Throughout the history sports there have been records that seem to be unbreakable, however, no matter how unreachable a record seems eventually almost all records are caught up to and surpassed. That statement is true even in the MLB and the NBA where it seems like the records made in the early days of the professional game could never be broken because of how absurd they are. One of such records happens to be what many consider the most unbreakable record not just only for the sport but throughout all sports.
89 years ago, DiMaggio entered the game against the Chicago White Sox as one of the best center fielders in the game, he would leave the game one game into the most impressive streak in sports history.
When you look at unbreakable sports records only a few names come up in any conversation, Wilt Chamberlain (numerous), Cal Ripken Jr. (consecutive games played), Cy Young (Wins), Wayne Gretzky (numerous), and Joe DiMaggio for a remarkable hitting streak.
Coming into the game DiMaggio was batting .304 with a .949 OPS, however, he had gone hitless in his past two games, potentially entering a slump. What came next turned out to be the exact opposite of a slump, it turned out to be possible the hottest a hitter ever was over a specific period.
The Yankees were off to a rough start on the young season, at 14-15 they were looking for some kind off spark to get them going. Well, that is exactly what happened over the next 56 games. During DiMaggio’s remarkable hitting streak, the Yankees went 41-13-2, increasing their season record to 55-28-2, a small step that they would take to eventually become the American League pennant winner and World Series winner.
In the first inning in the game against the White Sox, DiMaggio was batting fourth in the lineup and came up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second. DiMaggio was facing southpaw Eddie Smith and he would single in the only run that the Yankees would score that game. DiMaggio would only go 1-4 in the 13-1 loss to the White Sox, but it would be the game that ignited the 56-game hitting streak.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Yankees, but their fortune would soon turn around in large part to the fantastic hitting from DiMaggio in his 56-game hitting streak.