Can Dan Uggla keep his improbable streak going?
Dan Uggla is one of only 35 players in major league history to hit in 31 straight games.
Headed to the Falcons’ exhibition opener against Miami tonight, not the Braves’ game at Turner Field against Chicago, so I can’t see up close whether Dan Uggla continues arguably the most improbable turnaround in Atlanta sports history.
I know. That’s quite a statement. But think about this: Uggla was hitting .173 when he began his 31-game hitting streak on July 5. He had 55 hits in his first 86 games. He has 44 hits in the 31 since.
While we may have assumed that he would not hit .173 the rest of the season, to suddenly turn into DiMaggio, Cobb or Rose was neither expected nor logical.
At 31 games, Uggla is tied for the 25th longest hitting streak in baseball history. We’re talking about something only 34 other players have ever done. So when you think about other unexpected Atlanta sports story lines, most don’t compare. Consider a few:
♦ 1991: The Braves go to the World Series. This was big. But they were pretty good during the regular season. The worst-to-first thing certainly was huge but that’s something that took place over several months.
♦ 1998: The Falcons go to the Super Bowl. A remarkable achievement for a franchise that until recently never even had consecutive winning seasons. But the Falcons were 14-2 that season, tied for the second-best record in the NFL. So it’s not like they were 9-7 and barely snuck into the playoffs as a wild card.
♦ 1992: Francisco Cabrera’s two-out, ninth-inning pinch hit off Pittsburgh’s Stan Belinda knocks in David Justice and a sliding Sid Bream for the tying and winning runs in Game 7 of the NLCS. This is one of the single-most memorable moments in Atlanta sports history and the closest thing I could think of to Uggla’s achievement. (Cabrera was a career .254 hitter over five major league seasons, but he went 3-for-10 with the Braves during the 1992 season after being recalled from Richmond and was 3-for-7 in career postseason at-bats.)
Here’s the list of players Uggla has joined. And what other improbable turnarounds can you think of?
| Rank | Year | Name | Team | League | Games |
|
1. |
1941 |
New York |
AL | 56 | |
|
2. |
1896-1897 |
Baltimore |
NL | 45 | |
|
3. |
1978 |
Cincinnati |
NL | 44 | |
|
4. |
1894 |
Chicago |
NL | 42 | |
|
5. |
1922 |
St. Louis |
AL | 41 | |
|
6. |
1911 |
Detroit |
AL | 40 | |
|
7. |
1987 |
Milwaukee |
AL | 39 | |
|
8. |
2005-2006 | Philadelphia | NL | 38 | |
|
9. |
1945 |
Boston |
NL | 37 | |
| 10. | 1896-1897 | Gene DeMontreville | Washington | NL | 36 |
|
11. |
1895 |
Louisville |
NL | 35 | |
|
|
1917 |
Detroit |
AL | 35 | |
| 1924-1925 | George Sisler | St. Louis | AL | 35 | |
|
|
2002 |
Florida |
NL | 35 | |
| 2006 | Chase Utley | Philadelphia | NL | 35 | |
|
16. |
1938 |
St. Louis |
AL | 34 | |
|
|
1949 |
Boston |
AL | 34 | |
|
|
1987 |
San Diego |
NL | 34 | |
|
19. |
1893 |
New York |
NL | 33 | |
|
|
1907 |
New York |
AL | 33 | |
|
|
1922 |
St. Louis |
NL | 33 | |
|
|
1933 |
Washington |
AL | 33 | |
| 23. | 1922-1923 | Harry Heilmann | Detroit | AL | 32 |
| 1996-1997 | Hal Morris | Cincinnati | NL | 32 | |
| 25. | 1885-1886 | Jimmy Wolf | Louisville | AA | 31 |
|
|
1899 |
Philadelphia |
NL | 31 | |
|
|
1906 |
Cleveland |
AL | 31 | |
|
|
1924 |
Washington |
AL | 31 | |
| 1965-1966 | Vada Pinson | Cincinnati | NL | 31 | |
|
|
1969 |
Los Angeles |
NL | 31 | |
|
|
1970 |
Atlanta |
NL | 31 | |
| 1975-1976 | Ron LeFlore | Detroit | AL | 31 | |
|
|
1980 |
Minnesota |
AL | 31 | |
| 1999 | Vladimir Guerrero | Montreal | NL | 31 | |
|
|
2011 |
Atlanta |
NL | 31 |
By Jeff Schultz
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90 comments Add your comment
kpokeefe
August 12th, 2011
1:33 pm
“Worth noting: if you have been watching the Braves over the last 31 games, you will know that Uggla has been smashing the ball. There haven’t been any cheapies, no dribblers or “Rick Flairs”. ”
What streak have you been watching? Uggla has had 7 or 8 infield hits!
Marteen is a Ballplayer
August 12th, 2011
1:37 pm
I agree with kpokeepe…don’t think he is trying to knock Uggla, but there have some cheapies in there too, but you are gonna have some of those too during this long of a hit streak. Still, he hit that 2 or 3 run home as a pinch hitter to keep the streak alive so it has been a farily good mix of well-hit balls and hustleing on the infield dribbles.
LWB
August 12th, 2011
1:39 pm
Oh, I’m with you there Sid. I still get angry when I see that replay. That was so blatant and obvious…….I got so irrationally angry as a 13 year old seeing it then and I still get just as angry now when I see it and start to think about it. Screw Hrbek.
John
August 12th, 2011
1:49 pm
He does have several infield hits, but I give him credit because he has busted it to get to first. He has had alot of homers too during the streak.
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
1:50 pm
Make that three of us (thousands if you think about it), Sid and LWB. I saw a replay of that recently and got mad all over again. At 13 you may have been “irrationally angry” but I was just as “irrational” and I was 28 (I think?) at the time. At 47 not much has changed.
Stinger2
August 12th, 2011
2:12 pm
Schultz: The title to your article is:
Can Dan Uggla keep his improbable streak going?
The most logical answer is “Who knows”
I have read all the responses and or comments above.
Is there a better answer that mine?
If Uggla
August 12th, 2011
2:19 pm
does get to 56.
Hits 55, 56, and even 57 could come in the Mon-Wed series @ Philly
but still a looong (and improbable) ways away.
Ghostrider
August 12th, 2011
2:20 pm
@ Joey
I agree with you 100% – I remember when Uggla was with the Fish, everytime he came up to bat I would say to my Wife, Oh crap Uggla is up…He wold kill us all the time…glad he is here
Sonny Clusters
August 12th, 2011
2:21 pm
This doesn’t look like the same ball club since Constanza and Bourn got here and started running all over the place. Before them, the Braves idea of a speedy outfielder was Nate McLouth. We was wondering if a couple of Braves that don’t run hard to first base are going to see how much it puts pressure on the infielders if you are running fast. When we was playing ball we was known for our speed and for our ability to hit the ball and beat it to the bag. Clusters are naturals but only a few of us have made it to the majors. Most of us are in demand for scientifc research and space exploration.
showmekid
August 12th, 2011
2:21 pm
I wasn’t in favor of the trade which brought Dan Uggla to Atlanta. I felt worse when I watched him at the plate this spring. I expected an average fielder who was a power hitter. Thoughout his difficulties this year, he did not make excuses and continued to play hard. His fielding has been as good as any Brave in memory, and he has maintained his humble attitude now that he is hitting the cover off of the ball. Watching him support his teammates is awesome. I have great respect for you, Dan Uggla. Keep up the good work.
idk
August 12th, 2011
2:25 pm
does anyone else remember back in the early to mid 90’s a player for the Philladelphia Phillies had a season of 60+ hits and homers combined. He was later tested for steroids…got ‘em! so IDKnow….maybe it’s all good and true but I think a precautionary measure may be needed. Drug test…
Wait till next year...
August 12th, 2011
2:26 pm
Is Uggla on the dream team???
Bob Horner
August 12th, 2011
2:27 pm
Uh’ hello..I hit four homers in one game in 1986. We lost the game though. Only time that’s ever happened.(4 homers in a losing effort) How bout a little love for the Captain?
Sonny Clusters
August 12th, 2011
2:30 pm
Bob Horner and Hank Aaron had strong wrists. So do Clusters. Dale Murphy and David Justice had sweeping swings. So do Clusters. Put them all together and you almost have a Clusters. But not quite.
up north
August 12th, 2011
2:38 pm
I just hope the day off did not hurt him.
