Jose Altuve: The man who surpassed the records of many great hitters

The Astrodome, the world's first domed stadium, was called “the eighth wonder of the world” and has been in Houston, Texas. It was also the home stadium of the Houston Astros. I first watched an Astros game at the Astrodome in 1977. Since then, I watched four Astros games at the Astrodome. The first time I saw the “audience wave” at a baseball stadium was also at the Astrodome. It was in the 1980s. I still remember the surprise and excitement I felt at that time. At that time, I never saw the “audience wave” at baseball stadiums in Japan.

So, I have wonderful memories of the Astrodome. And even after the Astrodome ceased to be the home stadium of the Astros in 1999, the Astros have always been one of my favorite MLB teams.

Now, the major leaguer I was paying the most attention to in 2017 was the right-handed hitter Jose Altuve of the Astros. At about 168cm tall, he was said to be the shortest active major leaguer. In 2017, this short man could have done something amazing.

In 2014, his fourth season as a major leaguer, Altuve's talent blossomed brilliantly. He had a batting average of .341, 225 hits, and 56 stolen bases. These three were the best in the American League. Since then, he continued to have a batting average of over .300, over 200 hits, and over 30 stolen bases until 2016. In particular, he was the best in the league for the number of hits for three consecutive seasons. This was the second-best record in major league history, after the left-handed hitter Ichiro's five consecutive seasons, but there were eight other hitters who held the second-best record. In other words, if Altuve leads the league in hits in 2017, he surpasses these eight great hitters and solely holds the second-best record.

I’m sure there are people who disagree with what I wrote so far.

I wrote that there were eight other hitters besides Altuve who led the league in hits for three consecutive seasons, tying the second-best record after Ichiro’s five consecutive seasons. However, there are people who say that the number of such hitters is six or seven. What is the correct number? I think the correct number is eight, namely the hitters listed below.

Ginger Beaumont (1902-1904)

Rogers Hornsby (1920-1922),

Frank McCormick (1938-1940)

Ty Cobb (1907-1909),

Tony Oliva (1964-1966)

Kirby Puckett (1987-1989)

Johnny Pesky (1942, 1946-1947. He did not play due to military service in 1943-45)

Stan Musial (1943-1944, 1946. He did not play due to military service in 1945))

By the way, Altuve had already achieved something amazing by the previous year, 2016. In the history of MLB, only two hitters other than Altuve have led the league in hits and stolen 30 or more bases for three consecutive seasons. Ty Cobb and Ichiro. Altuve has already tied with these two greats. If he achieves this again in 2017, he will surpass these two greats.

Furthermore, even if Altuve does not lead the league in hits in 2017, if he achieves 200 or more hits, it will be his fourth consecutive season of 200 or more hits, which will raise great expectations for the future. Ichiro holds the major league record of hitting 200 or more hits in a season for 10 consecutive seasons, but the highest number of consecutive seasons with 200 or more hits by a right-handed hitter is five that Al Simmons and Michael Young achieved. If Altuve hits 200 or more hits in 2017, he will be just one season away from tying this record.

Here is about Altuve in 2017.

His batting average was .346, the best in the league. His 204 hits were also the best in the league. His number of stolen bases was 32. This means that he led the league in hits for four consecutive seasons and surpassed eight great hitters to solely hold the second-best record. This record is just one season away from tying Ichiro’s record of five consecutive seasons. And Altuve established the record of 200 or more hits in a season for four consecutive seasons that is just one season away from tying the major league record of five consecutive seasons with 200 or more hits by a right-handed hitter. He also set a new major league record by leading the league in hits and stealing 30 or more bases for four consecutive seasons. This means that he surpassed two greats, Ty Cobb and Ichiro.

In 2018, Altuve finished with 169 hits (11th in the league) and 17 stolen bases. That’s very unfortunate.

But I have a lot of respect for what Altuve accomplished.

( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions )