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| | Top ten seemingly unbreakbale recordsPage 1 of 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | From Askmen magazine.
Whenever the inevitable debate arises among sports fans concerning the record that is the least likely to ever be broken, many people are quick to cite Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak.
But there are many other -- perhaps lesser-known -- achievements by athletes or teams that are likely to still be standing well into the future. Here are the Top 10 unbreakable sports records.
Number 10
Rocky Marciano's 49-0
Boxing
Marciano began his professional career in 1947 by beating Lee Epperson, and over the next eight years, he proceeded to defeat all 49 of his opponents, 43 by knockout. In doing so, Marciano became the first heavyweight to go undefeated throughout his entire career.
Marciano's record was challenged in 1985 by Larry Holmes, who got to 48-0 before losing to Michael Spinks. However, with today's crop of heavyweights being underwhelming, his mark seems likely to stand the test of time.
Number 9
Michael Schumacher's 7 championships
F1 Driving
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut in 1991, and just one year later, he managed a third-place finish in the overall drivers' standings. By 1994, Schumacher had truly arrived, winning the first of his seven F1 points titles. He performed the feat again in 1995, then moved over to the Ferrari team and won each year between 2000 and 2004. His 2003 season victory moved him ahead of Juan Fangio, who finished atop the standings five times.
Schumi also holds the F1 record for most race wins with 83 (Alain Prost is a distant second with 51) and most wins in a season with 13. All three records are unlikely to be overturned.
Number 8
Ty Cobb's .366 career batting average
Baseball
The Georgia Peach played 24 seasons from 1905 to 1928, and outside of his rookie year, he never hit below .316. Regardless of one's opinion of Cobb as a person, his incredible statistics are indisputable: he hit over .380 nine times, batted above .400 three times, and finished with a career batting average of .366, well ahead of Rogers Hornsby, whose .358 places him second.
The closest active player is Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies, who entered the 2005 season hitting .339, meaning that Cobb's lofty average is in no danger of being surpassed yet.
Number 7
Nolan Ryan's 7 no-hitters
Baseball
Nolan Ryan broke into baseball in 1966 as the second-youngest player in the league. By the time he retired as Major League Baseball's oldest in 1993, he had thrown seven no-hitters, making him by far the all-time record holder (Sandy Koufax sits second, with four). Ryan's first no-no came on May 15, 1973, and he recorded his second exactly two months later.
He then proceeded to record one in each of the next two seasons, threw another in 1981 to set the record, and then added one no-hitter per season in 1990 and 1991 (made all the more incredible by his advanced age of 43 and 44 years old, respectively) to seal his position on top.
Number 6
Wayne Gretzky's 215-point season
Hockey
While all of Gretzky's records seem unbreakable (with 2,857 points, he's nearly 1,000 ahead of second-place Mark Messier), this mark set in 1985-'86 simply can't be surpassed. A player not only needs scoring punch but durability; during this magical season, The Great One averaged 2.69 points per game. In NHL history, only Mario Lemieux has even come close to matching that pace over a campaign, but he didn't play all 80 games, as Gretzky did.
Also, with the style of NHL play having changed so much -- last season's scoring leader recorded just 94 points -- multiple-point outbursts just won't happen.
Number 5
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point night
Basketball
Like Gretzky's and some of the other records that follow on this list, Wilt's 100 points in a game will not be challenged simply because the sport has changed so much. In an era in which entire teams often struggle to score 100 points in a game, a repeat of what happened on March 2, 1962 isn't likely.
During the game, Chamberlain also set records for most field goals (36), free throws (28 of 32), points in a quarter (31), and points in a half (59), while breaking his own record of 78 points in a game set earlier that season. Incidentally, Wilt also holds another scoring record (20,000) that's unlikely to be broken, but we'll leave that for another article.
Number 4
John Wooden's 88 straight wins
Basketball
Another relic of a bygone era, this record harkens back to when college players stuck around for four years and turned their programs into dynasties. Under the tutelage of the Wizard of Westwood and with Bill Walton leading the way, the UCLA Bruins won 88 straight games -- between two losses to Notre Dame on January 23, 1971 and January 19, 1974 -- a span that included three of the record seven straight NCAA championships won by UCLA from 1967 to 1973.
To get an idea of just how hard these feats are to replicate, reflect on the fact that no team has gone undefeated for even a single season since 1976, and no other school has ever won more than two straight titles.
Number 3
Cy Young's 511 wins
Baseball
Young had the benefit of pitching from 1890 to 1911, an era in which hurlers could finish what they started. He picked up wins by throwing 749 complete games out of 815 starts on his way to setting a record that will undoubtedly never be topped. In 1903, Young got his 365th win, passing Pud Galvin for the record, and proceeded to add nearly 150 more victories for good measure.
A pitcher today would need to average 25 wins a season for 21 years to surpass Young; with an average of just 35 starts each year, that's an all-but-impossible task.
Number 2
Jerry Rice's 22,895 receiving yards
Football
This record, and the one that follows it for top spot, earn their positions by virtue of the fact that they were set quite recently, and yet are still of mythic proportions. In other words, Rice is playing the same style of game as current players, and yet he's so far above and beyond them that his accomplishments can't be touched.
This is the most iron-clad of Rice's records set during his career that began in 1985, although he also holds the records for most catches with 1,549 and touchdowns with 197. The next-closest player is Tim Brown, who is nearly 8,000 yards behind. Even for a young star like Randy Moss to catch Rice, he'd have to average nearly 1,400 yards per year for the next 10 seasons, at which point he'll be 38. Don't count on it.
Number 1
Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games
Baseball
Likewise, Ripken set his record in the modern era, and that lends it extra credence in the pantheon of sports accomplishments. Lou Gehrig's "Iron Man" record of 2,130 games was widely regarded as "unbreakable," but Ripken not only passed it on September 6, 1995, he also added an extra 500 straight games before he finally decided to take the pressure off and end the streak. That move, on September 20, 1998, brought to a close a remarkable run that had begun over 16 years earlier on May 30, 1982, and that included a string between June 5, 1982, and September 14, 1987, in which Ripken played 8,243 straight innings.
Considering that only four players were present in all 162 of their team's games in 2004, Ripken's record looks even more impressive, and beyond challenge.
sports exploits
Tennis great Pete Sampras came close to making the list, with his 14 Grand Slam titles placing him tops among male players of all time. The same goes for Ted "the Splendid Splinter" Williams of the Boston Red Sox, who finished his career with an on-base percentage of .482.
But while challengers may take aim at Sampras' and Williams' marks, and at the other records mentioned above, it will take a truly phenomenal player to eclipse any of these incredible athletic achievements.
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/1/2005 1:39:37 PM | I don't agree with the idea Gretzky's numbers are unbreakable - especially with the NHL trying to stack the deck in the offenses favor in teh new NHL (if the new NHL ever gets underway).
And Nolan Ryan's record is only unbreakable as long as baseball remains stacked in the batter's favor. With a lower pitching mound, smaller parks and the DH (even though Nolan had to face it, as well as the lower mound), the game is shifted intot he offenses favor. Now that performance enhancers are banned from the game, the game is shifting back to pitching - it will be a while before we see dividends ont hat. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/1/2005 11:19:02 PM | | Nobody will ever get past John Wooden, because the teams don't last that long. The NBA snaps 'em up. Cy Young, Wilt, Nolan's records' will be unchanged. When boxing unifies, maybe that record will hold, NHL is dead, get used to it Canada! | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/1/2005 11:41:00 PM | Rocky Marciano's 49-0: I could see this falling because of the lacklustre nature of today's heavyweight division. When the next big thing comes along, he's gonna have a lot of chaff to cut through.
Wayne Gretzky's 215-point season: Even if the NHL folds, there will be professional hockey in Canada. As a nation, we're too crazy for the stuff. Another league would start, and up here at least, all would continue pretty much as it was. Might even be an improvement gamewise. That said, the only way Gretzky's mark falls is if, as stated above, the NHL resumes play and makes all the changes they're talking about. (Smaller Goalie pads, bigger nets, no Center ice line, etc.)
Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games: This one will stand for a long time. Steroids don't make for longevity. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/2/2005 2:36:31 AM | | great list frosty but i would have put cy young first and cal ripken second.only because i doubt you will ever see a 300 game winner again let alone 511. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/5/2005 4:56:55 PM | | I don't remember exactly when, but Wilt Chamberlain's 50 points per game average for an entire season has to be included on any list. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/6/2005 1:20:01 PM |
NHL is dead, get used to it Canada!
Actually, due to the salary caps; the teams will be more evenly matched. Thus; making it more exciting dude. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/8/2005 2:06:46 AM | | The Bulls record of 72-10 will not be accomplished by any team in the next 20 years. Mark my words. Its not impossible, but looking at the teams now in the NBA I don't see anybody nearing that. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/10/2005 5:09:40 PM | The only sport I am into is Nascar,
#1 on my list would be
Richard Petty
200 nascar wins
Nobody will ever break that record, nobody. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/10/2005 5:48:10 PM | bad news about Cal's record. Hideki Matsui is now at about 1800 straight games including when he was in the Japan leagues.
I think that Gretzky's records are in sane. Think about it, someone if they averaged 100 points a year would have to play 28 years to catch him. No one, and I mean no one will break that record. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/10/2005 9:52:07 PM | Ricky Carmichael's records in motocross and supercross will be hard to beat. He has 13 championships now against the fastest guys in the world, and the next guy only has 8 (and is retired--Jeremy Mcgrath). He has accumulated 120 wins two weekends ago. the only record RC does not own is Jermey McGraths 72 Supercross wins. But combined MX and SX is the 120 wins RC has. He also has a 78 or 79% win ratio over his whole pro career of 8.5 years right now. If he gets beat, he works super hard (and is known for working hard like a triathelete as it is) during the week, and comes back swinging the next race.---You can see it on the track, it is so profound.
