UCONN Women 90 Consecutive Wins
I know this is the new team record and of course it would be outrageous to do this list leaving it off but i just see all the others as more remarkable. In no way am I trying to take anything away from this amazing streak though. If anyone questions that check Alex Wiederspiel and my all decade list we made about a year ago, UCONN women are at the top. During this streak this group of gals decimated their opponents leaving them each with talk of moral wins for even competing. The Huskie's only won by single digits twice and this win streak span almost 3 seasons. This was done in a sport that has been dominated by about 8 teams over the last 20 or so years, however, getting up every day knowing you are far and away the best, are going to win, and then actually pick up the victory is outstanding. This current record setting steak almost happened in the early 2000's when Geno's squad won 70 consecutive games until finally losing in 2003.
Streak MVP: Maya Moore & Geno Auriemma
Johnny Unitas 47 Consecutive Games With A Touchdown Pass
The original gold standard for the quarterback position may have had all of his records broke several times over at this point, all except 1. Mr. Unitas still holds the mark for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass, 47. Johnny Unitas accomplished 40,000 yards in an era when 25,000 got you into the Hall of Fame. Everyone knows about his yards, the NFL title games, and his Super Bowl 3 loss and Super Bowl 5 victory yet no one seems to discuss this record all that often, they should. Only Favre and Marino ever put together streaks of over 30 or more. Yes, you need the receiver to catch the ball and yes only recording 1 TD pass every week would exactly get you a fantasy championship these days but still this is still the standard and if nothing else for that it is note worthy.
Los Angeles Lakers 33 Game Win Streak
The old school Lakers won 33 games in a row during their 1971-1972 championship season. This star studded team had that "it" factor from the start and for arguably one of the top 5 best franchises in sports history this is a record that is still brought up from time to time during Laker games. This team faced and beat formidable foes all season including defeating Willis Reed and the New York Knicks one season before he made a name for himself coming back from injury to lead the Knicks to their last title. This Laker team finally allowed Jerry "the Logo" West to capture his first and only NBA championship out of 9 total finals trips. Basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain joined West to form this once almost unbeatable big 3 Elgin Baylor. Laker great and Hall of Fame head coach Pat Riley was also along for the ride adding a ring as a player to his 5 as the floor general (5 of his 6 total rings as a player or coach are with the Lakers).
Streak MVP: Jerry West, 25.8 PPG (Gail Goodrich led team with 25.9) & 9.7 APG
Florida State Finishes In Top 5 For 14 Straight Years
Bobby Bowden put this once all girls on the map and then some. This was mostly due to his run with FSU through the 90's to early 2000's. During this time the Seminole's competed in a college football era that saw the likes Florida, Nebraska, Michigan, Tennessee, and Miami (Fl) just to name a few put together NFL talent consistently. Despite that FSU found someway champion or not to remain a top 5 team. Bowden and the boys picked up two National Titles over the course of this streak, 93 and 99. Dag gummit they were damn good!
Streak MVP: Bobby Bowden, players come and players go but the coach remained
Atlanta Braves 14 Consecutive Division Titles
The baseball team of the 90's goes to the Yankee's due to their dynasty towards the second half. However, the most consistent team in that period did not play in New York or even the American League. The Braves were still recovering from the post Aaron era when the 1990's came around yet were quietly putting together a buzz-saw of a squad. It began with a trio of aces, Glavine, Smoltz, and Avery, and ended with one of those 3 becoming a Hall of Famer due to his work as a closer. From 1990 to 2004 the Atlanta Braves won 14 division titles, 5 NL Pennants (91, 92, 95, 96, 99), and 1 World Series (95). This streak was accomplished due to great players such as the 3 I mentioned, along with Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Greg Maddux, and Fred McGriff just to name a few and was led by an even greater manger, Bobby Cox. The only year the Braves did not reach the post-season over this run, 1994, the strike year.
