In all the kerfuffle about the Mets’ R.A. Dickey throwing his second consecutive one-hitter, you might have missed this little tidbit:

R.A. Dickey: Has 5 straight starts of 0 ER and 8 or more strikeouts — the longest streak in MLB history. #Elias #WOW.

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 19, 2012

With all the great pitchers in past and recent history -- men like Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Pedro Martinez and others who both allowed few runs and struck out many hitters -- no one has ever done what Dickey has over his last five starts.

Dickey now leads the National League in wins, winning percentage, ERA, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts and WHIP. He’s the logical choice for NL All-Star Game starter, and now the leading candidate for the Cy Young Award. Raise your hand if you had him on your preseason list for that. Yeah, me either.

Dickey is doing this at what would normally be considered a pretty advanced age -- he’ll be 38 in October -- but top knuckleballers have typically pitched effectively well into their 40s.

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