Major League Baseball consecutive games played streaks - wikipedia Major League Baseball consecutive games played streaks Listed below are the longest consecutive games played in Major League Baseball history. To compile such a streak, a player must appear in every game played by his team. The streak is broken if the team completes a game in which the player neither takes a turn at bat nor plays a half - inning in the field. The record of playing in 2,632 consecutive games over more than 16 years is held by Cal Ripken, Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees, whose record of 2,130 consecutive games had stood for 56 years. Before Gehrig, the record was held by Everett Scott ( 1,307 consecutive games ), a shortstop with the Red Sox and Yankees whose streak ended in 1925, less than a month before Gehrig 's began. Scott broke the previous record which was established by George Pinkney ( 577 consecutive games ) from 1885 -- 1890. The record for a National League player is held by Steve Garvey of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres ( 1975 -- 1983 ), though Garvey 's 1,207 - game streak is less than half the length of Ripken 's. Previous holders of the National League record include Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs ( 1963 -- 1970 ), Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals ( 1952 -- 1957 ), and Gus Suhr of the Pittsburgh Pirates ( 1931 -- 1937 ). Of the top 17 streaks on this list, 9 were compiled by members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Two others are separate streaks compiled by Pete Rose, who was named one of the top 30 players of the 20th century but is banned from the Hall of Fame. Contents 1 Key 2 List 3 Official definition 4 Streak starts, continuations, and ends 5 Consecutive innings 6 Combined Japanese -- US streak 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Key Player Name of the player Streak Number of consecutive games Start Date of the game which began the streak End Date of the final game of the streak Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Streak is active List Minimum 500 consecutive games played Rank Player Streak Start End Cal Ripken, Jr. 2,632 May 30, 1982 September 19, 1998 Lou Gehrig 2,130 June 1, 1925 April 30, 1939 Everett Scott 1,307 June 20, 1916 May 5, 1925 Steve Garvey 1,207 September 3, 1975 July 29, 1983 5 Miguel Tejada 1,152 June 2, 2000 June 21, 2007 6 Billy Williams 1,117 September 22, 1963 September 2, 1970 7 Joe Sewell 1,103 September 13, 1922 April 30, 1930 8 Stan Musial 895 April 15, 1952 August 22, 1957 9 Eddie Yost 829 August 30, 1949 May 11, 1955 10 Gus Suhr 822 September 11, 1931 June 4, 1937 11 Nellie Fox 798 August 7, 1955 September 3, 1960 12 Pete Rose 745 September 1, 1978 August 23, 1983 13 Dale Murphy 740 September 26, 1981 July 8, 1986 14 Richie Ashburn 730 June 7, 1950 September 26, 1954 15 Ernie Banks 717 August 26, 1956 June 22, 1961 16 Pete Rose 678 September 28, 1973 May 7, 1978 17 Earl Averill 673 April 14, 1931 June 28, 1935 18 Frank McCormick 668 September 19, 1937 May 24, 1942 19 Sandy Alomar, Sr. 661 April 23, 1969 May 20, 1973 20 Eddie Brown 618 June 5, 1924 June 7, 1928 21 Roy McMillan 584 September 16, 1951 August 7, 1955 22 George Pinkney 577 September 21, 1885 April 30, 1890 23 Steve Brodie 574 24 Aaron Ward 565 July 10, 1920 May 25, 1924 25 Prince Fielder 547 September 14, 2010 May 16, 2014 26 Alex Rodriguez 546 July 25, 2000 September 23, 2003 27 Candy LaChance 540 28 Buck Freeman 535 29 Fred Luderus 533 June 2, 1916 September 28, 1919 30 Hideki Matsui 519 March 31, 2003 May 11, 2006 Official definition MLB 's rule 10.23 ( c ), defining consecutive game streaks, is as follows : `` A consecutive game playing streak shall be extended if the player plays one half inning on defense, or if he completes a time at bat by reaching base or being put out. A pinch running appearance only shall not extend the streak. If a player is ejected from a game by an umpire before he can comply with the requirements of this rule, his streak shall continue. '' Thus it is possible for a pinch - runner to enter a game and record a statistic -- steal a base, be caught stealing, or score a run -- without being credited with a ( consecutive ) game played. Indeed, Juan Pierre appeared in 821 consecutive games from 2002 to 2007, but on June 3, 2005, he was used solely as a pinch runner. Under Rule 10.23 ( c ), this resulted in separate games - played streaks of 386 and 434 games. Similarly, a