September 12, 2003

Best Pitching Performance.: Using this web site to compare Ron Guidry in 1978 and Dwight Gooden in 1985 I was amazed at how similar the stat lines are. Any other candidates for best pitching performance in a single season?

posted by cg1001a to baseball at 12:27 PM - 10 comments

Bob Gibson, '68. There is nothing and noone comparable. All others will be assimilated.

posted by vito90 at 12:46 PM on September 12, 2003

Koufax - '63 - '66 - you can almost just pick one. Unhittable. Randy and Pedro have come pretty close too. - I'd take Koufax over Gibson in their prime.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:41 PM on September 12, 2003

What about: 36 W - 7 L and a 1.14 ERA? Who's that? The Big Train!

posted by trox at 01:43 PM on September 12, 2003

Different game, Trox, different game. But on sheer numbers - you're right.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:52 PM on September 12, 2003

I know it's iffy at best to compare players from different eras, but from all I've heard about Johnson, I think he would be among the best whatever the competition. (Same goes for Babe Ruth).

posted by trox at 01:58 PM on September 12, 2003

Hard to argue with the Big Train, period. A variation is the best pitching year. Check out two minutes of browsing for 1968: Luis Tiant (21-9, 1.60) Juan Marichal (26-9, 2.43) Denny McClain (31-6, 1.96) Bob Gibson (22-9, 1.12)

posted by jason streed at 03:08 PM on September 12, 2003

A variation is the best pitching year. Check out two minutes of browsing for 1968 Which is what led to the altered strike zone and the lowered pitching mound in 1969.

posted by grum@work at 03:15 PM on September 12, 2003

1968? Look at that year! Marichal looks like he sucks compared to the others. I had no idea that McLain had a 1.96 ERA AND 31 wins. That's just sick. One question - how the HELL did Gibson lose 9 friggin' games with a 1.12 ERA?

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:40 PM on September 12, 2003

I've often wondered the same thing (9 losses and 4 no-decisions with a 1.12 ERA). Anyone have a further breakdown?

posted by cg1001a at 05:57 PM on September 12, 2003

I wish Baseball Refernece sorted by ERA+. Oh wait, it does. Unless someone's arguing for Tim Keefe, Pedro's 2000 is hard to argue against. Interestingly, Keefe appears in yesterday's column by Rob Neyer about Maddux's 15 wins/year streak.

posted by yerfatma at 06:39 PM on September 12, 2003

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