The “Unbreakable” Record: DiMaggio’s 56-Game Hitting Streak

On July 16, 1941, Joe DiMaggio went 3 for 4, hitting in his 56th straight game. He would fail to get a hit on July 17. Many believe this to be an unbreakable record. What is more remarkable is that after the Indians game, he hit safely over the next 16 games meaning he hit safely in 72 of 73 games. That should be in the record books as well. An excerpt from the article:

"The mark is 76 years old and still deserves respect…and a fresh look.

In 1941, Ted Williams, the greatest hitter ever in the eyes of many, ended the season with a .406 average—the last Major Leaguer to bat over .400.


But Williams’ achievement was overshadowed by an even more impressive hitting display that season: Joe DiMaggio’s streak of hitting safely in 56 straight games.

The 1941 season was 76 seasons ago, but that doesn’t matter to true baseball fans. The 56-game hitting streak is an incredible feat—likely never to be broken—set by Mr. Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper, one of the best players of all time.

Here’s a look at the streak and some interesting related baseball facts, from a variety of perspectives…to help keep DiMaggio’s amazing record alive in our minds and hearts, and to look at it with fresh eyes.

Right off the bat.

There were two records (and two players) that DiMaggio was chasing as the batting streak got serious. The “modern” day record at the time was held by George Sisler, who in 1922 hit in 41 straight games; and there was the 45-game streak by “Wee” Willie Keeler, set in 1897. The game had changed significantly in the four decades since Keeler had set the record, but it was good that DiMaggio broke Keeler’s record, to stand alone with the mark.

• As it turns out, if DiMaggio’s streak had ended at 46 after passing Keeler, it would it remain the record today.
• It’s interesting to note that DiMaggio broke Keeler’s mark 44 years after Keeler established the record.
• The person to come closest to DiMaggio’s record since 1941 was Pete Rose, whose streak in 1978 reached 44 games."

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