Post by Sha-Le Unique on Apr 24, 2015 15:52:31 GMT -5
Well the flip is tonight so I might as well get this in now...
There have been a lot of great pitchers here since we began, but which ones stood out as the cream of the crop? Let's find out!
To put this together, I used CATO to look up various career stats from 1953-1962, including wins, ERA, WHIP, as well as All-Star Game appearances and Cy Young Awards, which of course helps a lot.
First, a few Honorable Mentions:
- Joe Albanese
- Jackie Collum
- Sonny Dixon
- Carl Erskine
- Roy Face
- Paul Foytack
- Mike Garcia
- Ned Garver
- Tom Gorman
- Mudcat Grant
- Art Houtteman
- Dick Hyde
- Johnny Klippstein
- Sandy Koufax
- Don Larsen
- Eddie Lopat
- Don McMahon
- Stu Miller
- Robin Roberts
- Don Rowe
- Bobby Shantz
- George Spencer
- Chuck Stobbs
- Chris Van Cyuk
And now the Top 10!
10. Don Drysdale
Career Stats: 114-83, 3.29 ERA, 1.248 WHIP, 1571 K, 1961 NL Cy Young Award, 2x All-Star
Best Season: 1961 (25-5, 2.12 ERA, 305 K)
I may have called up Drysdale too early and it showed in his first few seasons, but from 1959 on, Drysdale has been one of the best without question. He has evolved into the most dominant strikeout pitcher over the past 5 seasons. Drysdale through 1962 ranked 13th in ERA and 11th in strikeouts. Those numbers should continue to go up with time, and the strikeouts in particular! Drysdale flirted with 400 strikeouts in 1962, but finished with an HOFFBL single-season record 387. He has since broke his own record in 1963 with 395. The scary part is that Drysdale is only 27 right now and still has many seasons of elite production left in him. Look for him to remain with the Pirates for his entire career and maybe even lead them to a championship in the near future. If he stays healthy, he could certainly end up being all-time leader in strikeouts eventually.
9. Curt Simmons
Career Stats: 185-109, 3.05 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, 3987.2 IP, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1962 (27-5, 1.80 ERA, 142 K)
The longtime Phillies ace is next and despite being overshadowed by a couple of other NL southpaws, has still been one of the most dominant and consistent left-handed pitchers we have seen. Simmons is currently tied for 5th in career wins, 9th in ERA, 4th in WHIP, 2nd in innings pitched, and 4th in shutouts. He is arguably one of the best pitchers in league history to never win a Cy Young Award and should be an easy call for the Hall of Fame.
8. Jim McDonald
Career Stats: 161-100, 3.13 ERA, 1.234 WHIP, 974 K, 1955 AL Cy Young Award winner, 4x All-Star, 5x AL Gold Glove Awards
Best Season: 1955 (26-5, 2.32 ERA, 114 K)
Jim McDonald for a long time was one of the Yankees' aces and helped lead them to 3 championships in the 1950s. He also won the AL Cy Young Award in 1955 and won the first 5 AL Gold Glove Awards for pitchers. McDonald has since bounced around to the Phillies and currently, the Senators. His career will probably wind down in a couple of seasons, but a spot in the Hall of Fame awaits him and he will have no problem at all getting in.
7. Mike Fornieles
Career Stats: 183-119, 2.92 ERA, 1.177 WHIP, 1501 K, 7x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove Award
Best Season: 1961 (20-11, 2.11 ERA, 180 K)
Mike Fornieles might be the best pitcher in HOFFBL history thus far to never win a Cy Young Award yet. He's been a mainstay on the White Sox, whom he won a championship with in 1959. Fornieles ranks 8th in career wins, 5th in ERA and tied for 9th in shutouts through 1962. Fornieles still has a good 5+ years of production left in him and should get into the Hall of Fame with ease in the future.
6. Whitey Ford
Career Stats: 195-106, 3.14 ERA, 1.234 WHIP, 1511 K, 1956 AL Cy Young Award winner, 6x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (26-11, 3.06 ERA, 166 K)
Next up is the constant staple of the Yankees' dominant pitching, Whitey Ford. Ford at this point is past his prime, but has been a huge part of why the Yankees have won 4 championships so far. Ford is currently 3rd in career wins, 11th in ERA and 3rd in shutouts. His recent decline is the biggest reason why his career ERA has dropped a bit. The 1956 AL Cy Young Award winner is sure to be a 1st ballot Hall of Fame inductee when the time comes.