Streak MVP: John Smoltz, the only player who was on every single one of these Braves teams (1992 NLCS MVP & 1996 NL Cy Young during streak)
Boston Celtic's 8 Consecutive NBA Titles
In the 1960's there is no debate, the team of the decade in every sport was the Boston Celtic's. As was once perfectly said when you OWN a decade there is no argument. Only the baseball Yankee's of the 50's even could even be in a conversation for dominance like this. Over a 10 year period Red Auerbach's teams won 8 straight championships from 1959 to 1966. This was done with pretty much the same core. Bill Walton led the charge and about the time Bob Cousy was on his way out John Havliceck was on his way in. Many believe if it were not for MJ spending 2 seasons in minor league baseball his 90's Bulls would have matched this mark. Unfortunately he did and we are still left with Boston as the gold standard in terms of a sports dynasty. Hakeem Olajuwon should send Jordan a thank you card every year.
Streak MVP: Bill Russell
Oklahoma Football's 47 Game Win Streak
The Sooner's are one of the elite college football programs ever. Despite great teams under Barry Switzer in the 70's and 80's and consistent contenders under Stoops in the 2000's the best Oklahoma era came in the 1950's. From 1953 to 1957 Oklahoma was invincible. During those 5 seasons the Sooner's did not lose and accumulated a grand total 47 consecutive victories. Oddly enough Oklahoma only played in two bowl games during this streak due to it taking place in the golden age of college football and in a watered down conference. Never the less, this streak is most likely to never be broken or even touched.
"The U" won 34 straight from 2000 - 2002 but were still 13 shy.
Ty Cobb 23 Consecutive Seasons of Hitting At least .300
I want to make this clear for anyone out there who says "oh .300 is nothing the batting champion hits .330+ every year" you are an absolute idiot. I could make a very descent argument this may in fact be the best streak of all. I will not do that, but instead appreciate it regardless. After a very poor .240 clip his rookie year Cobb hit no worse then .316 during this steak and that was his sophomore season. During these 23 campaigns Cobb blasted 11 straight seasons hitting over .369 and put together 3 .400 average seasons, including back to back in 1911 and 1912. His career high took place in 1911 when .420 was placed in his final stat line. Cobb finished his career with a .366 average and 4,189 hits (2nd to Rose) thanks to one of the most consistent careers in sports history. If Ichiro did not spend almost a decade in Japan he probably would be the only chance to match this mark.
Orel Hershiser's 591/3 Inning Scoreless Streak
That is almost 62 games without allowing a run, yes almost 62 games without allowing a run. I just keep looking at it in awe to be honest. Years later we look back at 1988 as the year of Curt Gibson's World Series home run, the Dodger's last title, and the start to the McGwire, Canseco, and LaRussa led Athletic's AL pennant three peat, however, it also held arguable the best streak for a pitcher ever. If Hershiser was a Hall of Famer this remarkable streak would get much more publicity, either way it was amazing. In a sport that numbers matter so much due to it being a one on one battle in the midst of a team game Orel dominated more then anyone has ever dominated before.
Wayne Gretzky's 51 Game Point Streak
The Great one is unquestionably the best hockey player to ever lace up skates. He holds every single record and actually has more assists then some legends even have total points. Gretzky was great at every single aspect of the game. He could pass, has insane vision, a wicked shot, could out skate every single person on the ice, and was even more of a student of his craft then Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant are theirs. During his prime you could not stop him, you could only hope to contain him and honestly that was up in the air. In the 83-84 season Gretzky was in the midst of his prime and for a guy who once scored 92 goals may have had his best overall season ever. Not only did he register a point in an unprecedented 51 consecutive games, he finished the year with 153 overall points. To fully comprehend how high of a point total that is, all you need to know, Sidney Crosby's career best to this point is 120. The Oilers may have won the post Gretzky cup battle 1-0 but in the 1980's Gretzky owned Canada, Gretzky owned the United States, and Gretzky owned the hockey world. There may be many next ones but there will never be another great one. Name another guy who was as much the face of his sport while playing in such a small market?! Please no one say LBJ in Cleveland, the cursed city is no where near as the much the abyss as Edmonton.
