One Game at a Time: MU's Winning Streaks

At the time of this writing, the 2003 Missouri Tigers have just extended their winning streak to 13 by defeating the Nebrska Cornhuskers 4-3 in game 1 of a 3-game series in Lincoln.

The last time the Tigers had a 13-game winning streak was in 1988. That team, under Gene McArtor, rang up consecutive wins against Lamar (3), St. Louis U, NW Missouri State (2), UM-StL (2), SIU-Edwardsville (2) and Kansas. The streak was broken by a 3-2 loss to the Jayhawks. The '88 Tigers finished 42-22 for the season and made a trip to the NCAA South Regional.

In 1985, Missouri began the season with a 14-game winning streak. This streak is a little less impressive, given the caliber of many of their opponents during the stretch: Evangel (2), William Jewell (2), NE Missouri State (6), UM-StL (2), New Mexico, Utah. Utah beat MU in the second game of their series, 4-3,stopping the streak. The Tigers finished 36-27 that season and did not go on to the NCAA Regionals.

The 1981 Tigers rolled out a 16-game winning streak on their way to a 43-18 record and a visit to the NCAA South Regional. Gene McArtor's squad pulled out consecutive wins against Iowa (2), Westminster (2), NE Missouri State (2), Northwestern, Texas Pan-American, Seton Hall, Morningside, Northwestern again, Michigan State, and 4-straight against the Kansas Jayhawks. SIU Edwardsville knocked off the Tigers 11-7, ending the streak.

But the champion of all Mizzou winning streaks came in 1964, a banner year for the Tigers. John "Hi" Simmons took his '64 team all the way to the championship game of the College World Series before losing the final game to Minnesota. The 18-game streak is all the more impressive considering the relative shortness of a college baseball season in those days. MU's final record was 26-5-1. After beginning the season with one win followed by three losses, the Tigers went on to defeat Tulsa (2), Colorado (2), Iowa State, Kansas State (3), Oklahoma (3), Oklahoma State, Nebraska (3), and Kansas (3). The last game of the streak was the last game of the regular season. In the District V playoffs, Missouri tied St. Louis U by a 1-1 score before coming back to defeat them, 2-1.

Prior to 1964, most seasons were too short to provide the possibility of such long winning streaks. In Missouri's National Championship season of 1954, the entire season from opening day to the championship win over tiny Rollins College (4-1) encompassed only 26 games (and a 22-4 record).