Subject: The Definitive Word on "Before Dale Long?"
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 17:32:37 -0400
From: Don Dudley <Don.Dudley@Sun.COM>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
To: "Dudley, Don" <Don.Dudley@Sun.COM>

This question came up when, in July, 1993, Ken Griffey, Jr., tied Dale
Long's May, 1956 record of hitting home runs in eight consecutive games.
(Don Mattingly had also tied it in July, 1987.)  So, I realize that many
of you were not in on that discussion almost eight years ago.
Nevertheless, you might be interested while we wait for Nomar to come
back ;-).

My question was, "Who held the record before Dale Long and when did he
set it?"  I clearly remember, day-by-day, Dale approaching and then
setting the record and knew the answer to the question at the time, but
somehow over the intervening 37 years, forgot the complete answer.  (I
did remember that part of  the answer, obviously the easy part, was Lou
Gehrig with six in 1931.)  I queried several of you, posted to various
internet news groups, etc., but was never satisfied that I got the
correct answer.  In fact, I never really got close to getting the
complete answer.

Well, on his way to hitting his 500th earlier this year, Barry Bonds hit
homers in six consecutive games and on April 20th, USA Today published
exactly the information I was looking for.

Gehrig tied Ken Williams of the Browns, July, 1922, and George Kelly of
the Giants, July, 1924.  Then before Long went on his streak, two other
Giants hit homers in six consecutive games: Walker Cooper in June, 1947
and Willie Mays, September, 1955.  So, that is the complete answer to my
question.  Four others tied Gehrig's and Williams' American League
record, after Dale Long but before Mattingly broke it in 1987: Roy
Sievers, Senators, July-August, 1957;  Roger Maris, Yankees, August,
1961; Frank Howard, Senators, May, 1968; and Reggie Jackson, Baltimore,
July, 1976.  USA Today also noted that Graig Nettles did six for San
Diego in August, 1984.

Best regards,

Don