Dr. Warren
August 12th, 2011
2:44 pm
What about the Falcons going from having their QB in jail and coach quitting and 4 wins to a new GM, new coach, and rookie QB and11 wins and the playoffs? In one year! That to me is more impressive than Uggla, a good player who went through a slump.
Keith
August 12th, 2011
2:57 pm
Jeff, I’ll look for you tonight in the media booth….
Yeah, it was a tough call, but when the father-in-law offers us 4 free tickets in club level, I guess the choice was made which game to go to….I was kind of hoping the Dome would do a live look-in or something…or at least give highlights to the falcons fans….
Can you work on that for us?
GO BRAVES!
Keith
August 12th, 2011
2:58 pm
Oh, and GO FALCONS! (which means show us the rookies and don’t get hurt)
Dan is on Fire
August 12th, 2011
3:01 pm
Absolutely amazing…but you can’t compare individual achievement to team achievement in biggest turnarounds.
Now if he breaks Joe D’s record count it as biggest turnaround no matter what…individual or team.
1eyedJack
August 12th, 2011
3:02 pm
The fact that Sid Bream could run from second to home without the crowd falling asleep was amazing in and of itself.
Dan is on Fire
August 12th, 2011
3:04 pm
@Dr.Warren…..strong point about Falcons.
Dan is on Fire
August 12th, 2011
3:07 pm
Dan the Man’s gotta be bouncing off the walls right now waiting for the game to get started!
Fredi ought to bat him 1st to give him possible extra opportunity to hit if needed.
I know that’s not realistic, but…….
Dan is on Fire
August 12th, 2011
3:11 pm
Is Bobby ceremony and ‘91 team celebration going to delay start?
extremus
August 12th, 2011
3:18 pm
Let’s just enjoy the Uggla streak for as long as it lasts and appreciate the effort the guy has made to salvage what had been a horrific first half of the season. He had never been that cold before, and he’s never been this hot before. Eventually it will balance out again and the Braves will have (hopefully) a good, consistent right-handed power bat in the lineup if nothing else.
Streaks are great and I admit definitely hold some interest, but the most important question isn’t when the streak will end for Uggla; it’s how he will respond after the snap. I personally think he’ll be fine. As I recall, DiMaggio himself put together a nice little streak once more right AFTER being shut down by the Indians in Game 57.
Dr. Warren
August 12th, 2011
3:20 pm
@Dan: I agree team and player turnarounds should be considered separate. The Falcons’ is more impressive than the ‘91 Braves’, I’d add, because the Braves were deliberately built over several years through the farm system and with a pitching-first strategy. The Falcons–Blank interviewed Dimitroff by Skype, hired him after luckily missing out on bigger names, and then hit the jackpot twice more with Smith and Ryan. All within a few months and a bunch of rookies. I can’t think of a more unlikely dramatic reversal in the past 20 years, including the Greatest Show on Turf ‘99 Rams.
JSS
August 12th, 2011
3:23 pm
“Abnerish, August 12th, 2011, 1:31 pm, Anyone know what DiMaggio’s next best hit streak was? Curious to see how freakish his 56 game truly was…”
He had 23 in 1940 and 22 in 2nd season (1937).
DiMaggio Hitting Streaks
1936 – 18
1937 – 22
1938 – 17
1939 – 18
1940 – 23
1941 – 56 */ 16
1942 – 18
1943-1945 World War II service
1946 – 14
1947 – 16
1948 – 13
1949 – 10
1950 – 19
1951 – 8
It was his only streak over 30 games; but he had 13 streaks in double digits.
Rufus T. Firefly
August 12th, 2011
3:27 pm
A bit hyperbolic, don’t you think? Uggla’s doing what Uggla’s done in the past; .250is with some pop in his bat (that’s why the call it an average and as such, it reflects the entire season, not 31 games, or the first 86. The fact that he is in 30+ terroritory is a credit to his tenacity and adjustments as a Major League hitter. We’ve all seen “Bull Durham” and we are all familiar with Crash Davis’s assessment of the difference between a .200 hitter and a .250 hitter; vis-a-vis being in AAA and being in “the show”. Frankly, it’s bad mojo to discuss a streak, so why don’t we talk about B Mac’s rehab, and let Uggla keep doin’ what he’s doin’?
fact
August 12th, 2011
3:43 pm
I hear Lorena Bobbitt is looking for Tiger
Pizzaman
August 12th, 2011
5:35 pm
When the streak started the Braves were 4.5 games behind the Phillies. They are 18-13 during the streak. The Phils are 22-8 w/o any individual hitting streak and they are now 8.5 games up. I don’t care if he hits in all the games left the B’s will never catch my Phils playing 580 ball with the Phils going at a 733 clip. You guys need wins not meaningless hits. I hear the B’s just had a “great” road trip going 6-3. The Phils were 9-1 on the road against much better competition!
