tatis, wasn’t done just yet. With his ball club continuing to light up the scoreboard, they once again loaded the bases in the same inning when Tatis stepped up to the plate.
Just as he did just a few minutes earlier, Tatis knocked the ball out of the park, giving him his second grand slam in one inning. Since then, no one has come close to repeating that feat.
![Dazzy Vance (Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/c5fde002c5f023219deccf7b052458ea845c31b422fc023189276e37c4aa9b2f.jpg)
The most unbreakable records in MLB history: The longest Hall of Fame wait
For most of his career, Dazzy Vance was considered one of the best pitchers around. It was for good reason, he routinely registered an ERA under 3.00 and on three separate occasions, Vance led the entire majors in ERA.
In addition to those accolades, Vance led the league in strikeouts on seven separate occasions and complete games twice. We also can’t forget that Vance took home an MVP Award and played a major role in helping the St. Louis Cardinals win a World Series.
Yet, no matter how great Vance appeared to be, Hall of Fame voters viewed his career as meh. Once he decided to retire in 1935, he waited, waited, and waited some more for his name to get the call. But no matter how many times his name appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot, he was consistently ignored.
In total, Vance waited 16 years before he was finally enshrined. Out of all the records on this list, there is no doubt that this one will never be broken. Why you might ask? Well, the Hall of Fame has changed their rules. Now, a player is only allowed to stay on the ballot for a total of ten years. Unless those rules are changed, no one will ever break this record.
Next. MLB Trade Deadline: 20 wackiest trade stories in league history. dark