5. Vinegar Bend Mizell
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Career Stats: 184-73, 2.93 ERA, 1.255 WHIP, 1810 K, 1958 AL Cy Young Award, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1958 (25-4, 2.00 ERA, 204 K)
Yet another lefty on the list is Vinegar Bend Mizell, who has had lot of success with the Cardinals, Yankees and now, the Tigers. Mizell has now been part of 4 championship teams, including 3 in the first 10 seasons of league history. The 1958 AL Cy Young Award winner ranked 7th in career wins, 6th in ERA, 8th in shutouts and 4th in strikeouts through 1962. Mizell is now 33 and should have at least a few years of production left before he eventually goes into the Hall of Fame.
4. Vic Raschi
Career Stats: 100-42, 2.78 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, 528 K, 4x All-Star, 1953 AL Cy Young Award winner, 1957 NL Gold Glove Award winner
Best Season: 1953 (28-5, 1.63 ERA, 109 K)
Vic Raschi was really the first great AL pitcher in HOFFBL history. His career best 1953 season is still one of the most complete single seasons for pitchers ever. Raschi had a remarkable 3-year stretch of dominance with the Yankees from 1953-1955 and then had another great season in 1956 after getting traded to the Cardinals. Age finally caught up to him in 1957, which ended up being his final season. He is now retired and should be an easy 1st ballot HOFFBL Hall of Famer. But despite being retired now, it will take an extraordinary career to ever dethrone Raschi of being among the top 10 best pitchers ever.
3. Billy Pierce
Career Stats: 214-107, 2.64 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, 1869 K, 1954 & 1959 AL Cy Young Award winner, 7x All-Star
Best Season: 1962 (19-7, 2.07 ERA, 174 K)
Arguably the best pitcher in AL history thus far, Billy Pierce has been the longtime ace of the White Sox and won a pair of AL Cy Young Awards in 1954 and 1959. His 1959 season helped lead the White Sox to their championship that year. Pierce through 1962 ranked 2nd in wins, 3rd in ERA, 9th in WHIP, tied for 1st in shutouts, 3rd in strikeouts and the leader in innings pitched. Pierce clearly has reached the end of his elite dominance now, but he should be a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame when the time comes.
2. Warren Spahn
Career Stats: 160-54, 2.73 ERA, 0.992 WHIP (from 1953-1958), 1040 K, 1953-1955 and 1957 NL Cy Young Award winner, 6x All-Star
Best Season: 1957 (29-5, 1.61 ERA, 155 K)
No one dominated on the pitching end from the start of this league like Warren Spahn, who only had 6 seasons in this league before retirement and eventually, making a 1-season comeback in 1961 that did not go too well, especially in the 2nd half.
To make this less complicated, we're gonna ignore Spahn's 1961 comeback for career ranks through 1962. Within his 1953-1958 numbers, Spahn was 1st in ERA, 1st in WHIP, and tied for 9th in shutouts. Spahn's 1.61 ERA is still an HOFFBL single season record. It's unfortunate that despite all of Spahn's success, the Braves have only made one trip to the World Series in 1953. But nonetheless, Spahn should pretty much be a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame. Anyone that doesn't vote him in simply hasn't been paying attention.
Spahn was so dominant in the first 6 seasons of HOFFBL history that some of you may have thought he'd still be #1, but it's the NL southpaw that has dominated the 2nd half of the HOFFBL's first decade that takes the #1 spot.
1. Mickey McDermott
Career Stats: 226-77, 2.47 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 1232 K, 1956, 1958-1960 & 1962 NL Cy Young Award winner, 8x All-Star
Best Season: 1959 (31-7, 1.78 ERA, 128 K)
Since Spahn's 1st retirement, Mickey McDermott has simply been something else. He has now won a record 5 Cy Young Awards and the Dodgers rode his powerful left arm to a pair of championships in 1958 and 1961. And with age, McDermott has continued to improve. His 1962 season included a career best 1.77 ERA.
McDermott's 226 career wins through 1962 is the most of any pitcher. He was also ranked 2nd in ERA, 2nd in WHIP, tied for 1st in shutouts, and 4th in innings pitched. McDermott also holds single season records in wins (31 in 1959), winning percentage (.8824 in 1960), WHIP (0.800 in 1960) and shutouts (12 in 1959).
Now in his mid-30s, McDermott has not showed any signs of slowing down, so he could possibly still have another 4-5 years of production left in him. That means the rest of the NL West will pretty much have to wait for the lefty to retire before making a run at dethroning the mighty Dodgers.
McDermott is clearly HOFFBL's best pitcher through its 1st 10 seasons and a spot in the Hall of Fame has already been designated for him because he will be as automatic of an entry as anyone ever will be.
I'll do this again in 5 seasons. Enjoy!