Cal Ripken's 2,632 Consecutive Games
Cal Ripken was in no way as good as Lou Gehrig, if you don't believe me just ask Cal, he has said this many times. However, he is certainly deserving of the title "the iron man." Cal broke into the bigs in 1981 and after winning his first and only World Series two years later he began a career that was legendary. He revolutionized the short stop position from a small defensive wizard to that a power clean up guy could play. Cal finished his career with 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, 1,695 RBI, 19 All-Star bids, 2 AL MVP's (83, 91), 2 All-Star Game MVP's (91, 01), and that damn streak. Not only did he not miss a start for 16 years, he did so at a very high level (granted the later years that's questionable). He broke Lou's record one year after baseball's strike prevented a World Series from being played for the first time since World War II, he saved his sport and brought the fans back to the American past time.
UCLA Men's Basketball 88 Game Win Streak
No, they don't have the longest streak in sports history anymore but they still may have the best. The Wizard of Westwood earned 10 National Titles throughout his illustrious career as one of the most revered head coaches in any sport. John Wooden's best teams were in the early 70's when he led the Bruins to 3 straight titles and 88 consecutive victories from January 23, 1971 until January 19, 1974, almost 3 full calendar years. Only once has a team gone undefeated all the way through the season and tournament since, Knight's 76 Hoosier's. Due to the continually increasing number of games and teams this is one of those untouchable records for sure.
Steak MVP: Bill Walton
Brett Favre's 297 Consecutive Regular-Season Starts (321 including playoffs)
Putting all the drama and jokes aside for a moment, this guy had one hell of a career (that hopefully is finally over) and it is slowly becoming time to fully appreciate it. Of course he will always be known for holding every single quarterback record possible, both positive and negative, but his steak is perhaps the most impressive of all. A guy who's name was once famously mispronounced on draft day will now go down as one of the top 10 QB's of all time. If you refuse to remember the yards, touchdowns, MVP's, wins, Super Bowls (won Super Bowl XXXI), and even interceptions, please remember the streak. Yes, he may have had no business starting this year or the last few games in 2008, however, 99.9% of his career he did more then earn his spot on the field. He overcame an addiction to both alcohol and pills, having the head coach who drafted him joke about him never playing, the death of his father, some self caused drama, and many injuries to just find a way to start. As someone who has lost his father, I will never forget Favre's performance on MNF in 2003 a day after his dad died, it was truly inspirational. I am man enough to admit I teared up a bit watching that game with my beloved dads death still fresh in my mind as well. No quarterback will ever sniff this streak. In my eyes it even surpasses Rikpen's due to how violent of a game football truly is, just think two of his Hall of Fame colleagues suffered career ending concussions (Aikman, Young) while Favre was in the midst of his prime and the early years of his precious streak.
Joe Dimaggio's 56 Game Hit Streak
Last but certainly not least the Yankee Clipper added another reason 1941 is baseballs most hallowed season (Ted Williams hit .402). Like many of his peers Dimaggio's career was shortened due to serving in World War II, before his hiatus he made his presence felt. He only played 13 seasons yet still hit 361 home runs, picked up 1,537 RBI, and won 9 rings while hitting .325. It took 37 years for anyone to tough this streak, Pete Rose set the NL record with 44 games in 1978. The second longest streak is Wee Willie Keeler's 45 in a row in the late 1890's. These days every other year someone squeaks out a 25+ streak but to think at that point you are only half way to Joe. The best part of this streak is the part my grandfather reminds me of daily, after it was snapped Joe then put together a separate 14 game streak. He was one 0 for 4 away from setting a 70 game streak! The 56 game streak was actually not even Joltin Joe's personal best, he recorded a 61 game hit streak while a teen in the Pacific Coast League.
Streaks like these are what make sports and sports history so great. These streaks are not only immortalized forever in their respective Hall of Fames, they live forever in the minds of fans everywhere. No matter how much you dislike a team or player, when a streak in this class is accomplished all you can do is respect it. God speed to any athlete hoping to match or break any of these sensational streaks.
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