Given the fact that these seasons occured in the depths of the Steroid Era and he is, so far, juice-free.
2007-12-26 11:34:07 · 11 answers · asked by andrew.creasey 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
It was great but not the best in history. Bob Gibson's run in the 1960s was better.
2007-12-26 15:44:07 · answer #1 · answered by The Official Texting Pro 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd take Pedro's 2000 season as the best of the modern era (1901-present), and that includes Johnson's 1913 masterpiece, Koufax's Dodger Stadium years, and anyone who took the mound in 1968.
Five year peak? Hm. It's a contender, certainly.
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More fun with the Play Index. I sorted for pitchers from ages 25-31 by WHIP -- okay, granted, this gives Pedro a leg up since the ages were chosen from his career profile, from his amazing 1997 season through his amazing 2003 season and including that godlike 1999-2000 peak.
So here's the top ten WHIP pitchers for that prime seven-year stretch, minimum 1000 IP (to eliminate primary relievers):
1. Martinez 1997-2003, 0.940
2. W.Johnson 1913-19, 0.942
3. Joss 1905-10, 0.944
4. Walsh 1906-12, 0.967
5. Koufax 1961-66, 0.970
6. Maddux 1991-97, 0.992
7. Marichal 1963-69, 1.001
8. Brown 1903-08, 1.010
9. Mathewson 1906-12, 1.024
10. Alexander 1912-18, 1.053
Not meant to be definitive, not everyone peaks at the exact same age window, but Pedro clearly is in some really good company here.
2007-12-26 20:44:47 · answer #2 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Among active pitchers, I think Maddux 92-98 was a better run. Big unit's run from 97-02 was comparable.
what about Koufax from 62-66? Might not be the best-ever run statistically speaking, but it probably is the most well-known.
Lefty Grove 29-39? After all, that period in history was also rather offense oriented, and he led the AL in era for 8 out of 11 years
2007-12-26 22:17:17 · answer #3 · answered by hulidoshi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you SURE he's juice-free? Just like you said, he was dominant between 97 and 02 then dropped off significantly. You know what happened in 2003? They started TESTING for steroids! Hmmmm???
2007-12-27 00:40:34 · answer #4 · answered by Pete 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the best? Possibly. But it's not THE best.
You gotta consider these....
Jack Chesbro 1901-1908
Walter Johnson 1908 - 1919
Christy Mathewson 1901 - 1914
Cy Young 1898 - 1909
Those stretches are all better than Pedro's.
2007-12-26 20:00:56 · answer #5 · answered by Crusader 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not the greatest ever but a great run he is one of the best pitchers in this era along with Clemens, Maddux, Randy, Glavine, Smoltz, Moose.........no matter who took roids or not
2007-12-27 00:36:28 · answer #6 · answered by K-Dog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not the greatest in history. It was great, it just wasn't the greatest.
2007-12-26 19:41:07 · answer #7 · answered by Bam W 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
one of the best.. that will be better debated when he retires.
but close to Koufax and maybe a shade abovre.
2007-12-26 21:20:03 · answer #8 · answered by Michael M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no sandy koulfax was the best short lived career ever.
2007-12-26 22:55:31 · answer #9 · answered by josh_huth 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not the best. One of the best though.
2007-12-26 19:57:56 · answer #10 · answered by #1 New York Yankees Fan 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