The past couple of months have been pretty spectacular for Nolan Schanuel – an MLB prospect who went from being drafted in July to breaking records and making MLB history in August and September. Despite being just 21 years old, the first baseman is already showing promise vs. the best in the world.
Schanuel was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels with the No. 11 overall pick in the 1st round of the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft in July. It only took 40 days for the team to call him up to the majors and he made his MLB debut on August 18 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He showed poise and ability right out of the gate.
On August 30, Schanuel set a franchise record when he recorded a hit in his 10th straight game to start his career. While his hit streak ended the following game, he went on to set another franchise record on September 7 by reaching base safely in his 16th consecutive game to start his career. He was on fire!
Schanuel Makes MLB History With Longest On-Base Streak to Start a Career
Not many MLB players can say they’ve reached base safely in 20 straight games to start their career, but Nolan Schanuel is one of them. In fact, he has reached base safely at least once in each of the first 28 games of his career – and counting! Only three other MLB players have a longer streak than Schanuel.
His 28-game streak is also the longest such streak in MLB history by a player 21 or younger – the three players above him were older when they began their careers. With just two games remaining on the Angels’ schedule (Sept. 30 and Oct. 1), Nolan has a chance to extend his on-base streak to 30 games.
If he can do so, he’ll be just the third player in MLB history to reach base safely at least once in each of their first 30 games and will have an opportunity to extend that streak even further at the start of the 2024 season. He was only drafted a few months ago, but is already making MLB history on numerous fronts.
To honor how rare a streak like Schanuel’s is, let’s take a closer look at the MLB players to reach base safely at least once in 20+ straight games to start their career – there are 18 of them (since 1901). Let’s see how many of them you can name without cheating!
18. George Jackson – 20 consecutive games (1911)
George Jackson reached base safely in each of the first 20 games of his career with the Boston Bison – beginning on August 2, 1911 and ending on August 26, 1911. He had a .405 batting average, 32 hits, 9 doubles, 12 RBIs, 18 runs, and 8 walks during that span and had at least one hit in 16 of those 20 games.
He went on to play 39 games in 1911 and finished the season with a .347 batting average, 51 hits, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 25 runs batted in, 21 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and 12 walks. Unfortunately, he struggled to maintain that momentum into the 1912 season and was out of the MLB by the 1913 season.
17. Del Bissonette – 20 consecutive games (1928)
Del Bissonette reached base safely in each of the first 20 games of his career with the Brooklyn Robins – beginning on April 11, 1928 and ending on May 7, 1928. He had a .355 batting average, 27 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 19 runs batted in, 9 runs scored, and 6 walks during that 20-game span.
Bissonettte went on to play in 155 games in 1928 and finished the season with a .320 batting average, 188 hits, 30 doubles, 13 triples, 25 home runs, 106 runs batted in, 90 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases. He only played five years in the major leagues before starting a coaching career in the minors and majors.
16. Daric Barton – 20 consecutive games (2008)
Daric Barton reached base safely in each of the first 20 games of his career with the Oakland Athletics – beginning on September 10, 2007 and ending on March 26, 2008. He had a .325 batting average, 25 hits, 9 doubles, 4 home runs, 8 runs batted in, 18 runs scored, and one stolen base during that 20-game span.
Barton played in 18 games in 2007 and continued his streak at the start of the 2008 season – a season that saw him play in 140 games as a rookie. He finished that year with a .226 batting average, 101 hits, 17 doubles, 5 triples, 9 home runs, 47 RBIs, 59 runs, and 2 stolen bases. He was out of the MLB by 2015.
15. Dale Alexander – 21 consecutive games (1929)
Dale Alexander reached base safely in each of the first 21 games of his career with the Detroit Tigers – beginning on April 16, 1929 and ending on May 8, 1929. He had a .341 batting average, 28 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 20 runs batted in, 12 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases during that span.
Alexander played in 155 games in 1929 and finished his rookie season with a .343 batting average, 215 hits (led the AL), 43 doubles, 15 triples, 25 home runs, 137 runs batted in, 110 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases. He spent five years in the majors, but an injured leg in 1933 limited his mobility and ability to play.
14. Earl Averill – 21 consecutive games (1929)
Earl Averill reached base safely in each of the first 21 games of his career with the Cleveland Indians – beginning on April 16, 1929 (same as Alexander) and ending on May 10, 1929. He had a .325 batting average, 25 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 13 RBIs, 12 runs, and 4 stolen bases in that span.