fielder can field a ball in play, make a putout or an assist, and even commit an error, without being credited with a ( consecutive ) game played. For example, Hideki Matsui 's consecutive games streak was ended when he broke his wrist diving for a ball with two outs in the first inning of the Yankee game of May 11, 2006. That game would have been # 519 in his MLB streak and # 1,769 in his MLB / Japan game streak ( see below ), but since Matsui did not play a full half inning on defense, that game is sometimes not counted in his streak. MLB and the Society for American Baseball Research both credit Matsui with having played 519 consecutive MLB games. Streak starts, continuations, and ends Lou Gehrig 's streak started as a pinch - hitter. The next day he started at first base in place of slumping Wally Pipp and stayed there for fourteen years. On July 14, 1934, Gehrig, suffering from an attack of lumbago, was listed in the Yankee lineup at shortstop. He batted in the top of the first inning to preserve the streak, singled, and was promptly removed from the game. Gehrig 's streak was ended by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the disease that would take his life. His physical abilities rapidly declining, Gehrig told manager Joe McCarthy to take him out of the lineup on May 2, 1939. He never played again, dying in 1941. Garvey 's streak was ended when he dislocated his thumb in a home plate collision against the Atlanta Braves. Scott 's streak was ended when Manager Miller Huggins benched him in favor of Pee Wee Wanninger. Ripken says that the closest he ever came to not playing during his streak was the day after he twisted his knee during a bench - clearing brawl against the Seattle Mariners in June 1993. When the 1994 -- 95 player 's strike threatened to destroy Ripken 's streak as baseball owners planned to use replacement players, Baltimore owner Peter Angelos announced that the Orioles would rather not field a team than see Ripken 's streak snapped. The replacement player scenario never came to pass, as the remainder of the 1994 season -- including the World Series -- was cancelled due to the strike. Ripken broke Gehrig 's record on September 6, 1995. Ripken himself made the decision not to play on September 20, 1998, the Orioles ' last home game of the season. Rookie Ryan Minor played third base for Ripken in a 5 -- 4 loss to the Yankees. Ripken 's record is considered by many to be unbreakable. Miguel Tejada 's streak ended after Doug Brocail hit Tejada on the wrist with a pitch on June 20, 2007. During the game on June 21, Tejada took an at - bat in the top half of the first inning, bunting into a fielder 's choice. He was removed from the game for a pinch runner, officially keeping the streak alive. But Tejada was then diagnosed with a broken wrist and went to the disabled list, ending his streak at 1,152 games. Consecutive innings From June 5, 1982 to September 14, 1987, Ripken played 8,264 consecutive innings, which is believed to be a record, although not one that is officially kept by MLB. The second - longest streak known to have occurred is 5,152 consecutive innings by George Pinkney from 1885 to 1890. The World record for consecutive innings played is currently held by former Hanshin Tigers player and now coach Tomoaki Kanemoto playing 1492 games without missing an inning Combined Japanese -- us streak Hideki Matsui assembled a consecutive games streak of 1,769 games combined between the Japanese league Yomiuri Giants and the Major league New York Yankees. If games in Japan were counted, this would place Matsui behind only Ripken and Gehrig for streaks in Major League Baseball, although other streaks that took place solely in Japan have been longer ( Sachio Kinugasa 's streak of 2,215 games, which was a world record until broken by Ripken, as well at Takashi Toritani 's streak of 1,895 games as of the end of the 2017 season ). The MLB portion of Matsui 's streak lasted for 519 games and is a MLB record for consecutive games to start a player 's career. The entire combined streak stretched from August 22, 1993, to May 10, 2006, and was ended by a wrist injury sustained during what was his 519th consecutive game ( see above ). The MLB portion of the streak extended from March 31, 2003 ( opening day ), until May 10, 2006. See also Iron man References Jump up ^ `` 24 X 7 ''. Infoplease.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ Top 15 consecutive games played streaks Jump up ^ `` The Earl of Snohomish ''. Research.sabr.org. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ The Miami News - Google News Archive Search Jump up ^ `` News Article ''. News.google.com. December 30, 1925. Retrieved November 30, 2013. Jump up ^ Rangers ' Prince Fielder 's consecutive - games streak ends at 547 Jump up ^ `` Official Rules MLB.com : Official info ''. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Technicality Ends Pierre 's Streak At 386 - Sun Sentinel ''. Articles.sun-sentinel.com. 2005 - 06 - 05. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Unofficial List of Records Set and Tied in 2006 '' ( PDF ). Sabr.org. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig ''. snopes.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived March 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Gehrig 's amazing streak MLB.com : News ''. MLB.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` The Streak survives criticism, M 's brawl ''. baltimoresun.com. 2001 - 09 - 22. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Only strike stops roll, threatens The Streak ''. baltimoresun.com. 2001 - 09 - 23. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Memories play on, 10 years later ''. baltimoresun.com. 2005 - 09 - 06. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Calling his own number, Ripken ends the streak ''. baltimoresun.com. 2001 - 09 - 27. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` 2. Cal Ripken, Jr. 's Consecutive - Games Streak -- Unbreakable Baseball Records ''. LIFE.com. See Your World LLC. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Jump up ^ Harkins, Bob ( September 27, 2011 ). `` Not all records are made to be broken ''. NBC Sports.com. Retrieved 2011 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Streak over : Tejada placed on DL MLB.com : News ''. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Tejada closes door on streak orioles.com : News ''. Baltimore.orioles.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Ripken 's Record for Consecutive Innings Played ''. Retrieved 2013 - 07 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees - Recap - May 11, 2006 - ESPN ''. Sports.espn.go.com. 2006 - 05 - 11. Retrieved 2013 - 11 - 02. External links Baseball portal CNNSI article on the end of Ripken 's streak, including a picture of the lineup card Major League Baseball records Baseball statistics ( types of records ) General Career records Single - game records Single - season records Record breakers by season Records considered unbreakable Titles leaders Batting leaders Career Batting average On - base percentage Times on base Slugging percentage OPS Hits 3,000 club Progressive Singles Doubles Triples Home runs 500 club Progressive Extra base hits RBIs Total bases Walks Intentional HBP Strikeouts Games played At - bats Plate appearances Annual Batting average Doubles Triples Home runs RBI Season Batting average Triples Home run Progressive Game Home runs Hitting for the cycle Grand slams RBI Game Inning Hits Misc Consecutive game hitting streak On - base plus slugging Hits Home runs Doubles Triples RBIs Baserunning leaders Career Runs Stolen bases Annual Runs Stolen bases Game Runs Misc Runs Stolen bases Pitching leaders Career Wins 300 club Losses Games started Games finished Innings pitched Strikeouts 3,000 club Saves Complete games Shutouts ERA WHIP Walks Hit batsmen Wild pitches Batters faced Annual Wins Saves Shutouts Strikeouts ERA Game No - hitters Perfect games Strikeouts Game Inning Immaculate innings Misc Wins Fielding leaders Career Putouts 1B 2B SS 3B OF LF CF RF Errors 1B 2B SS 3B OF LF CF Assists Passed balls Annual Putouts Errors Game Triple plays Managing records Wins and winning percentage Multiple stat records Triple Crown 20 -- 20 -- 20 club 30 -- 30 club 40 -- 40 club Other Consecutive games played Longest winning streaks Longest losing streaks Individual streaks Titles streaks Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Major_League_Baseball_consecutive_games_played_streaks&oldid=853560986 '' Categories : Major League Baseball lists Major League Baseball records Hidden categories : CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty Webarchive template wayback links Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia Português Edit links This page was last edited on 5 August 2018, at 16 : 42 ( UTC ). 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Question: who is closest to cal ripken jr record
Answer: Lou Gehrig