"straight" = consecutive (win)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

OED has "straight" meaning "consecutive, in unbroken sequence" (def 3h)
from 1899. But it goes back much earlier than that in sports usage. It was
used in horse racing (in reference to winning consecutive heats) as early
as 1838:

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American Turf Register, 9(1), Jan 1838, p. 26 [APS]
As it was, had Mingo been so disposed, Picton could probably have won the
race in two straight heats, for it is clear that Mingo's killing brushes
in the the three first miles of the second, 'broke the heart' of the
invincible colt.
-----

This usage was then applied to other sports, as in these cites referring
to boating, tennis, lacrosse, and baseball:

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New York Times, Aug 24, 1852, p. 1/5
A boat race for a purse of fifteen dollars, came off yesterday afternoon,
at Green Point, in 17 feet skeleton boats. It was won in two straight
heats, by Hugh Burns, of Morris-street, North River.
-----
New York Times, Feb 17, 1860, p. 8/4
The first two games were won by Devoy with apparent ease, and the general
impression seemed to be be that he was going to win three straight games.
-----
New York Times, Sep 12, 1869, p. 1/4
The La Crosse match for the championship of the Dominion, between the
Montreal and Prescott Clubs, was won by the former in three straight
games.
-----
Chicago Tribune, Aug 13, 1876, p. 3/2
The Chicagos finished their championship series with the Cincinnati Club
here to-day, which gives them the credit of being the first League club to
win ten straight games from any one club.
-----

One interesting usage that doesn't appear in the OED is "straight" as a
noun meaning 'consecutive win'. This was common in baseball reporting
beginning around 1885:

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Atlanta Constitution, Apr 18, 1885, p. 5/2
When Columbus began the tussle with Atlanta last year she lost the first
three games and then won seven straights.
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Boston Globe, Jun 27, 1885, p. 5/4
[heading] Four straights. Again Boston defeats the Lucas combination.
[article] This was the fourth successive victory of Boston over St. Louis.
-----
Atlanta Constitution, Jul 10, 1885, p. 5/1
[heading] Three straight games. Atlanta pays Augusta back in her own coin.
Three straights and a tie, and our opponents outplayed in every game.
[article] The season with Augusta is over, and Atlanta has three straights
to her credit.
-----

This usage largely died out by around 1925 but still lingered in later
decades:

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Washington Post, Jun 17, 1935, p. 14/2
The Nats ran their winning streak to three straights this afternoon by
taking the first game of a double-header with the Browns, and then started
a new losing streak by finishing on the smaller end of the finale.
-----
Syracuse Herald Journal, Aug 30, 1953, p. IV1/5
Cleveland now has won 10 of its last 12 from New York and six straights at
home.
-----
Washington Post, Dec 17, 1965, p. C1/1
The suddenly hot Los Angeles Rams..were the patsies of the league until
three weeks ago and since have won three straights over Green Bay, St.
Louis and Cleveland and are now mean of mind.
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My guess is that the noun originated as a reanalysis of adverbial
"straight"  (= 'consecutively') in phrases such as "win N straight".


--Ben Zimmer