River Rat - 44 Game Hitting Streak
“He pitched me like it was the seventh game of the World Series, and it’s only July!” - Pete Rose
Pete Rose’s 44-game hitting streak in 1978 is one of the most remarkable achievements of his career and a testament to his consistency, focus, and relentless work ethic. His streak, which spanned from June 14, 1978 to July 31, 1978, was the longest hitting streak in the National League since Willie Keeler's 45-game streak in 1896–97 and remains the second-longest in the league’s history. The streak ultimately fell short of Joe DiMaggio's iconic 56-game streak in 1941, but Rose’s run still stands as one of the greatest feats in modern baseball.
The streak began on June 14, 1978, in a game against the Chicago Cubs. Rose singled off pitcher Dennis Lamp to kick things off. Rose was 37 years old and, in his 16th, full season in the majors. His focus, at that point, was simply contributing to the Reds, who were in the thick of a pennant race in the National League West.
As the streak continued into July, Rose’s hits kept coming against some of the best pitchers of the era. He hit off Gaylord Perry, Vida Blue, and J.R. Richard, among others, showing his ability to handle tough pitching. During the streak, Rose batted .385, collecting 69 hits in 179 at-bats.
One of the most impressive aspects of the streak was how he managed to maintain it on the road. Over the 44 games, Rose played in a variety of stadiums, each with its own challenges—whether it was the windy conditions of Wrigley Field, the expansive dimensions of Dodger Stadium, or the hitter-friendly confines of Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Regardless of the environment, Rose adapted and kept finding ways to get hits.
By the time Rose had reached 30 games, national attention began to focus on the streak. Baseball fans started watching closely to see if Rose could challenge Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, a record many considered untouchable. The media buzz grew with each passing game, and Rose’s every at-bat was scrutinized. Teammates, opponents, and fans alike were caught up in the excitement, and Rose himself later admitted that the streak became a central focus for him, adding pressure with every game.
Rose, in typical fashion, didn’t shy away from the attention or the pressure. He thrived on competition and challenges, and his well-known work ethic and determination fueled him through the streak. He wasn’t just hitting to extend the streak, but to help the Reds chase the Dodgers for the NL West title.
When Pete Rose’s 44-game hitting streak ended on July 31, 1978, it was not just the conclusion of one of baseball's most exciting achievements in decades—it also sparked a memorable reaction from Rose himself, particularly his frustration with the opposing pitcher, Gene Garber.
In the game that ended the streak, the Cincinnati Reds were playing the Atlanta Braves at Fulton County Stadium. Larry McWilliams started the game for the Braves, but Rose’s frustration stemmed from the fact that it was Gene Garber, a sidearm reliever, who was called upon to finish the game.
Garber wasn’t an overpowering pitcher; he had an unusual sidearm delivery that created movement on the ball, making it difficult for hitters to square up. Rose had hit against some of the best pitchers in baseball during his streak—power pitchers, finesse pitchers, and Hall of Famers—but Garber posed a unique challenge. Rose faced Garber late in the game with the streak on the line, and Garber wasn’t going to give him anything easy.
Unlike many pitchers who might have tried to challenge Rose to help preserve baseball’s tradition or give him something hittable, Garber pitched to win. He approached Rose as if it were a playoff game, throwing tough breaking balls and off-speed pitches rather than fastballs. This strategy frustrated Rose because he believed Garber wasn’t pitching to him straight-up but instead "pitching scared." Garber struck out Rose in his final at-bat, ending the streak.
After the game, Rose was visibly upset. He didn't shy away from expressing his frustration with Garber’s approach. Rose felt that Garber was too focused on stopping the streak and not playing the game “the right way,” which, in Rose's eyes, meant going after the hitter with fastballs rather than off-speed pitches.
Rose famously remarked in the post-game interviews, “He pitched me like it was the seventh game of the World Series, and it’s only July!” This comment captured Rose’s disdain for what he perceived as an overly intense approach from Garber in a regular-season game. Rose believed that a pitcher should be competitive, but he also felt that Garber was almost more concerned about the streak than winning the game.
Gene Garber, for his part, wasn’t apologetic. He later said that he had no intention of giving Rose any special treatment just because of the streak. Garber’s focus was on helping his team win, not on Rose’s personal milestone. He had a job to do, and that was to get Rose out and secure a victory for the Braves, which he did. Garber felt that Rose's criticism was misplaced, as Rose had no problem facing other pitchers in the same situation who also tried to get him out using different pitches.
