Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images In baseball, the record books are often rewritten as players from newer generations rise to great heights to make their own marks.
After all, as General Douglas MacArthur once said, records are made to be broken.
Well, kind of.
What MacArthur actually said was, "Rules are mostly made to be broken and are too often for the lazy to hide behind." It was eventually shortened and edited to reflect the new meaning.
Many MLB records are simply unbreakable, such as Cy Young’s all-time 511 wins or Old Hoss Radbourn’s 59 wins in 1884. Because of changes to the game over time, those records stand as about as untouchable as you can get.
However, other records currently in place could indeed be broken. Certain career marks could even fall within the next few years.
We will take a look at some at these records and rank them in order of easiest to fall।
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Current Record-Holder: Addie Joss, 0.9678
Over his nine-year career with the Cleveland Naps early in the 20th century, Addie Joss did a great job in limiting baserunners, posting a career WHIP of 0.9678.
However, a current pitcher and future Hall of Famer is knocking on the door.
During his 18-year career, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has posted a career 0.9978 WHIP. Even he if he were to successfully return from knee surgery next season, Rivera would have to put up a monster year to catch Joss.
It’s possible, but not probable।
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Current Record-Holder: Randy Johnson and Francisco Rodriguez, 5
With the addition of the wild card in 1995, this record had been set at four wins for many years by a host of different pitchers.
Randy Johnson was the first player in MLB to record five victories in a single postseason in 2001, and the mark was tied by Anaheim Angels pitcher Francisco Rodriguez just one year later.
Now, with the addition of another wild-card team, it’s entirely possible this record could fall as well।
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Current Record-Holder: Randy Johnson, 13.4099 (2001)
Randy Johnson put together an amazing season in 2001, capturing his third of four straight Cy Young awards and striking out 372 batters. His K/9 rate broke the previous record held by Pedro Martinez (1999, 13.2047).
It might sound inconceivable that Johnson’s record could be topped, but based on the current record strikeout rates being put up by hitters throughout the league, combined with the number of pitchers now throwing upwards of 100 mph, it’s entirely possible।
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Current Record-Holder: Octavio Dotel, 13
When right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel stepped onto the field for the Detroit Tigers in April after signing a one-year contract last December, he set an all-time MLB record by suiting up for his 13th team.
It’s certainly possible that record could fall। Miguel Batista and Bruce Chen are the active leaders, having played for 10 franchises each.
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Current Record-Holder: Sam Crawford, 6
In a career that spanned 19 seasons, Sam Crawford hit 309 triples, the all-time leader for three-baggers in MLB history. Six times he led the league in that department.
While the 309 career triples would be a difficult record to break, the mark for six times leading the league in triples could be broken, and soon.
Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford has led the American League four times, while Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes have each led the senior circuit four times in that department as well.
At just 29 years of age, Reyes would likely have the best opportunity।
Photo courtesy collider.com
Current Record-Holder: Hank Aaron, 1,477
During his 23-year career, slugger Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs, 624 doubles and 98 triples, accounting for a total of 1,477 extra-base hits.
It’s entirely possible that number could be threatened by none other than New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Through 18-plus seasons, A-Rod has amassed 1,176 extra-base hits—642 homers, 505 doubles and 29 triples.
Maybe if he keeps undergoing plasma-rich platelet therapy treatments each offseason, he’ll have a chance to catch Aaron।
Photo courtesy ootpdevelopments.com
Current Record-Holder: Spud Chandler, .7171
Winning seven out of every 10 times out is certainly not the easiest thing in the world for a pitcher in Major League Baseball to accomplish.
A lot has to go right, especially in today’s game. Starting pitchers have less control over the outcome of the game, relying more and more on their bullpen to help them achieve a win.
Spud Chandler is the only pitcher in modern-day history* to eclipse that mark, winning 71.7 percent of his games during an 11-year career with the New York Yankees (1937-1947).
Currently, Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester sports a lifetime .675 winning percentage, Roy Halladay is next with a .664 winning percentage, Johan Santana of the Mets has won 65.6 percent of his decisions and Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels has now won 65.5 percent of his.
My money is on Weaver, who continues dealing with a 9-1 record this season.
* Al Spalding won 79।5 percent of his games in a seven-year career from 1871 to 1877.
Photo courtesy centerfieldgate.com
Record-Holder: Jim Rice, 36 (1984)
Hall of Fame slugger Jim Rice terrorized pitchers in the American League in the 1970s and 1980s, but he was not the fleetest of foot.
As a result, Rice grounded into 315 double plays during his career, 36 times alone in 1984. Rice nearly broke that mark the following year, grounding into another 35 double plays.
More recently, Billy Butler of the Kansas City Royals showed off his lack of speed on the basepaths, hitting into 32 double plays in 2010.
Butler likely won’t come close to breaking the mark this year—he has 10 GIDP heading into the midseason mark। However, Rice’s record is sure to be broken at some point by some lumbering hitter with a penchant for hitting hard ground balls.
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