Top 10 Greatest pitching seasons?

Question

And when I say this I mean starters only. And modern era only. Heres mone

1) Dwight Gooden 1985 New York Mets
2) Orel Herscheiser 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers
3) Denny McLain 1968 Detroit Tigers
4) Ron Guidry 1978 New York Yankees
5) Steve Carlton 1972 Philadelphia Phillies
6) Bob Gibson 1968 St Louis Cardinals
7) Greg Maddux 1995 Atlanta Braves
8) Roger Clemens 1986 Boston Red Sox
9) Pedro Martinez 2000 Boston Sox
10) Nolan Ryan 1973 California Angels

Answer 1

Great list, although I would put Carlton's 1972 season number one, hands down. Keep this in mind: Carlton went 27-10 on a team that won only 59 games (that's 46% of the Phillies' win total, folks). On top of that, if Carlton had a decent supporting cast, 30 wins would have been extremely easy!

Answer 2

Modern era - IMO that's 1946-2007

I can't believe not one person mentioned Vida Blue

In no particular order.

Luis Tiant-1968 21-9 ERA-1.60
Bob Feller-1946 26-15 ERA-2.18 IP-371.1
Gaylord Perry-1972 24-16 ERA-1.92 IP-342.2
Hal Newhouseer-1946 26-9 ERA-1.94
Denny McLain-1968 31-6 ERA-1.96
Ron Guidry-1978 25-3 ERA-1.74
Dave McNally-1968 20-10 ERA-1.95
Pedro Martinez-2000 18-6 ERA-1.74 IP-217.0
Roger Clemens-1990 21-6 ERA-1.93
Vida Blue-1971 24-8 ERA-1.82 IP-312.0
Dean Chance-1964 20-9 ERA-1.65 IP-278.1
Randy Johnson-1995 18-2 ERA-2.48 IP-214.1
Bob Gibson-1968 22-9 ERA-1.12 IP-304.2
John Tudor-1985 21-8 ERA-1.93 IP-275.0
Dick Ellsworth-1963 22-10 ERA-2.11 IP-290.2
Dwight Gooden-1985 24-4 ERA-1.53 IP-276.2
Steve Carlton-1972 27-10 ERA-1.97 IP-346.1
Greg Maddux-1994 16-6 ERA-1.56 IP-202.0
Warren Spahn-1953 23-7 ERA-2.10 IP-265.2
Juan Marichal-1969 21-11 ERA 2.10 IP-299.2
Sandy Koufax-1963 25-5 ERA-1.88 IP-311.0
Don Sutton-1972 19-9 ERA-2.08 IP-272.2
Orel Hershiser-1985 19-3 ERA-2.03 IP-239.2
Tom Seaver-1975 22-9 ERA-2.38 IP-280.1
Bret Saberhagen-1989 23-6 ERA-2.16 IP-262.1

I felt all of these guys deserved to be mentioned. So make mine a top 25.

Answer 3

If you didn't win the Cy Young I don't think you can count it among the greatest seasons ever.

Which would lead me to rule out Ryan. If you aren't considered even the best in one year, really how can you be considered one of the ten best of all time.

I would throw the pitching triple crown winning season Clemons had with Toronto on to that list as well.

And surely Johnon and Koufax have to be considered.

Also I feel that the modern era starts with the lowered mound, I think that happened in 69...after the year of the pitcher, perhaps even with the addition of the DH. Hard to pick a list when you have pitchers pitching under different conditions and rules.

But with your rules here are my top ten seasons in no particular order. w-l, era, k's I'm also limiting it to one season per pitcher.

1. Koufax 1965 LA Dodgers 27-8, 2.04 382
2. R. Johnson 1999 Diamonbacks 17-9, 2.49 372
3. Clemens 1997 Toronto 21-7, 2.05 292
4. Maddux 1995 Braves 19-2, 1.63 181
5. Gibson 1968 Cardinals 22-9, 1.12 268
6. McLain 1968 Tigers 31-6, 1.96 280
7. Pedro Martinez 2000 Red Sox 18-6, 1.74 284
8. Carlton 1972 Phillies 27-10, 1.97 310
9. Seaver 1971 Mets 20-10, 1.76 289
10. Gooden 1985 Mets 24-4 1.53 268


Thats my list, I believe all but the Seaver season won Cy Youngs....I wanted a Seaver year and felt that was his best and am comfortable with that since he did win the award in other seasons.

Answer 4

1. Martinez 2000 (AL CYA) -- the clear winner. Beyond great; historic.

2. Maddux 1994 (NL CYA)
3. Maddux 1995 (NL CYA)
4. Gibson 1968 (NL CYA & MVP)
5. Martinez 1999 (AL CYA)
6. Gooden 1985 (NL CYA)
7. Clemens 2005 (NL ERA champion)
8. Clemens 1997 (AL CYA)
9. Martinez 1997 (NL CYA)
10. Clemens 1990 (AL CYA runner-up; Rocket wuz robbed)

Rather strict by ERA+ for qualifying seasons.

Answer 5

John Smoltz 1996
Bob Welch 1989
Randy Johnson 2001-02
Nolan Ryan 1987
Mark Prior 2003
just to name a few

Answer 6

Josh Beckett 2007

Answer 7

Jake Peavy, 2007, San Diego Padres (NL CY Young winner) Yippee!!!!! I'm so proud of the Padres, even though they did choke at the end of the season. Oh well...next year.