Yesterday, Rays’ 20-year-old rookie SS Wander Franco got on base for his 32nd straight game (hit, walk or HBP) – a remarkable achievement, particularly for a 20-year-old rookie. At this point in the still-active streak, which began July 25, Franco has hit .320 (40-for-125) with a .388 on-base percentage (12 walks and two hit-by-pitch). He has hit four home runs, driven in 25 runs and scored 31 during the streak, which has included ten multi-hit games and five games in which he did not get a hit. During the streak, the Rays have gone 23-9.
Wander’s streak sent me looking back at Ted Williams’ record-setting streak of safely reaching base in 84 games (July 1 – September 27, 1949).
Here are Williams’ stats during the astounding run:
Batting Average … .371
Hits … 112 (302 at bats)
On-base Percentage … .518
Walks … 92
Total Times on Base … 204 (2.43 times per game)
Home Runs … 24
RBI … 80
Runs Scored … 81
Slugging Percentage … .695 (20 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs)
Strikeouts … 19
Hit By Pitch … 0
Games Without a Hit …. 14
Multi-hit games … 30
Ted Williams – an on-base machine.
The longest hitting streak (base hits) Williams achieved during the 84-game on-base streak was nine games. During the streak, Williams had two stretches in which he recorded five consecutive multi-hit games: August 6-11, when he went 12-for-18 (plus four walks), with three homers and six RBI; and August 26-29 (doubleheaders in there), when he went 12-for-24 (plus one walk), with four homers and 11 RBI. For the month of August that season, William put up a .405-10-34 stat line. During William’s streak, his Red Sox won 60 and lost 24.
The streak ended on September 28. When Ray Scarborough of the Senators pitched a four-hit complete game, as Washington topped Boston 2-1. In three plate appearances, Williams had two strikeouts and an infield fly out against Scarborough. Note: Williams was on deck when Johnny Pesky made the last Boston out in the top of the ninth.
In the 1949 season, Ted Williams played in 155 games and got on base in 149 of them. For the season, the 30-year-old Williams led the league in games (155); plate appearances (730); runs (150); doubles (39); home runs (43); RBI (159); walks (162); on-base percentage (.490); slugging percentage (.650); total bases (368) – and was the AL MVP. Williams barely missed the batting title losing to George Kell of the Tigers (.34291 to Williams’ .34276).
Primary Resource: Baseball-Reference.com
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