10. Yogi Berra's 10 World Series rings as a player—Berra's titles all came with New York from 1946-65 at a time when baseball grew from just 16 to 20 teams. Now with 30 teams in the fold, the odds of someone hoisting the trophy that many times have dwindled considerably. Why 10th? For one thing, second place is right behind him with nine and it's certainly conceivable that someone could land on two or three dynasties while in the prime of their career. Last time approached: Current Yankees Rivera, Posada, and Jeter each have five.
9. Barry Bonds’ 73 home runs in '01 and 232 walks in '04 (tie)—Although many questions abound about the legitimacy of hitting records from '94 until illegal substance testing started in '06, Bonds' power and patience at the plate resulted in some mind-boggling numbers that can't be ignored. Why 9th? The records are within 10 years old and it seems possible that a rare power hitter with a great eye could land in Coors Field and have everything go right for one summer. Last time approached: Ryan Howard's 58 in 2006.
8. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games streak—Ripken's Iron Man record is a testament to his hard work, ability to play through pain, and the need for his talent to stay on the field. Why 8th? The possibility of a manager never resting a player combined with the player never needing to take to take time off are remote but at least one of the factors is a willful decision. Last time approached: Miguel Tejada's streak of 1,162 snapped in '07.
7. Bob Gibson's 1.12 ERA in 1968 (modern-day record)—Gibson's historic season made him the only pitcher since 1919 to land in the top 40 of all-time seasons and prompted baseball to lower the mound from five inches following the season. Why 7th? Though unlikely, Pedro Martinez' unearthly seasons of '99 and '00 against a batting-heavy league in the confines of Fenway Park suggest that it's possible in today's more pitcher-friendly era for someone to at least sniff it. Last time approached: Pedro's 1.74 in '00, Maddux's 1.56 in '94, and Gooden's 1.53 in '85.
6. Nolan Ryan's 5,714 strikeouts—Nolan Ryan's never-fading fastball and incredible longevity put him atop a mountain few can see from their perch; as no one else has even reached 5,000. Why 6th? The only thing keeping it higher is the test of time as Ryan retired after the '93 season, yet to accomplish the feat he played more seasons than anyone else in the entire history of baseball (27). Last time approached: Randy Johnson (4,875) and Roger Clemens (4,672) retired in second and third place all-time.
5. Hack Wilson's 191 RBIs in 1930—Amazingly, Hack's incredible 1930 season didn't garner him the MVP, but who knew 81 years ago that the milestone would still be standing? Why 5th? The record has more than stood the test of time as no major-leaguer has seen the 180-mark in any era. Last time approached: Manny Ramirez drove in 165 in 1999 in 147 games in 1999.
4. Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941—DiMaggio's feat was so impressive even 70 years ago, that he was awarded the MVP over runner-up Ted Williams' .406 season. Even in today's era, making it to just the halfway point can be a media-swarming event. Why 4th? Though hardly anyone has seen anything nearing the record-setting mark, baseball is such a game of inches that a slow, yet well-placed ground ball can be a streak-extending hit for good hitter who has an unbelievable two-month stint. Last time approached: Pete Rose reached 44 in '78 while Paul Molitor hit in 39 straight in '87.
3. Babe Ruth leading the league in home runs 12 times—Among the Bambino's many achievements this one spoke the highest volume about how much he ruled the league. Why 3rd? During Ruth's final year, 1935, his competition came from the rosters of just eight teams, roughly half the size of today's two leagues, while the home run itself was an achievement he himself popularized beginning with his league-leading 11 (not a misprint) in 1918. Last time approached: Mike Schmidt led the senior circuit eight times before retiring, while 36 year-old Alex Rodriguez has paced the league five times to lead active players.
2. Ty Cobb's .366 career batting average—Among Cobb's many records upon his retirement after the 1928 season—a season in which the 41 year-old still hit .323—this one still remains. Why 2nd? Possibly, but still very-improbably, Ichiro's (.326 career average) incredible hitting makes it seem possible that if the guy had spent all his prime years in this league and at a more hitting-friendly ballpark he might have made a run at it. Last time someone approached it: Tony Gwynn's .338 mark is 18th while Albert Pujols checks in at 33rd with his .327.
1. Cy Young's 511 career wins—Even taking into consideration that he did it in a completely different age of baseball, only one other person has reached 400 (Walter Johnson, 417). Why 1st? To get that far a pitcher would have to AVERAGE 30 wins a season for 17 straight seasons. Last time approached: Never.