There have been a lot of great pitchers here since we began, but which ones stood out as the cream of the crop? Let's find out!
To put this together, I used CATO to look up various career stats from 1953-1962, including wins, ERA, WHIP, as well as All-Star Game appearances and Cy Young Awards, which of course helps a lot.
First, a few Honorable Mentions:
- Joe Albanese
- Jackie Collum
- Sonny Dixon
- Carl Erskine
- Roy Face
- Paul Foytack
- Mike Garcia
- Ned Garver
- Tom Gorman
- Mudcat Grant
- Art Houtteman
- Dick Hyde
- Johnny Klippstein
- Sandy Koufax
- Don Larsen
- Eddie Lopat
- Don McMahon
- Stu Miller
- Robin Roberts
- Don Rowe
- Bobby Shantz
- George Spencer
- Chuck Stobbs
- Chris Van Cyuk
And now the Top 10!
10. Don Drysdale
Career Stats: 114-83, 3.29 ERA, 1.248 WHIP, 1571 K, 1961 NL Cy Young Award, 2x All-Star
Best Season: 1961 (25-5, 2.12 ERA, 305 K)
I may have called up Drysdale too early and it showed in his first few seasons, but from 1959 on, Drysdale has been one of the best without question. He has evolved into the most dominant strikeout pitcher over the past 5 seasons. Drysdale through 1962 ranked 13th in ERA and 11th in strikeouts. Those numbers should continue to go up with time, and the strikeouts in particular! Drysdale flirted with 400 strikeouts in 1962, but finished with an HOFFBL single-season record 387. He has since broke his own record in 1963 with 395. The scary part is that Drysdale is only 27 right now and still has many seasons of elite production left in him. Look for him to remain with the Pirates for his entire career and maybe even lead them to a championship in the near future. If he stays healthy, he could certainly end up being all-time leader in strikeouts eventually.
9. Curt Simmons
Career Stats: 185-109, 3.05 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, 3987.2 IP, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1962 (27-5, 1.80 ERA, 142 K)
The longtime Phillies ace is next and despite being overshadowed by a couple of other NL southpaws, has still been one of the most dominant and consistent left-handed pitchers we have seen. Simmons is currently tied for 5th in career wins, 9th in ERA, 4th in WHIP, 2nd in innings pitched, and 4th in shutouts. He is arguably one of the best pitchers in league history to never win a Cy Young Award and should be an easy call for the Hall of Fame.
8. Jim McDonald
Career Stats: 161-100, 3.13 ERA, 1.234 WHIP, 974 K, 1955 AL Cy Young Award winner, 4x All-Star, 5x AL Gold Glove Awards
Best Season: 1955 (26-5, 2.32 ERA, 114 K)
Jim McDonald for a long time was one of the Yankees' aces and helped lead them to 3 championships in the 1950s. He also won the AL Cy Young Award in 1955 and won the first 5 AL Gold Glove Awards for pitchers. McDonald has since bounced around to the Phillies and currently, the Senators. His career will probably wind down in a couple of seasons, but a spot in the Hall of Fame awaits him and he will have no problem at all getting in.
7. Mike Fornieles
Career Stats: 183-119, 2.92 ERA, 1.177 WHIP, 1501 K, 7x All-Star, 1x Gold Glove Award
Best Season: 1961 (20-11, 2.11 ERA, 180 K)
Mike Fornieles might be the best pitcher in HOFFBL history thus far to never win a Cy Young Award yet. He's been a mainstay on the White Sox, whom he won a championship with in 1959. Fornieles ranks 8th in career wins, 5th in ERA and tied for 9th in shutouts through 1962. Fornieles still has a good 5+ years of production left in him and should get into the Hall of Fame with ease in the future.
6. Whitey Ford
Career Stats: 195-106, 3.14 ERA, 1.234 WHIP, 1511 K, 1956 AL Cy Young Award winner, 6x All-Star
Best Season: 1956 (26-11, 3.06 ERA, 166 K)
Next up is the constant staple of the Yankees' dominant pitching, Whitey Ford. Ford at this point is past his prime, but has been a huge part of why the Yankees have won 4 championships so far. Ford is currently 3rd in career wins, 11th in ERA and 3rd in shutouts. His recent decline is the biggest reason why his career ERA has dropped a bit. The 1956 AL Cy Young Award winner is sure to be a 1st ballot Hall of Fame inductee when the time comes.
5. Vinegar Bend Mizell
Career Stats: 184-73, 2.93 ERA, 1.255 WHIP, 1810 K, 1958 AL Cy Young Award, 5x All-Star
Best Season: 1958 (25-4, 2.00 ERA, 204 K)
Yet another lefty on the list is Vinegar Bend Mizell, who has had lot of success with the Cardinals, Yankees and now, the Tigers. Mizell has now been part of 4 championship teams, including 3 in the first 10 seasons of league history. The 1958 AL Cy Young Award winner ranked 7th in career wins, 6th in ERA, 8th in shutouts and 4th in strikeouts through 1962. Mizell is now 33 and should have at least a few years of production left before he eventually goes into the Hall of Fame.
4. Vic Raschi
Career Stats: 100-42, 2.78 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, 528 K, 4x All-Star, 1953 AL Cy Young Award winner, 1957 NL Gold Glove Award winner
Best Season: 1953 (28-5, 1.63 ERA, 109 K)
Vic Raschi was really the first great AL pitcher in HOFFBL history. His career best 1953 season is still one of the most complete single seasons for pitchers ever. Raschi had a remarkable 3-year stretch of dominance with the Yankees from 1953-1955 and then had another great season in 1956 after getting traded to the Cardinals. Age finally caught up to him in 1957, which ended up being his final season. He is now retired and should be an easy 1st ballot HOFFBL Hall of Famer. But despite being retired now, it will take an extraordinary career to ever dethrone Raschi of being among the top 10 best pitchers ever.
3. Billy Pierce
Career Stats: 214-107, 2.64 ERA, 1.133 WHIP, 1869 K, 1954 & 1959 AL Cy Young Award winner, 7x All-Star
Best Season: 1962 (19-7, 2.07 ERA, 174 K)
Arguably the best pitcher in AL history thus far, Billy Pierce has been the longtime ace of the White Sox and won a pair of AL Cy Young Awards in 1954 and 1959. His 1959 season helped lead the White Sox to their championship that year. Pierce through 1962 ranked 2nd in wins, 3rd in ERA, 9th in WHIP, tied for 1st in shutouts, 3rd in strikeouts and the leader in innings pitched. Pierce clearly has reached the end of his elite dominance now, but he should be a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame when the time comes.
2. Warren Spahn
Career Stats: 160-54, 2.73 ERA, 0.992 WHIP (from 1953-1958), 1040 K, 1953-1955 and 1957 NL Cy Young Award winner, 6x All-Star
Best Season: 1957 (29-5, 1.61 ERA, 155 K)
No one dominated on the pitching end from the start of this league like Warren Spahn, who only had 6 seasons in this league before retirement and eventually, making a 1-season comeback in 1961 that did not go too well, especially in the 2nd half.
To make this less complicated, we're gonna ignore Spahn's 1961 comeback for career ranks through 1962. Within his 1953-1958 numbers, Spahn was 1st in ERA, 1st in WHIP, and tied for 9th in shutouts. Spahn's 1.61 ERA is still an HOFFBL single season record. It's unfortunate that despite all of Spahn's success, the Braves have only made one trip to the World Series in 1953. But nonetheless, Spahn should pretty much be a unanimous selection for the Hall of Fame. Anyone that doesn't vote him in simply hasn't been paying attention.
Spahn was so dominant in the first 6 seasons of HOFFBL history that some of you may have thought he'd still be #1, but it's the NL southpaw that has dominated the 2nd half of the HOFFBL's first decade that takes the #1 spot.
1. Mickey McDermott
Career Stats: 226-77, 2.47 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 1232 K, 1956, 1958-1960 & 1962 NL Cy Young Award winner, 8x All-Star
Best Season: 1959 (31-7, 1.78 ERA, 128 K)
Since Spahn's 1st retirement, Mickey McDermott has simply been something else. He has now won a record 5 Cy Young Awards and the Dodgers rode his powerful left arm to a pair of championships in 1958 and 1961. And with age, McDermott has continued to improve. His 1962 season included a career best 1.77 ERA.
McDermott's 226 career wins through 1962 is the most of any pitcher. He was also ranked 2nd in ERA, 2nd in WHIP, tied for 1st in shutouts, and 4th in innings pitched. McDermott also holds single season records in wins (31 in 1959), winning percentage (.8824 in 1960), WHIP (0.800 in 1960) and shutouts (12 in 1959).
Now in his mid-30s, McDermott has not showed any signs of slowing down, so he could possibly still have another 4-5 years of production left in him. That means the rest of the NL West will pretty much have to wait for the lefty to retire before making a run at dethroning the mighty Dodgers.
McDermott is clearly HOFFBL's best pitcher through its 1st 10 seasons and a spot in the Hall of Fame has already been designated for him because he will be as automatic of an entry as anyone ever will be.
I'll do this again in 5 seasons. Enjoy!
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