The number 42 is iconic in baseball for one reason: Jackie Robinson. Mariano Rivera is the last baseball player that will ever wear the number, which marks 2014 as the first year no major leaguer will wear the ground-breaking number on the back of their jersey ever again. Maybe they should change that rule to allow Justin Ruggiano to celebrate the streak he just broke yesterday: going hitless in his last 42 at-bats.
Ruggiano went into last night’s game with only four total hits total in the months of July and August combined. That all changed in his first at-bat, however, with a single to center that tied the ballgame. Had Ruggiano gone hitless last night in his four at-bats, he would have broken the modern day record of futility by going hitless in 46 at-bats, which would have bested hit-kings Craig Counsell (2011), Dave Campbell (1973) and Bill Bergen (1909) by one.
After it was all said and done, Ruggiano ended up going 3-for-4 en route to a 5-2 win over the streaking Kansas City Royals. Did Ruggiano celebrate his accomplishment? Yes, by getting picked off of first base. Congrats, Justin!
Jonah is happy for Justin
[ESPN]
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