Garber's view was that the game didn’t change because of the streak. He pitched as he would have in any other situation, and that meant using his sidearm breaking pitches to keep Rose off-balance. Garber simply wanted to win, and he didn’t care about the hype surrounding the streak.
The public reaction to the end of the streak was split. Many fans understood Rose’s frustration—he had been carrying the weight of the streak for weeks, under intense media scrutiny, and it was a crushing disappointment to fall short of Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game record. Rose was a competitor through and through, and to see the streak end in such a way, against a relief pitcher using breaking balls, wasn’t how he envisioned it.
However, others felt that Rose was being a bit unfair to Garber. Baseball is a competitive game, and no pitcher is obligated to help a hitter extend a streak. The debate about whether Garber “pitched fair” or not lingered, but many sided with the idea that Garber had simply done his job well, and Rose’s frustration was just part of his competitive nature.
The anger Rose displayed after the streak ended was emblematic of his competitive spirit. Rose was known for giving everything he had, and he took pride in winning, hustling, and never giving up. His reaction to Garber was a continuation of this attitude—he didn’t want anyone to give him anything for free, but he also didn’t expect a pitcher to seemingly avoid going head-to-head with him. Rose thrived in those high-pressure situations and wanted to be challenged.
In hindsight, the incident speaks to how much the streak meant to Rose. He was chasing DiMaggio’s record, something many thought was impossible. To get as close as he did and see it end against a crafty reliever left Rose with a sense of unfinished business. Despite his frustration, Rose remained proud of the streak and later admitted that the attention and pressure made it one of the most thrilling periods of his career.
Garber, meanwhile, stood by his approach and went on to have a successful career. The interaction between the two is often remembered as a classic example of the tension between a hitter chasing history and a pitcher determined to do his job.
44-Game Hitting Streak Overview
1. June 14, 1978 - vs. Chicago Cubs
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Dennis Lamp
2. June 15, 1978 - vs. Chicago Cubs
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Mike Krukow
3. June 16, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Forsch
4. June 17, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Pete Vuckovich
5. June 18, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Silvio Martinez
6. June 19, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Jim Barr
7. June 20, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Vida Blue
8. June 21, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Knepper
9. June 23, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Gaylord Perry
10. June 24, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Randy Jones
11. June 25, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Owchinko
12. June 26, 1978 - vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hit: Double
Pitcher: Doug Rau
13. June 27, 1978 - vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Don Sutton
14. June 28, 1978 - vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Tommy John
15. June 29, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Jim Barr
16. June 30, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Knepper
17. July 1, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Vida Blue
18. July 2, 1978 - vs. San Francisco Giants
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Ed Halicki
19. July 3, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Double
Pitcher: J.R. Richard
20. July 4, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Joe Niekro
21. July 5, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Ken Forsch
22. July 6, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Mark Lemongello
23. July 7, 1978 - vs. New York Mets
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Jerry Koosman
24. July 8, 1978 - vs. New York Mets
Hit: Double
Pitcher: Pat Zachry
25. July 9, 1978 - vs. New York Mets
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Craig Swan
26. July 10, 1978 - vs. Atlanta Braves
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Tommy Boggs
27. July 11, 1978 - vs. Atlanta Braves
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Eddie Solomon
28. July 12, 1978 - vs. Atlanta Braves
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Preston Hanna
29. July 13, 1978 - vs. Atlanta Braves
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Mickey Mahler
30. July 14, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: John Denny
31. July 15, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Pete Vuckovich
32. July 16, 1978 - vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Forsch
33. July 17, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Joe Niekro
34. July 18, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Ken Forsch
35. July 19, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Double
Pitcher: Joaquin Andujar
36. July 20, 1978 - vs. Houston Astros
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Tom Dixon
37. July 21, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Owchinko
38. July 22, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Randy Jones
39. July 23, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Bob Shirley
40. July 24, 1978 - vs. San Diego Padres
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Steve Mura
41. July 27, 1978 - vs. New York Mets
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Pat Zachry
42. July 28, 1978 - vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Larry Christenson
43. July 29, 1978 - vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Jim Kaat
44. July 30, 1978 - vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Hit: Single
Pitcher: Dick Ruthven
End of Streak: July 31, 1978 - vs. Atlanta Braves
Hitless: The streak ended after Rose failed to get a hit off Larry McWilliams.
Good read!