A Look at Baseball’s Record-Breakers in 1988
From SABR member Larry Granillo at Baseball Prospectus on August 3:
Earlier this week, Milwaukee Brewers closer John Axford set a club record by saving his 26th straight game for the club. Former mustachioed closer Doug Jones held the previous record for the Brewers, with a 25-game streak in 1997. As you may imagine, Jones’ name got mentioned on Brewers’ broadcasts in the days leading to the save more times than in the last 10+ years combined. Aside from making me wonder when Jones ever pitched for the Brewers (he’ll always be an Indian in my mind), I didn’t think too much of it.
Talking with friends of mine, though, it quickly became clear that not everyone remembers Jones at all, Indian or Brewer or Athletic alike. So I did what anyone would do – I went to Google and found an old Jones baseball card that featured his legendary ‘stache so prominently. The card I chose was the 1989 Topps Record Breaker … It doesn’t have as close-up of a view as I was hoping, but it got the job done.
More importantly, it made me curious about what record Doug Jones broke in 1988 that was big enough to warrant a “Record Breakers” card.
Read the full article here: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=14704
Originally published: August 3, 2011. Last Updated: August 3, 2011.