Are there World Series records waiting to be broken in 2010? You bet. Sure most fans will be much more interested in which teams make the playoffs, survive to play in the World Series and which team emerges as World Champion. But if your team doesn’t make it to the Series or you are an avid baseball fan, you can also enjoy watching to see what happens to these World Series records just waiting to be broken in 2010
Most runs in a Game. Looking at the teams moving towards the 2010 playoffs and beyond it’s hard not to think chiefly of great offense, especially in the American League where the Yankees, Red Sox, Texas and even outsiders like Toronto have been piling up offensive statistics all season long. The National League is not without its sluggers either and in order for them to be competitive in the World Series it would seem that the National League team would have to put up some serious offensive stats. Add to this the fact that the World Series is a showcase for the best players in baseball and well you can almost feel the tension to get on and get in on every at bat.
To beat the standing World Series record for most runs scored in a game by one player, which stands at 4, some player is going to have to be involved in a high scoring affair with lots of at bats, possibly even an extra inning game. The current record is held by, among others, one Babe Ruth. It’s a worthy pursuit and achieving it would put the successful player in the same category as the Bambino and 7 other players. The 4 runs in a game mark was most recently attained by less than Hall of Famers Carney Lansford, 1989 and Lenny Dykstra, 1993. It’s within the reach of almost any focused and fortunate competitor who happens to get lucky.
Most Hits in a Game
This record hasn’t been touched since being set in 1982 when Paul Molitor of the Brewers smacked out 5 hits in a single World Series Game. This looks like a record meant for someone hitting at the top of the order who is most likely, even in a regular 9 inning game to get that extra at bat or two. Of course to tie or break the record doesn’t just mean coming up to bat it means getting a hit every time – against the starter, the middle reliever, the set up man and the closer. This is no easy task and explains why Paul Molitor holds the record all by himself. Enjoy tracking anyone who looks to come close.
Most Home Runs in a Series
This might be the record that people take the greatest interest in from the offensive side of the game – it’s the ultimate power record. The competition is so stiff that there are distinct record holders according to the number of games played in each World Series.
If this year’s series only takes 4 games to wrap up, which is unlikely, the man to beat in the hunt for a new World Series record is none other than Lou Gehrig of the Yankees whose mark of 4 home runs has stood since 1928. In a 5 game series the record of 3 belongs to Donn Clendenon of the Mets in 1969. If this year’s World Series stretches to 6 games the mark has been set high by Reggie Jackson of the Yankees back in 1977 with 5 home runs in the series. If the fall classic is a standard 7 games, the number of home runs to beat is 4, a record shared by Babe Ruth of the Yankees, Duke Snider of the Dodgers ( twice), Hank Bauer of the Yanks and Gene Tenace of the A’s, a record that has been out there since 1972.
Most Walks in a game If you like your offense conducted via the “base on balls” route, you need to be watching the top of the order again for someone who is going to get 5 at bats and walk every single time. The standing World Series record for most walks in a single game is 4 held jointly by players as notable as the Babe and Jackie Robinson and less famously by Doug Decinces, the last player to accomplish this fete for the Orioles in 1979. It doesn’t have the explosive thrill of the round tripper but it can still eventually get the job done.
Most games won by a relief pitcher. If you are more interested in squeaking out games by tough pitching then look for some relief pitcher in the 2010 World Series to get more than 2 wins. That record is held by 7 relievers most recently including Mike Stanton for the Yankees just 10 years ago. Both leagues have some great relievers and so it becomes a matter of being ready to go as a reliever and then doing the job at the right time and place in the World Series in 2010.
Youngest and Oldest Pitchers to Win a World Series Shutout Game.
Have to say this is my favorite category of World Series Records. I love watching the young guys giving it their all the first time ever in a World Series, but it’s also great to see an old codger drag it out there and consistently put away the young hitters.
It’s Jim Palmer, later a Cy Young Award winner, who currently holds the record for youngest pitcher to win a complete World Series shutout. He was an unbelievable 20 years , 11 months and 21 days when he performed his mound magic for the Orioles.
On the older side of the ledger the record is held by Randy Johnson at 38 years 1 month and 18 days. Incredible when you think about it.
Who knows if there will be a World Series record shattered in 2010, but if you don’t have a favorite team to cheer for, or even if you do, keeping an eye on records is a fun way to approach the watching of the World Series for 2010.
Sources: www.baseball-almanac.comwww.findarticles.com