Willy
August 12th, 2011
5:48 pm
Ty Cobb has been misrepresented by the media, namely Al Stump, who sensationalized stories about the great ballplayer.
Larvell Blanks
August 12th, 2011
6:03 pm
John Smoltz starting a season 2-10, and finishing it 11-2 (numbers are from memory, so I hope they’re correct).
Larvell Blanks
August 12th, 2011
6:12 pm
So I was off by one, and Jason beat me to it. 2-11 and 12-2. “Losing is a disease, as contagious as syphilis … Ah, but curable.”
bruce
August 12th, 2011
6:35 pm
its more important that the 86 game streak is over, but I am rooting for him to keep it going since he hustles so much and had such a great attitude during his first streak.
Fourbee
August 12th, 2011
11:48 pm
2 homers tonight by Uggla and the streak is now 33 games!
BTW, the Philthies lost and the Braves are 7.5 games back.
Look out Philthies, they’re coming to get you!
ApplePolisher
August 13th, 2011
2:13 pm
Dan Uggla’s streak might be the thing that ignites the Braves into WORLD CHAMPIONS this season. Think of this; lately Chipper Jones seems to have found the fountain of youth with his 3-run home run last night. And I said all along that if you were to get UGGLA, CHIPPER, MCCANN, HAYWARD and PRADO all hot at the same time, the Braves would have the potential to win it all this year, is you factor in their great starting pitching as well. Sure catching Philly seems like an almost daunting, impossible task. But as of last night the Braves are only 7 1/2 games back of philly; and should the Phillies suddenly lose 6 more in a row, while the Braves win 6 more straight, then all of a sudden the deficit is suddenly 1 1/2 games with over a month left in the season. THINGS CAN GET INTERESTING IN A HURRY. Not to mention the fact that the Braves own the fourth best record in the entire league and are one of only four 70-win teams thus far. Folks, despite all the injuries and problems the Braves have had with lineups, slumps and everything else, the Braves are one of the top four teams in all of major league baseball, and have the second best record in the national league behind the Phillies. The Braves are right back there to prominance when they were dominating their division for 14 straight years. Whether you acknowledge it or not, the Braves have a great chance this year of winning the world series. Thats all I ever ask for is that the Braves compete and give us a chance to win the flag and raise another championship banner at Turner Field. I am so proud of Dan Uggla and the Atlanta Braves. THE BRAVES ARE STILL GIVING US THAT WONDERFUL WINNING TRADITION. ITS AWESOME AND IT IS INCREDIBLE.
urban redneck
August 13th, 2011
7:30 pm
whoo hoo. hit streak to 33 for the disbelievers.
i hate the philles worse than the d-bag that lives two doors down from me………….but they will take the east. our boys are playing for the wild card. i have faith we will continue to pick up on the phils, but we’ll never catch a team that’s not losing.
Anthony
August 14th, 2011
12:08 pm
the Phillies lead is only 7.5!!! the schedule is getting to them!!
stendek
August 14th, 2011
5:21 pm
Painful truth time. A team with any pride whatsoever does not go into the tank after taking a 4-0 lead at home against inferior opponent. A squad with playoff aspirations does not lose two of three to a woeful group from Chicago, Illinois. What does it mean? Collapse imminent! Braves will fail to reach playoff via wild card entry. Too bad. This defeat told a great deal about character of team. None exists! Too bad.
superiorblogman
August 14th, 2011
6:05 pm
Uggla will go back to being garbage now and Freddi reach over in the garbage can to get him night after night just like he does with Prado and Gonzo.
Anthony
August 19th, 2011
8:04 am
The Braves are now only 8.5 games back!!! The Division title is within the Braves’ grasps!!!