Joe DiMaggio’s Hit Streak is stopped at 56 – a record that many say will never be broken

Joe DiMaggio got hot in the summer of 1941.  A legendary hitter went on a legendary streak which had never been scene before, and would never be scene again.  However, all amazing streaks eventually end – and when his did – the sports world was saddened.

It was on this day, July 17th, 1941, that Joe DiMaggio’s hit streak was stopped at 56.  The Cleveland were the team to finally stop Joe’s streak as two relatively unknown pitchers combined to not allow DiMaggio to get a hit.  However, Joe almost had a hit in two separate at bats, but third basemen Ken Keltner made outstanding plays to prevent a base hit two separate times.

DiMaggio would start a new streak in which he hit in 16 consecutive games directly after his streak ended. The previously record holder was Willie Keeler with 44 hits, and while Pete Rose did tie this 44 game streak, in the 71 years since Joe’s streak – no one has ever been able to surpass even the second place record.