ADVERTISEMENT

OT: Your choice as the top three modern seasons (since the '60s) by a starting pitcher?

john4psu

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2003
11,564
8,349
1
What were the three best seasons in your opinion by a starting pitcher since the '60s?

Some Cy Young Award winning seasons to consider:

Sandy Koufax, 1963: 25-5, 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts, 306 Ks, 0.875 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 27 complete games, eight shutouts, 382 Ks, 0.855 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1966: 27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 Ks, 27 complete games, 0.985 WHIP
Bob Gibson, 1968: 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games, 268 Ks, 0.853 WHIP
Denny McClain, 1968: 31-6, 1.96 ERA, 28 complete games, six shutouts, 280 Ks, 0.905 WHIP.
Vida Blue, 1971: 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 24 complete games, eight shutouts, 0.952 WHIP
Steve Carlton, 1972: 27-10, 1.97 ERA, 30 complete games, eight shutouts, 310 Ks, 0.993 WHIP
Ron Guidry, 1978: 25-3, 1.74 ERA, 16 complete games, nine shutouts, 0.948 WHIP
Greg Maddux, 1995: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 0.811 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 1999: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 Ks, 0.923 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 2000: 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks, 0.737 WHIP
Randy Johnson, 2001: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks, 1.009 WHIP
Jake Arrieta, 2015: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 0.865 WHIP
Justin Verlander, 2019: 21-6, 2.58 ERA, 300 Ks, 0.803 WHIP
 
I would say 2011 Justin Verlander is the best. He was 24-5 and a 2.40 ERA.

To put that into some kind of historical perspective, with today’s 5-man rotations and pitch counts, I think 24 wins would translate to 30 wins in the 1960’s and somewhat beyond.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LandoComando
Comparing the 60s, 70s and even 80s to today is almost unfair. It's so hard to take those stats and factor in the era. All great examples though so far. Gibson in 68 is arguably the best IMO but I agree about Verlander in 2011.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bourbon n blues
I'd take two of the Koufax seasons the OP listed, and the season that Bob Gibson put up in 1968. A 1.12 ERA is just SICK. In a class of its own. Lefty's 1972 season was also quite special. He did it with SO little help compared to some of the other greats the OP listed.
 
What were the three best seasons in your opinion by a starting pitcher since the '60s?

Some Cy Young Award winning seasons to consider:

Sandy Koufax, 1963: 25-5, 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts, 306 Ks, 0.875 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 27 complete games, eight shutouts, 382 Ks, 0.855 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1966: 27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 Ks, 27 complete games, 0.985 WHIP
Bob Gibson, 1968: 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games, 268 Ks, 0.853 WHIP
Denny McClain, 1968: 31-6, 1.96 ERA, 28 complete games, six shutouts, 280 Ks, 0.905 WHIP.
Vida Blue, 1971: 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 24 complete games, eight shutouts, 0.952 WHIP
Steve Carlton, 1972: 27-10, 1.97 ERA, 30 complete games, eight shutouts, 310 Ks, 0.993 WHIP
Ron Guidry, 1978: 25-3, 1.74 ERA, 16 complete games, nine shutouts, 0.948 WHIP
Greg Maddux, 1995: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 0.811 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 1999: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 Ks, 0.923 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 2000: 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks, 0.737 WHIP
Randy Johnson, 2001: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks, 1.009 WHIP
Jake Arrieta, 2015: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 0.865 WHIP
Justin Verlander, 2019: 21-6, 2.58 ERA, 300 Ks, 0.803 WHIP
I'm glad you listed Steve Carlton's season because I've always thought that that has to rate right up there, because that was a pretty weak Phillies team for which he did that.
 
Maddux 1995 - a 1.63 ERA in the midst of the steroid era, when fringe hitters like Brady Anderson were having huge offensive seasons has got to be one of the best seasons EVER. A sub .9 WHIP?! That’s dead ball era stuff - during an incredible offense time period. Many of those seasons referenced were in the 1960-1968 timeframe - a pitchers era where the mound was higher than from 1969-present (it was lowered prior to the 1969 season because of the pitcher-dominated last 8 years).
 
Maddux 1995 - a 1.63 ERA in the midst of the steroid era, when fringe hitters like Brady Anderson were having huge offensive seasons has got to be one of the best seasons EVER. A sub .9 WHIP?! That’s dead ball era stuff - during an incredible offense time period. Many of those seasons referenced were in the 1960-1968 timeframe - a pitchers era where the mound was higher than from 1969-present (it was lowered prior to the 1969 season because of the pitcher-dominated last 8 years).
True.
 
What were the three best seasons in your opinion by a starting pitcher since the '60s?

