Last week we mentioned that Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols have the highest career batting averages of all current players (who meet certain requirements). A few days ago, Ichiro became the first player in baseball history to reach 200 hits in ten consecutive seasons.
Who is the only other player in baseball history to reach 200 hits in ten (albeit non-consecutive) seasons?
Pictured: Hall of Famer Wee Willie Keeler (card #294 from the 2010 Topps T-206 set), who reached the 200-hits mark in eight consecutive seasons. And it was Keeler's 45-game mark that Joe DiMaggio shattered with his own 56-game hitting streak in 1941.
Pete Rose.
I believe that Rose is correct, with Cobb next at 9.
Rose is correct. Cobb is second with 9. Gehrig, Keeler, and Paul Waner are tied for third with 8. Story here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5607807
Other players who came to (my) mind included Stan Musial (6), Rod Carew (4), Tony Gwynn (5), and Wade Boggs (7, all consecutive).
For a follow-up question, try this one:
Two players (one before 1950, and one after 1950) had 200-hit seasons with three different teams. Can you name these two HOF'ers?
My guess for pre-1950 would be George Sisler (doesn't he hold the MLB record for a season?).
George Sisler had 257 hits in 1920, a record that stood until Ichiro had 262 hits in 2004.
http://www.sportscity.com/mlb/mlb-single-season-hits-leaders/
Sisler had 200 or more hits in six seasons, five times with the Browns, and once with the Braves.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sislege01.shtml
So, no, he is not an answer to the follow-up question. Great guess, though!
The only other pre-1950 guess would be Rogers Hornsby.
Rogers Hornsby had 200 or more hits in seven season: five with St. Louis, and one each with New York and Chicago. He is the "pre-1950" answer.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hornsro01.shtml