Who are those other guys you guys are talking about anyway? Never heard of them. :) | |
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ta06
| | Joined: 7/10/2005
Msg: 13 | |
| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/11/2005 10:21:45 AM | | glascow rangers have won 51 scottish league titles. next in line is celtic with 39. i don't think that rangers' total number of titles will always be number one in scottish football because it will be impossible for celtic to win 12 consecutive titles. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/11/2005 9:16:20 PM | It seems no one exists outside of America and Canada (although the Schu got a mention from Germany).
I don't know if any of you guys have heard of Australia, and in particular the game of cricket, but Sir Donald Bradman finished his test cricket career with a batting average of 99.94.
The next best of all time is somewhere in the 50's.
ALthough I wasn't alive when The Don was playing, I have seen video footage and also an amazing piece of him hitting a golf ball against a brick wall using a cricket stump without missing for good on 10 minutes.
He was apparently a scatch mark golfer.
While on golf, there was no mention of Jacks' 18 majors. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/12/2005 4:57:58 AM | Can't see anyone breaking Gretzky's record;stats like his are incredible and to do that in a 19 year span ('80 to '99) is absolutely phenomenal.
Frrosty;hope,you're right about better,more exciting games when salary caps are introduced,
because ,seeing a team like the Rangers(no disrespect to Messier),with an $80 mil.+ roster ,fall flat on their ass like they did in their last season,proved that big money doesn't neccessarily mean big play. | |
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boxman
| | Joined: 4/14/2005
Msg: 17 | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/12/2005 4:07:31 PM | @emuglenn
Yep, Donald Bradman's record will NEVER get beat...his record is almost obscene, pity he couldn't have had an average of 100...but noone's perfect.
As for Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors, its great
....but then there's Tiger Woods, if anybody can beat it he will...the most driven man in sport. He's halfway there, my money is on him winning 20-25 majors barring any serious injuries...time will tell. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/12/2005 8:15:09 PM | motocross and supercross are types of dirt bike racing (motorcycle)
I find it hard to believe you have never heard of it, but if you haven't you should try watching it. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/13/2005 3:39:28 AM | @ at fates gate
Yes I agree Tiger will be the only hope in my lifetime but as for 20-25 majors it;s a huge target.
I'm glad I haven't got my money on 'cause i'll probably be dead by the time he got there...hahaha
On the British Open this week i'm quite keen on a couple of locals in Ian Poulter and David Howell. I'll be having $5 on each at 150/1 with the Aussie bookies.
Both guys play St Andrews pretty good.
Back to cricket, the Aussies are unbeatable to retain the ASHES...sorry mate but a facts a fact...hehehe
TIP: get on Gilchrist to top the batting averages for the series | |
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boxman
| | Joined: 4/14/2005
Msg: 21 | |
| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/13/2005 6:57:36 AM | Actually I've heard of both, and even tried watching them once. Booooring. Looks like someone designed a sport for poorly dressed children.
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/13/2005 11:15:35 AM | | it seems that the six year straight overall champion and his team has been ignored? but, it seems there is much ado about an individual on a "team". michacel johnson was mentioned, unfortunately "individuality" is frowned upon in most capitalistic societies. oops forgot to remention Ricky again! do ya think ya could come up with an "individual" all time list? and it would to helpt to emphasize who made it because of a team and who made it as an individual. | |
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| Top ten seemingly unbreakbale records
Posted: 7/19/2005 6:21:30 AM | As a fellow Aussie, I will speak up for The Don, Sir Donald Bradman that is or as our prime minister seems to want to say 'GOD'
The man stands 7 standard deviations from the mean of the top 100 test averages of all time which is absolutesly massive (the next closest is just under 2, and if we ignore his outlier like good statisticians he is 11 standard deviations from the mean, which is almost undeterminable as an odd, well past 1 in a trillion and that is in a population made up of the 100 best the world has ever seen). As a comparrison baseballs top at bat is only 2.8 standard deviations from the mean of the top 100 measureable as around 1 in 500.
Until very recently he was still the highest ever 1 innings Australian Scorer. He also did his entire career at a strike rate of 80%, very very high for a single test batting innings let alone an entire career.
Add the fact his career lasted twenty years and he lost the middle 7 years to WW2 and his dominance of the sport of cricket is obvious. Unfortunately his last at bat only required him to score just 4 runs to move his average to 100 (retired with the average at 99.96). Which is about the equivalent of a home run in baseball, or a strong in field goal in soccer and that is his long term international career average, imagine a base ball player who would effectively smash a home run in every game in a playoff or a soccer player who would always score in a intenational. He has 6 of the top 20 full series aggregate scores in history including the highest and the only series with a double century average.
He has twice the double centuries of his nearest rival (a double century would be the equivalent of a triple home run or a hattrick in international soccer, Rare). As to tripple centuries he is the only player to score 2 and missed a third by 1 run in a not out innings. After 60 years he still holds 4 International Ground high scores. Of the top 60 highest ever innings scores he holds 10%.
I won't go into his First class career (equiv of regular season in major league or premier league) lets just say it was better.
Statistically the man is effectively unmeasureable. | |
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