# Greatest Career Records in Sports History? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369 "2002-03-21T17:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/1 "2002-03-21T17:36:49Z")
**What do you think is the greatest career record in sports history?** _**1. Ty Cobb’s .366 batting average? 2. John Wooden’s 10 NCAA basketball titles? 3. Cy Young’s 511 wins? 4. Wayne Gretzky’s 2,857 points? 5. Bill Russell’s 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons? 6. Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major professional golf titles? 7. Rickey Henderson’s 1,395 stolen bases? 8. Jerry Rice’s 20,386 career receiving yards? 9. Richard Petty’s 200 NASCAR wins? 10. Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts and 7 no-hitters? 11.Hank Aaron’s 755 home runs? 12.Pete Maravich’s 44.2 points per game avg. in college? 13.Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 lifetime mark? 14.Carl Lewis’ 9 gold medals in track & field? 15.Dan Marino’s 61,361 passing yards?**_ - Another record? Pele’s 1,000 + goals maybe? My vote would have to go to Cy Young’s 511 Wins. Walter Johnson is closest to Young, and he is almost 100 behind! Warren Spahn is the only pitcher of the last half century to even reach 350! I realize that he pitched in an era when pitchers hurled a lot more innings and games then they do now, but still, he was so far ahead of his peers it’s sick! 511 Wins!! This is the all-time greatest career record IMHO. Gretzky’s 2,857 points comes in a close secord for me. Gordie Howe is second in career points with only 1,850! If you took away all of Gretzky’s goals, he still would be the career points leader! Wow! FYI ESPN did a poll for this question. Here are the results: _Cy Young Wins 31.8% Gretzkys Points 18.2% Ryans No-Hitters 8.5% Russells Championships 8.0% Maravichs’ College Avg. 7.8% Rose’s Hits 7.0% Wooden’s Championships 5.9% Ryan’s Ks 5.1% Aaron’s Home Runs 3.9% Henderson’s Steals 3.3%_ I wonder how the Straight Dopers results will compare? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CrazyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@CrazyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/2 "2002-03-22T07:32:18Z")
pele gets my vote. on a sidenote - most of the above people play sports that are basically american. that makes it difficult for me to consider their achievements in as global a context as _sports_ ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/3 "2002-03-22T13:29:51Z")
I have to go with Cy Young, Nolan Ryan, and Gretzky. Consider a pitcher would have to win 25 games a year for 20 years to approach Young’s mark. How many 25 game winners have we had in the last 20 years? A handful. Things like the 200 Nascar wins and yards in the NFL don’t really mean much to me. Unlesss you told me, I wouldn’t have known that those were spectacular numbers. Mr. Woods can definately reach Jack’s mark in majors. What’s he got already? 6? There are 3 or 4 players in baseball right now with somewhat reasonable shots at Aaron’s record, provided they are willing to play into their 40s. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/4 "2002-03-22T14:00:26Z")
Big Red sweeping the Triple Crown in '73. His performance in the Belmont was the greatest performance in sports ever. A 30+ length win (and he would have lapped the field if given the chance) has never been equalled. A beautiful, beautiful sight. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/5 "2002-03-22T14:21:23Z")
Steffi Graf’s Golden Slam in 1988 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/6 "2002-03-22T14:26:27Z")
CrazyDiamond- You do not have to choose from the examples I gave. Note the **Another Record?** reference. 😉 Shine On… plnnr/schnitte- The Poll is called "The Greatest **Career** Records in Sports History. An athletes feat in one particular years is not a **career** record. [sigh] ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/7 "2002-03-22T14:59:27Z")
Cy Young’s lifetime wins hands down. I think the way the game is played has changed so much this one will never be broker. Even though “never” is a loooooong time. Just a trivia note. I think Cy also holds the lifetime record for games _lost._ ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/8 "2002-03-22T15:07:02Z")
Well then I have to go for the “great DiMaggio”, who even made it into world literature. ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/9 "2002-03-22T15:40:15Z")
