Baseball’s most untouchable records aren’t just numbers – they’re reminders of how much the game has changed over the decades.
Take pitching records. Back in 1879, Will White threw 75 complete games in a single season. Today’s top pitchers might start 33 games total if they stay healthy all year. Even if they somehow completed every single game, they’d still be way short.
The legendary Cy Young’s numbers look like they’re from another planet. He pitched 749 complete games in his career. For perspective, current star Gerrit Cole has started 317 games in his 12-year career – and completed just eight of them.
Young’s 511 career wins? Justin Verlander, one of the best pitchers of this era, has 262 wins at age 41. He might not even reach 270.
The innings pitched records are just as mind-boggling. Will White threw 680 innings in 1879. Last year’s MLB leader, Logan Gilbert, threw 208 innings. That’s less than a third of White’s total.
Even the great Nolan Ryan, who pitched for 27 seasons and was known for his incredible durability, finished nearly 2,000 innings short of Cy Young’s career mark of 7,356.
When it comes to hitting, some records seem equally safe. Ty Cobb’s career .366 batting average? In today’s game, with pitchers throwing harder than ever and relievers coming in with fresh arms throwing 99 mph, it’s hard to imagine anyone coming close.
Pete Rose’s 4,256 career hits? Freddie Freeman, one of today’s best pure hitters, is 35 years old and only halfway there.
Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak looks untouchable too. In the past 20+ years, only 11 players have even managed a 30-game streak. The longest was Jimmy Rollins at 38 games.
Some power numbers are safe too. Barry Bonds’ 762 career home runs would require averaging 37.5 homers for 20 straight years just to get close. That’s assuming perfect health and consistent elite performance for two decades.
And Cal Ripken Jr.’s streak of 2,632 consecutive games? That’s like playing every single game for more than 16 full seasons. In today’s era of load management and injury prevention, it’s hard to imagine anyone even trying to chase that record.
These records aren’t just numbers – they’re snapshots of how baseball used to be played. They remind us that while today’s players might be bigger, stronger and more skilled than ever, some achievements from the past will likely stand forever.