Averill played in 152 games in 1929 and finished his rookie season with a .332 batting average, 198 hits, 43 doubles, 13 triples, 18 home runs, 96 runs batted in, 110 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. He spent 13 years in the majors, was a 6-time All-Star, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.
13. Odell Hale – 21 consecutive games (1931)
Odell Hale reached base safely in each of the first 21 games of his career with the Cleveland Indians – beginning on August 2, 1931 and ending on September 18, 1931. He had a .300 batting average, 24 hits, 2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 5 runs batted in, 14 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases during that span.
Hale played in 25 games in 1931 and finished the season with a .283 batting average, 26 hits, 2 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases. He spent 10 years in the majors before retiring in 1942 with a .289 batting average, 1,071 hits, 573 RBIs, and 551 runs in 1,062 games played.
12. Christopher Morel – 22 consecutive games (2022)
Christopher Morel reached base safely in each of the first 22 games of his career with the Chicago Cubs – beginning on May 17, 2022 and ending on June 10, 2022. He had a .303 batting average, 27 hits, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 10 runs batted in, 16 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases during that span.
Morel played in 113 games in 2022 and finished his rookie season with a .235 batting average, 89 hits, 19 doubles, 4 triples, 16 home runs, 47 runs batted in, 55 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. He’s still trying to find a permanent home in the major leagues, but did play in another 107 games with the Cubs in 2023.
11. Hank Arft – 23 consecutive games (1948)
Hank Arft reached base safely in each of the first 23 games of his career with the St. Louis Browns – beginning on July 27, 1948 and ending on August 17, 1948. He had a .361 batting average, 30 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 19 runs batted in, 14 runs scored, and 14 walks during that streak.
Arft ended up playing in 69 games in 1949 and finished the season with a .238 batting average, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 38 runs batted in, 25 runs scored, and 1 stolen base. He spent five years in the MLB before fading out of the league – he was never able to duplicate or maintain his early success.
10. Luis Alicea – 23 consecutive games (1988)
Luis Alicea reached base safely in each of the first 23 games of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals – beginning on April 23, 1988 and ending on May 18, 1988. He had a .261 batting average, 23 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 14 runs batted in, 10 runs scored, and 13 walks during his 23-game streak.
Alicea ended up playing in 93 games in 1988 and finished his rookie season with a .212 batting average, 63 hits, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 24 runs batted in, 20 runs scored, and 1 stolen base. He spent a few years in the minors before returning to the MLB in 1991 and spent a total of 13 years in the majors.
9. Gibby Brack – 24 consecutive games (1937)
Gibby Brock reached base safely in each of the first 24 games of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers – beginning on April 23, 1937 and ending on May 22, 1937. He had a .371 batting average, 36 hits, 8 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home runs, 12 runs batted in, 20 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases during that span.
Brock ended up playing 112 games in 1937 and finished his rookie season with a .274 batting average, 102 hits, 27 doubles, 9 triples, 5 home runs, 38 runs batted in, 60 runs scored, and 9 stolen bases. He was 29 years old when he made his debut and only went on to spend a few years in the major leagues.
8. Jim Gilliam – 24 consecutive games (1953)
Jim Gilliam reached base safely in each of the first 24 games of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers – beginning on April 14, 1953 and ending on May 15, 1953. He had a .311 batting average, 28 hits, 1 double, 1 triple, 10 runs batted in, 19 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, and 24 walks during the streak.
Gilliam went on to play 151 games in 1953 and finished his rookie season with a .278 batting average, 168 hits, 31 doubles, 17 triples (led MLB), 6 home runs, 63 runs batted in, 125 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. He was named Rookie of the Year, played 17 years in the MLB, and won four World Series titles.
7. Rocco Baldelli – 24 consecutive games (2003)
Rocco Baldelli reached base safely in each of the first 24 games of his career with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays – beginning on March 31, 2003 and ending on April 27, 2003. He had a .376 batting average, 38 hits, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 15 runs batted in, 12 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases during that 24-game span.
Baldelli went on to play 156 games in 2003 and finished his rookie season with a .289 batting average, 184 hits, 32 doubles, 8 triples, 11 home runs, 78 runs batted in, 89 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases. He came third in Rookie of the Year voting and spent 7 years in the majors before an illness forced him out.
