Two other relevant considerations come into play on the consecutive game hitting streak.
One is that the "Hit" is an event whose definition is not always clear cut---it can sometimes be arbitrarily applied according to the official scorer.
The second is that, in a game whose outcome is not critical to a pennant race, opponents can retire the batter in his first AB, and then walk him for the remainder of the game, thus ensuring that the streak would be ended (if the opponents chose to do so) in any game in which the streak was not extended in the first plate appearance.
As I recall, there were teams who actually stated that they would do that to Pete Rose, rather than let him dishonor the great Yankee's record.
For this reason, I am inclined to diminish the value of the record, because it is so easy for the opponents and/or the official scorer to manipulate challenges to iit.
Picture this scenario: Manny Ramirez has a hitting streak around 50, and he is playing in Yankee Stadium. He hits a dribbler down the 3B line, ARod tries a bare-hand pickup, but the ball squirts off his fingertips. What are the chances the NY official scorer would give Manny his first hit of the game? Should Manny's eternal "greatness" hinge on that call?
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