Not really casting a vote, just adding to the “unbreakable” records list: Connie Mack: Games managed 7,878 Games won 3,776 Games lost 4,025 These records have to feel pretty safe on the imortals list, hard to imagine another manager lasting 50 years, or another owner wanting to manage his own team (for that long). ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/10 "2002-03-22T15:49:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ennui \* > \*\* another owner wanting to manage his own team (for that long). \*\* Actually, team owners are now barred from managing their own teams. Ted Turner tried to do it with the Braves a while back, but was booted by Bowie Kuhn after his first (and only) game. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Ennui](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ennui/32/3396_2.png) [@Ennui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennui)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/11 "2002-03-22T15:59:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\* > > Actually, team owners are now barred from managing their own teams. Ted Turner tried to do it with the Braves a while back, but was booted by Bowie Kuhn after his first (and only) game. > > Zev Steinhardt \*\* Oh well, there goes my forelorn hope that, in a fit of meglomainia George Stinebrenner would replace Joe Torre, and torpedo that 125 million dollar payroll.😉 ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/12 "2002-03-22T17:07:32Z")
Big Red’s Race Record in a two year career RACE RECORD at 2: won-Sanford Stakes won-Hopeful Stakes won-Belmont Futurity won-Laurel Futurity won-Graden State Stakes 2nd-Champagne Stakes (disqualified from 1st) Champion 2 year-old colt Horse of the Year at 3: won-Kentucky Derby (new track record) won-Preakness Stakes (new track record) won-Belmont Stakes (new WORLD record) won-Bay Shore Stakes won-Gotham Stakes (tied track record) won-Arlington Invitational won-Marlboro Cup (new WORLD record) won-Man O’War Stakes ( new course record) won-Canadian International 2nd-Woodward Stakes 2nd-Whitney Stakes 3rd-Wood Memorial Champion 3 year-old colt Champion Grass Horse Horse of the Year And you can keep your [sighs] to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/13 "2002-03-22T17:20:54Z")
Thanks plnnr, you answer now fits in nicely with the question. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/14 "2002-03-22T19:45:46Z")
While I suspect this is more an IMHO-style opinion poll than a GD what-facts-support-this-contention argumentation, I’d have to place in the contention here, with the reasons why, _Joe DiMaggio_’s 56-game streak of hitting safely in consecutive games played during 1941. According to Stephen Jay Gould, statistically this is the most improbable of all sports feats whatsoever – i.e., the odds against any person having done what a given star did at some point, based on overall performance of athletes in that sport, are the highest for DiMaggio’s performance. In articles in _Natural History_ magazine and reprinted in his essay collections, he documents this with calculations from a reputed statistician at much greater length than I can here. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/15 "2002-03-22T19:56:00Z")
Steve Redgrave the Olympic champion in FIVE consecutive games, none of the previous come even near to world topping performance over such a long period, and I’ll wager that not many of them are diabetic too. [http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t109.html](http://www.dyslexia-teacher.com/t109.html) Makes others seem a little trivial by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/16 "2002-03-22T19:56:07Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Hey, Polycarp…I think you’re right! Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/17 "2002-03-22T21:05:55Z")
How about Sir Donald Bradman’s 99.96 Test average? ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/18 "2002-03-22T21:44:51Z")
While DiMaggio’s record is remarkable, I do think it’s breakable. Any record that can be broken within a season is attainable. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/19 "2002-03-23T00:41:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jabba \* > \*\*How about Sir Donald Bradman’s 99.96 Test average? \*\* 99.94 actually…believe it or not, this is the second time _today_ I’ve corrected someone on this. But I think you’re right. To put The Don’s record in perspective, the second-highest average (by George Headley) is a little over 60. Another never-to-be-broken cricket record: Sir Jack Hobbs’s 61,000+ first-class runs (and 197 centuries!) ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369/20 "2002-03-23T02:37:03Z")
The Cy Young record doesn’t impress me the most. He just pitched a ton more games than everyone else. Besindes, back in the real early days of baseball, guys were winning over 40 times in a season. Cy just happen to last longer than all of those…which I grant you, is impressive. Just not as impressive as… Gretzky on the other hand, had a normal lengthed career and noone is even on the same statistical planet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-career-records-in-sports-history/99369.md?page=2)