He made
his Major League debut in 1969 for the A’s and no-hit
the Twins in 1970, but did not pitch his first full season
until 1971. In that season, the left-hander went 24-8 with
eight shutouts and a 1.82 ERA. He won both the Cy Young
Award and the Most Valuable Player Award for his efforts.
In 1973, he won 20 games against 9 losses, helping the
Athletics to their second straight World Series crown. In
1975, he had another 20+ win season, winning 22 games and
finishing with a 3.01 ERA. He was traded to the Giants in
1978 and proceeded to win 18 games and became the first
player to be named to All-Star teams in both leagues. Blue
finished his career 209-161 (1969-1986) after being named
to four All-Star teams and a 3.63 ERA.
Al
Downing
This
left-handed pitcher spent 17 seasons (1961-1977) in the
Major Leagues primarily with the Yankees and Dodgers. In
1961, he was the first African-American starting pitcher
in Yankees history. He led the American League in
strikeouts (217) in 1964, while earning 13 victories. He
made his only All-Star team in 1967, pitching two perfect
innings, and finished the year 14-10 with a 2.63 ERA. In
1971, he joined the Dodgers, where he responded by going
20-9 with a 2.68 ERA and a league-leading five shutouts.
He was named Comeback Player of the Year. In 1974, he
entered baseball history by surrendering Hank Aaron’s
record-breaking 715th home run. Downing
finished with 123 career victories and a 3.22 ERA.
Bob
Gibson
A Hall of
Fame pitcher who spent all 17 seasons (1959-75) with the
Cardinals, and he also moonlighted as a Harlem
Globetrotter. The right-hander had five 20+ win seasons
and led the league in ERA once, wins once and strikeouts
once. His magical 1968 season is one of the greatest
seasons by a pitcher. Gibson was 22-9, a minuscule 1.12
ERA, the third lowest in history and 13 shutouts — five
of those consecutively. He won both the Cy Young and Most
Valuable Player Awards, leading the Cardinals to the World
Championship. He won another Cy Young Award in 1970, going
23-7 with a 3.12 ERA. In 1971, he threw his only career
no-hitter against the Pirates. He struck out 200 hitters
nine times and won eight Gold Gloves, while being named to
eight All-Star teams. He finished his career 251-174 with
a 2.91 ERA and 3,117 strikeouts and was named to the Hall
of Fame in 1981.
Dwight
"Doc" Gooden
A
right-handed pitcher who broke onto the scene as a 19 year
old rookie in 1984. In 1984, Gooden went 17-9 with a 2.69
ERA and a league-leading 276 strikeouts, shattering the
rookie record for strikeouts in a season. Gooden is the
youngest player to be named Rookie of the Year, as well as
the youngest to play in an All-Star Game. He followed his
rookie campaign by going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 268
strikeouts, leading the league in all three categories.
These numbers earned Gooden the 1985 Cy Young Award. At
that time, he was only the ninth pitcher to capture the
award unanimously. In 1986, he finished with 17 wins,
helping the Mets to a World Championship. At the same
time, he became the first pitcher in history to record
200+ strikeouts in his first three seasons. In 1989,
Gooden became the third youngest player to reach 100
victories. He pitched his first no-hitter for the Yankees
in 1996 against the Mariners, finishing that season with
11 wins.
Jim
"Mudcat" Grant
A right-handed pitcher who played 14 seasons
(1958-1971), primarily with the Indians and Twins. Grant
was the first African-American to win 20 games in the
minor leagues. He debuted for the Indians in 1958 and as a
member of the Indians was named to the All-Star team in
1963. After being traded to the Twins in 1964, he had his
best year in 1965, going 21-7 with six shutouts and a 3.30
ERA. The Twins played the Dodgers in the 1965 World
Series, and Grant became the first African-American in the
American League to earn a win in a World Series game,
winning Games One and Six. In 1969, Grant earned the Expos
franchise’s first win. In 1970, he went 8-3 with 24
saves for the A’s and the Pirates. Grant finished with
144 victories and a 3.63 ERA.
Ferguson
Jenkins
This right-handed pitcher played 17 seasons
(1965-1983), primarily with the Cubs. He also, like Bob
Gibson, spent time playing for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Jenkins led the league in complete games four times, games
started three times, innings pitched three times, wins
twice and strikeouts once. He compiled twenty win
campaigns seven times, including a string of six in row
(1967-1974). In 1971, he finished the season 24-13 with 30
complete games and a 2.77 ERA. For his efforts, he won the
Cy Young Award. In 1974, pitching for the Rangers, he went
25-12, his seventh 20-win season, and was named Comeback
Player of the Year. Jenkins finished his career ninth on
the all-time strikeout list (3,192) and his 284-226 record
with an ERA of 3.34 earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame
in 1991.
