The story of the Yankees’ historic offensive streak in 1930

In four straight games in May 1930, the Yankees scored 10 or more runs, setting a team record for consecutive games with 10 or more runs. The all-time baseball record was six, set the previous season by the Giants, and at that point, only seven teams had managed four or more straight games.

That seems like it should have been a Yankees record that stood for a long time, but it wouldn’t last a month.

On June 12, the Yankees played the second game of a three-game series in Detroit. Hall-of-famer Waite Hoyt got the start for the Tigers, and the Yankees quickly chased him from the game, scoring five runs in the first two innings. The Yankees tacked on another nine runs over the last seven innings and won 14-2. Seven different Yankees drove in runs.

The next day, they finished off the series against the Tigers. They got off to another quick start, scoring two runs in the first inning. However, in this game, they failed to get any real separation, as the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the first.

After the Yankees appeared to break the game open with five runs in top of the fifth, the Tigers answered back with five runs in the bottom of the inning. The Yankees scored three more runs in the sixth and eventually hung on for a 10-9 win.

The Bombers then went to Cleveland on June 14, starting a series against the Indians. In the series opener, the Yankees chased Cleveland starter Jake Miller after two innings, scoring seven runs. The game finished with an 11-7 win for the Yankees, with Lou Gehrig driving in five runs. The Yankees put up 15 hits and five walks in total. With all that happening, somehow shortstop Lyn Larry went 0-6.

The next day, the Yankees put up 17 runs, with Gehrig driving in seven. The Indians used three pitchers: starter Willis Hudlin, and relievers Milt Shoffner and Belve Bean. Meanwhile, the Yankees themselves gave up 10 runs. However, the Yankees scored 10 runs in the first three innings and stuck with Herb Pennock for all nine innings.

Two days later, the Yankees finished up their series in Cleveland. They again put up 17 runs on the Indians. Gehrig was once again the star, going 4-6 with a home run and 4 RBI. The Yankees forced Cleveland to use four pitchers, which was a little more unusual in 1930 than today. Yankees’ starting pitcher Roy Sherid drove in two runs, which was the same number the he allowed in the 17-2 win.

The 10+ run streak was snapped in the next game two days later when they only beat the Tigers 5-4 at home. In total, the Yankees scored 10 or more runs 36 times in the 1930 season.

Over the five game stretch, the Yankees scored 69 runs. Lou Gehrig was the star of the stretch, going 15-25 with four home runs and 18 RBI. Over the five games he hit .600/.643/1.200.

Somehow Babe Ruth was only responsible for driving in five runs over the five game stretch. However, he did walk 15 times, because he is of course Babe Ruth.

The worst Yankees over the course of the streak was probably Lyn Larry. Despite getting three hits in the first game, he finished the five games with a line of .208/.296/.292.

Only one team has scored 10 or more runs in five straight games since the Yankees did it in 1930. The Braves had a five-game streak in 2006. The Red Sox did it in four straight games last season, before it was snapped in a 7-6 loss to the Astros.

Scoring 10+ runs in four straight games happens every couple years. However, it might be a while before the Yankees, or any team, do it in five straight games.

Sources

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET193006120.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET193006130.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE193006140.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE193006150.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE193006170.shtml

All data courtesy of the Baseball Reference Play Index