Chasing 56 - by David B Firstman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Eighty-five years have passed since the Summer of 1941, when a tall, lean Italian American, wearing the famous New York Yankees pinstripes, captivated a nation in the lead-up to World War II. Joe DiMaggio set the baseball world on fire with his prowess, obliterating the record for consecutive games with a hit, with 56.

In the decades that followed, no player has approached within even ten games of that mark. The all-time "hit king" Pete Rose came closest with 44, and thousands of other batters succumbed to the pressures of the chase and the well-established difficulty of hitting a round ball with a round bat.

This book profiles DiMaggio, Rose and the men with the nine other longest hit streaks since 1941. Their life stories feature detailed coverage of their particular streak and how they reacted during and after their pursuit of history.

About the Author

David B. Firstman is a data analyst for the city of New York. His work has appeared on ESPN, Bronx Banter, Baseball Prospectus, The Hardball Times, and in The Village Voice. His research on the history and impact of "Three True Outcomes" won the best poster presentation award at SABR 48 and was included in the SABR 50 at 50 anthology. He also won the best oral presentation award at SABR 51 for Dan Uggla's unlikely hitting streak.