400 wins the norm for Baze.

Byline: Chuck Dybdal

ALBANY, Calif. _ The world of sports is often the world of comparisons.

We compare eras, numbers, styles.

But what Russell Baze has accomplished in the past nine years is beyond comparison.

For seven straight years from 1992-98, the Hall of Fame jockey rode over 400 winners a year.

Comparison: no other jockey has won 400 races in a year more than three times, and now Baze has done it eight times.

Baze won 373 races last year when he was sidelined for five weeks with a broken back.

This year Baze hit the 400 mark again with a total of 408 through Sunday.

"You gotta be able to get out there to do it (win 400)," he said. "I'm lucky I haven't been injured that much, sick that much or set down (given suspensions) that much."

Comparison: Cal Ripken Jr., …