On August 1, 1978, legendary Cincinnati Reds third baseman Pete Rose lost his 44-game hitting streak against the Atlanta Braves after striking out against Gene Garber for the last out of the ninth inning. At 44 games, it is tied for the second-longest single-season hitting streak of all time and falls behind only Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game streak. Highlights of the streak include hits against all-time great pitchers such as Tommy John, Don Sutton, Phil Niekro, and Steve Carlton. There were many occasions where Rose managed just one hit in a game to keep it going, and even one game—against the Phillies—where he took an 0-for-3 line into the ninth and managed a bunt single to keep it alive and extend to 32 games. Rose had an astounding six individual games with three hits and even one game with four hits during the streak. Pete Rose’s hitting streak was the first serious challenge to DiMaggio’s record since it was first set in 1941, and was just one highlight of a legendary baseball career.
Today in Sports History: August 1
