Damian Costantino
Encyclopedia
Damian Costantino is an American
baseball player who set the record for the longest hitting streak
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
baseball history, with a 60-game streak that ran through the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons playing for the Division III Salve Regina Seahawks
and broke the mark set in 1987 by Robin Ventura
with 58.
Costantino attended Warwick Veterans High School
. He had seriously considered playing for a Division I school but chose to enlist in the United States Army
after graduating from high school. He became a reservist
at the end of his military service and portions of his company in the 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion had been deployed to the Persian Gulf
.
After two years in the Army, Costantino enrolled at Salve Regina University
in Newport, Rhode Island
, where he majored in administration of justice. He joined the baseball team as a freshman and began his streak on April 1, 2001, in a game against Rhode Island College
, and hit in 22 consecutive games through the end of the 2001 season, then got hits in all 35 games the team played in the 2002 season. During the 2002 season, he broke the previous Division III record with a hit against Johnson & Wales University
in his 47th consecutive game.
Salve Regina kicked off the 2003 season with a spring sequence of games in Florida. He made it to 57 with a double in his last at bat of their first game of the season and tied the record in the second game of the doubleheader against Wesley College. He then broke Robin Ventura's NCAA record with a single in a game against Mount Union College
, in a game that Mount Union won 13–2. He got hits in the next two games, extending the streak to 60 games, but ended his streak with no hits in two at bats in a game against Baldwin–Wallace College
. In the streak-ending game, Costantino grounded out, hit a sacrifice fly
, and flied out.
He hoped to have the opportunity to play professional baseball saying "I know I'm older but baseball is my passion. I hope to play until I physically can't play any more and if not, I'll coach. I'll always want to be around the game."
As of 2010, Costantino, ranked second in Salve Regina history with a .412 batting average
, second in career hits with 200, second in total bases
with 293 and third in runs batted in with 127.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball player who set the record for the longest hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
baseball history, with a 60-game streak that ran through the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons playing for the Division III Salve Regina Seahawks
Salve Regina Seahawks
Salve Regina University competes on the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference and New England Football Conference...
and broke the mark set in 1987 by Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
with 58.
Costantino attended Warwick Veterans High School
Warwick Veterans High School
Warwick Veterans High School is a 9-12th grade secondary school in Warwick, Rhode Island. The school building is two stories high and features eight wings of classes, mainly divided by subject . The logo for all Vets "Hurricane" teams is a reverse-rotating hurricane symbol...
. He had seriously considered playing for a Division I school but chose to enlist in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
after graduating from high school. He became a reservist
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
at the end of his military service and portions of his company in the 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion had been deployed to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
After two years in the Army, Costantino enrolled at Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University is a university in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the university is a Catholic, co-educational, private, non-profit institution chartered by the State of Rhode Island in 1934. In 1947 the university acquired Ochre Court and welcomed its first class...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, where he majored in administration of justice. He joined the baseball team as a freshman and began his streak on April 1, 2001, in a game against Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a nationally ranked, coeducational, state-supported comprehensive college founded in 1854, located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA...
, and hit in 22 consecutive games through the end of the 2001 season, then got hits in all 35 games the team played in the 2002 season. During the 2002 season, he broke the previous Division III record with a hit against Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, co-educational, career-oriented university with four campuses located throughout the United States. Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is home to JWU's first and largest of four currently operating campuses. Founded as a business school in 1914, by...
in his 47th consecutive game.
Salve Regina kicked off the 2003 season with a spring sequence of games in Florida. He made it to 57 with a double in his last at bat of their first game of the season and tied the record in the second game of the doubleheader against Wesley College. He then broke Robin Ventura's NCAA record with a single in a game against Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
, in a game that Mount Union won 13–2. He got hits in the next two games, extending the streak to 60 games, but ended his streak with no hits in two at bats in a game against Baldwin–Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
. In the streak-ending game, Costantino grounded out, hit a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
, and flied out.
He hoped to have the opportunity to play professional baseball saying "I know I'm older but baseball is my passion. I hope to play until I physically can't play any more and if not, I'll coach. I'll always want to be around the game."
As of 2010, Costantino, ranked second in Salve Regina history with a .412 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, second in career hits with 200, second in total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
with 293 and third in runs batted in with 127.