"Sad"
Sam Jones
Jones, a
right-hander, began his career in the Negro Leagues,
pitching the Cleveland Buckeyes to the 1947 Negro League
World Series. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians in
1950 but did not get his chance to pitch full-time until
1955 after being traded to the Cubs. It was that year that
he got his first no-hitter against the Pirates and was
named to his first All-Star team. Jones led the National
League in strikeouts three seasons, two in Chicago and one
in St. Louis. In 1959, his second All-Star season, he was
traded to the Giants, where he compiled a 21-15 record,
leading the National League in wins and strikeouts. He
also pitched his second no-hitter against the Cardinals in
that season. Jones career spanned 12 years (1951-1964)
compiling 102 wins and a 3.59 ERA.
Don
Newcombe
A
right-hander that spent most of his ten Major League
seasons (1948-1960) in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. In 1946,
Newcombe was assigned to the Montreal Royals with Jackie
Robinson, Roy Campanella and Roy Partlow. In 1948, he was
named Rookie of the Year for going 17-8 with a 3.17 ERA.
He followed his rookie season with 19- and 20-win seasons
in 1950 and 1951 respectively and was named to three
consecutive All-Star teams. After spending 1952 and ’53
in the military, Newcombe returned to form in 1955 by
going 20-5. It was in 1956 that he shined. He won 27 games
against seven losses and was awarded the Cy Young Award
and the Most Valuable Player Award, making him the first
player to win both in the same season. This accomplishment
also made him the only player to win the Cy Young, MVP and
the Rookie of the Year Awards. Newcombe finished his
career 149-90 with 3.56 ERA.
Mike
Norris
Norris, a
right-handed pitcher, pitched for ten years (1975-1983,
1990) for the Oakland Athletics. His best seasons were
under manager Billy Martin. In 1980, Norris put together a
22-9 season with a 2.54 ERA, finishing second in the Cy
Young Award balloting. In 1981, Norris helped the A’s to
the American League West divisional title and made the
All-Star team. Norris finished his career with 58 wins and
two Gold Gloves to his credit in 1980 and 1981.
J.R.
Richard
Richard
was a flame-throwing right-hander for the Astros, who
pitched ten seasons (1971-1980). In 1971, he tied a Major
League record when he fanned 15 hitters in his first game.
In 1978, he became the first National League right-handed
pitcher in the 20th century to strike out 300
batters, and repeated the feat again in 1979. He won 20
games in 1976, finishing 20-15. Richard led the National
League in strikeouts twice and ERA once, starting the
All-Star Game in 1980. A stroke in 1980 cut his career
short, and after a comeback attempt, he retired with a
107-71 career record and a 3.15 ERA.
Dave
Stewart
Stewart
pitched for 16 years (1978-1995), spending them primarily
with the Athletics and Blue Jays. This right-hander
enjoyed his best success with the A’s in the late ‘80s
and early ‘90s. From 1987-1990, Stewart strung together
four 20+-win seasons. During the same stretch, he led the
American League in starts three times, in complete games
and innings pitched twice and once each in wins and
shutouts. Despite this success, he was only named to one
All-Star roster and never won a Cy Young Award. It was in
the post-season that he received his success was rewarded.
He was twice named the ALCS Most Valuable Player and was
also named 1989 World Series Most Valuable Player. He
never lost an ALCS game, winning eight games and compiling
a 2.03 ERA. Stewart ended his career with 168 wins and a
3.95 ERA and currently works for the Blue Jays.
Earl
Wilson
Wilson
played 11 years (1959-1970) with the Red Sox, Tigers and
Padres. In his first full season in the Major Leagues
(1962), he no-hit the Angels, finishing the season 12-8.
In 1966, he was traded to the Tigers where he enjoyed his
greatest success. He compiled 13 victories for the Tigers
in ’66. In 1967, Wilson earned 22 wins against only 11
losses, finishing tied for the American League lead in
wins. He helped the Tigers win the World Series in 1968
with 13 wins. Wilson’s last season was in 1970, and he
finished with 121 career wins and a 3.69 ERA.
Dontrelle
Willis