Today marked 3600 consecutive days of my current running streak, approaching the ten year anniversary of when it started in Austin, Texas. It’s been a much cooler experience these last few years in Portland without the 100-plus degree days. It’s the first thing I do every morning, so I finished my 3.1 mile run, joined my wife for breakfast, and got the painters started. College basketball starts today and I’ll join some friends at Buffalo Wild Wings this afternoon where we are regulars. The good thing about watching sports on the West Coast is that the games start early, so I’m not wasting my evenings by the TV or missing anything when we got out.

I’m in the midst of a travel-free streak of now 23-days, but my daily routine has been constantly interrupted by contractors. There are painters in our home from 8 to 5 every day, so this means very little “me time.” It’s not like I’m working hard, but I still have to answer questions and move things around, resulting in very little privacy. Our dogs are also restless, with strangers in the house and their napping areas disrupted with tarps, paint cans, and ladders. I seek refuge in my office, but that area is about to be painted, as well. They are just going to paint the ceiling so I can avoid having to take down my prized sports memorabilia collection. In other rooms, pictures and mirrors are scattered about and my once tidy garage is littered with plants, glassware, and furniture. By next week, I should be able to continue this travel-free streak, expected to extend another 17 days. That will mean 40 straight days at home; a retirement record, and time to enjoy the sports-related memories that surround me every day. 

Later this month we’ll head to Bend, Oregon with the dogs, followed by Los Angeles and Disneyworld. I just got my annual maintenance bill from the Marriott Vacation Club, a timeshare arrangement we have yet to take advantage of using. Our first experience will be Thailand in the spring, but right now I feel like I’m paying for nothing. It’s supposed to be a travel investment that will eventually pay-off, but I’m having some regrets. It will not be until my wife retires that we will have enough time to fully benefit from what is currently just a financial hassle. Our plan is to sell our residence, reinvest the proceeds, and rent. This will relieve some of the cost concerns about this “second home,” that we can utilize anywhere in the world when the time comes. Sporting events on my bucket list are a major part of my retirement travel plans. 

I went to an unofficial old-timers baseball breakfast yesterday morning, if for no other reason to get away from the contractors for a few hours. It’s interesting to hear all the stories about players from the past and to share the love of baseball with others my age. Each of us collects something different in the way of memorabilia, and we often exchange gifts. I came home with a 1950’s era Luis Aparicio glove and a Chicago White Sox pin-back. I also have his autographed Louisville Slugger as part of my collection. One guy brought some old pictures of the Dodgers team as they transitioned from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. The father of a friend of my wife and I pitched for that 1955 World Series champion team by the name of Karl Spooner. He still holds the record (tied with J.R. Richard) for the most strike-outs in a Major League debut, but was credited for the loss in his last World Series appearance in a promising career hampered by injury. I was also excited that the Indiana University baseball team is coming to Seattle in March for a tournament, including a game against College World Series champion Oregon State. I will probably add that to my travel plans for next year, fulfilling another item on my list of 67 things to do before I’m 68. (See Post #642).

67 years and 3 months of continuous breathing is my most important streak of all at 24,543 days or 589,032 hours. Within this fortunate vein of longevity are all these other streaks that I often write about. To me, maintaining a streak is motivation to continue. However, I certainly wouldn’t want a streak of bad luck or a losing streak. I’ve been pretty successful at avoiding these in life. When I think of streaks, I mostly think of sports and the statisticians that keep track of these things. Even my hapless Chicago Bears have a current two-game winning streak. Here are the ten considered to be the greatest and perhaps the most unbreakable in sports history:

1. Cal Ripken Jr.

Baltimore Orioles’ legend Cal Ripken holds the record for the most consecutive games played in MLB history. His record is 2,632 games straight over a career of more than 16 years. September 6, 1995 marked the day Ripken passed the previous record of 2,130 made by Lou Gehrig. Ripken still holds the record today and is MLB’s Iron Man.

2. Doug Jarvis

Former NHL player for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers Doug Jarvis holds the record for the most consecutive games started. Between 1975 and 1985, Jarvis started in 964 straight games. He surpassed the Garry Unger’s previous top record of 914 in the 1985-1986 season.

3. Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is an especially dominate played on clay courts, and between 2005 and 2007 he won 81 consecutive games on clay. Player Guillermo Vilas held the previous record of 53 that Nadal largely passed, and no one has come close to beating his record yet.

4. UCLA Basketball

Under head coach John Wooden, the UCLA Men’s Basketball team made some impressive records. In the 1970’s, they won 88 consecutive games. They also won ten NCAA championships in Wooden’s 12 years of head coach, and hold the record for the most consecutive NCAA championship titles, winning seven in a row from 1967-1973.

5. Joe DiMaggio

New York Yankees player Joe DiMaggio holds the record for the longest hitting streak of at least one base hit in 56 straight games from May 15, 1941 to July 17, 1941. His record is still unbeaten. DiMaggio beat Willlie Keeler’s 1897 streak of 45 games, and the closest anyone has gotten to either record since was Pete Rose’s streak of 44 games in 1978.

6. Brett Favres

NFL player Brett Favres holds many NFL records, including the most consecutive starts by a player. Favres started in 297 straight games between 1992 and 2010 during his time on the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings. He has also won the Associated Press NFL MVP Award three years in a row (1995-1997) and holds the record for the most career pass completions.

7. Glenn Hall

NHL player Glenn Hall, also known as Mr. Goalie, holds the record for the longest streak of games started by a goalie. During his career he started in an impressive 502 consecutive games, a record left untouched.

8. Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs hold the record for the longest World Series drought, playing 108 seasons before finally breaking it and winning in 2016. Other MLB teams have experienced long droughts as well (such as the Red Sox, 85 years before broken), but none come close to the Cubs’ record.

9. Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano retired as the World Heavyweight Champion with a record of 49 straight wins between 1952 and 1956. To end a career undefeated is an impressive feat and one envied by many athletes.

10. Oklahoma Sooners Football

Between 1953 and 1957 under head coach Bud Wilkinson, the Oklahoma Sooners won 47 games in a row and also two national championships. No team has beaten this winning streak, though University of Southern California recently game the closest with a 34 game winning streak from 2003 to 2005.

Credit TBA by Seat Geek