6. Dick Howser – 26 consecutive games (1961)
Dick Howser reached base safely in each of the first 26 games of his career with the Kansas City Athletics – beginning on April 11, 1961 and ending on May 18, 1961. He had a .271 batting average, 26 hits, 6 doubles, 1 triples, 10 runs batted in, 16 runs scored, 7 stolen bases, and 21 walks in that span.
Howser went on to play 158 games in 1961 and finished his rookie season with a .280 batting average, 171 hits, 29 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 45 runs batted in, 108 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, and 92 walks. He was named an All-Star for the 1961 season and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
5. George Scott – 26 consecutive games (1966)
George Scott reached base safely in each of the first 26 games of his career with the Boston Red Sox – beginning on April 12, 1966 and ending on May 14, 1966. He had a .347 batting average, 35 hits, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs, 26 runs batted in, 17 runs scored, and 10 walks during that span.
Scott went on to play 162 games in 1966 and finished his rookie season with a .245 batting average, 147 hits, 18 doubles, 7 triples, 27 home runs, 90 runs batted in, 73 runs scored, and 4 stolen bases. He led the MLB in strikeouts, but was still named an All-Star and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
4. Enos Slaughter – 28 consecutive games (1938)
Enos Slaughter reached base safely in each of the first 28 games of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals – beginning on April 19, 1938 and ending on May 23, 1938. He had a .339 batting average, 41 hits, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 17 runs batted in, 21 runs scored, and 1 stolen base in that span.
Slaughter went on to play 112 games in 1938 and finished his rookie season with a .276 batting average, 109 hits, 20 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 58 runs batted in, 59 runs scored, and 1 stolen base. He only got better and ended up spending 19 years in the major leagues and is now in the Hall of Fame.
3. Nolan Schanuel – 29 consecutive games (2023)
Nolan Schanuel reached base safely in each of the first 29 games of his career with the Los Angeles Angels – beginning on August 18, 2023 and still counting to this day. He has a .275 batting average, 30 hits, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 6 runs batted in, 19 runs scored, and 20 walks during his 29-game streak.
Schanuel was drafted by the Angels in July and was making his MLB debut just 40 days later. He’s playing off a lot of adrenaline right now and, while he hasn’t been hitting the ball particularly well, he has been reaching base consistently. The Angels aren’t in the playoffs, so the streak will continue next year.
2. Truck Hannah – 29 consecutive games (1918)
Truck Hannah reached base safely in each of the first 29 games of his career with the New York Yankees – beginning on April 15, 1918 and ending on June 9, 1918. He had a .262 batting average, 28 hits, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 12 runs batted in, 11 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, and 33 walks during that span.
Hannah went on to play 90 games in 1918 and finished the season with a .220 batting average, 55 hits, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 21 RBIs, 24 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases. He was the first MLB player born in North Dakota, but only spent a few years in the majors before serving as a player-manager in the minors.
1. Alvin Davis – 47 consecutive games (1984)
Alvin Davis reached base safely in each of the first 47 games of his career with the Seattle Mariners – beginning on April 11, 1984 and ending on June 7, 1984. He had a .329 batting average, 56 hits, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 13 home runs, 43 runs batted in, 28 runs scored, and 3 stolen bases during that span.
Davis went on to play 152 games in 1984 and finished his rookie season with a .284 batting average, 161 hits, 34 doubles, 3 triples, 27 home runs, 116 runs batted in, 80 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases. He was named an All-Star in 1984, won Rookie of the Year, and came in 12th place in MVP voting that season.
Who Had the Longest On-Base Streak in MLB History?
Nolan Schanuel is doing what no 21-year-old has ever done as he continues to make MLB history on a nightly basis, but how does his 28-game on-base streak to start his career rank against the longest such streak in MLB history? Well, let’s just say he has a long way to go if he wants to be at the top of that list.
To no one’s surprise, it’s Ted Williams who owns the longest on-base streak in MLB history. He reached base safely in 84 consecutive games as a member of the Boston Red Sox between July 1, 1949 and September 27, 1949. His all-time record is 10 more than the next closest – Joe DiMaggio at 74 games.
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There have only been 48 instances in MLB history where a player has reached base safely in at least 50 consecutive games and only six instances where a player reached base safely in 60+ straight games. Ted Williams (twice) and Joe DiMaggio are the only two to extend their streak beyond the 70-game mark.
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