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By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
Perhaps you recall the remarkable feats of Gavvy "Cactus" Cravath of the Philadelphia Phillies. If not, then how about the record-breaking exploits of the Yankees' Everett "Deacon" Scott?
On the chance that their places in history have escaped you, allow us to introduce Cravath, the once-upon-a-time "Home Run King" of baseball, and Scott, the game's way-back-when "Ironman."
After Cravath, described by BaseballLibrary.com as a "tobacco-chewing, cussing bruiser," belted an unheard of 24th homer in the 1915 season, people no doubt had a hard time imagining it being surpassed anytime soon. This at a time when Frank "Home Run" Baker was hitting half as many.
Likewise for Scott, whose streak of consecutive appearances reached 1,307 in 1925, helped along by him scurrying away from a wrecked train and shelling out $40 to catch a cab to Chicago in time for a game, BaseballLibrary.com said.
Who could have imagined then the so-called "dead ball" era would soon end, opening the way for the home run record being rewritten by Babe Ruth (29 at first, then eventually 60), Roger Maris (61), Mark McGwire (70) and Barry Bonds (73). Or, that Lou Gehrig (2,130) and Cal Ripken Jr. (2,632) would take the mark of consecutive appearances to such lengths?
Yet, when a remarkable record is set, as was recently done by Los Angeles' Eric Gagne with his 84th consecutive saves streak, we are quick to label it with dead-solid certainty as a "never-to-be-broken" standard.
Never is a long time. Unless you are Joe DiMaggio, owner of a 56-game hitting streak; Cy Young, holder of 511 victories; Walter Johnson, possessor of 110 shutouts, or Ripken, perhaps.
And, as we are constantly reminded, part of the mystery and joy of baseball is that no matter how many games have already been played, the sport is constantly evolving and setting new horizons. It continues to find new stars in unlikely places.
Gagne's record is astounding especially given he bettered the old mark by 30 and it has come in a time when more than the baseballs have been accused of being juiced. It was a fitting testament that when he finally blew a save opportunity against Arizona, 32,929 fans gave him a standing ovation.
But saves are still a comparatively young statistical category being officially recognized only since 1969, a period not much longer than the lifetime of the former hockey player from Canada who now tops the list. Gagne's record will not be an easy one to break. But that doesn't mean it is impossible.
Remember what they once said about putting a man on the moon? And Bob Beamon's long jump?
Who knows, maybe someday — albeit a far-away one — Gagne might be occupying a place on the same shelf of history as whodaguys Cravath and Scott.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
