September 19, 1922: Hornsby's Hitting Streak Reaches 33

     

     On September 19, 1922, Rogers Hornsby extended a hitting streak that began on August 13th to 33 games during an 8-4 win over the Braves in Boston. Rajah went 1 for 4 on the day, with a seventh inning single that led to a run. He also knocked in a run, as he helped the club sweep the hometown squad. The streak ended the next day in Brooklyn during a 6-1 loss against the Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader, but Hornsby bounced right back in the second game by parking two home runs in the seats at Ebbets Field. Those big blasts were his 38th and 39th of the season. He would finish with a league leading 42 home runs. He also led the league with 152 RBIs, and a .401 average, which led to the first of two Triple Crown's.  

     The 33 game hitting streak stood as the longest hitting streak by a second baseman until 2002 when Luis Castillo surpassed it with a 35 game streak of his own. Chase Utley equaled Castillo's mark in 2006. While Hornsby's streak has been surpassed by another second baseman, it still stands as the longest hitting streak by a Cardinal. Stan Musial flirted with the mark in 1950, but had his snapped at 30 games, and Albert Pujols equaled Stan's mark in 2003. As you read this today Hornsby's franchise mark has stood for 92 years. I believe that is a testament to how great of an accomplishment it was. 

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192209190.shtml