Some Cy Young Award winning seasons to consider:

Sandy Koufax, 1963: 25-5, 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts, 306 Ks, 0.875 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 27 complete games, eight shutouts, 382 Ks, 0.855 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1966: 27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 Ks, 27 complete games, 0.985 WHIP
Bob Gibson, 1968: 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games, 268 Ks, 0.853 WHIP
Denny McClain, 1968: 31-6, 1.96 ERA, 28 complete games, six shutouts, 280 Ks, 0.905 WHIP.
Vida Blue, 1971: 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 24 complete games, eight shutouts, 0.952 WHIP
Steve Carlton, 1972: 27-10, 1.97 ERA, 30 complete games, eight shutouts, 310 Ks, 0.993 WHIP
Ron Guidry, 1978: 25-3, 1.74 ERA, 16 complete games, nine shutouts, 0.948 WHIP
Greg Maddux, 1995: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 0.811 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 1999: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 Ks, 0.923 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 2000: 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks, 0.737 WHIP
Randy Johnson, 2001: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks, 1.009 WHIP
Jake Arrieta, 2015: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 0.865 WHIP
Justin Verlander, 2019: 21-6, 2.58 ERA, 300 Ks, 0.803 WHIP
Some fabulous pitchers. I am not knowledgeable enough about baseball nuances to say. I do remember seeing several of them pitch in person and I also saw Tom Glavine pitch in the minors.. There were some great team pitching rotations in days gone by.
 
Last edited:
What were the three best seasons in your opinion by a starting pitcher since the '60s?

Some Cy Young Award winning seasons to consider:

Sandy Koufax, 1963: 25-5, 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts, 306 Ks, 0.875 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 27 complete games, eight shutouts, 382 Ks, 0.855 WHIP
Sandy Koufax, 1966: 27-9, 1.73 ERA, 317 Ks, 27 complete games, 0.985 WHIP
Bob Gibson, 1968: 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games, 268 Ks, 0.853 WHIP
Denny McClain, 1968: 31-6, 1.96 ERA, 28 complete games, six shutouts, 280 Ks, 0.905 WHIP.
Vida Blue, 1971: 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 24 complete games, eight shutouts, 0.952 WHIP
Steve Carlton, 1972: 27-10, 1.97 ERA, 30 complete games, eight shutouts, 310 Ks, 0.993 WHIP
Ron Guidry, 1978: 25-3, 1.74 ERA, 16 complete games, nine shutouts, 0.948 WHIP
Greg Maddux, 1995: 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 0.811 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 1999: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 Ks, 0.923 WHIP
Pedro Martinez, 2000: 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks, 0.737 WHIP
Randy Johnson, 2001: 21-6, 2.49 ERA, 372 Ks, 1.009 WHIP
Jake Arrieta, 2015: 22-6, 1.77 ERA, 0.865 WHIP
Justin Verlander, 2019: 21-6, 2.58 ERA, 300 Ks, 0.803 WHIP
7 RH and 7 LH.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: NedFromYork
I would say 2011 Justin Verlander is the best. He was 24-5 and a 2.40 ERA.

To put that into some kind of historical perspective, with today’s 5-man rotations and pitch counts, I think 24 wins would translate to 30 wins in the 1960’s and somewhat beyond.
Sandy Koufax played on a team that did not score many runs yet still had incredible won-lost records. He also started and finished most games. Finally, he was lights out in the World Series. He gets my vote.
 
Koufax was on another planet from 61 to 66. Gibson's 1968 to me is totally unreal. 304 2/3 innings pitched, 49 runs given up, 38 earned, 268 k's, only 62 bb's, 13 shutout's and 28 complete games to go with a 1.12 era. Pitchers today don't have 28 complete games in a career! A 1.12 era with over 300 innings pitched!
 
Last edited:
1) Kerry Collins, 1994. 176 of 264, 2679 yards, 21 TD's, 7 int.
2) Trace McSorely, 2016. 224 of 387, 3614 yards, 29 TD's, 8 int.
3) Matt McGloin, 2012. 270 of 446, 3271 yards, 24 TD's, 5 int.

;)
 
To put that into some kind of historical perspective, with today’s 5-man rotations and pitch counts, I think 24 wins would translate to 30 wins in the 1960’s and somewhat beyond.
Back in the 60s top pitchers had 30 complete games. Now the MLB leader has 2.
 
Mark “The Bird” Fidrych in 76 he was the talk of the baseball world . Perhaps he did not have eye opening numbers but he made baseball fun to watch by his crazy antics like talking to the ball

He made baseball fun and a cant miss event when he was watching.
 
This should be from 1969 forward since the lowered the mound in 12/68. Apples and oranges to compare these different eras.

I'll go with Pedro in 2000.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bison13
Koufax's K numbers compared to Gibson's are surprising to me. I thought Gibson was the intimidating strike out guy of the 60's. Just goes to show how damn good Koufax was.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Parkland Fan
Maddux 1995 - a 1.63 ERA in the midst of the steroid era, when fringe hitters like Brady Anderson were having huge offensive seasons has got to be one of the best seasons EVER. A sub .9 WHIP?! That’s dead ball era stuff - during an incredible offense time period. Many of those seasons referenced were in the 1960-1968 timeframe - a pitchers era where the mound was higher than from 1969-present (it was lowered prior to the 1969 season because of the pitcher-dominated last 8 years).
Agreed. I would add Pedro 1999 for same reason plus facing the DH, pitching at Fenway and the Yankees were excellent
'
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT