The day is coming to a close, and unfortunately this means our celebration of Randy Johnson's 300th win must come to a close too. With this last part we will focus on a question that many people probably have: what exactly is the future of the 300 Win Club?
Part I: The 300 Win Club
Part II: The Player
Part III: The Game
Part IV: The Other Games
Part V: The Future (of the 300 Win Club) (you are here)
One of the great debates in baseball is whether or not there will be another 300 game winner on the horizon. After all, it's been 10 years since Randy Johnson reached the milestone, and nobody is all that close to the mark. There are those that feel that the door to the 300-win club has slammed shut, either because of the five-man rotation or the rise of the specialized bullpen etc etc. A more nuanced view is that another 300-game winner is waiting out there, but the question is who would be next. Better minds than mine have tackled this question using statistical analysis. Bill James had developed his Favorite Toy that uses their age and last three seasons to come up with a probability that they would reach a certain mark. Meanwhile Jay Jaffe came up with his Jaffe Blind Optimism score, which looks at potential final win total provided the pitcher averages 14 wins until the age of 42. These statistical tools are fine and dandy, but reality often has its ways of frustrating projections. Bill James can't possibly predict any injuries or sudden loss of performance for a player. They also can't predict the desire and competitive fire that would drive Randy Johnson to pitch until the age of 45 to reach 300 wins.
So I'm not going to pretend to be able to say with absolute certainty who is going to become the next 300-game-winner. However, I do think it is worthwhile to look at the past. What exactly separated the pitchers that won 300 games from those that didn't win 300 games. The day after Randy Johnson won his 300th game, esteemed baseball Joe Posnanski wrote a fine article about how getting to 300 wins is more about what you do after the age of 30 than what you do in your 20s. It makes the point how few of the winningest pitchers before the age of 30 made it on to 300. I feel like this point may be worth exploring further. Do pitchers that win 300 games win significantly more in their 30s than those that didn't?
To explore this hypothesis, we would need a sample of pitchers, those that win 300 games and those that don't win 300. The 19th century hurlers would prove to be a bit too much of an outlier just because the game was so different when they pitched, so we'll leave them out of this exercise. Well, if we bundle Cy Young with the 20th century hurlers (because he pitched 12 seasons in the 20th century and only 10 in the 19th century), that would give us 18 pitchers with 300 wins. These are names we know and love because (I hope) you all read Part I of this series. Now we'll match them with pitchers that didn't reach 300 wins. There are multiple ways to build up a list of 18 pitchers that failed to reach 300 wins, but the simplest approach would be to just take the 18 pitchers with the most wins. Once again we'll leave off the 19th century hurlers, and we'll also leave off any active pitchers because they are still not done acquiring wins. If we take the 18 winningest non-active 20th century pitchers that didn't reach 300 wins, that gets us to Bob Gibson with 251 wins. So there you have it, our cohort of 36 pitchers.
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| Here are the wins displayed on a handy dandy bar graph courtesy of Meta-Chart |
It's good to know that the 300-game winners have statistically significantly more wins than the 250-game winners. Anyways, now that we've got the cohort, let's break down the win totals for each of these pitchers through the age of 30, through the age of 40, after the age of 40, wins after the age of 30, and the wins in their 30s. I did have to look through Newspapers.com for Eddie Plank's numbers because Retrosheet still hadn't updated the box scores from 1905 when he turned 30. I had to look through all of the box scores from the games he pitched where the A's won and 102 was the best estimate.
Let's start examining each column one by one. We had already gone through the total career wins, but what would it look like if we graph the win totals before the age of 30 (aka, the wins accumulated in their late teens and 20s.)
Whoof! We already see a couple of outliers in the 300-game winners cohort. Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson were already more than 5/6 of their way to 300 wins by their 30th birthday, while Cy Young's 194 wins were greater than anybody in the 250-299 win cohort, led by Robin Roberts and his 179 wins. On the other hand, Phil Niekro's 31 wins by his 30th birthday were even less than Jamie Moyer's 34, and Randy Johnson's 64 wasn't that much more impressive. I'll spare you the gory mathematical details, but once we enter it into our calculator, this is the results we get:
So that's some pretty shocking business. Even with the three outliers, the win totals before 30 of the 300-game winners is not statistically significantly greater than the win totals before 30 of the pitchers that finished between 250-299 wins. Of course this is another way of stating Posnanki's hypothesis. It's not about what a pitcher does by their 30th birthday that would determine whether they would get to 300 wins, but it's what they do after their 30th birthday that really counts. Let's see how the numbers play out by these pitchers' 40th birthdays.
From this bar graph we can tell that most of the win total are approaching their final positions. A few players are still ways off from their final totals such as Jamie Moyer and Phil Niekro, but those are more of the exceptions. Is this difference enough to be statistically significance? Let's see what the T-test says.
So clearly by the age of 40 there is already a statistically significant difference in win totals between the 300-game winners and those that finished between 250-299. Of course, part of that is related to the fact that we still have the three deadball aces that are skewing results. Furthermore, as we can clearly see only six of the pitchers that won 300 actually hit the milestone by their 40th birthday. Clearly there has to be some difference in performance after the age of 40 that would separate the other dozen from those that failed to get 300. Here are the win totals for each pitcher after their 40th birthday.
What can we gather here? For one thing, Jamie Moyer stands out like a sore thumb within the 250 win cohort, while two of our three deadball outliers in Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson failed to get a single win after turning 40. On the other hand, six of the 250-win group were done by the age of 40. Is this disparity going to be enough for statistical significance?
Once again Jamie Moyer sticks out like a sore thumb in the 250-win cohort. He was really harmed by his struggles in the 1980s. If he had only been able to double his win totals before turning 30 from 34 to 68, he'd be in the Hall of Fame.
That is a fairly significant result, and the t-value of 4.51 approaches the overall win totals of 5.96. However, that did get me thinking. Back in 2007 we had a renaissance of pitchers over 40, with a dozen starting pitchers above the age of 40. However, the past ten years had seen a dramatic drop in the number of pitchers that pitched after 40. This year the only pitcher above 40 is Fernando Rodney, a reliever. We really should take a closer look at how each pitcher does between the ages of 30 and 40 and see if there is any significant difference. As as you can see from the top, I had considered this and had included the wins each pitcher had while they were in their 30s.
Hmm. That actually looks quite even, but then again these are all numbers that encapsulate a decade in these players' careers. It is enough to lead to statistical significance?
Why yes, even if we limit our consideration to a defined period between a ballplayer's 30th and 40th birthday, the ones that get to 300s win significantly more games than the ones that could only get to 250. So to sum it up, there is no statistical significant difference in the number of wins before the age of 30 among the pitchers that got to 300 and the pitchers that ended up between 250 and 299, but there are significant differences in wins by the age of 40, wins after the age of 40, wins after the age of 30, and wins in their 30s.
That's all peachy keen and fine and dandy, but baseball in the deadball era is incredibly different than it is today. The pitching careers of Cy Young, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson were clearly outliers. A better comparison would be between players of a more recent vintage. I had considered that, and lopped off the players whose careers largely came before WWII. That left 12 300-game winners and 12 players between 250-299 wins. Isn't it nice that things just worked out this way?
So the outliers are gone, and outside of the (relatively) steep dropoff between Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton there is a rather steady downward trend. Does this new cohort still have a statistical significant difference?
Yes. There is still a significant difference in the win totals between 300 game winners and those that finished between 250-299 wins. In fact, the loss of the outliers led to a smaller standard deviation which resulted in a much more robust T-value. Now let's take a look at the wins before the age of 30 among this cohort.
Whoa whoa whoa. Is it just me or are the black bars that signify the pitchers between 250-299 wins taller than the colored bars for the 300-game winners? Greg Maddux leads the 300 game winners with 151 wins by his 30th birthday, and four of the 250-299 group had more than that, with Robin Roberts at the top with 179.
Our eyes were not deceiving us. The average win total among 300-game-winners before the age of 30 (108.25) is less than the win total among those that finished between 250-299 (124.58). However, the result did not reach the level of statistical significance, and there is enough variability that we can't make any conclusions. Let's jump ahead 10 years and check out the win totals of these pitchers by their 40th birthday.
Hmm. If you recall from earlier, the 300-game-winners had significantly more wins by their 40th birthday than those between 250-299, but once you lop off the deadball era pitchers the differences become much less of a difference. This is visible in the bar graph as the differences in height seems to be minuscule, and also in the lack of statistical significance. It is worth noting that the 300-game-winning cohort had caught up to the 250-299 cohort, suggesting that there may be a difference in wins during the pitchers' 30s. But once again it would take winning after the age of 40 that would lift most of the 300-game winners into hallowed grounds.
Now that is quite a stark difference. Every single 300-game winner since WWII won at least 16 games after turning 16. Only three pitchers that won between 250-299 won that much, with six failing to win a single game at all. Considering the fact that the number of pitchers over the age of 40 are dropping (and most of the ones that do stay on board are relievers), that does not bode well for the future of 300-game-winners. Nevertheless, let's put things together and see how the pitchers fare after the age of 30.
Not surprisingly the 300-game-winners win significantly more games after the age of 30 than those that finish between 250-299. Jamie Moyer's 235 is the most of any in the latter group, but four of the 300-game-winners outperformed that, including our man Randy Johnson and his 239 wins. The t-value isn't quite as robust as with the deadball aces thrown in, but at this rate we're just splitting hairs. Of course the real question is whether or not there is a difference in that set 10-year-period between their 30th and 40th birthdays.
Wowie zowie wowser Bowser. Even when we take away the deadball pitchers and their heavy workload, the 300-game-winners still outperformed their 250-299-win counterparts in that 10-year-period between 30 and 40. In fact seven out of the 12 300-game-winners had more than the 160 wins that Bob Gibson put up in his 30s. And those include Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson, two of the most recent 300-game winners.
So far in our coarse analysis we've established the fact that no matter when the pitchers pitch (as long as it is not in the 19th century), wins after 30, wins after 40, and wins in the 30s are all significantly greater among pitchers that win 300 games than those that finish between 250-299. However, which of those three variables are the most important when it comes to determining membership in the 300-win club? One way to look at this question is to see which factor is most closely correlated with a pitcher's final win? With that we'll take a look at another basic statistical property, that of the correlation coefficient. When we take a look at correlation we want to see exactly how much one variable affects another. There's a lot of mathematics, but basically a perfect correlation means that an increase in one variable is aligned with an increase (or decrease) in another variable. We can measure a number called the coefficient of determination (R^2) which gives us an estimate of the proportion of how much one variable affects the other variable. The R^2 is basically the correlation coefficient squared, which would give us a number between 0 and 1. If one variable has essentially no effect on the other, then there is little correlation, and the R^2 is just about 0. So the further away the correlation is from 0, the tighter the connection between the two variables. We can plot these values on a scatterplot on Microsoft Excel, with the career wins on the Y (vertical) axis and our variable on the X (horizontal) axis. Once we make the plot then the program would draw the mean regression line and spit out a correlation coefficient. For example, let's take our original sample of 36 pitchers, and plot their career wins with the wins they get during their career.
Not surprisingly, since we're measuring a variable against itself, we get an R^2 of 1. That's just about the only time we get a perfect correlation. But let's take a look at something that we've determined doesn't have much of a relationship: career win totals with wins by the age of 30.
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| Wins before 30, sample of 20th century >250-win pitchers |
Not sure if you can read that, but the R^2 is equal to .2661, which is rather small, but you can see that because of the three outliers there is an overall trend upward. What if we were to lop off the outliers, like we did in the sample of 24 of post-WWII pitchers.
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| Wins before 30, sample of post-WWII pitchers |
If you can't read that, that says 8E-7, which is another way of saying .0000008, which for all intents and purposes is equivalent to 0. And you can see that on the scatterplot the spots are just tossed about everywhere, and the regression line is just about flat. So we really can't gather much information about a pitcher's final career totals based on how many wins they have by the age of 30, at least among our sample of 24 pitchers after WWII with at least 250 wins. So let's take a look at another variable: wins through the age of 40, first among our larger sample of 36.
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| Wins before 40, sample of 20th century >250-win pitchers |
So you can see that here is a pretty clear upward trend, that the more wins a pitcher has by their 40th birthday, the more likely they'll have more career wins. The R^2 is .6721, which is quite large. Of course we also see the three outliers. Let's see what would happen if we take them out, as we do for our smaller sample of 24 pitchers.
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| Wins before 40, sample of post-WWII pitchers |
There is clearly a larger spread around this regression line, and as we can see the R^2 falls from the robust .6721 to .1866. This goes along with our earlier finding, with a significant p-value in the larger sample of 36 to an insignificant p-value in the smaller sample. So wins to the age of 40 is important, but not the end-all-be-all for pitchers with at least 250 wins. What would it look like with wins after the age of 40, first in our sample of 36.
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| Wins after 40, sample of 20th-century >250-win pitchers |
Hmm, with Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson failing to win a single game after their 40th birthday, we end up with a rather dismal R^2 of .1201, which kind of goes against the significant p-value in our earlier look. Let's see what it would be like for the smaller sample of 24 pitchers.
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| Wins after 40, sample of post-WWII pitchers |
Now that the pitchers without a single win after 40 are clustered only in the cohort of pitchers between 250-299 wins, we get an increase in the R^2, this time to .2588, which is admittedly still not very big, but it's still something. But wins after 40 still doesn't seem to correlate all that much with final career win totals. Let's take a look at a larger time period, with wins after the age of 30. First, our sample of 36.
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| Wins after 30, sample of 20th century >250-win pitchers |
The R^2 is .3062. There are a few values right on the regression line, but then again our three deadball aces are still throwing things off since they are way above the regression line. Let's take them away with our sample of 24.
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| Wins after 30, sample of post-WWII pitchers |
The R^2 is .3985. The regression line falls a little bit because of the pitchers with over 370 wins were expunged, but even then there isn't that dramatic of a change. Finally, let's take a look at the win totals for the pitchers in their 30s.
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| Wins in 30s, sample of 20th-century >250-win pitchers |
The R^2 is .3055, which is almost the exact same as the coefficient for the wins after the age of 30. Once again the deadball aces are sticking out as outliers. Let's plot the 24 pitchers after WWII.
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| Wins in 30s, sample of post-WWII pitchers |
The R^2 actually fell to .2890, which I guess isn't as surprising because the deadball aces outliers went along with the regression line. So what now? We've seen ten scatterplots and ten correlation coefficients and the one with the greatest correlation went away once we took out a couple of outliers. So it seems the only conclusion we can make is that we really can't make any major conclusions. It's as the saying goes, "correlation does not equal causation." The only thing we can tell is that wins by the age of 30 have little to do with their final win totals, and that the more wins a pitcher has after the age of 30, the more likely they'll put up strong win totals, but even then it's hard to predict whether or not they'll end up with 300 wins as opposed to 250-299 wins. Of course this may just be because I'm playing around with a very non-random sample of pitchers that have all gotten at least to 250 wins. Anyways, I've had enough math for the time being. Let's take a look at some pitchers that "came close" and the ones that may be the next best hope at getting to 300.
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Baseball has been a sport in flux between 2009 and 2019. The sport is constantly evolving, but the the trends the past few years have been somewhat extreme. Baseball was dominated by offense in the 1990s and 2000s, a surge that had largely been attributed to steroid use but also featured smaller ballparks, tightly-wound balls, and a dilution of pitching from expansion. However, the tide had begun to change by 2009, and the transformation was complete by 2010. That year saw new records being set for most strikeouts, and lowest batting average. There were six no-hitters thrown, which did not include Armando Galarraga's near perfect game. Fans began calling 2010 the Year of the Pitcher 2, but the pitchers were only getting started. Strikeouts continued to rise as fastball velocity rose, while breaking pitches became nastier, and defenses became more creative as shifts became more common. All the while runs became almost extinct, bottoming out in 2014. Yet hitters began adapting as well. Knowing that hits are getting more difficult to come by, they began swinging for the fences. Runs had normalized while strikeouts continued to rise and batting average continued to fall. The information explosion with the introduction of Statcast in 2015 led to an information explosion that had already been in process a decade earlier. Soon baseball became even more like a chess match, with every pitch requiring mountains of deliberations, which slows the pace of play to a crawl.
Despite the increased dominance by pitching, starters haven't benefitted as much, at least with the win statistic. They have been allowed to pitch fewer innings, especially with the increased recognition of the turn-of-the-order phenomenon. As a result there have been more and more no-decisions, not to mention the increasing arm injuries. The intro image to this Part V is a list of the ten active pitchers with the most wins on June 4 every year from 2009 through 2018. I defined "active" simply as a player that has a contract with a Major League organization, whether it is is a Major League or a minor league deal. There were 35 pitchers represented in those ten years. Of those 34, eight are still active here on June 4, 2019, leaving 27 that are now inactive. Of those Randy Johnson had won 300 games, leaving 26 pitchers that are not active and didn't make it to 300. I figured I'll take some time to explore the careers of these pitchers, particularly with how they fared in the past ten years. I'll go in reverse order based on the number of wins they had gotten after June 4, 2009, starting with the pitcher that won the fewest, and ending with the pitcher that had won the most.
John Smoltz - 3
Date of Birth: May 15, 1967
Years Played: 1988-1999, 2001-2009
Years on Top 10: 2009
Wins by age 30: 118
Wins by age 40: 198
Wins after age 40: 15
Wins after age 30: 95
Wins in 30s: 80
Wins on June 4, 2009: 210
Wins on June 4, 2019: 213
And we start with a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. On June 4, 2009, John Smoltz was already a legend in the game, but at the same time he was trying to rehab from a right shoulder surgery almost a year earlier as a member of the Atlanta Braves. His journey to this moment was as dramatic as his career had been. Smoltz was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Lansing around an hour away. His family were world renowned in the polka music world, and little John was destined to continue in the family business. However, he was also a die-hard fan of the Detroit Tigers, and when he was seven he decided to trade in the accordion for a baseball. He became a student of the craft, and became one of the top high school pitchers in Michigan. The Tigers drafted him in the 22nd round in 1985, and the allure of pitching for his hometown team was too much to resist, and he passed on a scholarship to Michigan State University to sign with the Tigers, who were coming off a World Series title in 1984. Smoltz made his minor league debut in 1986 and pitched well with low-A Lakeland, but he struggled with his command when he advanced to AA Glens Falls. That same summer, the Tigers were in the thick of the American League East race, and general manager Bill Lajoie felt he needed another veteran starter to complement aces Jack Morris and Frank Tanana. Lajoie looked around at pitchers that cleared waivers, and saw Doyle Alexander, the crafty veteran who had recovered from an embarrassing showing in Gaylord Perry's 300th win in 1982 to put up decent numbers with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was now toiling for the Atlanta Braves, who had fallen from hard times after a division title in 1982 and was fighting to stay out of last place. Braves general manager Bobby Cox was willing to trade Alexander for a young pitcher, and settled for Smoltz, the skinny right-hander with the fearsome fastball and no command.
The trade was devastating to John Smoltz. He was leaving the comfort of the Tigers organization to one of the worst teams in baseball. Not surprisingly he struggled in three starts in AAA Richmond. However, the Richmond Braves had Leo Mazzone, the former minor league pitcher who was embarking on his career as a pitching coach. Mazzone helped the youngster develop his breaking pitches and along with it his confidence. He saw an immediate improvement, and was called up to the Major League on July 23 after a successful half-season in AAA. Smoltz was hit hard as the Braves fell to 106 losses in 1988. However, he was joining a young rotation that included Pete Smith, Steve Avery, and a left-hander from Massachusetts named Tom Glavine. Smoltz saw an immediate improvement in his sophomore season, and was named an All-Star. A year later Mazzone was promoted to become the pitching coach of the Braves, and by 1991 Atlanta authored their worst-to-first surprising division title. Smoltz's regular season performance was average while Glavine went on to take home the Cy Young award, but it was Smoltz that shined in the October spotlight. He went 2-0 in his two starts in the National League Championship Series and allowed only three runs in 15 and 1/3 innings, and authored the complete game shutout in Game 7. He was even better in the World Series, allowing only two runs in 14 and 1/3 innings. He was picked to pitch Game 7 against his former idol Jack Morris, now with the Minnesota Twins. Smoltz was sharp, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings, but Lonnie Smith was deked by Chuck Knoblauch, as Morris and the Twins went on to win in 10 innings.
The 1991 World Series was a devastating loss, but it established the Braves as being one of the most dominant teams in baseball. Their pitching staff was a major cause for their success, especially after signing Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs before the 1993 season. Maddux and Glavine took the headlines during the regular season, but it was usually Smoltz that came through in October. Smoltz struggled with bone spurs in his elbow in 1994 that required surgery, and then had an unusually difficult post-season in 1995, getting hit hard in the Division Series against the Colorado Rockies and the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, but the Braves won their first title in Atlanta behind Glavine's dominant gem. Smoltz was determined to get better, and broke out in a big way in 1996. He won 11 straight starts from April 9 to May 29, and won his 20th game by August 16. He finished 24-8 with a 2.94 ERA, and also led the league with 276 strikeouts. He was rewarded with his first career Cy Young title. Unfortunately, he allowed an unearned run in Game 5 of the World Series against the New York Yankees, and that was all that was needed to lose 1-0, and the Yankees clinched the next game. Smoltz remained a top-line starter in the rest of the 1990s, but he began dealing with elbow pain. He gutted through the pain, but by the spring of 2000 he needed the dreaded Tommy John surgery. Smoltz made a successful recovery and pitched five games in 2001, but his career was about to receive a dramatic change.
John Smoltz became a free agent in that off-season, and he wanted to re-sign with the Braves, but they only wanted him as a reliever. Smoltz swallowed his pride and accepted the deal. He opened the 2002 season as the Braves closer, but his heart wasn't in it, allowing eight runs in his second relief appearance. However, manager Cox and pitching coach Mazzone continued to coax him through the transition, and Smoltz quickly learned to harness his energy into his pitches. He became one of the most dominant closers in the game. At one point he saved 25 straight save opportunities. He ended the season with 55 saves, tying the National League record for most saves in a season. His 3.25 ERA was skewed by his disastrous appearance in April, but he showed just how good he can be in 2003, putting up a 1.12 ERA while saving 45 games. He was almost as good in 2004 when he surpassed the 150 save mark. However, he never lost his desire to return to the starting rotation. With Glavine and Maddux having left Atlanta to sign free agent deals with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, Smoltz petitioned Cox and general manager John Schuerholz to allow him back into a starting role for 2005. The two executives relented, and Smoltz was re-inserted in the starting rotation in 2005. His first start was a bit of a disaster, but he stabilized things and pitched 229.1 innings with 14 wins and a solid 3.06 ERA. He tied for the league lead in wins in 2006, and on May 24, 2007, he won his 200th game, defeating the Mets and his BFF Glavine 2-1. He became only the third pitcher that had Tommy John surgery to achieve his 200th win. However, in 2007 Smoltz began dealing with shoulder pain and he hit the disabled list in July. He was able to complete the season with Novocaine, and picked up his 3,000th strikeout in April 2008, but he eventually needed surgery for a torn labrum in June.
Smoltz still had the desire to pitch, but his injury-filled history led the Braves to offer him only a pittance for the new contract. He decided to take his talents elsewhere, and signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox. By June 4, 2009, he had made three rehab starts, two with single-A Greenville and one with AA Portland. The shocking news of Glavine's release on June 3, but he stuck with his own rehab efforts and made two more rehab starts with AAA Pawtucket. He made his triumphant return to the Major Leagues on June 25, pitching against the Washington Nationals in National Park. However, three weeks after Randy Johnson made history there the Nationals greeted Smoltz rudely, scoring five runs in five innings. By August 6 he had won only two games with an ugly 8.32 ERA and Boston cut him. The St. Louis Cardinals offered him a contract. Smoltz pitched better with St. Louis, but he managed only one win with a roughly league average ERA. He remained unsigned in 2010 and faded away, transitioning to his second career as an analyst and a golfer. His body of work was rewarded with his Hall of Fame election in 2015, the first Tommy John alum to receive that honor, but there remained a question of what could have been.
Mike Hampton - 4
Date of Birth: September 9, 1972
Years Played: 1993-2005, 2008-2010
Years on Top 10: 2009
Wins by age 30: 106
Wins by age 40: 148
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 42
Wins in 30s: 42
Wins on June 4, 2009: 144
Wins on June 4, 2019: 148
On June 4, 2009, Mike Hampton was sitting in the home dugout in Minute Maid Park, trying to focus on the Astros' 10-3 loss against the Colorado Rockies while at the same time trying to mentally prepare himself for his start the next day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The veteran left-hander had come a long way since he was the tough-luck losing pitcher in Randy Johnson's perfect game a little more than five years ago. Then again, he had come a long way since his first stint with the Houston Astros, and an even longer way since his childhood in Homosassa, Florida. Michael William Hampton Jr. was the son of teenage parents in the Gulf Coast of Florida. Mike Sr. worked for his father-in-law's fish distribution business, and also doubled as a softball player. Mike Jr. picked up his father's work ethic and ballplaying skills. He was a baseball and football star in nearby Crystal River, and he was a heavily recruited college football player. However, his true passion was baseball, and Hampton signed very quickly after he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of the 1990 draft. In fact, he signed on June 4, 1990, exactly 19 years earlier.
Hampton was a young high school graduate, only 17 when he joined the rookie league Mariners for the remainder of the 1990 season. Nevertheless he showed promise, going 7-2 with a 2.66 ERA. He jumped to low A a year later, and received steady promotions until he made his Major League debut on April 17, 1993, 11 days after staff ace Johnson's 50th win. Hampton was hit hard in his first start, and eventually spent most of his first season either with AA Jacksonville or in the bullpen. At the end of the season the Mariners sent him packing, trading him with Mike Felder for outfielder Eric Anthony. The Astros were a young team with promising young stars such as Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio and were primed for a breakout. Hampton spent all of 1994 in the bullpen, and the Astros were in hot pursuit for the first National League Wild Card when the strike hit. When play resumed a year later Hampton was inserted in the rotation alongside Shane Reynolds, Doug Drabek, and Darryl Kile. Hampton had a successful first season in the rotation, but the Astros missed the Wild Card by one game. He continued to progress and helped Houston to their first division title in a decade in 1997, but pitched poorly in the Division Series as the Astros were defeated. A year later he was reunited with his old teammate Randy Johnson for two months and together they helped the Astros to another division title, but suffered another early exit. After Randy left to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks that off-season, Hampton stepped into the void and became the ace. He went 22-4, establishing a new franchise record for wins in a season. He also helped himself greatly with the bat, hitting .311/.373/.432 and won the Silver Slugger. The Astros took home a third straight division title. Once again that ended in an early exit, but Hampton finished second in Cy Young voting behind Randy.
The Astros decided to trade Hampton while his stock was highest, and he went to the Big Apple to pitch for the New York Mets. Hampton had another strong season, going 15-10 with a 3.14 ERA. He saved his best for October. He struggled in his Division Series start, but the Mets toppled the San Francisco Giants. He shined in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 16 scoreless innings and winning both of his starts, including a complete game shutout in Game 5 to help the Mets to the pennant. Hampton started Game 2 of the World Series against the crosstown New York Yankees. The fireworks between Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza in the first inning overshadowed Hampton's struggles, as the Yankees went on to win the game and the Series. He became a free agent at the end of the season, and signed an 8-year, $121 million contract with the Colorado Rockies. Hampton's offense exploded in the thin air of Colorado, as he hit seven home runs in 2001, but his pitching line struggled. After putting up a 21-28 record with a 5.75 ERA in two years in Colorado, Hampton was traded to the Florida Marlins after the 2002 season. Florida in turn flipped him to the Atlanta Braves two days later. Hampton went back to being his usual dependable self, winning a Gold Glove and his fifth straight Silver Slugger in 2003. He pitched a two-run complete game of his own on May 18, 2004 opposite a perfect Randy Johnson and the Diamondbacks. Hampton was off to another terrific start in 2005, but a nagging elbow problem sent him to the disabled list. He tried rest and rehabilitation, but ultimately had Tommy John surgery in September. He attempted to return to the game in 2007, but a torn oblique muscle put that on hold. He missed the entire 2007 season, and half of 2008 before making his return to the mound in July.
Hampton struggled in his return to the mound, going 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 starts. His lengthy contract finally expired after the 2008 season, and he signed with his old team the Astros. The Astros were very different from when he left them a decade earlier. He also struggled with his pitching, putting up a 3-4 record with a 5.07 ERA. He won on June 5 with seven one-run innings after doing the same five days earlier, but that was the high point of the remainder of his career. He went 4-6 with a 5.53 ERA afterwards, and suffered a rotator cuff tear in September, requiring surgery. The Astros let him leave as a free agent after the season. Hampton signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 and returned to make ten effective relief appearances in August and September. He re-signed with Arizona in 2011, but pitched miserably in spring training. He opted to retire instead of suffer the embarrassment of being cut. It was a sordid end to the career of one of the top left-handers for the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Tim Wakefield - 15
Date of Birth: August 2, 1966
Years Played: 1992-1993, 1995-2011
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2010, 2011
Wins by age 30: 38
Wins by age 40: 151
Wins after age 40: 49
Wins after age 30: 162
Wins in 30s: 113
Wins on June 4, 2009: 185
Wins on June 4, 2019: 200
Tim Wakefield pitched a triumphant victory over the Detroit Tigers, a team that had long been a thorn in his side, on June 4, 2009. It put him at 185 wins, just 15 away from 200 wins and 22 from the all-time wins mark for the Boston Red Sox, tied by 300-game winners Cy Young and Roger Clemens. It quite a surprising accomplishment for the veteran knuckleballer. Wakefield was born and raised in Melbourne, Florida, and went on to play with his hometown Florida Tech. He was a power-hitting first baseman, and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 8th round in 1988 with the idea that he would be Pittsburgh's first baseman of the future. That idea went down the drain when he hit only .189/.328/.308 with only three home runs in low-A Watertown. His numbers failed to improve the next year and it seemed like his career would finish before it would even get started. Wakefield had been toying with a knuckleball, and the Pirates gave him one last chance to save his career by converting to a knuckleball pitcher. The pitch was befuddling to minor league league pitchers used to fastballs, and Wakefield slowly made the climb up the minor-league ladder. A strong season at AAA Buffalo in 1992 led Pittsburgh to call him up at the end of July. Wakefield was a revelation for Jim Leyland's Pirates, going 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA. He made it onto the post-season roster and won both of his starts, although the Pirates lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. Wakefield made the Opening Day roster in 1993, but he struggled mightily, and was demoted back to AA Carolina after posting a 6.35 ERA in 19 appearances. He made it back when the rosters expanded in September, and ended the season with back-to-back shutouts, but another poor season in AAA in 1994 led the Pirates to cut ties after the strike.
During that strike Wakefield had worked with 300-game-winner knuckleball extraordinaire Phil Niekro to perfect his knuckleball. The Boston Red Sox picked him up off the scrap heap, and sent him to AAA Pawtucket. He was dominant in three starts and made it back to the Majors, where he was once again a revelation, going 16-8 with a 2.95 ERA. He finished third in Cy Young voting as the Red Sox won the division. Wakefield had never quite had that level of success during the rest of the 1990s, putting up a 43-36 record with a league average 4.66 ERA in 1996-1998. That led Boston to experiment him as a closer / spot starter, but he made it back into the rotation by July 2002. He pitched well, and Boston retained him in their rotation in 2003. He was strong, especially in the ALCS against the hated New York Yankees. He allowed only three runs in 13 innings in his two starts and the Red Sox were just one win away from clinching the pennant. However, the Evil Empire rallied against Pedro Martinez in Game 7, and Wakefield came on in relief. He pitched a scoreless tenth inning, but his season ended in tragedy when Aaron Boone homered to lead off the 11th. Wakefield took a step backwards in his 2004 production, and pitched largely in relief in the post-season. The Yankees hit him hard again, but Boston successfully came back from three games down to win the pennant. Wakefield Game 1 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Red Sox completed the sweep.
After the triumphant season, Wakefield settled into the rotation, putting up league average ERAs while being buoyed by the Red Sox's dominant offense. He went 17-12 with a league-average 4.76 ERA in 2007 but made only one start in the post-season due to a nagging shoulder injury as the Red Sox won another title. By 2009 Wakefield was closing in on his 200th victory, a mark achieved by a select group, even fewer of whom were knuckleball pitchers. His start on June 4 was a strong bounceback performance after a terrible start five days earlier, and was named to his first All-Star game after going 11-3 with a 4.31 ERA. However, he made only four more starts after the All-Star break as he dealt with calf and leg injuries, going 0-2. He was 11 wins from 200, but his 2010 season was terrible, as he went 4-10 with an abysmal 5.34 ERA. He did win the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of his philanthropic that year. The 200th win became a focal point of the 2011 season and he shifted between the rotation and the bullpen. He still won his 199th game on July 24. Manager Terry Francona kept Wakefield in the rotation, but his performance continued to decline, and he was demoted to the bullpen before another injury forced him back in the rotation. Wakefield finally won his 20th game on September 13, 2011 in a game where the Red Sox offense picked him up, thrashing the Toronto Blue Jays 18-6. Wakefield remained in the rotation the rest of the season, one that saw the Red Sox eliminated on the final day of the season. Wakefield announced his retirement in early 2012, ending one of the most remarkable careers in Red Sox history.
Jamie Moyer - 19
Date of Birth: November 18, 1962
Years Played: 1986-1991, 1993-2010, 2012
Years on Top 10: 2009. 2010, 2012
Wins by age 30: 34
Wins by age 40: 164
Wins after age 40: 105
Wins after age 30: 235
Wins in 30s: 130
Wins on June 4, 2009: 250
Wins on June 4, 2019: 269
On June 4, 2009, Jamie Moyer was the oldest player in all of baseball, five and a half months from his 47th birthday and a full 10 months older than Randy Johnson. He was still getting outs with the Philadelphia Phillies, having recorded his milestone 250th win against the Washington Nationals four days earlier. It was a mark that many doubted Moyer would reach throughout most of his career. Moyer was born and raised in southeast Pennsylvania, and was a Phillies fan growing up. He was a senior in high school when the Phillies won their first ever World Series title in 1980, and skipped school to attend the parade. Moyer played baseball with Souderton High School, but went undrafted, so he went on to St. Joseph's University. While at SJU, Moyer learned the circle change from a teammate Kevin Quirk, who also dressed up as the school's hawk mascot. Moyer rode the change-up to a successful college career, and he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 draft by the Chicago Cubs, four rounds after a Las Vegas high schooler named Greg Maddux. Moyer actually beat young Maddux to the Majors, pitching well in all minor league levels. He made his Major League debut on June 16, 1986 against the Phillies of all teams and their 300-game winner Steve Carlton. By then Carlton was a shell of his old dominant self, and Moyer pitched well enough to earn a 7-5 win. He struggled most of the rest of the season and was the losing pitcher in Nolan Ryan's 250th win on August 27. Six days later he faced off against Ryan and the Houston Astros again. He got a no-decision in a game that went 18 innings, one that saw Maddux make his Major League debut as a pinch runner.
Moyer struggled again in 1987 before finally posting an above-average ERA in 1988. He still went 9-15, and he was packaged in a deal with Rafael Palmeiro to the Texas Rangers that off-season. Now a teammate of the Ryan Express, Moyer dealt with a sore shoulder and limped to a 6-15 record with a 4.74 ERA in two season deep in the heart of Texas. He was released after the 1990 season and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he went 0-5 with a 5.74 ERA. Moyer re-signed with the Cubs in 1992, but was cut out of spring training. The Cubs offered their former southpaw a job as a pitching coach, but Moyer soldiered on, signing with the Detroit Tigers almost two months later. He never made it out of AAA Toledo, but picked up more pitching nuggets. He became a free agent that off-season and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He started the season with AAA Rochester, and dominated to the tune of a 6-0 record and a 1.67 ERA. The Orioles rewarded him with a call-up, and he rewarded Baltimore with a 12-9 record and a 3.43 ERA. Moyer pitched two more seasons with the Orioles, but had diminishing results. He signed with the Boston Red Sox before the 1996 season and was a teammate of Roger Clemens for three months before they traded him to the Seattle Mariners for Darren Bragg. Now a teammate of Randy Johnson, Moyer stepped into the rotation as Seattle made a push for the AL West. They fell short, but Moyer pitched well enough that he became a part of the Mariners rotation in 1997 as they made a successful run for the division title.
Moyer soon became the rock in the Seattle rotation, taking over even after Randy was traded. He posted two solid seasons in 1998 and 1999 before a 2000 season that was marred by shoulder and knee problems. He was healthy once again in 2001, and he made a strong comeback, going 20-6 with a 3.43 ERA. More importantly the Mariners dominated from start to finish, tying a record with 116 wins. Moyer was strong in three post-season starts, but the miraculous season never came as Seattle fell to the New York Yankees in six games. He continued to remain a solid starter, setting career highs with 21 wins and a 3.27 ERA in 2003. He was named to his first All-Star game, and finished fifth in Cy Young voting. However, he was never the same after that season, going 7-13 with a 5.21 ERA in 2004. He turned things around in 2005, the year he won his 200th game, but still had a league-average 4.28 ERA. After another miserable start in 2006, the Mariners traded Moyer to the Phillies for two minor leaguers. The 43-year-old seemed to find a fountain of youth playing for his childhood team, as he went 5-2 with a strong 4.03 ERA after the trade. His ERA rose to 5.01 in 2007, but he put in strong performances when it was needed as the Phillies came back from a seven-game deficit with 17 games remaining to clinch the division over the New York Mets on the final day as Moyer defeated the Nationals while the Mets' 300-game-winner Tom Glavine was dominated by the Florida Marlins. The Phillies were steamrolled by the Colorado Rockies, but Philadelphia won another division title behind Moyer's strongest season in five years. He didn't pitch well in the post-season, but the rest of the team dominated, and the Phillies ended up winning their second World Series title in franchise history.
Moyer was Philadelphia's number two starter out of camp in 2009. He struggled, and had a 6.75 ERA even after tossing six one-run innings against the Nationals for win number 250. He did start pitching better after that point, going 8-5 with a 4.06 ERA after that point, including a seven-inning, two-run start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 5. He willingly moved to the bullpen after Philadelphia signed future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, but missed the post-season after suffering a muscle tear in his final start of the season. Moyer recovered to make the team in 2010, and even threw a complete game shutout on May 7, breaking Phil Niekro's long-standing record for oldest to pitch a shutout. He had a 9-9 record, but suffered a sprain in his ulnar collateral ligament in July, costing him the rest of the season. He tried to rest and rehabilitate, but ended up furthering injuring the elbow when pitching in the Dominican Winter League. Moyer opted to have Tommy John surgery, and surprised the baseball world when he signed a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies in 2012. Despite the year-long layoff, he made the team out of spring training and pitched well in April. Along the way he won a game to pass Jack Quinn to become the oldest pitcher to win a Major League Baseball game. However, he started struggling in May, winning only one more game before getting released on June 4. He signed with the Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, but could never make it on the Majors. He finally decided to retire in 2013, 21 years and 235 wins after turning down the coaching position with the Cubs. It was a tremendous testimony to his perseverance.
Kevin Millwood - 23
Date of Birth: December 24, 1974
Years Played: 1997-2012
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Wins by age 30: 98
Wins by age 40: 169
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 71
Wins in 30s: 71
Wins on June 4, 2009: 146
Wins on June 4, 2019: 169
On June 4, 2009, Kevin Millwood was in the midst of his strongest season since signing with the Texas Rangers prior to the 2006 season. The 2005 American League ERA leader had struggled mightily in the Texas heat, but he was finally piecing things together through the guidance of new pitching coach Mike Maddux, who was working closely with the Rangers team president, 300-game-winner Nolan Ryan. It was a step in the right direction for the big righty, who had pitched in the exalted Atlanta Braves rotation alongside 300-game winners Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine and future Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Millwood was born in Gastonia and raised in nearby Bessemer City, located in western North Carolina. Young Kevin was a star basketball player in Bessemer City High School, and expected to have a future in basketball. However, the Braves came calling, drafting him in the 11th round in 1993. He decided to pursue baseball, signing with the team on June 4, 1993. Millwood was dispatched to rookie ball, and pitched well enough. He put up okay numbers in the minors until 1997, when he went 7-0 in nine starts with a 1.93 ERA. That was enough for the Braves to call him up in July. He was solid if not spectacular, going 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA. He won 17 games in 1998 although his 4.08 ERA was closer to league average. 1999 was a breakout year for Millwood, as he went 18-7 and finished second with a 2.68 ERA. He finished third in Cy Young voting behind Randy Johnson and Mike Hampton, and made his post-season debut, going 2-1 as the Braves advanced to the World Series before falling to the New York Yankees.
Millwood could never duplicate his 1999 success, as his ERA sank to league average in 2000 and 2001, suffering from shoulder pain in the latter season. He recovered to put up another solid season in 2002, going 18-8 with a 3.24 ERA. The Braves downsized after that season, as Glavine was allowed to leave for the New York Mets. Millwood was also traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Johnny Estrada. He went 14-12 with his new team while continuing to post a league-average ERA. However, he posted his crowning achievement on April 27, when he no-hit the San Francisco Giants with 10 strikeouts in a tense 1-0 win. He signed an extension for the 2004 season, but his season was marred by injuries. Millwood entered the free agent market after that season, and signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Indians. Despite jumping from the National League to the American League, Millwood was sharp, leading the league with a 2.86 ERA. Although he went 9-11 due to poor run support. Millwod was able to parlay that into a five-year $60 million deal with the Rangers. He went 16-12 in his first season in Texas, but his ERA sank to a league average 4.52. It continued to sink as he went 19-24 with a 5.12 ERA.
Millwood bought into Maddux's plan and was 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA. He continued his strong performance, and ended the season 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA that was tops on the team. The Rangers were competitive into September for the first time in five years, but ultimately fell short. Despite that success, Texas was struggling financially with owner Tom Hicks in bankruptcy. Millwood had one more year on his contract, but he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles that off-season. He took a big step back, going 4-16 with an ugly 5.10 ERA. He became a free agent after the season, and struggled to find a steady job. He signed minor league with the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, opting out once it became clear he wouldn't make the Majors. In the end he signed with the Colorado Rockies in August. He made the Major League roster, and pitched decently. He signed with the Seattle Mariners that off-season. He started the season with AAA Tacoma, but was called up before making an appearance. Millwood started against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 8 and threw hitless innings before leaving with a groin injury. Five relievers followed him and completed the last three innings without allowing a hit to tie the record for most pitchers used in a no-hitter. Millwood missed a start before coming back, but a sore shoulder cost him the rest of the season. Millwood was never able to pitch with consistency, but he still put up an above-average Major League career.
Johan Santana - 23
Date of Birth: March 13, 1979
Years Played: 2000-2010, 2012
Years on Top 10: 2014
Wins by age 30: 109
Wins by age 40: 139
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 30
Wins in 30s: 30
Wins on June 4, 2009: 116
Wins on June 4, 2019: 139
Randy Johnson may have held the title of Best Pitcher in Baseball for much of the 2000s, but on June 4, 2009 many believed the title was held by New York Mets ace Johan Santana. His loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2 had raised his ERA to 2.00. However, little in Santana's early life would predict such successes. The South American country of Venezuela is a country full of promising baseball prospects, but most of them came from the large cities such as Caracas, Maracaibo, and Maracay. Santana was born in Tovar, a small municipality located deep in the Andes mountains. Young Johan was the son of a prominent softball player, and he followed in his father's footsteps. Stories of his play traveled far and wide and captured the attention of Houston Astros scout Andres Reiner, who was still on the lookout for talent even during the 1994 Strike. Reiner made his way to Tovar and was impressed by Santana's performance. He convinced his bosses in Texas to sign him, which they did once Santana turned 16 in 1995. Santana had been an outfielder in Venezuela, but the Astros opted to convert him to a pitcher due to his arm strength. He spent a year in the Dominican Summer League before making his stateside debut in 1997. He was extremely raw and was unimpressive during his three year minor league stint where he never got beyond Class A Michigan. He became eligible for the Rule 5 draft in the 1999 off-season, but the Astros left him off the 40-man roster. He was picked up by the Florida Marlins, who promptly traded him to the Minnesota Twins.
As a Rule 5 draft pick, the Twins had to keep him in the Majors the entire season or else place him on waivers. Santana was predictably awful, going 2-3 with a 6.49 ERA for a last place Twins team. He showed some improvement in 2001, as his 4.74 ERA was closer to league average. Along the way he had been working on developing a change-up. He opened the 2002 season with AAA Edmonton for further development. By the time he came back he was a completely different pitcher. He went 8-6 with a team-leading 2.99 ERA (100 inning minimum) as both a starter and a reliever, and the Twins went on to a surprising division championship. 2003 was another strong season for Santana, but he truly broke out in 2004. He struggled mightily in April and May, and was still 7-6 with a 3.78 at the All-Star break. However, he become a terror on the pitcher's mound in the second half of the season, going 13-0 in 15 starts with a 1.21 ERA. He ended the season 20-6 and led the league with a 2.61 ERA and 265 strikeouts. He was rewarded with a Cy Young award at the end of the season. Santana led the American League in strikeouts a second time in 2005, but his 16 wins were well below Bartolo Colon's 21, and he finished third in Cy Young voting. He bounced back in a big way in 2006, winning the Pitching Triple Crown with 19 wins (tied with the Yankees' Wang Chien-Ming), 2.77 ERA, and 245 strikeouts. He won his second Cy Young award unanimously.
After another solid season in 2007, the Twins had a quandary on their hands. They had a period of tremendous success, with four division titles in five seasons. However, they were still a small market team, and Santana was due to become a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, and they had no hopes of retaining the Best Pitcher in the Game. They decided to make him available for a trade, and the Mets came calling, trading four prospects for Santana. They also signed him to a six-year, $137.5-million extension. Santana was well worth the money early in his first season in New York, going 16-7 while leading the National League with a 2.53 ERA, finishing third in Cy Young voting. He turned 30 prior to the 2009 season, and while he needed off-season to fix a torn meniscus in his left knee, he showed no signs of slowing down. Even with the loss to the Pirates he was still 7-2 with a 2.00 ERA. However, he started dealing with pain in his pitching elbow, and he was shut down in August to get arthroscopic surgery. He came back healthy in 2010, but he dealt with shoulder pain for much of the second half of the season, and ended up missing the last month due to a surgery to repair a left anterior capsule. Santana spent all of 2011 rehabbing, making only two minor-league starts. He came back ready for more in 2012. He showed little signs of rust, and threw two straight complete game shutouts in the end of May and early June. The latter was one of his crowning achievements, as he no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals, the first no-hitter in New York Mets history. Santana followed the no-hitter with two mediocre starts before three strong ones. He went back to struggling after July, and he was shut down for the rest of the season due to a lower back injury. Santana tried to come back in 2013, but ended up tearing his capsule once again. The Mets bought out the rest of his contract at the end of the season. Santana continued to attempt comebacks, signing with the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays, but his comeback would always fail due to injuries. Eventually he just faded away, never throwing a single professional pitch after the 2012 season. Yet for a period of six years he was one of the best pitchers baseball had ever seen.
Livan Hernandez - 27
Date of Birth: February 20, 1975
Years Played: 1996-2012
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Wins by age 30: 95
Wins by age 40: 178
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 83
Wins in 30s: 83
Wins on June 4, 2009: 151
Wins on June 4, 2019: 178
On June 4, 2009, the New York Mets' Livan Hernandez was almost a month out from winning his 150th career game, a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in New York. However, the rematch in Pittsburgh hadn't gone as well as he wanted, as he allowed three runs in 5.2 innings. With a 4.33 ERA while toiling for his fifth team in four seasons, it was easy to forget the fireballer that electrified the post-season in 1997. Livan was born in Cuba. He was the son of Cuban baseball star Arnaldo Hernandez, and had a half-brother Orlando who was ten years his senior. Young Livan followed his father around the island, and soon took up the art of pitching. He joined the Cuban National Team after success as a Junior, but found the island to be stifling and restrictive. He yearned for the freedom of the United States of America. One day, during a tournament in Venezuela, he met the agent Joe Cubas, who specialized in smuggling promising baseball players out of the island. They planned an escape while the Cuban team was training in Monterrey, Mexico. The plan was a success, and Livan Hernandez found himself signing a multi-million dollar contract with the Florida Marlins. With his newfound freedom and more money than he knew what to do with, young Livan initially struggled to avoid the American excesses. As a result he struggled in his first season stateside, facing AA and AAA hitters. He matured greatly in 1997 and joined the Marlins rotation by June. He won the first nine decisions of his career and had a 2.75 ERA after 12 starts. He stumbled a bit in September, but still finished 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA. The Marlins stormed to 92 wins and took home the Wild Card. They swept the San Francisco Giants in the Division Series, with Livan pitching in relief. He had a terrific 1.2 inning relief appearance in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, and manager Jim Leyland gave him the ball in Game 5. He sparkled, pitching a complete game with only one run, and striking out 15 thanks to Eric Gregg's generous strike zone. The Marlins finished off Atlanta in Game 6, and Hernandez was awarded the NLCS MVP title. He started Games 1 and 5 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 13.2 innings, but Florida won both games. When the Marlins stunned the Indians in the 11th inning of Game 7, Hernandez was named the World Series MVP.
Alas, the joys of the World Series title was short-lived. The high-priced free agents were sold off one by one, leaving only a shell of the defending champions. Hernandez toiled on and his performance suffered, as he fell to 10-12 with a below-average 4.72 ERA. He was peddled off himself in the middle of the 1999 season, going to the San Francisco Giants. He won 17 games in 2000 with a superb 3.75 ERA, but went 28-34 in the rest of his Bay Area tenure. The Giants still won the 2002 Wild Card, and Hernandez posted two strong starts in the Division Series and the NLCS. San Francisco captured the pennant, and Hernandez got the ball in Games 3 and 7. His performance was a disaster, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in just 5.2 innings as the Anaheim Angels took home the World Series title. That would be the end of Hernandez's time in San Francisco, as he was traded to the Montreal Expos shortly before the start of the 2003 season. He rebounded with two strong seasons, making his first All-Star team in 2004. However, the Expos were marked for relocation, and the team moved to Washington to become the Washington Nationals for 2005. As the team's top pitcher the year before, Hernandez was given the ball for the Nationals' first Opening Day game. He was hit hard by the Philadelphia Phillies, but he quickly righted the ship and went on an 11-game winning streak from April 24 through July 1, during which he posted a 2.73 ERA. Meanwhile the Nationals surprised the baseball world by being on top of the competitive NL East. The team faded in the second half to finish in last despite a .500 record, and Hernandez himself went 3-8 with a 4.69 ERA after his streak.
Hernandez struggled in the first three months of the 2006 season, and the Nationals unloaded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks in an August deal. Thus began the peripatetic portion of his career. He pitched well upon his arrival in Arizona, but struggled in 2007. After an uneven performance in the playoffs that year, he became a free agent for the first time since his initial defection. He signed with the Minnesota Twins, and his time in the Metrodome went as well as people expected, which was not very good. He was waived and picked up by the Colorado Rockies, where he was even worse. He became a free agent that off-season, and he signed a minor-league deal with the Mets where he took over as the fifth starter. While he pitched well in his first start, he soon struggled, even after his 150th win. As the Mets faded out of contention they dealt him back to the Nationals. By then Washington was first in war and first in peace but last in the National League. They were just playing out the string, and trotted him out and he was predictably awful. With little hope for a brighter tomorrow, the Nationals re-signed their former ace, and he surprised them with a solid season in 2010. He got an extension, but was not very good in 2011. He bounced from the Houston Astros to the Braves to the Milwaukee Brewers. When no team came calling in 2013, he decided to call it a career. Outside of a brief month in 1997, Livan Hernandez never established himself as a top-notch pitcher. Yet he excelled in eating innings, and somehow accumulated 178 wins in his career.
Roy Oswalt - 32
Date of Birth: August 29, 1977
Years Played: 2001-2013
Years on Top 10: 2011, 2013
Wins by age 30: 112
Wins by age 40: 163
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 51
Wins in 30s: 51
Wins on June 4, 2009: 131
Wins on June 4, 2019: 163
Roy Oswalt was dealing with some unfamiliar struggles on June 4, 2009. Even after a win over the Colorado Rockies on June 1, Oswalt was 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA. He had struggled the year before, and while he turned things around to put up a respectable season, a second straight poor start was unfamiliar territory for the longtime ace for the Houston Astros. Oswalt was born in Weir in rural Mississippi. He played football and baseball in high school, and had a lively arm. However, he stood only 5'10", short for a pitcher, and didn't draw much attention from whatever scouts went out to rural Mississippi. After graduation Oswalt went to pitch for Holmes Community College. He caught the attention of the scout for the Astros, who recommended that they draft the wiry kid from Mississippi as a draft-and-follow. Houston picked Oswalt in the 23rd round of the 1996 draft, then allowed him to pitch the 1997 season with Holmes. Oswalt was aiming for a scholarship to Mississippi State, but the Astros offered him a $500,000 signing bonus, and Oswalt opted to go pro. He pitched very well in the minors in 1997 and 1998, but his progress stalled while with Class A Michigan in 1999. He finished 13-4, but put up an uncharacteristic 4.46 ERA. He was dealing with severe shoulder pain the entire season. After the end of the season, Oswalt went to work on his truck. He grabbed onto a sparkplug, but the automobile started. He received an electrical shock and couldn't let go of the plug for around a minute. Not only did Oswalt survive the shock, he found out his shoulder pain was completely gone. Evidently the jolts of electricity loosened up scar tissue in his arm. He dominated the minors in 2000, and also made the US National Team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He pitched very well as the US team took the gold. After a strong start with AAA New Orleans, Oswalt was called up by May 6, 2001. He was phenomenal, going 14-3 with a 2.73 ERA, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Albert Pujols.
Oswalt showed his rookie season was not a fluke, and went 19-9 with a 3.01 ERA in 2002. He was pitching well in 2003, but suffered a groin injury in May. He tried to come back from it, but re-injured the muscle on June 11 in a start against the New York Yankees and had to leave after one inning. Five different relievers followed, and each of them held the Yankees without a hit, leading to one of the most unusual no-hitters in baseball history. He came back once more in July, but another aggravation kept him out until September. He pitched well in September, and felt strong going into 2004. He was also joined in the Astros rotation by two free agent acquisitions, Andy Pettitte and 300-game winner Roger Clemens. Together they helped the Astros come back from a losing record in July to a Wild Card spot. While Clemens was awarded the Cy Young, it was Oswalt that led the National League with 20 wins. Oswalt had two solid starts in the Division Series as the Astros toppled the Atlanta Braves to win their first ever post-season series. He struggled in the NLCS as Houston fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven. Oswalt put up another 20-win season in 2005 as the Astros fought back from oblivion to win another Wild Card spot. He pitched well in the Division Series against the Braves, setting up a rematch with the Cardinals in the NLCS. Oswalt won Game 2, and Houston held a 3-1 lead going into Game 5. They had a 4-2 lead in the ninth and were one out away from their first pennant after the untouchable closer Brad Lidge got the first two outs. However, a single and a walk brought up MVP-to-be Albert Pujols, who blasted a towering home run to stun the hometown crowd. The series returned to St. Louis, and Oswalt got the ball for a potential clincher. Astros owner Drayton McLane tried to motivate his star pitcher by promising him a bulldozer, one that Oswalt wanted for years, if the Astros win. Oswalt went out and pitched seven innings of one-run ball, and the Astros had their pennant. They were swept out of the World Series by the Chicago White Sox, but Oswalt had his bulldozer.
Oswalt continued to be one of the best pitchers in the National League, leading the league with a 2.98 ERA in 2006 and making his third-straight All-Star team in 2007. He got off to his terrible start in 2008, and a hip injury sent him to the Disabled List in July. He recovered and was a dominating 11-2 with a 2.24 ERA upon his return. Oswalt pitched for the US team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but struggled when the season started. However he made adjustments and turned the corner in June, putting up an ERA of 1.93 in his seven starts from June 24 to July 28. However, numbness in his pitching hand drove him out of the game on July 28 and onto the Disabled List. He returned almost two weeks later, but went back to struggling. He finished with an ERA above 4.00 for the first time in his career. Meanwhile the 2005 National League pennant winners finished last in 2009 and were last for much of 2010. Oswalt was pitching well again, but he was 6-12. He started making demands for a trade, and the Astros granted him his wish, trading him to the Philadelphia Phillies. Oswalt joined a super rotation that included 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels, 2008 AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, and Roy Halladay, another candidate for the Best Pitcher in Baseball. Oswalt fit right in, going 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA after the trade, and pitching well in the post-season, although the Phillies fell to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS. The 2011 Phillies were touted as having one of the best rotations in baseball history. While Hamels, Lee, and Hallday were all terrific, Oswalt suffered from chronic back pain and finished 9-10 with a league-average 3.69 ERA. He pitched poorly in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Cardinals with a chance to clinch the series, and the Phillies lost in Game 5. Oswalt became a free agent after the season and teams were scared away by his ongoing back issues. The Texas Rangers finally signed him to a minor league contract in the end of May, but he was terrible. He went unsigned until May again in 2013 before the Colorado Rockies picked him up. He was still terrible, and ultimately decided to call it a career. It was a sad ending to the career of one of baseball's most dynamic pitchers.
Javier Vazquez - 34
Date of Birth: July 25, 1976
Years Played: 1998-2011
Years on Top 10: 2010, 2011
Wins by age 30: 98
Wins by age 40: 165
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 67
Wins in 30s: 67
Wins on June 4, 2009: 131
Wins on June 4, 2019: 165
On June 4, 2009, Javier Vazquez was sitting in the Atlanta Braves dugout waiting to see if the rain would clear for teammate Jair Jurrjens to make a start. The Puerto Rican had long been one of the top strikeout pitchers in the game, but he was coming off a mediocre season in 2008, and was striving for a bounce-back year to erase his reputation of inconsistency. Vazquez was born and raised in the Puerto Rican capital of Ponce. He was a star pitcher in high school, and he was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fifth round of the 1994 draft, as Puerto Rico had been under the MLB draft since 1989. Vazquez signed quickly after the pick, and was dispatched to the minors. He put up terrific performances in the minors along with prodigious strikeout totals, and made the Major League club out of spring training in 1998 at age 21. Vazquez struggled in his first Major League season, going 5-15 with a 6.06 ERA, but he did strike out 139 hitters in 172.1 innings. He showed gradual improvements in 1999 and 2000, and had a breakout year in 2001. He had a 7-9 record with a 4.93 ERA by the All-Star break, but was one of the best pitchers in the National League in the second half. He made 13 starts and went 10-3 with a 1.60 ERA, including two of his three complete game shutouts. He also broke the 200-strikeout mark that year. After a down season in 2002, Vazquez was dominant in 2003. He only went 13-12 but posted a career-low 3.24 ERA that was 10th in the National League, and finished third with 241 strikeouts. However, he was getting frustrated with the low-budget purgatory that the Expos perpetually occupied. Montreal also felt it would be worthwhile to trade their unhappy star, and found a trade partner in the New York Yankees.
The Yankees sent three young Major Leaguers to the Expos for Vazquez, including Nick Johnson. Vazquez was heavily hyped, and he seemed to live up to the promise, going 10-5 with a 3.56 ERA in the first half and making his first All-Star team. However, the second half would turn out to be a different story. His ERA rose to 6.92 sending his overall ERA to a below-average 4.91. He also pitched poorly in the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins. Manager Joe Torre banished him to the bullpen in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, and while he picked up the win in relief in Game 3, he was abysmal in the Game 7 relief appearance as the Red Sox upset the Yankees. A disappointed Yankees brass sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the trade for Randy Johnson. Vazquez was mediocre once again in Arizona, and they swapped him to the Chicago White Sox with the third trade in three years. The White Sox was coming off their first World Series title in 88 years behind a strong pitching staff that included Freddy Garcia, Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras, and Orlando Hernandez. Vazquez slotted in as the fifth starter upon the departure of Hernandez, and had another disappointing year, going 11-12 with a 4.84 ERA, and Chicago finished third despite a 90-win season, five games out of a Wild Card spot. The White Sox fell to 72 wins and a fourth place finish in 2007, but Vazquez emerged as the top starter, going 15-8 and posting a 3.74 ERA. He also struck out 213 to break the 200-mark for the first time since leaving Montreal.
Another down year in 2008 led the White Sox to trade Vazquez to Atlanta. He struggled to find his consistency early on, but had settled down and had a 2.95 ERA by the All-Star break. Although his 6-7 record kept him from making the All-Star team, he continued his renaissance in the second half. He went 9-3 with a 2.78 to finish at 15-10 with a career-best 2.87 ERA. He also struck out 238 second in the category. The Yankees felt Vazquez's rebound was legitimate, and decided to trade for Vazquez once again to fill in a rotation that was a relative weak link in 2009. However, Vazquez struggled once again under the bright lights of New York. He struggled all season long, and was demoted to the bullpen even before the end of the season. He never saw any game action and was unceremoniously released at the end of the year. Facing free agency for the first time in his career after the worst full season in his career, Vazquez ultimately signed with the Florida Marlins. He continued his struggles and had an ERA of 5.23 at the All-Star break. However, he seemed to have turned a corner in June, and from June 21 through the end of the season he made 18 starts and went 10-4 with a 1.85 ERA. Along the way he picked up his 2,500th strikeout. Vazquez had toyed with the idea of retirement during the season, and sat out all of 2012. Some news came out that he was considering a comeback while pitching for the World Baseball Classic, but after a knee injury cost him the World Baseball Classic he aborted his comeback and faded away from the scene. Vazquez's poor reputation kept him from making it onto the Hall of Fame ballot when he first became eligible, but he still had a strong if inconsistent career.
Date of Birth: June 15, 1972
Years Played: 1995-2010, 2012-2013
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Wins by age 30: 116
Wins by age 40: 243
Wins after age 40: 13
Wins after age 30: 140
Wins in 30s: 127
Wins on June 4, 2009: 220
Wins on June 4, 2019: 256
When Randy Johnson won his 300th game on June 4, 2009, the third winning-est active pitcher behind Randy and Jamie Moyer was Andy Pettitte, the veteran hurler for the New York Yankees. His defeat of the Cleveland Indians on May 29 was the 220th of his career, although he struggled against the Texas Rangers on June 3. It was a just another a day in the life of one of the best post-season pitchers in baseball. Pettitte was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but his family moved to Deer Park outside of Houston. He performed well enough to capture the attention of the Yankees, and they drafted him in the 22nd round of the 1990 draft. Pettitte opted to attend San Jacinto College, where future 300-game-winner Roger Clemens pitched prior to his transfer to UT-Austin. The Yankees was able to retain their rights on Pettitte as a draft-and-follow, and the tall southpaw impressed enough they increased their offer and started him out on his pro career. Pettitte pitched for the Gulf Coast Yankees and low-A Oneonta in 1991, where he was teamed with another promising young prospect, Jorge Posada. Pettitte dominated the minors and made steady progress before making his Major League debut as a reliever on April 29, 1995. Pettitte struggled out of the bullpen, but a short two-game stint with AAA Columbus changed him, and he pitched well in the rotation upon his return. That 1995 season also saw the debuts of three other touted prospects in Posada, shortstop Derek Jeter, and right-hander Mariano Rivera. The youngsters had an up and down season, but New York ultimately won the very first AL Wild Card. Pettitte started Game 2 of the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners with the Yankees up 1-0. He allowed four runs in seven innings, and the game remained tied at 4 until both teams scored a run in the 12th. Jim Leyritz finally ended the game with a 15th inning home run, and the Yankees were one win away from capturing the Division Series. However, a tandem attack of Edgar Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson helped Seattle take three straight wins win the series.
With one season under his belt, it was time for Pettitte to show what he could really do. He went 21-8 in 3.87 as the Yankees captured the AL East. Pettitte was inconsistent in the post-season, but he put up big performances when it was needed, winning the clinching game of the ALCS over the Baltimore Orioles with eight innings and two runs. Later he threw shutout ball in the ninth in Game 5 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves to push the Yankees ahead, and they clinched the World Series a day later. Pettitte finished second in Cy Young voting. The Yankees soon became consistent post-season contenders, and Pettitte was often right in the mix with his large variety of pitches and a lethal pick-off move. After a 1997 season when he won 18 games with a 2.88 ERA, Pettitte struggled in the regular season from 1998-2000, going 49-31 but with a 4.42 ERA that was barely above league-average. Things got so bad that owner George Steinbrenner demanded the left-hander be traded. His top executives managed to change his mind, and Pettitte rewarded the trust in the post-season. The Yankees went 10-1 in his 11 starts and they took home three straight World Series titles. Pettitte had a strong season in in both the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs in 2001, winning the ALCS MVP with his two victories over the 116-win Mariners. However, he started opposite Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks in both of his World Series starts, and was blown out of the water as the Yankees lost in seven games. Pettitte started out strong in his first start in 2002, but suffered from elbow pain that took him out of his next two starts early, and sent him to the Disabled List. As Pettitte would later admit, he received human growth hormone shots from trainer Brian McNamee during this injury period, and he made his return by mid-June. He struggled in his first few starts, but went on to finish strong, going 13-5 with a 3.27 ERA. Pettitte won 21 games for the second time in his career in 2003, and had another strong performance in the post-season. He was given the ball for Game 6 of the 2003 World Series against the Florida Marlins with the series on the line. He pitched valiantly, allowing only two runs in seven innings, but couldn't keep Josh Beckett from pitching a complete game shutout for the Series win.
Pettitte became a free agent after the 2003 season, and opted to sign a three-year, $31.5 million deal with the Houston Astros to get closer to home. His 2004 season was abbreviated by recurring elbow problems. His ulnar collateral ligament was spared, and Pettitte came back in 2005 with one of the best season of his career. He went 17-9 with a career-low 2.39 ERA as the Astros took home the Wild Card. He won the opening game in the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves before getting a loss and a no decision in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals. Another valiant effort in Game 2 of the World Series against the Chicago White Sox went to waste as the Astros were swept. Pettitte took a step back in 2006, and the Astros missed the playoffs. It was the first time Pettitte pitched for a team that missed the playoffs. Pettitte's contract expired after the season, and he decided to sign back with the Yankees, who had offered more money. The Yankees suffered disastrous playoff exits during the three years of Pettitte's absence, and needed his presence to stabilize a turbulent rotation. He went 15-9 in his first year back and won his 200th game. He then made a strong start in the Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, throwing 6.1 shutout innings, but New York lost the game in the Attack of the Midges, and they were ultimately knocked out in the first round once again. Pettitte accepted salary arbitration in 2008, but he had a down year along with the rest of the team and the Yankees missed the post-season for the first time since the 1994 strike. Pettitte was given the honor of starting the final game in the old Yankee Stadium. He returned to the Yankees in 2009 and had another somewhat inconsistent season. He ended the year on a strong note, and was sharp in the post-season. He defeated the Minnesota Twins in Game 3 of the three-game sweep to record his 15th career post-season victory, tying John Smoltz for the record. After a no-decision in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he got the ball in Game 6 with the Yankees up 3-2. He threw 6.1 innings of one-run ball, and not only did he break Smoltz's record, the Yankees clinched the pennant. He won two games in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, including the Series clinching victory in Game 6.
Pettitte re-signed with the Yankees in 2010. He had a strong first-half and made the All-Star team with a 11-2 record and a 2.70 ERA, but strained his groin in his first start of the second half, and that kept him out until September. He returned to make three starts, but had one disastrous start sandwiched between two decent starts. He had identical lines of 2 runs on five hits in seven innings in his two post-season starts, but the Yankees were eliminated by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. After the season Pettitte decided to announce his retirement having gotten 240 wins. He spent 2011 with his family in Houston, but accepted an invitation to become a guest instructor in spring training in 2012. Despite nearing his 40th birthday, he felt the desire to return to competition. He signed a minor-league contract in the middle of spring training, and worked his way back into the rotation by May 13. Pettitte pitched well, but his season was limited by a fractured left fibula after getting struck by a hard grounder. He missed two and a half months, but returned in time for the post-season. He made two decent starts, but the Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. Pettitte had an uneven season, but he did pick up his 250th win along the way. He decided to retire for real, making the announcement in September. It marked the end of an illustrious and historic career that established his status as a Yankees legend.
Freddy Garcia - 38
Date of Birth: October 6, 1976
Years Played: 1999-2013
Years on Top 10: 2013
Wins by age 30: 116
Wins by age 40: 156
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 40
Wins in 30s: 40
Wins on June 4, 2009: 118
Wins on June 4, 2019: 156
Freddy Garcia was the best player that the Seattle Mariners received in the Randy Johnson trade of 1998, but by June 4, 2009 he was washed up and hoping to sign with another team after getting released by the New York Mets. It was a dramatic change from the successes he had enjoyed until a shoulder injury derailed his career. Garcia was born in the Venzuelan capital of Caracas, and raised in the nearby Baruta municipality. He didn't play baseball until later in the childhood, but his talents quickly caught the eyes of legendary Houston Astros scout Andres Reiner. He was struck by the potential of the tall strapping boy, and the parent team finally agreed to sign him at the end of the 1993 season. Garcia spent time in the Astros' Venezuelan academy before advancing to the Dominican Summer League. He made his stateside debut with the Gulf Coast Astros in 1995 and pitched decently. He advanced one level the next two years until he posted a strong season at AA Jackson in 1998. That earned him a mid-season promotion to AAA New Orleans, but at the same time Garcia was in the sights of the Seattle Mariners. They were shopping their ace left-hander, and were intrigued by the offer made by Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker, which included Garcia, shortstop Carlos Guillen, and a player to be named later. The two teams ultimately agreed on the trade just prior to the trade deadline, and Freddy Garcia was on his way to AAA Tacoma. He made five starts at the AAA level and was solid, and made the team out of spring training in 1999. Garcia showed no fear during his rookie season, going 17-8 with an above average 4.07 ERA. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Carlos Beltran of the Kansas City Royals, and picked up a few Cy Young votes as well.
Garcia's 2000 was interrupted by injuries, but he recovered sufficiently to make three post-season starts, pitching horribly against the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series before two strong starts in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. He won both of his ALCS starts, but those were the only wins the Mariners managed. Garcia was completely healthy in 2001, and he was strong the entire season. He went 18-6 and led the American League with a 3.05 ERA, while the Mariners tied the record with 116 victories. He finished third in Cy Young voting behind 300-game winner Roger Clemens and Oakland's Mark Mulder. He pitched well in the post-season, but Seattle lost to the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALCS and the Mariners were eventually defeated in five. Garcia struggled to achieve the same successes in the next two season, and Seattle to the wayside. By 2004 they were heading towards last place even behind the hapless Texas Rangers. Garcia was having a strong season but went 4-7. With another Venezuelan pitcher on the way, the Mariners traded their former ace to the White Sox for a trio of prospects. The White Sox had a strong offense, but was looking to shore up their rotation. Garcia pitched well with his new team, and got along well with the team's Venezuelan manager Ozzie Guillen, but Chicago ended short of the playoffs. Garcia married Guillen's niece in the off-season, and opened the 2005 season as the number two starter behind Mark Buehrle. He had another strong year with a 14-8 record and a 3.87 ERA, and the White Sox won their first division title since 2000. Garcia picked up the series-clinching win in Game 3 of the Division Series against the defending champion Boston Red Sox. He then got the ball for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels. Chicago had picked up a 2-1 series lead behind complete games from Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland. Garcia joined in on the fun with a complete game of his own, and the White Sox won the pennant the next day. Garcia threw seven shutout innings in Game 4 of the World Series against his original team the Astros, and Chicago won 1-0 to win their first title since 1917.
Garcia had another decent season in 2006, although he saw his ERA slip to 4.53. The White Sox fell to third despite 90 wins, and that off-season Garcia was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the winter meetings. Garcia was reunited with former Mariners general manager Pat Gillick, but his season turned out to be a disaster. He dealt with shoulder pain off-season, and won only one game before he had to be shut down due to shoulder surgery in August. He became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers in August 2008, but he was limited by his shoulder and got only one win in three starts. From there Garcia pitched in the Venezuelan Fall League, and that earned him a minor league deal with the Mets. He made two starts with AAA Buffalo and allowed a disastrous 10 runs in 11 innings. He was released, but was not ready to give up. While the man he was formerly traded for his 300th win, Garcia was in communication with his former team, the Chicago White Sox. After passing a physical, the signing was announced on June 8 with a minor league deal. Garcia pitched well in four rehab starts, and was back in the Majors by August. He started out rough but settled down and won three games by the end of the season. The White Sox exercised a mutual option, and Garcia won 12 games although with a below-average 4.64 ERA. He became a free agent and signed with the Yankees. He had a solid year in 2011 when he posted his best ERA since 2001, but a second season in 2012 didn't turn out to well. He jumped between three Major League organizations in 2013, finding playing time with the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. He spent one year with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan after the Braves released him. He made one more attempted comeback, signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but his comeback lasted only four games with AAA Oklahoma City. Garcia had continued to pitch for the Mexican League and the Venezuelan Winter League, but his most successful seasons were long gone.
Barry Zito - 41
Date of Birth: May 13, 1978
Years Played: 2000-2013, 2015
Years on Top 10: 2013, 2015
Wins by age 30: 113
Wins by age 40: 165
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 52
Wins in 30s: 52
Wins on June 4, 2009: 124
Wins on June 4, 2019: 165
Barry Zito was sitting in the visiting dugout in Washington D.C. on June 4, 2009. He congratulated his teammate Randy Johnson upon the milestone victory, but along the way he had to have been thinking about where it all went wrong. He had signed a massive free agent contract two years earlier, and after a decent first month as a Giant, he had been dealing with a drastic ineffectiveness. Zito was born in Las Vegas. His parents had worked in show business and had previously worked for singer Nat King Cole. Zito gravitated towards baseball, and his parents encouraged him to pursue the sport, even moving to San Diego where Zito could get training from former Padres Cy Young winner Randy Jones. Zito went on to become a star pitcher in high school, and was drafted in the 59th round of the 1996 draft. He went on to the University of California Santa Barbara for a year before transferring to the Los Angeles Pierce College. He was eligible for the draft and was drafted in the third round by the Texas Rangers, but he chose to transfer to the University of Southern California, Randy's alma mater. Legendary coach Rod Dedeaux had retired, but Zito thrived in the environment, and became the ninth overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Oakland Athletics. This time he signed for a hefty signing bonus. Zito started out with high-A Visalia, and pitched so well that he had advanced to AAA Vancouver by the end of the season. He started the 2000 season with Oakland's new AAA affiliate in Sacramento, and performed so well after 18 starts that he was called up to the Majors in July. Zito made his debut on July 22, 2000 and went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA. He went on to win a game in the Division Series against the New York Yankees, although the A's lost the series. Even though he had made only 14 starts, Zito still received a vote in Rookie of the Year voting.
Over the next few years Zito established himself as one of the top starters in the game. He befuddled hitters with a sharp-breaking curveball that had been known as one of the best in the game. He also took a zen approach to the game, as he talked about meditation and other eastern practices. Nobody complained as he joined with Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder to form one of the most dominant rotations in the game. Zito had a solid year in 2001, going 17-8 with a 3.49 and pitching well in a Division Series rematch with the Yankees. However, it was 2002 that he broke out as one of the best pitchers in the game. While the media attention was focused on Moneyball players like Scott Hatteberg and David Justice, Zito was putting together one of the best pitching seasons in Oakland history. After a rough April that saw his ERA rise to 4.81, Zito settled down and went 22-3 the rest of the way with 2.39 starts. He was named to the All-Star team, and ended the year 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA. He was rewarded with the Cy Young award. He posted a quality start in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins, but the A's ended up dropping the series in five games. Zito never did reach the heights that he had in 2002 as he struggled with diminished fastball velocities, but he was still able to put in over 210 innings with above-average ERAs. He also helped Oakland to a victory over the Twins in a Division Series rematch in 2006, but had an awful start in the ALCS against in the Detroit Tigers. Zito became a free agent that season after a potential deal with the Mets fell through. Agent Scott Boras put together an elaborate presentation hyping Zito as one of the best starters in baseball. The Giants bit and offered him seven years and $126 million, the largest contract ever given to a pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
Zito started Opening Day against his hometown Padres and while he wasn't terrible, he only lasted five innings and the Giants were shut out. His next start was a bit of a disaster, allowing eight runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers in six innings, bumping his ERA to 8.18 and bringing up murmurs. He quieted some critics with a strong of solid starts, but then had a disastrous four-inning, seven-run start against his former team in his former ballpark. He ended the season 11-13 with a league-average 4.53 ERA and failed to reach 200 innings as the Giants finished in last. The entire 2007 season was a media sideshow with Barry Bonds's chase for the home run record. With Bonds gone in 2008 fans hoped things would go better. While the Giants finished fourth, Zito was somehow even worse. He posted a terrible 5.15 ERA and led the league with 17 losses. He also lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Big Unit's 292nd win. It was all in all a season to forget. Zito got off to a miserable start again in April. He seemed to turn things around in May when he posted a 3.35 ERA in six starts, but he also went 1-4. Zito got the ball on June 5 against the Florida Marlins and threw five innings of one-run ball for his second win, but then allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings. He continued to struggle with is consistency and ended up 10-13, even if his 4.03 ERA was his best as a Giant.
Zito seemed to have turned a corner in 2010 and kept his ERA below 3.00 through June, and went into the All-Star break 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA. However, his second half was a disaster (2-10, 4.70 ERA), and he was left off the post-season roster. He had to watch as a black ace as the Giants defeated the Texas Rangers for their first World Series title in San Francisco. The 2011 was a lost cause as Zito was bothered by a recurring foot injury. 2012 was another season where a strong first half was undone with a weaker second half, but he did his best work in September (5-0, 3.03 ERA) and was rewarded with a spot on the post-season roster. Zito only lasted 2.2 innings in Game 4 of the Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds with the Giants facing elimination, but the Giants rebounded to win the game and the series. He then found himself reaching another level. First he pitched 7.2 shutout innings in Game 5 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals to stave off elimination. Then after San Francisco won the pennant, he outpitched Tigers ace Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the World Series to start off the eventual sweep. Zito relished in the World Series championship and had himself a solid start in 2013. However, he quickly lost his effectiveness and was eventually pulled out of the rotation. His Giants career came to an ignominious end in a relief appearance against the Padres, echoing Randy Johnson's final game four years earlier. After sitting out the 2014 season, Zito signed a minor league deal with Oakland. He spent most of the season as a veteran leader with AAA Nashville. He didn't think that he would get a chance to pitch in the Majors, but he was called up in September and made one start against the Giants and his former teammate Hudson. It was a touching scene, and Zito called it a career after the season. Since then he had made peace with his turbulent tenure in San Francisco, and had embraced his family's musical background, becoming a professional musician. But for Bay Area fans of a certain age, Barry Zito's legacy will live on.
Derek Lowe - 44
Date of Birth: June 1, 1973
Years Played: 1997-2013
Years on Top 10: 2010, 2011, 2012
Wins by age 30: 45
Wins by age 40: 176
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 131
Wins in 30s: 131
Wins on June 4, 2009: 132
Wins on June 4, 2019: 176
The Atlanta Braves had dominated the 1990s and early 2000s with their Big Three starters of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. But Glavine's release on June 3, 2009 ensured that none of the three would have appeared on the Major League club for the first time since August 1987. The role of the veteran leader would have fallen to Derek Lowe, the oldest and most experienced pitcher who also happened to be spending his first season in Atlanta. Lowe was born in Dearborn, Michigan outside of Detroit. While he grew up a fan of the Detroit Tigers, basketball was Lowe's best sport. He had accepted a basketball scholarship to Eastern Michigan University after his high school graduation in 1991, but the Seattle Mariners scuttled those plans by drafting him in the eighth round. Lowe sent in an apology to his would-be coaches in Ypsilanti and signed with the Mariners. He went to the rookie league and pitched well, and also had a successful season with low-A Bellingham in 1992. He struggled once he advanced to high-A Riverside in 1993. His advancement slowed, and by 1997 he was spending his second season with AAA Tacoma. He pitched well and was rewarded with his first Major League callup. He made his first start on April 26, 1997, just ahead of Randy Johnson in the Mariners rotation. While he pitched well in his debut, the American League quickly caught on to him. By mid-July his ERA was a 6.96 and had spent some more time in Tacoma. The Mariners were in the middle of blowing a comfortable lead, and the Seattle front office felt they were a closer away from being a major competitor. So when the struggling Boston Red Sox dangled their closer Heathcliff Slocumb, general manager Woody Woodward wasted no time in sending Lowe and catching prospect Jason Varitek to Beantown. Lowe was sent to AAA Pawtucket before making his return in September as a reliever. He was in the Majors for good in 1998, but pitched primarily out of the bullpen. He was named the closer midway through 1999 once incumbent Tom Gordon went down with Tommy John surgery, and he thrived in the role. Lowe made the All-Star team in 2000 and led the American League in saves with 42. Struggles in 2001 led the Red Sox to acquire Ugueth Urbina. After pitching as the set-up man for a few months, Lowe was inserted to the rotation and had three strong starts, so his future was secure.
Lowe spent much of the 2002 spring training picking the brains of Boston's other pitchers, including three-time Cy Young award winner Pedro Martinez. He then went out and had a tremendous April, highlighted by a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was named Pitcher of the Month, and later went on to make the All-Star game as a starter. He finished the season 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA and finished third in Cy Young voting, behind Pedro and eventual winner Barry Zito. However, the Red Sox missed the Wild Card by six games despite 93 wins. Lowe was unable to replicate his 2002 in the regular season the next two years, going 31-19 with a below-average 4.92 ERA. However, Boston made the playoffs as the Wild Card both years. He pitched well in the 2003 Division Series against the Oakland Athletics, getting the save in the Game 5 clincher. However, he followed that up with two poor starts in the ALCS against the New York Yankees, who clinched the pennant on Aaron Boone's Game 7 walk-off. In 2004 Lowe pitched well out of relief in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Anaheim Angels. He scuffled in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees with the Red Sox down 3-0, but Boston won in the 12th on David Ortiz's walk-off home-run. He got the ball in Game 7 after the Red Sox won three straight and pitched six innings of one-run ball to secure the pennant. Then he got the ball in Game 4 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals with Boston now up 3-0, and tossed six innings of shutout ball to secure the long-awaited Red Sox championship.
That marked the end of Derek Lowe's time in Boston. He became a free agent, and signed a four-year $36 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He excelled after escaping the American League, and posted four strong seasons in Chavez Ravine, helped greatly by the two mid-season acquisitions of 300-game winner Greg Maddux. Lowe's 54-48 record in four seasons was due in part to poor run support, as his 3.59 ERA was well above league average. He tied for the league with 16 wins in 2006, helping Los Angeles to a Wild Card that year. The Dodgers made the playoffs as the NL West champions in 2008, but the team fell to the Philadelphia Phillies despite Lowe's strong efforts. Lowe became a free agent after the 2008 season, and signed another four-year deal, this time with the Braves for $60 million. Lowe was named the Opening Day starter, and dazzled against the defending World Champion Phillies, throwing eight shutout innings. He was excellent, pitching well while serving as a veteran leader. He had thrown seven innings of two-run ball against the Cubs on June 3, although Atlanta would fall in 11 innings, but he still had a 3.40 ERA and a 6-3 record. Lowe would struggle after that point, going 9-7 with a 5.49 ERA to finish at 15-10 with a 4.67 ERA and the Braves finished third. His trademark sinker would rebound in the middle of 2010 and he finished at 16-12 with a 4.00 ERA as Atlanta captured a Wild Card spot. Lowe pitched well in two Division Series starts against the San Francisco Giants, but the San Francisco youngsters Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner were just a bit better as the Braves were bounced in five. Lowe struggled heavily in 2011, going 9-17 with a 5.05, and Atlanta traded him to the Cleveland Indians. He wasn't better in Cleveland and he was released. The Yankees picked him up and put him back in the bullpen. He pitched well in 17 appearances and one in the Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles, but struggled in the ALCS against his hometown Detroit Tigers. Lowe spent two months with the Texas Rangers before getting released as well. Derek Lowe was never able to recapture his earliest successes, but he still fashioned a unique and often historical career, one that Red Sox fans would never forget.
Jake Peavy - 61
Date of Birth: May 31, 1981
Years Played: 2002-2016
Years on Top 10: 2016
Wins by age 30: 104
Wins by age 40: 152
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 48
Wins in 30s: 48
Wins on June 4, 2009: 91
Wins on June 4, 2019: 152
The 2009 trade deadline was almost two months away on June 4, 2009, but there were already plenty of rumors surrounding Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Diego Padres, even if he was sporting an uncharacteristic 5-6 record with a 4.10 ERA. Peavy was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, the former hometown of Hank Aaron. Peavy forged a different path to Major League Baseball, one spent on the mound. He was a star pitcher in his preparatory high school, getting a scholarship to Auburn University. However, the Padres also had their sights on the right-hander, picking him in the 15th round then giving him enough of a signing bonus to forgo his commitment to Auburn. He dominated at two rookie league stops in 1999, then doing so in three levels the next two seasons. When he got off to a strong start with AA Mobile in 2002, the Padres decided their heavily touted prospect was ready for the Majors. Peavy made his debut on June 22, 2002 against the New York Yankees. He pitched very well, allowing one run in six innings, but lost the game 1-0. He had a few ugly starts to finish the season 6-7 with an ungainly 4.52 ERA, but performed admirably for a 21-year-old, and San Diego knew they had their ace of the future. Peavy cut his ERA by .41 in 2003, but it was 2004 where he truly came into his own. He allowed two runs in 5.1 innings in his first start of the season, but that was the only day where he finished with an ERA above 3.00. He missed a month and a half due to injuries, but he finished with a 15-6 record and a league-leading 2.27 ERA. His injuries cost him an All-Star appearance and any Cy Young votes, but he picked up the former in 2005, the same year he led the National League with 216 strikeouts. However, he pitched poorly in a Division Series lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Peavy suffered a down season in 2006 as he struggled with some more injuries, and pitched poorly in the post-season once again as the Padres suffered another early exit. However he was fully healthy in 2007 and was more than ready to take on the baseball world. He allowed just two runs in 20 innings in his first three starts, and by the end of the season he had won 19 games with a 2.36 ERA and 234 strikeouts, all of which led the league, which virtually assured him of the Pitching Triple Crown. However, the Padres ended the year tied with the fast-charging Colorado Rockies with identical 89-73 record, requiring a tie-break game. San Diego manager Bud Black tabbed his ace to make the start. However, Peavy was a bit worn out after a career-high 217 innings, and allowed three runs in the first two innings. The Padres bounced back with five runs in the third, highlighted by a grand slam by Adrian Gonzalez, but Colorado continued to chip away and held a 6-5 lead by the time a Garrett Atkins double and an intentional walk ended Peavy's day. Neither runners scored to secure Peavy's Triple Crown, and the Padres tied it up in the eighth to send the game into extra innings. The Padres took an 8-6 lead on a two-run home run by Scott Hairston in the 13th, and San Diego still had future Hall-of-Famer closer Trevor Hoffman in the bullpen. However, Hoffman did not have it, and the only out he recorded was a sacrifice fly that drove in the winning run even if runner Matt Holliday missed the plate. Peavy won the Cy Young unanimously, but the pain of the loss still stung. Nevertheless, the Padres still signed their ace to a three-year extension. Peavy had another strong year in 2008, but he missed some time due to elbow pain. The Padres ended the season in last place, and soon rumors of a Peavy trade filled the hot stove. There were a few proposed deals, but none of them were consummated, with Peavy rejecting a deal to the Chicago White Sox. The Padres started strong but quickly fell behind, and a Jake Peavy trade quickly filled the airways again. He rejected another trade to Chicago in May, but injured his ankle rounding the bases on May 22. He still made his next two starts, but allowed eight runs in 7.1 innings, lasting just one inning on June 2. He made one more start before finding out he had strained a tendon in his ankle, sending him to the Disabled List. While convalescing, Peavy finally agreed to a trade with the White Sox.
Initially it was thought that Peavy would recover by August, but he wouldn't make his return until September. He was sharp in his three starts. He couldn't duplicate his successes and was awful to begin 2010, and still had a 6.23 ERA at the end of May. He seemed to turn things around, putting up a 1.67 ERA in his six starts starting in June, but had to leave a game on July 6 due to an arm injury. He was diagnosed with a torn latissimus dorsi, and required surgery. He didn't return until May, and even then he was limited by injuries. Peavy silenced any doubters by putting up a strong season in 2012, putting up a 3.37 ERA that was his best since 2.85 and pitching over 200 innings for the first time since his Cy Young winning season. He signed a contract extension at the end of the season, but suffered a rib fracture in 2013 that kept him out for six months on June 4, 2013. He came back in the end of July, but the White Sox were heading to another lost season. They traded him to the Boston Red Sox in a three-team deal. He promptly went 4-1 with his new team, and won a World Series title as Boston went on to defeat the Cardinals. Peavy got off to a horrible start in 2014, going 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts. Boston sent him packing at the trade deadline, this time to San Francisco Giant whose manager Bruce Bochy was the Padres manager in the first five seasons of his career. Peavy turned things around, putting up a 6-4 record with a 2.17 ERA, securing a spot on the post-season roster. He won the opening game of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals. He was not very good in his next three starts, but the Giants still defeated the Kansas City Royals in seven games to win the 2014 World Series. Peavy remained with the Giants, but his performance was limited. He averaged just under 115 innings in 2015-16, and went 13-15 with a below-average 4.59 ERA. His 2016 season was marred by the news that his friend and financial adviser had lost almost all his savings in an illegal scheme, and his wife divorced him at the end of the year. Peavy talked of a comeback, but ultimately decided to call it a career, a tragic end for a man who at one point was one of the best in baseball.
Roy Halladay - 63
Date of Birth: May 14, 1977
Date of Death: November 7, 2017
Years Played: 1997-2013
Years on Top 10: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Wins by age 30: 99
Wins by age 40: 203
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 104
Wins in 30s: 104
Wins on June 4, 2009: 140
Wins on June 4, 2019: 203
On June 4, 2009, baseball fans were coming to terms that besides the New York Mets' Johan Santana, there was another candidate for the Best Pitcher in Baseball. Two day earlier Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays threw a complete game victory against the Los Angeles Angels. He did allow four runs to bring his ERA up to 2.77, but he also struck out 14. It had long been easy to overlook "Doc," who had spent his entire career north of the border. Harry Leroy Halladay III was born in Denver. Even in the days before the Colorado Rockies came to town, young Roy was a baseball nut. His father moved the family to nearby Arvada so he can buy a house with a basement large enough to accommodate a pitcher' mound and a mattress 60'6" away. Halladay built up his arm strength throwing in that basement while his father taught him everything he knew. By the time Roy was a teenager his father brought him to the Colorado pitching guru Bus Campbell. Campbell became Halladay's mentor, and gave him advice including running cross-country in high school. Campbell was also a scout for the Blue Jays, and after Halladay graduated in 1995 Toronto named him their first round draft pick, 17th overall. He gave up a scholarship to the University of Arizona and quickly signed a contract to start his pro career. Halladay pitched well in rookie ball in 1995 and with Class A Dunedin in 1996. Baseball America named him their minor league pitcher of the year that season. Halladay was invited to Major League camp in 1997, but spent most of the season with AA Knoxville and AAA Syracuse, and had to deal with some adversity. He overcame it and made his Major League debut as a September call-up after a strong year with Syracuse. Halladay pitched well in his debut, but ended with a no-decision. He then proclaimed his arrival against the Detroit Tigers on September 27. He hadn't allowed a hit through two outs in the ninth inning, and needed only to retire pinch-hitter Bobby Higginson for a no-hitter. Higginson ended the no-hitter and the shutout by blasting a fastball into the Blue Jays bullpen for a home run. Halladay still retired the next batter for a complete game victory.
Halladay opened the 1999 season on the Major League roster. He carried a 0.00 ERA ERA in 20 innings going into a April 29 start against the Anaheim Angels. He received a rude awakening as the Angels blasted him for 11 runs in 2.1 innings. He was never quite as awful the rest of the year, splitting time between the bullpen and the rotation and ended the season 8-7 with a 3.92 ERA. Halladay was named the number 2 starter in 2000 and pitched a quality start in his first game with three runs in seven innings. That ended up being his highlight of the season as he allowed 44 earned runs in his next seven appearances, finally getting sent to AAA Syracuse after allowing three ninth-inning runs in a relief appearance against the Boston Red Sox. Halladay was not very good in Syracuse, nor was he very good in two separate promotions. By the end of the 2000 season he was 4-7 with a 10.64 ERA, a disastrous showing. He thought an off-season move to Florida would turn things around, but Halladay was still awful in spring training 2001. He ended up getting assigned all the way to high-A Dunedin, where he had dominated five years earlier. He pitched decently out of the bullpen, but around that time the exasperated Blue Jays were calling on their former pitching coach Mel Queen to help with their former top prospect. Queen asked the team to send Halladay to AA Tennessee, and spent the next several weeks putting the youngster through a boot camp of sorts where he challenged everything Roy knew about pitching. Around that time Halladay was reading the works of former sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman. Under Queen's drilling and Dorfman's techniques, Halladay was able to piece together a new style of pitching, one built upon movement and changing speeds as well as total mental concentration. He began dominating hitters in AA and AAA and was called back up in July. He struggled at first, allowing six runs in 2.1 innings in his first start, but he continued to trust in what he learned, and he ended the season with a flourish, throwing a complete game shutout against the first-place Cleveland Indians in his final 2001 start.
Halladay was ready to show his improvements in 2001 were not a fluke. He got off to a strong start in 2002, and was able to shake off rare disaster starts with strong performances in subsequent starts. He was named to the All-Star team for the first time, and finished the season 19-7 with a 2.93 ERA. He was even better in 2003, going 22-7 with a 3.25 ERA. He also threw nine complete games and led the league with 266 innings. He was rewarded with the Cy Young award. Those innings seemed to come back to haunt Halladay as he dealt with recurring shoulder pain all year and saw his ERA fall to 4.20. However, he was back in top shape in 2005. Through July 8 he was 12-4 with a league-leading 2.33 ERA and was starting against the Texas Rangers deep in the heart of Texas. He had allowed three runs in 2.2 innings but was buoyed by a six-run second inning. Kevin Mench hit a liner that smashed Roy in the left leg. Halladay had to leave the game, and X-rays showed a fracture in his left tibia. He ended up lost for the rest of the season. He recovered in time for the 2006 season, and had solid years in 2006-07, going 32-12 with a terrific 3.46 ERA. He knew he could do better, and did just that in 2008. He lost to the New York Yankees on Opening Day, but came back to beat them five times, capturing his 20th win in his final start against them. He went 20-11 and finished second with a 2.78 ERA, then finished second in the Cy Young voting behind the Cleveland Indians' Cliff Lee. He had another solid year in 2009, going 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA and four shutouts.
However, despite Halladay's strong performances the Blue Jays never came particularly close to ending their post-season drought that had gone on since winning the 1993 World Series. The closest they had come to a post-season spot during Halladay's tenure came in 2000 when they finished 4.5 games behind the Yankees. The Blue Jays had listened to offers for Halladay during the season, but ultimately didn't pull the trigger on any deals. That would change as new general manager Alex Anthropoulos traded Halladay to the defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies during the winter meetings. Philadelphia quickly signed their new ace to a four-year extension. Halladay proved the investment was worth it, and got off to a tremendous start. A disaster against the Red Sox on May 23 lifted his ERA to 2.22, but he made up for his in his next start against the Florida Marlins in Miami. He had three-ball counts to three of the first four batters, but still hadn't allowed a single baserunner through the ninth inning. The Marlins sent up a pinch-hitter with two outs, but unlike Bobby Higginson, Ronny Paulino grounded out, and Halladay had pitched a perfect game. It was the 155th win of his career, and with his track record he was identified as a pitcher likely to reach 300 wins on June 4, 2010. He ended the season 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and had another four shutouts. He was rewarded with his second Cy Young, and had the opportunity to pitch in the post-season for the first time in his career. Facing the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the Division Series, Halladay dominated the NL Central champs. Through nine innings the only runner he had allowed was a walk to Jay Bruce in the fifth. When Brandon Phillips grounded out to end the game, Halladay had the first post-season no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956. He couldn't duplicate that success in Game 1 of the NLCS, a loss to the San Francisco Giants. Even though he won Game 5 with the Phillies staring at elimination, the Giants won the pennant two nights later. Halladay had another monster year in 2011, going 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA as Philadelphia won a franchise-record 102 games. He led off the Division Series with a victory against the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Phillies couldn't close out the series, forcing a Game 5. Halladay got the ball against his former Blue Jays teammate and good friend Chris Carpenter. Roy allowed a first-inning run, but shut down the Cardinals after that point. Unfortunately, Carpenter did not allow a single run, and Philadelphia went down with a 1-0 loss.
Halladay had a come off a string of seven seasons where he went 121-53 with a sparkling 2.82 ERA. However, when the 2012 season started he suffered from shoulder pain that had haunted him eight years earlier. He missed time, and ended the season with a 4.49 ERA, his worst since the disastrous 2000 season. He tried to return in 2013, but continued to suffer from a multitude of shoulder problems. He was had a 6.82 ERA when the season ended. It was the last year of the extension he had signed after getting traded, and he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Blue Jay. Halladay settled into retirement spending more time in his family while coaching youth baseball in Florida. He also took up flying, a dream he had for most of his life. On November 7, 2017 Halladay took his new amphibious plane and flew it over the Gulf of Mexico. Witnesses saw his plane flying low to the water, and he ended up crashing, killing him instantly. A post-mortem toxicology report showed high levels of morphine and amphetamines as well as fluoxetine, zolpidem and alcohol. Even with the unanswerable questions, the baseball world mourned the death of one of their best pitchers, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously in his first year of eligibility.
Cliff Lee - 64
Date of Birth: August 30, 1978
Years Played: 2002-2014
Years on Top 10: 2014
Wins by age 30: 73
Wins by age 40: 143
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 70
Wins in 30s: 70
Wins on June 4, 2009: 79
Wins on June 4, 2019: 143
On June 4, 2009, Cleveland Indians ace and reigning Cy Young winner Cliff Lee had shut down the Minnesota Twins the day before, throwing eight one-run innings and lowering his ERA to 2.96. However, his record was 3-6 due to a poor start. While he recovered from the disastrous beginning, his team hadn't, and they were sitting at 23-32, tied for dead last in the American League. That likely meant Lee's days with the Indians were numbered, but his presence in Cleveland was a bit serendipitous in the first place. Lee grew up in Benton, Arkansas just outside Little Rock. He was not related whatsoever to Clifford Walker Lee, a former Phillies and Indians outfielder that played from 1919 -1926. Clifton Phifer Lee was a pitcher, and he was impressive enough to get drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 8th round in 1997. He spurned the eventual World Series winners and went to Mississippi to attend Meridian Community College. He fell to the 20th round in 1998, which was even more unacceptable, and transferred to the University of Arkansas. The Montreal Expos drafted Lee in the 4th round in 2000, and Lee finally agreed to sign after a month-long negotiation. He was sent to A-ball Cape Fear and struggled, but pitched very well with high-A Jupiter a year later. By 2002 he was continuing his success with AA Harrisburg, not knowing he was a targeted man. It was the brass of the Cleveland Indians that set their sights on the left-hander. The Indians were perennial playoff contenders, but was mired below .500 in June. They had an ace pitcher they wanted to trade. It was the Expos that were willing to pay the price, sending veteran Lee Stevens as well as a wealth of young prospects including Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore and Lee for Tim Drew and Bartolo Colon. Lee settled in the Cleveland system and didn't dominate like he did, but he earned himself a two-game stint in the Majors.
Lee started the 2003 season in the minors, but he was impressive enough that the Indians called him back up for good in August. He went 3-3 with a 3.61 in nine starts, and earned himself a spot in the Indians rotation in 2004. His first full season was a bit of a disaster, as he put up a putrid 5.43 ERA. He did go 14-8, and that earned him another shot at the rotation in 2005. He rebounded nicely, and went 32-16 in 2005 and 2006 with an above-average 4.09 ERA. He was looking for another successful season in 2007, but it was a mess from the start. He started the season on the Disabled List due to a groin injury, and he was awful when he returned in May. He had a 6.38 ERA in 16 starts, and exhibited a terrible attitude. He was sent to AAA Buffalo, where he fared a little bit better. He was brought back up in September and pitched out of the bullpen, all in mop-up losses. The Indians won the AL Central in spite of Lee, and he was left off the post-season roster. The Indians didn't expect much out of Lee, and he opened the season as their fifth starter, not seeing game action until the sixth game. However, he turned out to be terrific, winning his first six starts and allowing only five runs (four earned) in 44.2 innings for an 0.81 ERA. The streak ended when Lee pitched nine shutout innings but the Indians couldn't score a single run. In fact the Indians struggled to score runs all year and were in last by July. The Indians traded their ace CC Sabathia on July 7, and looked to Lee to lead them. He was up to the task, going 11-1 with a 2.67 ERA and the Indians ended the season in third with an 81-81 record. Lee went 22-3 with a league-leading 2.54 ERA, and took home the Cy Young award. The Indians hoped 2009 would be better, but Lee was demolished on Opening Day, allowing seven runs in five innings against the Texas Rangers on the road. He settled down nicely but the Indians remained mired in last until days before the trade deadline. Nevertheless, the Cleveland front office knew Cliff Lee was a hot commodity, and sent him to the Philadelphia Phillies.
With Philadelphia the reigning World Series champions and holding a comfortable lead for a third straight NL East title, Lee contributed with a 7-4 record and a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts. He then got to taste post-season action for the first time in his life, and he made the most of it. He made five starts and went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA. The Phillies advanced all the way to the World Series, but they lost to the New York Yankees despite Lee's two series wins. Lee was due to become a free agent after the 2010 season, but Philadelphia was interested in trading for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. To clear space in their payroll, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners just hours before completing the Halladay deal. Lee suffered an injury in a spring training start on an errant pitch that had earned him a suspension. While the suspension was commuted, Lee was out until the end of April. He showed no signs of rust, while displaying otherworldly control. Through July 4 he was 8-3 with a 2.34 ERA. However, the Mariners were also heading towards a last-place finish, and Lee became another trade target. The Yankees were highly interested in the left-hander and almost had a deal in place, but the trade fell apart in the last second and Lee headed to Texas instead. Lee struggled in the Texas heat, going 4-6 with a 3.98 in 15 starts, but the Rangers won the AL West easily, and Lee showed the baseball world why Texas made that trade. He threw seven innings of one-run ball with ten strikeouts in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. After the Rangers couldn't close out the series, Lee came back on the road in Game 5 and threw a complete game with only one run, striking out 11 and Texas won a post-season series for the first time in team history. Lee came back in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees with the series tied at one, and threw eight shutout innings with 13 strikeouts in a hostile Yankee Stadium. The Rangers won the pennant. Alas, Lee's post-season magic ran out in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, who captured the title in five.
Cliff Lee became a free agent that off-season, and he was heavily recruited by several teams, including the Rangers and the Yankees. However, a surprising last-minute entry took home the coveted lefty: the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee later admitted he never wanted to leave Philadelphia, and welcomed the chance to pitch with Roy Halladay. Together they headed a super-rotation. While Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton were somewhat weak links, Halladay and Lee lived up to the billing, with Lee going 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA. The Phillies won 102 games and easily took their fifth straight NL East title. Lee followed Halladay in the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, but Lee's struggles in the previous year's World Series continued, and he lost Game 2. The Cardinals eventually won in five and went on to upset the Rangers in the World Series. The 2012 Phillies were only a shadow of their former self, finishing in third at 81-81. Lee pitched valiantly, putting up a 3.16 ERA in 211 innings, but the Phillies couldn't support him at all, and he ended with a 6-9 record. He recovered with a 14-8 record and a 2.87 ERA in 2013, although Philadelphia continued to collapse. He was pitching well in 2014 following another terrible Opening Day start, but he suffered from elbow pain that put him on the disabled list. He tried coming back in July, but recurring pain shelved him. He was never able to return from these injuries, and he retired in 2016. The careers of one of the game's top pitchers had ended with a whimper.
Kyle Lohse - 65
Date of Birth: October 4, 1978
Years Played: 2001-2016
Years on Top 10: 2015, 2016
Wins by age 30: 78
Wins by age 40: 147
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 69
Wins in 30s: 69
Wins on June 4, 2009: 82
Wins on June 4, 2019: 147
St. Louis Cardinals Kyle Lohse was hurting on June 4, 2009. He had to leave his start the day before after two innings due to pain in his right forearm, likely related to an injury suffered when hit by a pitch while trying to bunt in his previous start on May 23. The Cardinals skipped a start, but Lohse's performance suggested a stint on the Disabled List. It was a crushing blow for a man who had become an important part of the Cardinals roster. Lohse was born in Chico, California and raised in nearby Ord Bend. His parents were star athletes and Kyle followed in their footsteps. The Cubs drafted him in the 29th round of the 1996 draft, but Lohse chose to attend Butte College, allowing the Cubs to maintain their draft-and-follow rights. They signed him early in 1997, and dispatched him into their farm system. Lohse did well in his first two minor league seasons. He was off to another strong start with high-A Daytona in 1999 when the Cubs packaged him in a trade to the Minnesota Twins. Lohse struggled upon moving to the Twins organization, but finished the season with AA New Britain. He spent all of 2000 with New Britain and was abysmal, going 3-18 with a 6.04 ERA. Lohse knew he was better than that, and he quickly turned it around in 2001, going 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in six starts. A promotion to AAA Edmonton quickly followed, and later his first Major League call-up. He made his debut on June 22, 2001. His first season was a bit of a struggle, but he established himself as a dependable starter in 2002 and 2003, going 27-19 with a league-average 4.43 ERA in those two years as the Twins captured the AL Central. He pitched out of the bullpen in the 2002 post-season before losing to the Yankees in Game 3 of the 2003 Division Series. The Twins captured another flag in 2004, but Lohse was the weak link, going 9-13 with a 5.34 ERA. He improved his ERA by over a run to 4.18 in 2005, but still went 9-13 as the Twins fell to third. After another poor start in 2006, the Twins optioned him back to the minors in favor of Boof Bonser. Two months later the Twins cut their losses, sending him to the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched decently for Cincinnati, but after starting the 2007 season 6-12, the Reds sent him packing, this time to the Philadelphia Phillies. Lohse was similarly mediocre in Philadelphia, going 3-0 but with ten no-decisions and a 4.72 ERA.
Lohse became a free agent after the season. He was 63-74 with a brutal 4.82 ERA. However, the Cardinals saw promise in the young right-hander, and signed him. St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan worked closely with Lohse, teaching him to be more aggressive. As a result, he finished 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 200 innings, the first time he finished with an ERA below 4.00. Lohse was off to another solid start in 2009 before a series of rough starts in May sent his ERA soaring to 4.66. He was on the verge of figuring things out, throwing eight shutout innings against the Kansas City Royals on May 23 when he was hit by the pitch. Yet instead of going for the shutout he was looking at six weeks on the Disabled List. Lohse came back in mid-July, but he still wasn't the same. He went 2-6 with a 5.43 to close out the season, and was told to rest and rehabilitate. Nevertheless, he continued to experience pain coming into the 2010 season, yet all of the tests were negative. He was 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA before he was diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome. The connective tissues in his right forearm would get inflamed with any exertion, increasing pressure in the arm. He had surgery to excise some of the connective tissue. Lohse came back in August. His performance wasn't any better, but he no longer had the pain.
He came back in 2011 a new man, going 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA as the Cardinals took home a surprise Wild Card spot. He struggled in the post-season, but his sacrifice bunt in Game 6 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers was a crucial play, and the Cardinals won the following night. He had his best season in 2012, going 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA and picked up Cy Young votes for the first time in his career. He got the ball in the Wild Card game against the Atlanta Braves and got the win, although the Cardinals' run ended in the NLCS. Lohse became a free agent after the season and signed a three-year $33 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was solid in his first two seasons, going 24-19 with a 3.45 ERA, but he was finally winding down in 2015, going 5-13 with a 5.85 ERA. He signed with the Texas Rangers that offseason, but allowed 13 runs in two starts and they let him go as well. After a year away from the game he attempted a comeback with the team that sent him on the medical journey, the Royals. However after two abysmal starts with AAA Omaha he decided to call it a career. He never made an All-Star team and had a below-average 4.72 ERA in his career, but he had persisted through uncommon hardships and had a career he could be proud of.
Bronson Arroyo - 70
Date of Birth: February 24, 1977
Years Played: 2000-2014, 2017
Years on Top 10: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Wins by age 30: 47
Wins by age 40: 145
Wins after age 40: 3
Wins after age 30: 98
Wins in 30s: 95
Wins on June 4, 2009: 78
Wins on June 4, 2019: 148
While Albert Pujols was terrorizing the Cincinnati Reds on June 4, 2009, Reds starter Bronson Arroyo was trying to make sense of what was going on in his career. He was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in the off-season and that put a crimp on his off-season condition. Now he was struggling to a 5.37 ERA despite a solid 7-4 record. Yet Arroyo had long gone through adversity, and it would last even past that day ten years ago. Bronson Arroyo was born in Key West but grew up in Brooksville in the Tampa Bay area. He was a star baseball player in high school who was courted by Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern, but he opted to stay close to home with the University of South Florida. Yet even that went out the window as the Pittsburgh Pirates picked him in the third round of the 1995 draft. Arroyo went to the rookie league and struggled, going 5-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Nevertheless he was advanced to class-A Augusta then high-A Lynchburg the next two seasons, where he had reasonable success. However his progress slowed as he struggled in AA and AAA for the next two seasons. He finally had a breakout year with AAA Nashville in 2000, and that helped him earn his first taste of Major League action on June 12, 2000. He spent three years in Pittsburgh but went 9-14 with a 5.44 ERA during that time, spending significant portions of the season with AAA Nashville. The Pirates put Arroyo on waivers at the end of the 2002 season, and he was selected by the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox kept Arroyo in AAA Pawtucket for most of the season. He made the most of the assignment, going 12-6 with a 4.34 ERA. His crowning achievement was a perfect game on August 10, 2003. He had two separate call-ups after that and was placed on the post-season roster, but pitched out of the bullpen. Arroyo joined the Red Sox rotation in 2004 and had a solid year, going 10-9 with a 4.03 ERA. He scuffled in two post-season starts before he was sent back to the bullpen. He saw time in four games, and pitched the eighth inning in Game 4 of the World Series to break the streak.
He spent another season in Boston in 2005 and went 14-10 with a 4.51 ERA. Arroyo signed a three-year contract with Boston after the season, but a few months later he was shocked to find out he was traded to the Reds for Willy Mo Pena. As unexpected as the trade was, Arroyo thrived in Cincinnati in 2006. He made his first All-Star team, and finished 14-11 with a 3.29 ERA in a league-leading 240.2 innings. The next two seasons were not kind to him. He went 24-26 and struggled with inconsistency. He managed a league-average 4.49 over those years, but had multiple disaster starts nestled in between. The 2009 season was not much better. The carpal tunnel syndrome had bothered him, especially as it kept him from playing the guitar. And it seemed to still be affecting him once the season started. He allowed nine runs on two separate starts in April and May, and his ERA was as high as 7.15. However, he pitched a complete game shutout against the New York Mets in the last start before the All-Star break, and he was much more effective in the season's second half, going 6-5 with a 2.24 ERA to finish at 15-13 with a 3.84 ERA. Arroyo opted not to get surgery in the off-season, and he had another decent year in 2010, overcoming another difficult start to finish with a career-high 17 wins and a 3.88 ERA. The Reds won the NL Central for the first time since 1995. Arroyo got the start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched decently, but the Reds were eventually swept. Arroyo's numbers tumbled in 2011 as he challenged the record for most home runs allowed in a season before finishing at 46. However, he turned things around with a solid 2012 season, going 12-10 with a 3.74 ERA. Cincinnati won another division title, and he threw seven innings of one-hit ball in Game 2 of the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants. The Reds took a 2-0 lead on that game, but the Giants won three straight to capture the series.
Arroyo had another decent season in 2013, going 14-12 with a 3.79 ERA. He became a free-agent that off-season and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made 14 starts and went 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA, but had to leave a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to elbow pain. He was eventually diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery. It was a blow for the veteran, but also gave him motivation to continue pitching. He was in the middle of his rehab when the Diamondbacks traded him to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves in turn sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers a month later. Despite being with three organizations, Arroyo never saw any game action in 2015. He signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He made only two starts in rookie league before getting shut down due to elbow pain. Yet Arroyo was not ready to give up. He received some stem cell injections in his pitching elbow in August 2016 and felt like he was ready to continue his comeback. He signed a minor league contract with the Reds and ended up making the team as the fifth starter. He struggled but managed to win three games in his first six starts. He was 3-6 with a 7.35 ERA when put on the disabled list due to shoulder pain in June, and ultimately decided to call it a career, bringing an end to a tale of perseverance and tenacity.
A.J. Burnett - 73
Date of Birth: January 3, 1977
Years Played: 1999-2015
Years on Top 10: 2013, 2014, 2015
Wins by age 30: 59
Wins by age 40: 164
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 105
Wins in 30s: 105
Wins on June 4, 2009: 91
Wins on June 4, 2019: 164
As the New York Yankees were playing the Texas Rangers on June 4, 2009, the news broke that Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett would be suspended for six games due to his pitch near the head of Texas' Nelson Cruz, likely in retaliation for the Rangers' Vicente Padilla hitting Mark Teixeira twice. It was just another blow for Burnett as he struggled to live up to the massive free agent contract he signed a few months earlier. Allan James Burnett was born in North Little Rock and raised in Little Rock. He was a star pitcher in high school, and the New York Mets picked him in the eighth round of the 1995 draft. Burnett signed relatively quickly, but he spent parts of three seasons in the rookie league before getting brought up to low-A Pittsfield in 1997. That off-season the World Series winning Florida Marlins began tearing apart their roster, and Burnett was shipped to Miami for pitcher Al Leiter. Burnett shined with class A Kane County in 1998, going 10-4 with a 1.97 ERA. He struggled with AA Portland in 1999, but the Marlins still called him up for his Major League debut on August 17, 1999. He saw some more minor league action in 2000 and started the 2001 season with high-A Brevard County before getting called up in May. He made his presence known on May 12 in a game against the San Diego Padres. He struggled with his control, walking nine batters, but held the Padres without a hit for a no-hitter. He spent the rest of the season in the Majors, going 11-12 with a 4.05 ERA. He was even better in 2002, going 12-9 with a 3.30 ERA and striking out 203. He made only four starts in 2003 before getting lost to Tommy John surgery. He had to watch from the sidelines as the Marlins made their second post-season run for a second World Series title. He came back from his rehab in June 2004 and had a decent season, going 7-6 with a 3.68 ERA.
Burnett became a free agent after another decent season in 2005. He had posted decent numbers, but made critical statements against the team in September that led to his dismissal before the end of the season. Burnett wasted little time to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays during the winter meetings. His first two seasons in Toronto were decent but truncated due to injuries, averaging just over 150 innings a season. He remained healthy in 2008 and he wanted to show the baseball world what he was capable of. He struck out a league-leading 231 batters in 221.1 innings, and also went 18-10. His 4.07 ERA was his worst in a season where he pitched at least 100 innings, but it was still impressive enough that when he exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, the Yankees pounced. They signed Burnett to a five-year, $82.5 million deal, one of three mega-deals New York gave out after missing the post-season in 2008. Burnett was frustrating from the outset, winning his first two starts but then putting up several mediocre starts. His win over Texas on June 2 only moved him to 4-2 with a 4.69 ERA, and he lasted only 2.2 innings in his next start against the Boston Red Sox. However, Burnett settled down after that, going 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA from June 14 through July 27. He had a few uneven and disastrous starts in August and September, but finished the season 13-9 with a 4.04 ERA. He made his post-season debut with a decent start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins, but suffered from a no-decision. He had a good start and an awful start in the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels, but the Yankees clinched the pennant in six games. Burnett was fantastic in Game 2 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but was awful in Game 5. New York still clinched the title in Game 6 and all was forgiven, at least until the following spring.
When the 2010 season started, Burnett remained enigmatic. He was mostly terrible with a few sparkling starts sprinkled in between. This pattern continued in 2011. He went 21-26 with an awful 5.20 ERA in those two seasons, and the Yankees trusted him only to make two starts: a poor showing in the 2010 ALCS against the Texas Rangers and a good one in the 2011 Division Series against the Detroit Tigers to stave off elimination. By the 2011 off-season, the Yankees made no secret they were seeking to trade Burnett. A potential trade with the Angels was blocked, but Burnett eventually agreed to a trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates. His season was delayed by a facial fracture in spring training, but Burnett was phenomenal in 2012, going 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA. A year later he lowered his ERA to 3.30 and broke 200 strikeouts for the first time since 2008. His record was only 10-11, but the Pirates ended 20 years of below-.500 futility and captured a playoff spot. Burnett got to pitch in Game 1 of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, but he was abysmal, allowing seven runs in two innings. Burnett's contract expired that season, and he signed with the Phillies. He was limited by an inguinal hernia, and ended up going 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA. He declined an option after the season and returned to Pittsburgh. Burnett was phenomenal in the first half, and his ERA was below 2.00 as late as July 6. He was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. He was shut down in July due to elbow inflammation. He came back in September and recorded his 2,500th strikeout, but at the end of the season he moved forward with his plans to retire. It was the end of a checkered and often controversial career.
Tim Hudson - 76
Date of Birth: July 14, 1975
Years Played: 1999-2015
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Wins by age 30: 98
Wins by age 40: 219
Wins after age 40: 3
Wins after age 30: 124
Wins in 30s: 121
Wins on June 4, 2009: 146
Wins on June 4, 2019: 222
While the Atlanta Braves were waiting out a rain delay on June 4, 2009, their erstwhile ace Tim Hudson was in the midst of a grueling rehab to return from Tommy John surgery. Hudson was born in Columbus, Georgia but grew up across state lines in Phenix City, Alabama. Hudson was a star pitcher in high school, but his scrawny build led to no attention from scouts or major programs. He went on to Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City and dominated both with his arm and with his bat. The Oakland Athletics picked him in the 35th round of the 1994 draft after his freshman year, but he chose not to sign. He was able to transfer to Auburn University and he continued to dominate as a two-way player. After his senior year in 1997 the A's drafted him again, this time in the sixth round. Hudson signed and stated his professional career as a pitcher. He dominated in the minor leagues, and was in the Majors by June 8, 1999, less than two years after he signed. Hudson fit right in, going 11-2 in 21 starts as a rookie. His ERA remained below 3.00 until a disastrous start on August 24, and even then remained at 3.23. He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. A year later, Hudson won 20 games and finished second in Cy Young voting. His ERA jumped to 4.14, but that still finished ninth in the American League. Oakland also captured the AL West title and Hudson had his first taste of the post-season, although he and the A's lost to the New York Yankees. Over the next four seasons Hudson teamed with Barry Zito and Mark Mulder to form one of the most daunting rotations in the American League. He went 61-31 with a 3.12 ERA in those seasons, including going 15-9 with a 2.98 ERA in the Moneyball 2002 season. He didn't quite have the same success in the post-season, winning only Game 2 of the 2001 Division Series against the Yankees as the A's were knocked out in the first round every time.
After the Athletics missed the playoffs in 2004, general manager Billy Beane began downsizing. With Hudson set for free agency after 2005, he was sent packing to the Atlanta Braves, who had continued success atop the NL East but had seen the departure of Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux in the previous two seasons and John Smoltz a question mark in his return to the rotation. The Braves extended Hudson after the trade, and he went on to have a solid year in 2005, going 14-9 with a 3.52 ERA. Atlanta extended their streak of division titles, but Hudson pitched poorly in the post-season and Atlanta was bounced in the Division Series by the Houston Astros. The 2006 was uncharacteristically bad for Hudson, as he went 13-12 with a career-worst 4.86 ERA and the Braves fell to third place. He bounced back with a solid season in 2007, and was pitching well in 2008. He was 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA on July 23, but he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and went under the knife on August 2. Hudson was deep in his rehabilitation in 2009, and by July he was able to throw a bullpen session. He started his minor league rehab that month, and took things slowly, making two starts with high-A Myrtle Beach and four with AAA Gwinnett. At last Hudson made his return when rosters expanded in September. He made seven starts that month and went 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA, and even hit his first home run in the Major Leagues.
Hudson signed a three-year extension at the end of the season, but there were some questions as to how well he would hold up in his first full season after surgery. Hudson quieted all doubters with a solid season. He kept his ERA below 3.00 almost all year and made the All-Star team for the first time with the Braves. He finished at 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA, sixth in the National League. He picked up Cy Young votes for the first time since 2003, finishing fourth. He continued his successes in 2011 and 2012, going 32-17 with a 3.40 ERA. He won his 200th game in 2013 and also blasted a home run in the same game, but an ankle fracture in a freak accident on the bases ended his season in July. Hudson became a free agent after the season and signed with the San Francisco Giants. He joined a rotation that featured star lefty Madison Bumgarner, two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, and perfect-game pitcher Matt Cain. had a solid first half of the season and was 7-6 with a 2.87 ERA and made another All-Star team. He struggled in September to end at 9-13 with a 3.57 ERA but the Giants still won the Wild Card. Hudson got a start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals. He allowed only 1 run but was losing 1-0 until the Giants tied the game in the ninth, then they went on to win in 18 innings. He pitched poorly in Game 3 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Giants still won the pennant to face off against the Kansas City Royals. Hudson got the loss in Game 3 before getting another change to start in Game 7, becoming the oldest pitcher to start a Game 7 in the World Series. He pitched poorly, allowing two runs in 1.2 innings, but Bumgarner came in and threw five scoreless innings as the Giants captured their third title in five years. Hudson pitched one more season in 2015 before retiring, closing the book on Oakland's Big Three. Yet between of the three it was Tim Hudson that had the most accomplished career.
Dan Haren - 84
Date of Birth: September 17, 1980
Years Played: 2003-2015
Years on Top 10: 2015
Wins by age 30: 89
Wins by age 40: 153
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 64
Wins in 30s: 64
Wins on June 4, 2009: 69
Wins on June 4, 2019: 153
The Arizona Diamondbacks had a travel day on June 4, 2009, but they were hoping to better support their ace Dan Haren. Two days earlier Haren had pitched seven innings of one-run ball against he Los Angeles Dodgers, but ended up with a no-decision as the Diamondbacks lost 6-5. It was the third time Haren had gotten a loss or a no-decision despite allowing just one run, and he was 4-4 with a 2.42 ERA. Haren was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley outside of Los Angeles. He attended Bishop Amat High School, the alma mater of Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young. Haren played mostly first base but transitioned to pitching while attending Pepperdine University. He became a star pitcher, and Haren was selected in the second round of the 2001 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was sent to low-A New Jersey after signing and held his own, and he jumped all the way to high-A Potomac in 2002. He started the 2003 with AA Tennessee, and went 6-0 with an 0.82 ERA in six starts. After eight more starts with AAA Memphis, Haren made his Major League debut on June 30, 2003, just 17 days after the Cardinals lost to Roger Clemens in the Rocket's 300th win. Haren struggled to adjust to Major League hitters, and he went 3-7 with a 5.08 ERA in his rookie season. He opened 2004 with AAA Memphis before making his return mostly out of the bullpen. He made five relief appearances in the Cardinals' post-season run, picking up a relief win in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Dodgers. That off-season Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane was looking to deal starter Mark Mulder, and he found a taker in St. Louis, who sent over three players in return, including Haren. He was given a chance to start in Oakland, but was hit hard early on. On May 15, 2005 he started against Randy Johnson and the New York Yankees. He allowed four hits in six runs and left with the game tied at 4. Ricardo Rincon ended up allowing two more runs, and the Big Unit secured his 250th career win.
Haren's numbers would come around in the second half of the season. He ended his first season in Oakland 14-12 with a 3.73 ERA. A year later he went 14-13 while his ERA climbed to 4.12, but the A's captured their first AL West title since 2004. Haren pitched well in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Minnesota Twins to complete the sweep and the first series win under Beane. He got a no-decision in the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers, and the A's were unable to win the pennant. Still, Haren continued to improve in the Major League level. He made his first All-Star team in 2007, and finished 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA that was a close third in the league. However the A's ended up in a distant third. Even though Haren had signed an extension that would delay free agency until 2010, Beane continued his wheeling and dealing and traded Haren to the Diamondbacks as part of a two-for-five deal. Haren was now a teammate of Randy Johnson's, and he took another step forward, going 16-8 with a 3.33 and cracking 200 strikeouts for the first time, finishing with 206. The 2009 season was a bit frustrating but he kept his composure, and had an ERA below 2.00 as late as July 18. He ended the season 14-10 with a 3.14 ERA and a career-high 223 strikeouts, picking up Cy Young votes for the first time. The 2010 season would be very different for Haren, as he slumped to a 4.60 ERA by mid-July. Even though he had signed another extension to delay his free agency until 2012, the Diamondbacks traded their former ace to the Los Angeles Angels for four young players. Now pitching close to his hometown, Haren went 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA the rest of the way and had another succesful season in 2011, going 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA. However, his back gave out in the middle of the season during a bullpen session. He didn't miss a start, but the 2012 season was dramatically different, as he went 12-13 with 4.33 ERA.
After several extensions that delayed his free agency, Haren was finally free to test the waters after 2012. He signed with the Washington Nationals, who were coming off their first division title but also a heartbreaking Division Series loss to Haren's original team. They were hoping for good things out of Haren, but he continued to deal with his back problems and now had a sore hip. His fastball dropped to 88mph, a far cry from his earlier days. He finished 10-14 with a 4.67 while the Nationals missed the post-season by four games. Haren was contemplating retirement, but his childhood team the Dodgers offered him a contract. He had a rebound season, going 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA, but his thoughts of retirement grew louder, especially after he was traded to the Miami Marlins that off-season. He threatened retirement, but ultimately reported to the Marlins. He had a solid half-season, and wound up getting traded to the Chicago Cubs. He finally went through with his constant threats of retirement. He evolved into somewhat of a social media darling while also working in the Diamondbacks front office. Yet those should not detract from what had been a solid career.
Mark Buehrle - 86
Date of Birth: March 23, 1979
Years Played: 2000-2015
Years on Top 10: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Wins by age 30: 122
Wins by age 40: 214
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 92
Wins in 30s: 92
Wins on June 4, 2009: 128
Wins on June 4, 2019: 214
June 4, 2009 was not a good day for Mark Buehrle. The Chicago White Sox ace went into the game 6-1 with a 2.71 ERA, but allowed four runs in eight innings to the Oakland Athletics in a 7-0 loss. It was a rare blip in what otherwise had been a solid season for the veteran lefty. Buehrle was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. He played baseball in high school, but failed to make the varsity team in his first two high school years. He was close to giving up, but finally gave it another go and made the team as a junior. He was recruited to Jefferson College in nearby Hillsboro, and played with them for one year before the Chicago White Sox picked him in the 38th round of the 1998 draft. At the time the draft-and-follow rule was still in effect and Buehrle went and pitched another year at Jefferson. He became an ace and the White Sox offered a contract in early 1999, which he signed. Buehrle was dispatched to A-ball in Burlington, where he held his own for a 20-year-old facing older competition. He was brought up to AA Birmingham and was even better, posting an 8-4 record with a 2.28 ERA. The White Sox brought him up in July where he primarily pitched out of the bullpen. He shined amidst one of the most offensive-heavy periods, going 4-1 with a 4.21 ERA while pitching primarily out of the bullpen. He made the post-season roster after the White Sox won the American League Central and had one appearance in the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, allowing an inherited runner to score while striking out Alex Rodriguez. A year later Buehrle made the team out of spring training and was inserted into the starting rotation. He was solid, going 16-8 with a 3.29 ERA, and he became Chicago's Opening Day starter in 2002, a year when he went 19-12 with a 3.58 ERA.
Buehrle remained strong in 2003 and 2004, going 30-24 with a 4.01 ERA, but the White Sox finished second both years well short of a division title. Few people thought the White Sox had much of a chance to succeed in 2005, but Buehrle went out and had a solid year. He replicated his 16-8 record from four years earlier and posting a career-low 3.12 ERA. The White Sox won 99 games and the AL Central, and Buehrle had another shot at the playoffs. He scuffled in his Division Series start against the defending champion Boston Red Sox but still hung on for the win. Then he started Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the White Sox down by a game. He responded with a complete game victory, allowing only one run. The other Chicago starters took his lead to send the White Sox to their first World Series since 1959. Buerhle did not pitch well in his Game 2 start in the World Series against the Houston Astros, but Chicago won the game to give them a 2-0 lead in the Series. He came out of the bullpen two days later in the bottom of the 14th after the White Sox had taken a 7-5 lead. The Astros had runners on the corner, but Buehrle retired Adam Everett for the save, and Chicago would win the title the next night. Buehrle was uncharacteristically awful in 2006 with a 4.99 ERA, but came back to shine in 2007. He went 10-9 with a 3.63, but he won his 100th game and also pitched a no-hitter. He went 15-12 in 2008 and led the American League with 240 innings as the White Sox won another division title. However, Buehrle pitched poorly in the Division Series against the surprise Tampa Bay Rays and the White Sox were knocked out early once again. The 2009 season started out as a solid one for Buehrle, but his June 4 start was the beginning of a series of nine starts where he put up a 4.42 ERA. However, he was sharp on July 18, throwing 7.1 innings of one-run ball. Then he pitched against the Rays five days later. Buehrle was literally perfect, retiring all 27 batters. He had to get an assist from center fielder Dewyne Wise who robbed Gabe Kapler of a home run, but it was still a tremendous achievement. He ended the season 13-10 with a 3.84 ERA and won a Gold Glove. Unbeknownst to him, it would be the first of four straight seasons where he won exactly 13 games.
Buehrle spent two more seasons in the South Side of Chicago. He had a down year in 2010 where he went 13-13 with a 4.28 ERA before rebounding to 13-9 and 3.59 in 2011. He entered free agency that year, and signed a four-year deal with the Miami Marlins, who were hyping up a move into a new ballpark and the acquisition of several star players. Buehrle led the team with 202.1 innings and a 3.74 ERA and 13 innings. However, the brand new Marlins ended up a bust as the team went 69-93 and finished last in the NL East. After the season they sent him packing north of the border to the Toronto Blue Jays. Buehrle expressed his contempt with Marlins management saying the team had lied to him on multiple occasions. The frustrations must have gotten to him as he went out and won only 12 games with a league-average 4.15 ERA. He returned to win 13 games once again in 2014. In 2015 he surged to 15 wins, including the 200th of his career. The Blue Jays surged on to capture the AL East title and secure their first post-season appearance since winning the 1993 World Series. Buehrle had 198 innings after his start on October 2. He was six outs away from his 15th straight 200-inning season and came back on one day's rest to go for the milestone. Unfortunately he got only two outs as the Rays scored eight unearned runs. He was left off the post-season roster despite his reasonably successful season, and with the expiration of the contract he signed with the Marlins he became a free agent. He went unsigned in 2016 and quietly slipped into retirement, ending the career of one of the top pitchers in Chicago White Sox history.
Bartolo Colon - 94
Date of Birth: May 24, 1973
Years Played: 1997-2009, 2011-
Years on Top 10: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2017, 2018
Wins by age 30: 90
Wins by age 40: 175
Wins after age 40: 72
Wins after age 30: 157
Wins in 30s: 85
Wins on June 4, 2009: 153
Wins on June 4, 2019: 247
Bartolo Colon's career was hanging by a thread on June 4, 2009. The 2005 Cy Young award winner was pitching for his third team in three seasons while recovering from shoulder and elbow problems that had limited him since his Cy Young victory. He had made ten starts with the Chicago White Sox, but suffered a loss two days earlier against the Oakland Athletics to send him to 3-5 despite a 3.75 ERA. He was already a veteran in his 13th season, but he stared uncomfortably at what could have been the end of his career. Colon was born and raised in the town of Altamira in the Dominican Republic. He left school early to work in the coffee bean fields and fruit groves with his father. He learned the game of baseball from his father, and the arm strength he developed from his physical labor helped him throw the ball faster than many of his peers. Like many Dominican youths young Bartolo looked to baseball as a ticket to a better life, but he struggled mightily to catch the attention of Major League scouts. He was 20 when he finally secured a contract with the Cleveland Indians, but he lied about his age and made himself two years younger. Colon was brought to the rookie league in 1994 and had a strong showing. He went on to dominate high-A Kinston in 1995 and AA Canton-Akron in 1996. He saw time with AAA Buffalo, but he was limited by a sore elbow, and he spent much of his time in the bullpen. Colon came into 1997 bigger and stronger, and an injury to prospective starter Brian Anderson meant Colon got to break camp with the Major League club. He struggled in his first taste of Major League action while he spent several weeks with AAA Buffalo, and he was left off the post-season roster, but he got a taste of the Big Leagues, and he would do whatever it took to stay there. Colon was involved in some trade rumors the off-season, but the Indians ultimately kept him, and he rewarded them by pitching a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts in his first start of 1998. He was named to the All-Star game, and finished the season 14-9 with a 3.71 ERA. He was named to the post-season roster this time and allowed one run in both of his starts, including a complete game win in Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees, but the Indians fell in six games.
Colon took another step forward in 1999, going 18-5 with a 3.95 ERA, finishing second in wins. He had another shot at the post-season and pitched well in the Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. He had another start in Game 4 with a chance to clinch the series, but Boston pounded him for seven runs in one+ inning and the Indians fell 23-7. Colon went 29-29 with a 3.99 ERA the next two season. The Indians failed to make the playoffs in 200 but won the AL Central in 2001. Colon pitched eight shutout innings in Game 1 of the Division Series against the 116-win Seattle Mariners. He had a chance to upset the Mariners in Game 4, but couldn't secure a win, and the Indians lost the series in five. Colon was off to a strong start in 2002, going 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA. However, the Indians were below .500. Cleveland felt their ace was expendable especially after the news broke about him changing his age, and they traded him to the Montreal Expos for three young players. Colon finished with ten more wins with the Expos to give him 20 wins for the first time in his career. Once the season ended Montreal sent him packing again, this time to the Chicago White Sox. He had a strong year, going 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA and ending with his 100th career win. Colon became a free agent and signed with the Anaheim Angels. He struggled in the first season, putting up a 5.01 ERA, but he still finished 18-12 thanks to the Angels' superior firepower. He improved his ERA to 3.48 in 2005, and led the American League with 21 wins. Despite strong competition that included the Minnesota Twins's Johan Santana and the Yankees' exceptional closer Mariano Rivera, Colon was named the Cy Young winner for 2005. He lost Game 1 of the Division Series against the Yankees, and came back in Game 5. He had to leave in the second inning, and was eventually diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff. The Angels eventually won the series before falling to the White Sox in the ALCS. Colon tried to recover, but he was only able to make 29 appearances in 2006 and 2007, and he went 7-13 with a 5.90 ERA. He signed with the Red Sox and went 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA including his 150th win, but he was limited by his shoulder and elbow, and ended the season on the restricted list. He signed with the White Sox in 2009 after elbow surgery, but made only two more starts after June, and none after July 24. Chicago released him in September.
Bartolo Colon went into 2010 only a shell of his former self. His right shoulder and elbow kept him in pain most of the time, and his weight had ballooned to well over 230 pounds. He had made millions in his career and could have retired comfortably, but he was not willing to give up his Major League dreams. He went and had a stem cell transplant in his right shoulder. Then he spent the year rehabilitating and played winter ball. He was pitching without pain and ready to make his Major League comeback. The Yankees gave him a try, and he had a reasonably successful season, going 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA. More importantly he pitched in 29 games including 26 starts, and threw 164.1 innings. He did end up on the disabled list in June, but it was for a strained hamstring. The procedure he had received the year before raised some eyebrows, but MLB declared no wrongdoing. The season was by all means a success, even if the Yankees left him off their post-season roster. Colon signed with the Oakland Athletics for 2012 and got off to a strong start. He pitched eight one-run innings in the Opening Series in Tokyo, and later in the month threw 38 straight strikes. He was 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA on August 18, but four days later he was suspended after testing positive for a synthetic testosterone, a violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Colon accepted the suspension, which cost him the rest of the season. He then re-signed with the A's and was even better in 2013, going 18-6 with a 2.65 ERA while helping Oakland to a second straight division title. He had the ball in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, suffering a loss.
Colon signed with the New York Mets in the off-season, and his transition to a folk hero took another step forward. He was very good in his three years with New York, going 44-34 with a 3.90 ERA that was below-average. Yet he made more news with his antics at the plate, often swinging so hard his helmet falls off. He weight in at 285 pounds, 100 pounds more than during his rookie season with the Indians, and he openly embraced the nickname "Big Sexy." Yet he was still sufficiently agile to make some dazzling plays. He did still have some milestones left in him. He won his 200th game in August 2014. He accepted a bullpen role in 2015 after the Mets won the NL East, and helped the team to the pennant. He made his World Series debut at the age of 42, 18 years after he was left off the Indians' post-season roster. He allowed the go-ahead run in the 14th inning of Game 1, and the Mets eventually fell in five games to the Kansas City Royals. And on May 7, 2016, he accomplished the impossible and hit a home run, 17 days before his 43rd birthday, establishing a new record for the oldest Major Leaguer to hit his first home run. Colon became a free agent at the end of the year and signed with the Atlanta Braves. While he was still popular, he struggled to a 2-8 record with an 8.14 ERA and drew his release on July 4. The Twins picked him up three days later, and he pitched slightly better, going 5-6 with a 5.18 ERA. He became a free agent again and the Texas Rangers picked him up, initially planning on keeping him in the bullpen. Yet injuries to prospective starters forced Colon into the rotation, and he had a strong showing, keeping his ERA at 3.55 through the end of May. The rest of the league eventually caught up to him and he finished back in the bullpen having gone 7-12 with a 5.78 ERA, but not before he broke Dennis Martinez's record for wins by a Latin American pitcher. He still expresses a desire to pitch, citing a desire to break Juan Marichal's record for innings pitched by a Dominican, but at the age of 46 he has yet to draw any offers. One of the most colorful careers in baseball history may finally be finished.
John Lackey - 96
Date of Birth: October 23, 1978
Years Played: 2002-2011, 2013-2017
Years on Top 10: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Wins by age 30: 91
Wins by age 40: 188
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 97
Wins in 30s: 97
Wins on June 4, 2009: 92
Wins on June 4, 2019: 188
John Lackey was making only the fifth start of the 2009 season on June 4, 2009, after missing a month and a half due to a forearm injury. He allowed two runs in seven innings against the Toronto Blue Jays and left with a 5-2 lead. The Blue Jays rallied against a pair of relievers to give Lackey a no-decision, but the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim still rallied in the ninth for the win. While it was disappointing to go without a victory, Lackey had still made 211 starts in the Majors, a surprising number for somebody who was a late bloomer to pitching. He was an infielder when he played high school baseball in his hometown of Abilene, Texas. He went to University of Texas Arlington on a baseball scholarship just minutes from the Ballpark in Arlington, and was still primarily an infielder but he stepped in as a relief pitcher from time to time. He began focusing on his pitching when playing in summer league, and later transferred to Grayson County College to further work on his pitching. Lackey led the team with the bat and on the mound, and helped Grayson to the Junior College World Series. That got the attention of the Angels, who drafted him in the second round of the 1999 draft. Lackey wasted little time to sign, and got action in the minor league that summer as a pitcher. He struggled while with low-A Boise after signing, but had much better success across three levels of baseball in 2000. He advanced to AA Arkansas in 2002, and later to AAA Salt Lake and made his Major League debut on June 24, 2002 in the midst of a pennant race. He went 9-4 with a 3.66 ERA in his 18 starts. The Angels ultimately lost the AL West to the Moneyball Oakland Athletics, but they entered the post-season as the Wild Card. Lackey pitched in relief in the Division Series against the New York Yankees, but started Game 4 of the ALCS against the Minnesota Twins, throwing seven shutout innings, and the Angels clinched the pennant the next day. The Angels and the San Francisco Giants battled it out, with Lackey seeing action in Games 2 and 4. The series ended in a Game 7, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia trusted his rookie with the ball. Lackey threw five innings of one-run ball while the Angels blitzed Giants starter Livan Hernandez for four runs in two-plus innings. The Los Angeles bullpen threw four shutout innings and the Angels were World Series champions.
Lackey had some struggles in 2003 and 2004, going 24-29 with a below-average 4.65 ERA, but he evolved as an ace in 2005, going 14-5 with a 3.44 ERA while the Angels won the AL West. He pitched twice in the Division Series against the Yankees and recorded two no-decisions, but the Angels won the series in five games. He then struggled in the ALCS against the Chicago White Sox and the Angels eventually fell. After another strong season in 2006, Lackey had his best season in 2007, going 19-9 with a league-leading 3.01 ERA and finished third in Cy Young voting. He struggled in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, and the Angels were eventually swept. He suffered from some arm injuries in 2008, but came back to win 12 games and helped the Angels to another division title. He pitched twice in a Division Series rematch against the Red Sox, but Boston prevailed once again in four games. Lackey had the forearm issues early in 2009, and had struggled upon his return. He was still 4-4 with a 4.93 ERA by the All-Star break. He settled down and went 7-4 with a 3.05 ERA in the second half to finish at 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA as the Angels won a third straight AL West crown. He pitched in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Red Sox for the third straight year and threw 7.1 shutout innings leading the way for an Angels sweep. However, he didn't pitch well against the Yankees in the ALCS and the Yankees ended up capturing the pennant. Lackey became a a free agent at the end of the season and was the prized pitcher. The Red Sox ended up winning the sweepstakes, getting him for five years and $82.5 million. Lackey went 14-11 with a league-average 4.40 ERA in his first season, and Boston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The 2011 season was even worse as he struggled with elbow pain for most of the season. He ended the season 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA and the Red Sox were knocked out in the last day of the season. Soon reports came out that several pitchers including Lackey were drinking beers and eating fried chicken during the clubhouse in games where they weren't starting. The controversy eventually led to the firing of longtime manager Terry Francona.
Lackey had Tommy John surgery in the off-season, and he missed all of 2012 for rehabilitation. He still made appearances in the Boston clubhouse and was seen drinking beer. Lackey was under the microscope when he made his return in 2013. The Red Sox had finished in last place the year before, the first time they finished last since 1932. Lackey was up to the task, putting up a 3.52 ERA in 29 starts. His record was 10-13 due to some poor run support, but Boston still won the AL East. Lackey pitched well in the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays and the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers as the Red Sox won the pennant. Lackey got the start in Game 2 of the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched valiantly in the loss. He pitched a scoreless inning in relief in Game 4 before getting the ball for Game 6 with a chance to clinch the title. He threw 6.2 innings of one-run ball and the Red Sox had their third title since 2004. The ecstasy was short-lived, as Boston was heading towards another last-place finish in 2014. Lackey was pitching well, going 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA, and the Red Sox dealt him to their World Series opponents at the trade deadline. Lackey struggled in the regulat season with the Cardinals, but pitched seven innings of one-run ball in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a series the Cardinals won, but he didn't pitch well in the NLCS against the Giants. Lackey pitched one more year in St. Louis under an option that the Red Sox had added after he missed the 2012 season. He went 13-10 with a career-low 2.77 ERA as St. Louis won 100 games. He pitched well in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, but that was the only win the Cardinals won as the Cubs won in four. Lackey became a free agent again and signed a two-year deal with the Cubs, reunited with his former Red Sox teammate Jon Lester. He went 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA in his first season on the North Side as the Cubs surged to 103 wins. Lackey didn't pitch all too well in the post-season, but Chicago won the pennant, then defeated the Cleveland Indians in the World Series to end 108 years of misery. Lackey fell to 12-12 with a 4.59 ERA in 2017. He spent the post-season in the bullpen as the Cubs fell to the Dodgers in the NLCS. Lackey sat out the 2018 season before officially announcing his retirement. It was often a turbulent career, but Lackey managed successes that most people can only dream of.
Jered Weaver - 110
Date of Birth: October 4, 1982
Years Played: 2006-2017
Years on Top 10: 2016, 2017
Wins by age 30: 102
Wins by age 40: 150
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 48
Wins in 30s: 48
Wins on June 4, 2009: 40
Wins on June 4, 2019: 150
With the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rotation in disarray following injuries to their stars such as John Lackey and Ervin Santana as well as the untimely death of Nick Adenhart, Jered Weaver had stepped in as the ace in 2009. He had thrown seven innings of one-run ball on June 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays to improve his record to 5-2 and lower his ERA to 2.26. It was the latest step for Jered to step out from the shadows of his older brother Jeff. Jered was born in Northridge, California in San Fernando Valley and raised in Simi Valley. His brother Jeff was six years his senior, and was in the Majors with the Detroit Tigers by the time Jered graduated from high school in 2001. Jered went on to California State University in Long Beach and became one of the most decorated collegiate pitchers. He won several awards, including the Roger Clemens Award as the top pitcher, the Dick Howser Trophy as the top collegiate player, and the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player. He was one of the top prospects going into the 2004 draft, but his agent Scott Boras was calling for bonuses upwards of $10 million. As a result 11 teams passed over him before the Angels picked him at 12th overall. At the time teams could negotiate until the end of May the following season, but Weaver and the Angels needed all that time before coming to terms on a $4 million bonus. Weaver started out with high-A Rancho Cucamonga, and did well enough that he advanced to AA Arkansas before the end of the season. He started out in 2006 with AAA Salt Lake, and went 6-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 12 starts to convince the team to bring him up for his Major League debut on May 27, 2006. Weaver was sensational, throwing seven shutout innings. He won his first nine decisions and kept his ERA below 2.00 through August 29. He ended the season 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA, fantastic numbers but it was only enough for him to finish fifth in the Rookie of the Year race amidst strong competition. Weaver's ERA in the next two seasons rose to 4.13, but he still went 24-17 as the Angels won the AL West both years. His most significant game came on June 28, 2008 when he threw six no-hit innings in a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers where the Angels still lost 1-0. He had mixed results in the post-season, losing in his 2007 Division Series start against the Boston Red Sox while winning in relief in 2008, although the Angels still lost the series.
Weaver stepped up as the clear-cut ace of the Angels in 2009. He struggled in the second half of the season but still finished at 16-8 with a 3.75 as Los Angeles won their third straight AL West title. He won Game 2 of the Division Series over the Red Sox in an eventual sweep. He then started Game 3 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees and received a no-decision. He came out of bullpen twice more in an effort to save the season but the Angels fell in six games. The Angels fell out of contention in 2010, but Weaver took his pitching to the next level. He put up a 3.01 ERA in 2010 and led the American League with 233 strikeouts, but still went 13-12. He improved to a 2.41 ERA in 2011 and went 18-8. The Angels fell short of a September comeback for the division, but Weaver did start the All-Star Game, then he finished second in Cy Young voting behind only Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. Weaver led the league with 20 wins in 2012 and had a 2.81 ERA and finished third in Cy Young voting. His 2013 was abbreviated due to a fractured elbow while trying to dodge a line drive comebacker. He missed a month and a half, but he was still strong when he was able to pitch, going 11-8 with a 3.27 ERA. Weaver led the American League for a second time with 18 wins in 2014 and the Angels ended four years of futility to capture their first AL West title since 2009. He got the start in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. He pitched well, throwing seven innings of two-run ball, but the Angels lost in 11 innings, and they wound up getting swept out of the playoffs.
As strong as his 2014 season seemed at the outset, there were some warning signs. His 3.59 ERA was right at league average, and his velocity which was never overpowering began to drop, and it became more difficult to separate his fastballs from his change-ups. He tried to make up for this lack of speed by putting focus on location, but he suffered from back and hip problems that cost him all of July. He ended the season 7-12 with a 4.64 ERA as the Angels collapsed to third. He saw his velocity continue to tank in 2016, and it became difficult for him to even find the strike zone. After a year where his walks/9 innings fellow below 2.0, it jumped back up to 2.6 in 2016, and he began serving up longballs, leading the American League with 37 home runs allowed. While he gritted his way to a 12-12 record and ending with 150 wins, his ERA had collapsed to 5.06. Weaver became a free agent after the season, and he signed with the San Diego Padres. While he had a few good starts in April, the Padres ended up losing each of those games. His season entered nightmare territory in May, and he was 0-5 with a 7.44 ERA after getting lit up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 19. He was shelved after that, and eventually announced his retirement. It was a sad ending to a man who at one point was one of the top pitchers in the American League.
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Well, there you have it. These are 25 pitchers, all of whom have spent time as the top 10 winningest active pitchers on June 4, and all of whom are not currently on a Major League roster. They have been presented in reverse order of wins since June 4, 2009, but here they all are again listed in order by total career wins, along with some of the metrics we've established are reasonably important in terms of getting to 300 wins, namely wins by 30 and by 40 and so on:
(record scratch)
Whoa whoa whoa. We've got 25 pitchers, all of whom had spent time as being the top 10 active pitchers in wins and some of whom have been recognized as the Best Pitcher in Baseball. And you mean to tell me that of those 25 only seven of them have won even one game after their 40th birthday? There has to be some mistake.
Nope. As you can see above only Jamie Moyer, Andy Pettitte, Bartolo Colon, Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, Tim Wakefield, and Bronson Arroyo have even won a single game after their 40th birthday. Some players that had the reputation of being old such as John Lackey, Derek Lowe, Kevin Millwood, A.J. Burnett and Kyle Lohse among others were in their late 30s by their final wins. We're now in an era where pitchers just aren't being given the opportunity to pitch into their 40s. The bygone days of 2007 when there were more than half a dozen starting pitchers over 40 are long gone. As I had mentioned the only player older than 40 this year is Fernando Rodney, a reliever. Teams are prioritizing a player's contributions over personal records for the most part. Players that are no longer contributing just sort of fade away. You have not only former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and 300-save closer Craig Kimbrel going unsigned well into May, but also veteran innings-eater James Shields. Sure certain players that have a proven track record are given more leeway when it comes to getting contracts after they go past their prime, but eventually there would be a point where even the best pitchers become free agents for life.
So how is that significant in our consideration of the future of the 300-win club? Well pitching beyond 40 would be important for two crucial reasons. For one thing, reaching 300 wins would almost always require a pitcher pitch beyond 40. Over the past 90 years only Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux have reached 300 wins before their 40th birthdays. And this is directly related to the fact that winning games beyond 40 would increase the number of wins a pitcher can accrue after their 30th birthday, which as we have established is correlated with final win totals. As we can also see from the above table, only eight of the aforementioned 25 pitchers won at least 100 games past the age of 30. Of those eight pitchers five of them won at least one game after turning 40, with only Roy Halladay, Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett turning the trick despite getting zero wins after 40. On the other hand ten of the 25 had at least 100 wins by their 30th birthdays. The differences in correlation can be visualized in some more scatterplots.
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| Wins before 30, retired top 10 pitchers |
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| Wins after 30, retired top 10 pitchers |
In case you can't read the tiny print, the R^2 for wins before 30 among these 25 pitchers is 0.0071, and it sure as heck looks like there is a negative correlation, as the R^2 is a square of two numbers, and it won't differentiate whether a relationship is positive or negative. It sure looks like the more wins you have by the age of 30, the fewer wins you'll be likely to have overall. The connection is clearly very weak, but it does make some sense as a pitcher would need to pitch plenty of innings before age 30 to reach 100 wins before that 30th birthday. On the other hand, check out the R^2 for the wins after age 30: .7004. The more wins you are able to get after turning 30, the more career wins you're likely going to get. In other words, by winning 109 games by age 30, Johan Santana is more likely to have wrecked his arm than Jamie Moyer, who only had 34 wins by age 30 and was able to pitch until he turned 49. However, Johan burned out and won only 30 games after the age of 30 and he finished with 139 wins, lowest among this sample of 25. Meanwhile Moyer won 235 games after turning 30, and his 269 wins are the most of these 25 pitchers. If we plug in these pitchers into our previous sample of pitchers with at least 250 wins, you find that the relationship had largely stayed the same.
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With that in mind, as we take a look at the current crop of active pitchers we really have no idea who will remain effective well into their 30s and who has yet to start shining. We can take a look at all of the pitchers with at least 100 wins, as they have gotten at least 1/3 of the way to 300 wins. There are currently 22 active pitchers with at least 100 wins, with active meaning they are under contract with a Major League organization. Some of those pitchers are near the end of their careers. Others are still just getting started (well as much as you can when you already have 100 wins in the Majors). It's possible that one or two of these pitchers get to 300 wins. It's possible that none of them will. But it's still worth looking at their lives and careers.
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Stephen Strasburg - 100
Date of Birth: July 20, 1988
Years Played: 2010-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 90
Wins after age 30: 10
Wins in 30s: 10
Wins on June 4, 2009: 0
Wins on June 4, 2019: 100
Wins after June 4, 2009: 100
Stephen Strasburg was at a bit of a crossroad on June 4, 2009. The San Diego State Aztecs junior had just completed one of the best season by any collegiate pitcher, when he had gone 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA and struck out 195 in 109 innings. His season had already included a 17-strikeout no-hitter, and he would soon be awarded with the Dick Howser trophy for best collegiate player, and the National Pitcher of the Year award. And yet the only reason why his season was already over was because his first loss came in the Irvine Regional of the NCAA Tournament at the hands of the University of Virginia Cavaliers a week earlier. San Diego State managed to eliminate Fresno State, but was soon eliminated themselves in the double elimination tournament. Strasburg has nothing to do but look ahead towards the 2009 Major League Baseball draft in five days where he is the consensus #1 pick. He had come a long way since he wasn't even guaranteed to make the San Diego State squad as an overweight, out-of-shape freshman. Strasburg was born in San Diego, and both of his parents were San Diego State alumni. He played baseball as a kid, and grew up to be bigger and taller than his peers. As a result he threw harder than the other kids, and was able to touch 90mph on the radar gun in high school. However, he lacked control of both his fastball and his emotions, and went 1-10 with a 3.50 ERA in his junior year. By his senior year he gained control of his fastball and posted a 1.68 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 62.1 innings. However, he had yet to gain control of the mental side of the game, and scouts were able to see that. He went undrafted in the Major League draft. Strasburg had planned on going to college anyways, and had told the scouts not to draft him. He hoped to get into Stanford, but failed to gain acceptance. While other schools courted him, he chose to stay close to home and attend San Diego State, whose head coach was Hall of Famer-to-be Tony Gwynn.
Strasburg had difficulties fitting into the college lifestyle, and things were even worse when baseball pre-season started. Besides his emotions, Strasburg had difficulty with controlling his appetite, and he had 250 pounds on his 6'4" frame and couldn't even complete the basic drills. Strength coach Dave Ohton tore into the young man, calling him Stephen Slothburg and telling him it would be better for him to quit baseball altogether. Ohton's words cut deep into Strasburg, but not only did it fail to discourage him, it strengthened his mental resolve. He started working out and also took part in yoga classes to improve his flexibility. He gained lessons on nutrition from his mother, who had worked as a dietitian. He had a remarkable turnaround physically, and as his weight went down his fastball went up. Soon he was hitting 100mph on his fastball, and had enough control of it that he struck out 23 batters in a game against Utah in his sophomore year. He made the US National team in the summer of 2008, and helped capture a gold medal in the World University Championship, then later made the trip to China to pitch in the Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. By his senior year his transformation was complete, and as expected he was chosen as the 1.1 pick by the Washington Nationals, who had spent June 4, 2009 losing twice to the San Francisco Giants, including Randy Johnson's 300th win. The next task was for both sides to come into agreement before the deadline to sign any picks, which was now set for August 17. With Strasburg represented by agent Scott Boras, it was a difficult negotiation, but the two sides finally came to a record-breaking deal just a minute before the deadline. Strasburg would be signed for four years and $15.1 million, breaking the record for an amateur.
Strasburg made his debut with the Arizona Fall League. His ERA was slightly high at 4.26, but he did go 4-1 and struck out 23 batters in 19 innings. He was still named the #2 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, and #1 by Baseball Prospectus. He went to Major League spring training, but was sent to begin the season with AA Harrisburg. He dominated in five starts, with a 3-1 record and 1.64 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 22 innings, then was promoted to AAA Syracuse. He was even more dominant, going 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 33.1 innings. Having toyed with minor league hitters in 11 starts, Washington had no choice but to call him up to the Major Leagues. Strasburg's debut on June 8, 2010 was the biggest event in Washington Nationals history to that point, and he was just as good as anticipated. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs while striking out 14 Pittsburgh Pirates. He took the show on the road and had another strong start in Cleveland, striking out eight in 5.1 innings. He then went into a bit of a rut, going 0-2 in his next four starts despite a 2.59 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24.1 innings. However, Strasburg turned things around on July 9, in the Giants' first game in Nationals Park since the June 4, 2009 double-header where Randy Johnson won his 300th game. He threw six innings and allowed only a home run to Andres Torres while striking out eight against the eventual World Series champs. His successful season was put on hold when he suffered from shoulder inflammation later in July, and later a torn ulnar collateral ligament requiring Tommy John surgery in late August. The Nationals were horrified, and when he recovered in 2011 they eased him back with six rehab starts in four minor league levels, then allowed him to only pitch five times in the Major League level, where he was just as electric as the year before. Washington declared in 2012 that Strasburg would be held on a strict innings limit that year to protect his arm. They never specified what the limit is, but as the Nationals stormed to the division behind Strasburg and another Tommy John survivor in Jordan Zimmermann and new rookie extraordinaire Bryce Harper, the debates regarding loosening the innings limit dominated the airwaves. Washington held fast, and when they clinched the NL East, Strasburg was left off the post-season roster due to his 159.1 innings. Then the entire country watched as the Nationals dueled the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals to a Game 5, then blow a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning of Game 5 as Drew Storen, their other 2009 first round raft pick, melted down.
Washington had no regrets about how they handled Strasburg going into the 2013 season, and he was allowed to go without limits. However, he stilled ended up on the disabled list due to a latissimus doris strain, and went 8-9 despite a solid 3.00 ERA while the Nationals finished the season short of a post-season series. He came into his own in 2014 when he broke the 200-inning plateau for the first time, with 215. He also surpassed 200 strikeouts in a season for the first time, with a National League-leading 242. Washington also captured the NL East title once again, and Strasburg got to finally make his post-season debut, in the Division Series against the Giants. He pitched well in Game 1, allowing one run in five hits, but suffered a loss as the Nationals wound up losing in four games. Strasburg was limited to just 23 starts in 2015, as he spent time on the Disabled List due to injuries to his neck and left oblique. Washington also missed the playoffs in a season marked by discord. Nevertheless, after agreeing to three one-year deals once the initial contract expired, the Nationals signed a seven-year extension with their ace worth $175 million that included an opt-out after four or five years. He was limited by injuries yet again, spending time on the Disabled List due to an upper back strain and elbow soreness, the latter of which cut short his season to just one start in September. Washington won the division title again, but Strasburg was kept off the post-season roster as a precautionary method, and the Nationals lost the Division Series again, this time to the Los Angeles Dodgers. As good as Stephen Strasburg had been, his injuries had led to him being somewhat of a forgotten man in Washington's rotation, with Max Scherzer winning Cy Young awards and Gio Gonzalez providing quality innings. However, he came out with a splash in 2017. He struck out a career high 15 on May 27, and later in August and September he set a new franchise record with 34 scoreless innings. He made only one trip to the DL instead of two, and ended the season 15-4 with a career-low 2.52 ERA and reaching 200 strikeouts for the second time in his career. The Nationals won the NL East for the first time in an odd-year, and Strasburg got the ball in the Division Series once again, facing the defending champion Chicago Cubs. He came out strong in Game 1, allowing two unearned runs in seven innings while striking out 10, but his team was shut out and he suffered a loss. He had another chance in Game 4 with Washington facing elimination. This time he threw seven shutout innings, striking out 12 and forced a Game 5. Unfortunately, the Nationals lost that as well. Strasburg went back and spent much of the 2018 season disabled. He had been healthy in 2019, but Washington had slipped to become one of the most disappointing teams in baseball. Can Stephen Strasburg ever help the Washington Nationals become winners?
Jake Arrieta - 103
Date of Birth: March 6, 1986
Years Played: 2010-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 56
Wins after age 30: 47
Wins in 30s: 47
Wins on June 4, 2009: 0
Wins on June 4, 2019: 103
Wins after June 4, 2009: 103
Bowie Baysox right-hander Jake Arrieta was sitting in the visiting dugout in Mercer County Waterfront Park on June 4, 2009 as he watched the Trenton Thunder beat up on his teammate Freddy Deza. Arrieta had pitched well against Trenton two days earlier to move him to 5-3 with a 2.94 ERA, and he was waiting for the day when the Baltimore Orioles would call him up to AAA Norfolk and move him closer to his Major League dreams. Arrieta was born in Farmington, Missouri, but his family moved to the Dallas suburb of Plano when he was still a baby. He grew up and took to playing baseball. He became a star pitcher with Plano East, and was drafted in the 31st round of 2004 draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He decided not to sign and went instead to Weatherford Junior College. He performed well enough that the Brewers called his name in the 26th year. Once again he stuck to his plan of college ball, and transferred to Texas Christian University after a summer with the Texas Collegiate Lead. Arrieta shined as a Horned Frog. He became head coach Jim Schlossnagle's top starter, and helped the team to two straight Mountain West Conference championships, although they were unable to advance to the Super Regional in the NCAA baseball tournament. During the summers he also pitched for the USA national team. The Orioles selected him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, and this time Arrieta signed after two months of negotiations. He was too late for the minor league seasons, but took part in the Arizona Fall League. He pitched with high-A Frederick in 2008, but his season was interrupted as he took part in the Summer Olympics in Beijing, ending up with a bronze medal. Prior to the 2009 season, Arrieta was named by Baseball America as the fourth best prospect in the Baltimore organization, and 67th overall. He pitched well with AA Bowie, and was called up to AAA Norfolk after one more start following his June 2 one, but he struggled a bit in AAA, ending up 5-8 with a 3.93 ERA.
Arrieta opened the 2010 season in Norfolk once again, but when he was able to dominate AAA hitters to the tune of a 6-2 record and a 1.85 ERA, the Orioles called him up, and he made his Major League debut on June 10, 2010, allowing three runs in six innings against the New York Yankees for his first Major League win. The rest of his season was rather uneven, but he still finished up at 6-6 with a 4.66 ERA, decent numbers for a rookie starter. The Orioles were loaded with strong young starters in 2011, including Zach Britton, Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, yet it was Arrieta that received the honor of getting the start in the home opener after Baltimore opened the season on the road. He was up to the task, pitching six innings of one-run ball against the Detroit Tigers. However, he was blasted in his next start, and struggled to a 5.05 ERA before missing the last two months of the season due to bone spurs in the elbow. He also struggled with his mechanics, as he made adjustments at the recommendations of new pitching coach Rick Adair. Arrieta was healthy during spring training in 2012, and was named the Opening Day starter. He threw seven scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins, but his stats quickly spiraled out of control, and he was 3-9 with a 6.13 ERA in July when he was sent back to Norfolk, where he pitched only marginally better. He was recalled in September and pitched out of the bullpen, but was left off the post-season roster after Baltimore made their first post-season appearance in 15 years. Arrieta was once again chosen to start their home opener in 2013, but he did not have a good start. He was blasted in three of his four starts before getting buried in Norfolk once again. He was called up for one emergency start, and allowed five runs in 4.2 innings. By then Arrieta was just about ready to give up on the game. It was just as well as the Orioles were just about ready to give up on Arrieta, who was 20-25 with a 5.46 career ERA.
However, there was one team that was not ready to give up on Jake Arrieta. Several scouts for the Chicago Cubs had seen the flashes of brilliance that the youngster had amidst all of his struggles, and Baltimore made him available, the Cubs pounced, trading Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger for Arrieta and Pedro Strop. Arrieta made a stop at AAA Iowa before getting called to the Majors. He worked with Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio, who had been the losing pitcher in Nolan Ryan's 300th win but had become a respected coach. Together they adjusted his pitching style to fit his natural mechanics and he went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA in Chicago. Arrieta picked up Pilates that off-season and that gave him a newfound sense of balance in the 2014 season. He missed the first month of the season with a shoulder injury, but when he came back he was one of the best pitchers in the National League, finishing at 10-5 with a 2.53 ERA, picking up his first complete game shutout in his penultimate start when he also struck out 13. He remained strong in 2015 and had a 10-5 with a 2.66 ERA before the All-Star break. His strong numbers didn't set him apart sufficiently for manager Bruce Bochy to name him on the All-Star team. However, the second half of 2015 would feature one of the greatest two month stretch in baseball history. He tossed seven shutout innings with ten strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves, but then allowed five runs in 12 innings in his next two starts. Those would be his worst performances in the second half. He threw went 6-0 with a 0.43 ERA in August, finishing with a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would be even better in September, going 5-0 with a 0.39 ERA. He won his 20th game with a shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 22, and ended up 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA. The Dodgers' Zack Greinke had posted a 1.66 ERA and his teammate Clayton Kershaw had 301 strikeouts, but it was Arrieta that walked away with the Cy Young. He continued his dominance in the Wild Card Game, when he threw a complete game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was more human in the Division Series, but the Cubs still topped the St. Louis Cardinals before the magic ran out against the New York Mets.
Arrieta continued his dominance in the first half of 2016, no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds in April and carrying a 1.74 ERA into late June. He had a few rough starts afterwards, but still made his first All-Star team. He ended the season 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA as Chicago won 103 games and the NL Central. He pitched well against the San Francisco Giants in the Division Series but ended with a no-decision, although the Cubs won the series. Then pitched poorly against the Dodgers in the NLCS, but the Cubs still won their first pennant since 1945. Facing the Cleveland Indians, Arrieta pitched well in Game 2 to tie the series, but the Indians took the next two games to build a 3-1 lead before Chicago won Game 5 to stay alive. Arrieta allowed two runs in 5.2 innings while the Cubs blasted Josh Tomlin to force a Game 7, which Chicago famously won in ten innings for their first title since 1908. Arrieta wasn't quite the same in 2017. His ERA briefly rose above 5.00 in May and was still over 4.00 in July. He went 4-1 with a 1.21 ERA in August to win Pitcher of the Month for the fourth time, but suffered with a blister problem as he ended the season 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA. He pitched well in the post-season, but the Cubs' attempt to repeat fell in the NLCS. Arrieta was due for free agency after the season. The Cubs offered a qualifying offer, but Arrieta declined it to test the market. He felt the free agent freeze and didn't get signed until March, when he inked a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. He tried to pitch through a left knee injury but struggled mightily, and he finished the 2018 season 10-11 with a 3.96 ERA. He won his 100th game on April 12, 2019 for a Phillies team that had post-season aspirations, hoping to recapture some of his magic from the few months when he was the Best Pitcher in Baseball.
Edwin Jackson - 104
Date of Birth: September 9, 1983
Years Played: 2003-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 77
Wins after age 30: 27
Wins in 30s: 27
Wins on June 4, 2009: 30
Wins on June 4, 2019: 104
Wins after June 4, 2009: 74
On June 4, 2009 Detroit Tigers righthander Edwin Jackson may have been feeling that he had finally found a team to call home. The seven-year Major League veteran was already playing for this third team since his debut, but he was 5-3 with a 2.30 ERA, and had helped the Tigers stake a 2.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins for first place in the AL Central. Jackson's journey had began in Germany 25 years earlier. His father was in the US Army and was stationed in Neu-Ulm, West Germany. He lived the transient life of a military brat before settling down in Columbus, Georgia. He was an outfielder and helped his high school win the Georgia State Championship during his senior year. The Los Angeles Dodgers saw promise in Jackson, and drafted him in the sixth round of the 2001 draft. He signed shortly after the draft, and was dispatched to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Dodgers. He played a few games in the outfield, but his arm was too promising to be making only a few chances a game. They converted him into a pitcher. He appeared in 12 games in the rookie leagues, including two starts, and dazzled scouts with his upper-90s fastball. The next year he was promoted all the way to A-level South Georgia and posted a 5-2 record with a 1.98 ERA in 19 starts. He went up to AA Jacksonville in 2003 and held his own for being a 19-year-old. He was a few days away from his 20th birthday when he received word that he would be getting the call to the Majors. He showed up and was called to make his first Major League start in Dodger Stadium on September 9, 2003, his 20th birthday. His opponents were the Arizona Diamondbacks, and on the mound was the intimidating 228-game winner Randy Johnson. The Big Unit was a day away from his 40th birthday and had suffered from knee problems all season, but he still pitched eight innings allowing four runs. The young rookie lasted only six, but allowed just one run. The bullpen held on with Eric Gagne getting his 50th save of the season, and Edwin Jackson had his first Major League win.
Jackson finished at 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and jumped all the way to #4 overall prospect on Baseball America's rankings before the 2004 season. The Dodgers didn't want to push him too hard and sent him to AAA Las Vegas. He struggled facing the stronger competition, but still pitched decently in two separate Major League stints. He received another September call-up and made two adequate relief appearances, but he was given the ball in two starts and was miserable, allowing 11 runs in eight innings for a 12.38 ERA. One more disastrous outing ended his season ERA at 7.30. The Dodgers dropped him back to Jacksonville to start off the 2005 season. He performed well enough that earned him a promotion to Las Vegas, where he was hammered to a 3-7 record with an 8.62 ERA. He was given a chance to pitch in the Majors but wasn't much better. The Dodgers lost patience in their young pitcher and traded him to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for two pitchers with more of a track record. Jackson floundered around in Tampa Bay for two seasons, going 5-15 with a 5.70 in 2006 and 2007. He was the Rays' fourth starter in 2008. Something seemed to have clicked for him and he put forth a half-decent season, tying James Shields for the team lead with 14 wins with a 4.42 ERA while Tampa Bay ended as the surprise winners of the AL East. He pitched out of the bullpen in the post-season and made three relief appearances as the Rays made it all the way to the World Series before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies. Jackson was rewarded for his strong season by getting sent over to the Tigers for Matt Joyce. He only continued his rise in 2009 and was 7-4 with a 2.52 ERA by the All-Star break. He was rewarded with his first All-Star Game appearance. The second half wasn't quite as magical as he slumped to a 6-5 with a 5.07 ERA. The Tigers fell into a tie with the Twins and lost the tie-break game with Jackson watching from the bench. Jackson had two years before hitting free agency, but the Tigers included him in a three-team deal that saw him going to the Arizona Diamondbacks of all teams with Max Scherzer coming to Detroit.
Thus began the strange saga of Edwin Jackson. He threw the second shutout of his career on June 25, 2010 against his former team the Rays, winning 1-0 while throwing a no-hitter despite walking eight. That was his highlight in the desert as he went 6-10 with a 5.16 ERA. With the Diamondbacks in last place they traded him to the Chicago White Sox for a pair of younger pitchers. He ended the season 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in the South Side. He opened the 2011 season 7-7 with a 3.92 ERA, and Chicago flipped him to the Toronto Blue Jays. Before Jackson could prepare his passport, the Blue Jays included him in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals alongside Marc Rzepczynski, Corey Patterson, and Octavio Dotel. Eagle-eye observers noted it was Dotel's 12th Major League team, tying Mike Morgan, Matt Stairs, and Ron Villone for the most all-time. It was only Jackson's sixth, and he didn't get the same attention. The Cardinals were in a bitter battle for the NL Central. Jackson stepped in and went 5-2 with a 3.58. It wasn't enough for St. Louis to win the division over the Milwaukee Brewers, but they managed to beat out the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card spot. Jackson won Game 4 of the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, setting up for a Game 5 showdown between Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay where Carpenter came out on top. He had two miserable starts in the NLCS against the Brewers, but the Cardinals won both games to claim the pennant. Jackson got the ball in Game 4 against the Texas Rangers, but couldn't do much as St. Louis was shut out by Derek Holland. He was set to make a pinch-hitting appearance in the bottom of the 10th of Game 6 with the Cardinals down 9-7 in the game and 3-2 in the series, but manager Tony LaRussa eventually sent Kyle Lohse up instead. Nevertheless St. Louis tied the score and won in the 11th, then took Game 7 to win the World Series.
Jackson celebrated his World Series title, but also saw his first go-around with free agency. He was only able to ink a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals. He went 10-11 with a 4.03 ERA to help the Nationals to their first division title, but he pitched poorly in the Division Series against his former team the Cardinals and Washington lost in heart-breaking fashion. He signed a four-year deal with the Chicago Cubs in his second attempt at free agency, but he went 14-33 with a 5.58 ERA in 2013 and 2014. He was demoted to the bullpen in 2015 and was pitching well, but was designated for assignment and eventually released in July. The Atlanta Braves picked him up and used him out of the bullpen. He pitched well, even picking up his first save, but became a free agent at the end of the year. He signed a deal with the Miami Marlins and was used as a reliever, but he was terrible and they dropped him after just eight appearances. He was able to sign with the San Diego Padres who put him back in the rotation, but he was terrible, and was let go at the end of the season. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles after the 2017 season started. They kept him in AAA Norfolk before calling him up in June. It was Jackson's 12th team, but Octavio Dotel had pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 2012-2013 to give him 13 teams, so nobody noticed. Besides, he was terrible and the Orioles released him after only three relief appearances. He went across the beltway for a second go-around with the Washington Nationals, but he didn't quite get the same results, going 5-6 with a 5.07 ERA to give him 98 wins. He re-signed with the Nationals, but they kept him in AAA Syracuse before he opted out of his contract on June 1. He signed with the Oakland Athletics less than a week later. He made three starts with AAA Nashville before getting called up, officially tying his former teammate Dotel's record with 13 teams. Moreover, he went 6-3 with a 3.33 ERA, surpassing 100 wins and helping the A's clinch a Wild Card spot, although they were defeated by the New York Yankees without Jackson making an appearance. He re-signed with Oakland, but was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays. His last stint with the Blue Jays lasted less than a day, but this time Toronto promoted him straight to the Majors to help him set a new record. Edwin Jackson hasn't had a career that would send him to the Hall of Fame, but he had a perseverance and tenacity that allowed him to set a Major League record.
Chris Sale - 104
Date of Birth: March 30, 1989
Years Played: 2010-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 103
Wins after age 30: 1
Wins in 30s: 1
Wins on June 4, 2009: 0
Wins on June 4, 2019: 104
Chris Sale's collegiate baseball season was already over. The sophomore southpaw at the Florida Gulf Coast University had helped the Eagles to the top of the Atlantic Sun Conference with a strong season where he went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA and 104 strikeouts in only 89.1 innings. However, since the university was only a transitory Division I member in 2009, it was not eligible for post-season play. As a result the team could not take part in either the ASUN conference championship or the NCAA baseball tournament. Sale wasn't deterred. He was preparing to play for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod Baseball League which was just another step towards his future baseball superstardom. Sale was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland was the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers, and also hosts their class-A team the Flying Tigers. Sale grew up surrounded by the game. He played baseball as a child, but still stood only 5'8" going into high school and got by on command rather than velocity. He went through a growth spurt his junior year that boosted his fastball into the 80s, but he still had to get by on command, and still struggled to control his volatile temper. He was good enough to get drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 21st round of the 2007 draft, but opted to go to college, even if Florida Gulf Coast University was the only school willing to give him an offer. He pitched out of the bullpen in his first season and pitched decently, but he struggled in the summer league, where he played with the La Crosse Loggers. He was pitching poorly and was almost ready to quit, but his manager helped him through some mechanical issues, switching his pitching slot into a three-quarters delivery. He also learned to focus on conditioning and the mental aspects of the game. He finished the summer league much better than when he started, and had himself the strong season as a sophomore and with the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named to the Cape Cod All-Star team. He was the most dominant pitcher in the Atlantic Sun Conference as a junior, going 11-0 with a 2.01 ERA. He was named the ASUN Pitcher of the Year and the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. That summer he went in the first round, 13th overall in the draft to the Chicago White Sox.
Sale signed only two weeks after the draft, and the the White Sox assigned him to their class A affiliate the Winston-Salem Dash. He pitched out of the bullpen and was dominant, so he was moved to AAA Charlotte. He was remained dominant and received the call to the Majors just two months after the draft. He was still slotted in the bullpen and made his Major League in relief on August 6, 2010. He ended up going 2-1 with a 1.93 as the power lefty along with four saves. He spent the entire 2011 season in the Major League bullpen and was a key set-up man, going 2-2 with a 2.79 ERA and recording eight saves of his own. Sale knew he could do more than pitch one or two innings. Previously there were some questions as to whether or not he had the physique to become a starter. However, the White Sox hired a new manager in 2012, former third baseman Robin Ventura, and they slotted him in their rotation as the number four starter. He had a short leash for his first two months, averaging just over six innings in his first eight starts. However, in his ninth start he pitched into the eighth inning and struck out 15 Tampa Bay Rays. Chicago won to move Sale to 6-2 with a 2.34 ERA. He was named to the All-Star team that year and ended the season 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA while striking out 192 batters in 192 innings, exactly one batter an inning. The White Sox finished second at 85-77, three games behind the first-place Tigers. Sale finished sixth in Cy Young voting, but he knew he could be even better. In 2013 he improved his strikeout numbers to 226 in 214.1 innings, and also had four complete games including his first shutout. However, the White Sox slipped to 63-99 and Sale went 11-14 despite a 3.07 ERA. He was still recognized for his efforts by finishing fifth in Cy Young voting. Sale started out the 2014 season strong, winning his first three starts and posting a 2.30 ERA after a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox. However, he felt some soreness in his left elbow after the start. An MRI showed only a flexor tendon strain, alleviating fears of a possible Tommy John surgery. However, he was still shelved for a whole month. He came back from the injury running, as he threw six one-hit innings against the New York Yankees while striking out ten upon his return. He kept his ERA below 2.50 the entire year, and finished the season 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA. He also struck out 208 batters in 174 innings, the first time his strikeout rate jumped over 10.0. Despite the injury he still finished third in Cy Young voting.
Sale suffered a fracture in his right foot during the off-season, but he missed only one start and was sharp upon his return. He still showed signs of his volatile temper as he hit Mike Moustakas with a pitch in an April start against the Kansas City Royals. Later in the game he was involved in a brawl and was one of the players ejected. He ended up getting suspended, but missed only a start, and he was bombed by the Minnesota Twins upon his return. He fell to 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA after another loss to the Twins a month later, but he struck out ten batters. Then he reached 10 strikeouts for his next seven starts, including all six starts in May. By the time the streak ended after a six-strikeout complete game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he was 7-4 and had lowered his ERA to 2.80. Later in the season he established a new White Sox strikeout record with his 270th, surpassing Ed Walsh's record from 1908, the year Big Ed went 40-15 to become the last 40-game winner in Major League history. Sale went only 13-11 as his ERA was a career-high 3.41, but it was still tenth in the American League, and he finished with 274 strikeouts, and finished fourth in Cy Young voting. Prior to the 2016 season, Sale was encouraged by his pitching coach Don Cooper to focus less on strikeouts and more on getting outs and pitching deep into games. He took the advice to heart, winning his first nine starts with a 1.58 ERA and averaging over seven and half innings per start. He won his 14th game by July 2 and was named to his fifth straight All-Star game. However, later in the month he created headlines for the wrong reason. He was scratched from a start against the Detroit Tigers due to an incident in the clubhouse. Word later came out that Sale was unhappy about having to wear throwback jerseys from the 1976 season, and had shredded every single one in the clubhouse. He defended his actions by saying the team wore them last year, and he felt it affected his mechanics and had expressed those concerns to team management but was rebuffed. He was suspended by the team for his insubordination. He went 3-7 with a 3.56 ERA after that incident to finish at 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA, still finishing sixth in Cy Young voting.
The White Sox still traded him to the Red Sox that off-season. Freed from the organization that had entered into a culture of mediocrity, Sale flourished in Boston. He duplicated his feat of eight straight starts with at least 10 strikeouts in April and May while still averaging over seven innings a start. Once again he went into the All-Star break with double-digit wins with a 2.75 ERA. He seemed like a front-runner for a Cy Young award, but he went into another second half swoon. His 6-4 record and 3.42 ERA didn't seem bad and he still struck out 117 batters in 79 innings to finish at 308, the first Red Sox to reach the 300-mark since Pedro Martinez in 1999. However, he ended up 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA, finishing behind Cleveland's Corey Kluber in those categories and losing the Cy Young voting to the Cleveland ace as well. He had his first taste of post-season baseball as the Red Sox clinched the AL East, but he was knocked around by the Houston Astros in two appearances and Boston lost to the eventual champions in four. Sale got off to a strong start again in 2018 and was 11-4 with a 2.04 ERA through the end of July during which he won his 100th game. However, he was limited to only five starts in August and September due to shoulder inflammation. He ended the season 12-4 and missing out on qualifying for the ERA title by four innings, although his 2.11 ERA would have still finished behind Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Sale had the last laugh in the end. While he was still uneven in the playoffs, he was on the mound in Game 5 of the World Series to close out Boston's season with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had an uncharacteristically poor start to the 2019 season, but his seven inning, 17-strikeout performance over the Rockies, the team that drafted him out of high school, showed he still had plenty left in the tank to continue his reign as one of the top pitchers in baseball.
Francisco Liriano - 108
Date of Birth: October 26, 1983
Years Played: 2005-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 69
Wins after age 30: 39
Wins in 30s: 39
Wins on June 4, 2009: 21
Wins on June 4, 2019: 108
Wins after June 4, 2009: 87
The Minnesota Twins romped over the Cleveland Indians on June 4, 2009 with an 11-3 win, allowing them to pick up a game on the first-place Detroit Tigers. However, they couldn't celebrate too much as they had to fly halfway across the country to open a series against the Seattle Mariners, and their scheduled starter for the series opener was Francisco Liriano, who had never been quite the same since his Tommy John surgery two and a half years earlier. He was 2-7 with a 6.60 ERA after pitching poorly against the Tampa Bay Rays in his previous start. It was a stark difference over the person that seemed like he would become Minnesota's future ace. Liriano was born and raised in San Cristobal, home of several Major League stars including former Rookie of the Year Raul Mondesi, World Series hero Jose Rijo, and Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. His cousin Santiago Casilla was a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He played ball on the streets of San Cristobal and he was known as a power-hitting outfielder as an amateur. However, it was his strong left arm caught the eyes of scouts. The San Francisco Giants went to the Liriano household to sign the 16-year-old in September 2000. They had told the youngster that they would pay more if he signed as a pitcher. His family was so poor that he wasted no time in agreeing. After only a few months of mound training and English lessons, the Giants dispatched the teenager to Scottsdale, Arizona to play for their rookie-league club. He more than held his own, and received a promotion to low-A Salem-Keizer before the end of the season. He spent 2002 with class-A Hagerstown and pitched well. The boy that only started pitching two and a half years earlier was now on the prospect radar. Baseball America ranked him within their top 100 prospects going into the 2003 seasons, but 2003 couldn't have gone worse for Liriano. He made only five starts due to a shoulder injury, and he was terrible when he did get to pitch. Meanwhile the Giants were in the market for a veteran catcher to replace the aging Benito Santiago. They had their eyes on Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who was more than happy to part with their veteran backstop with Joe Mauer waiting in the wings. They asked for a trio of pitchers: failed starter-turned reliever Joe Nathan, 2000 first-round draft pick Boof Bonser, and Liriano. The Giants agreed and the trade was consummated in November 2003.
Liriano resumed his development in the Minnesota system. He pitched decently with high-A Fort Myers and was called up to AA New Britain. He was even better against AA hitters. He opened the 2005 season in New Britain again but was called up to AAA Rochester after continued success in AA. Liriano was dominant in Rochester, going 9-2 with a 1.78 ERA, and he was soon called up as a September call-up. He made his first two appearances in the bullpen before getting placed into the rotation. He struggled in the rotation, but did get his first win over the Detroit Tigers in his last start of the season. Liriano's stock exploded, and he made it to #6 on Baseball America's top 100 prospects. He made the team out of spring training and spent the first month and a half in the bullpen. He pitched well in 12 appearances, with one win, one hold, and one save and a 3.22 ERA. Meanwhile Carlos Silva was struggling in the rotation and manager Ron Gardenhire moved the young lefty into the rotation. Liriano dominated. He went 9-1 with a 1.36 ERA in ten starts, including a win over 300-game winner Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros on June 22. Manager Ozzie Guillen named him to the AL All-Star team. As he continued his success after the All-Star break there was talks that Liriano may be in contention for the Cy Young award. However, he began developing pain in his left forearm in his last start in July. He skipped a start but continued to feel pain as he was hammered in his next start. He missed over a month and made one more start where he lasted only two innings before getting shut down for the rest of the season. The Twins won the AL Central, but Liriano had to watch from the bench. He ended up having Tommy John surgery in the off-season, shortly after he found out he finished third in the tight Rookie of the Year race, getting one first-place vote. He spent all of 2007 in rehab and started 2008 in AAA Rochester. He was called to the majors in mid-April, but was lit up for a 11.32 ERA in his first three starts. He was sent back down to AAA and pitched well before getting recalled in August. He was much more successful in his return, going 6-1 with a 2.74 ERA as the Twins finished second, one game behind the Chicago White Sox. The Twins were hoping a rejuvenated Liriano would help the team back to the playoffs. Minnesota did end up winning the AL Central again in 2009, but Liriano was more of a hindrance. He lost his first four starts, and his ERA remained above 6.00 despite a strong start against the Mariners. He ended up back on the disabled list for arm problems in August, and went to the bullpen upon his return. He finished the season 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA, and made only one relief appearance in the Division Series as the Twins were swept by the New York Yankees.
Liriano played winter ball in the Dominican Winter League in the off-season, and returned to have a strong year in 2010. He won the Pitcher of the Month award in April as he went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA. He ended the season 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA, and was named the Comeback Player of the Year. Minnesota won the AL Central once again and Liriano was picked to start the opening game of the Division Series rematch against the Yankees. However, he pitched poorly and the Twins were swept for the second straight year. He got off to another poor start in 2011, going 1-4 with a 9.13 ERA in April. He struggled with his control in his May 3 start against the White Sox in Chicago, walking six while striking out two. However, he finished with his first career complete game and shutout with a 1-0 no-hitter. He was marginally better the rest of the season and ended the season 9-10 with a 5.09 as the Twins slipped to last place. After another brutal start in 2012 when he went 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA, the Twins had enough and traded him to the White Sox, the team he had no-hit the year before. He continued to struggle in Chicago, going 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA. He entered free agency that season. The Pittsburgh Pirates were in search for a starter after collapsing to a 20th straight losing season in 2012 and signed Liriano. However, their new signing showed up to his physical after breaking his right non-pitching arm while trying to scare his kids. He was able to re-structure the deal, but didn't make his Pirates debut until May 11. Liriano saw immediate success in the National League, winning his first three starts while putting a 1.00 ERA. He maintained that throughout the season and ended at 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA. He was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year, but more importantly the Pirates had their first winning season in two decades and clinched a Wild Card spot. Liriano was given the ball to face the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Game, and he came through, throwing seven innings and allowed only one run as the Pirates won 6-2. He pitched well in Game 3 of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, but Pittsburgh lost the series in five games. Liriano overcame a slow start in 2014 and didn't win his first game until his 12th start of the season on May 30, and he missed a month due to an oblique injury. He rediscovered his dominance upon his return and finished with a 3.38 ERA despite a 7-10 record. Pittsburgh gave Liriano a three-year deal that off-season and he responded by going 12-7 with a 3.38 ERA and a career high 205 strikeouts as the Pirates claimed another Wild Card spot. However, they dropped the Wild Card Game once again.
Liriano opened the 2016 season with six shutout innings and ten strikeouts against the St. Louis Cardinals, but that ended up being the highlight of his season as he fell to 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA by the end of July. The Pirates packaged him in a trade to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Drew Hutchison. He pitched well after the trade as Toronto made it in as a Wild Card. Liriano was playing for a Wild Card team for the fourth straight season. He was called to pitch with one out in the 10th in the Wild Card Game with the scored tied 2-2 against the Baltimore Orioles. Liriano retired all five batters he faced, and picked up the win after Edwin Encarnacion's three-run walk-off home run off Ubaldo Jimenez with Zach Britton never getting into the game. He made only one more appearance in the playoffs before the Blue Jays fell to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. Liriano struggled to a 5.88 through July 2017. With the team well out of contention, Toronto traded him to the Houston Astros, who were well on their way to the AL West. With Houston flushed with strong starters, Liriano was moved to the bullpen. He pitched slightly better in 20 relief appearances, but the Astros waltzed to the AL West title, and Liriano was finally able to make the playoffs without going through the Wild Card Game. He made five appearances as Houston toppled the Boston Red Sox in the Division Series and the Yankees in the ALCS. He contributed with two outs in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Astros won their first World Series title. It was an exhilarting moment for the veteran, but Houston made it clear they were going towards a different direction. Liriano didn't sign with a team until late February, when he signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. He ended up going 5-12 with a 4.58 ERA as the Tigers slumped to 98 wins, which was still third in the weak AL Central. He became a free agent and reunited with the Pirates. He joined the bullpen but soon became one of the top relievers in baseball. He made 12 relief appearances in April without allowing a single run, and he showed that perhaps he had found new life in the bullpen.
Madison Bumgarner - 113
Date of Birth: August 1, 1989
Years Played: 2009-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30:
Wins after age 30: 0
Wins in 30s: 0
Wins on June 4, 2009: 0
Wins on June 4, 2019: 113
Wins after June 4, 2009: 113
On June 4, 2009, the Connecticut Defenders, the San Francisco Giants' AA affiliate, took on the New Britain Rock Cats, the Boston Red Sox's AA team in their home stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. On the mound for Connecticut was Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco's highly touted left-handed prospect. He had a rough night, allowing four runs in six innings, which was double the two runs he allowed in 23 innings in his four previous AA starts, and even gave up his first home run of the season, to New Britain 's right fielder Juan Portes. Nevertheless, the Defenders offense came through with an 8-4 victory. Meanwhile it was just another learning experience for the 19-year-old from North Carolina. Bumgarner was born in Hickory in rural western North Carolina, but he grew up in nearby Granite Falls. Young Madison was active in sports, but he fully expected to be working in the furniture business. He grew to be 6'4" and was able to throw a fastball over 90 miles an hour in high school while also blasting 11 home runs at the plate. He caught the eyes of scouts as he helped his high school in neighboring Hudson reach the State Championship as a junior, and then went on to win a year later. Many were scared off by his unconventional delivery. However, the Giants had no such concerns. They had the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft and hoped that Bumgarner would still be on the board by then. They had nothing to worry about as five of the nine teams drafting ahead of San Francisco picked pitchers not named Madison Bumgarner, and the other four took position players. The Giants negotiated until August before agreeing to a contract that was sufficient for the youngster to forgo a commitment to the University of North Carolina, and then sent him to the Arizona Fall League. Bumgarner had only just turned 18 and suffered from intense homesickness and was strongly considering quitting the game, but he persevered and was assigned to class A Augusta in 2008. He took a few beatings as coaches tried to tinker with his delivery, but he eventually reverted to his natural motion and ended the season 15-3 with a 1.46 ERA in 24 starts. A year later he was assigned to high-A San Jose, but after going 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA in five starts, he received a promotion in early May. Despite his difficult June 4 start, Bumgarner still finished 9-1 with a 1.93 ERA, and he received a call into the Majors as a September call-up. He made his debut on September 8, 2009, pitching 5.1 innings in a no-decision, then came out of the bullpen three other times. The Giants finished 88-74, their best record in five years, and there was hope that they can improve on it in the near future.
Madison Bumgarner began the 2010 season with AAA Fresno. He went 7-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 starts, and was recalled in late June. At the time the Giants were in second place, but closer to the fourth-place Colorado Rockies than the first-place San Diego Padres. Bumgarner's first start against the Boston Red Sox was a bit messy, but he quickly cleaned up his act, winning four straight from July 6 through July 24. He struggled a bit in August, but bared down in September, putting up a 1.13 ERA in five starts as San Francisco chased down the Padres and captured the NL West. Madison Bumgarner would be seeing playoff action just a month after turning 21. The Giants' Division Series opponent would be the Atlanta Braves, and Bumgarner got the call in Game 4 with San Francisco just one win from advancing. He allowed two runs in six innings, while the Giants gave him three runs of support and the bullpen hung on for the win. San Francisco went on to face the defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS. Bumgarner got the call in Game 4 with the Giants ahead in the series 2-1. He pitched well for four innings, allowing only two hits, but struggled in the fifth, allowing four hits and one run while leaving two runners that eventually scored. Still, the Giants fought back and won in walk-off fashion to put them a win away from the World Series. Philadelphia won Game 5 and the series returned to Pennsylvania for Game 6. Jonathan Sanchez got the ball for the Giants, but he allowed two runs in two-plus innings. Jeremy Affeldt came in the third and threw two innings. Then manager Bruce Bochy called on Bumgarner for the fifth with the game tied 2-2. Madison pitched two shaky innings but maintained the tie, and San Francisco eventually came back to win 3-2, and it was off to face the Texas Rangers in the World Series. The Giants won the first two games at home before the Rangers took Game 3 at home. They were hoping to take Game 4 as well to get back in the series, especially with the 21-year-old rookie on the mound. Texas was hoping the nerves of pitching on such a large stage would cause Bumgarner to buckle down. As it turned out, it was not to be. He went eight innings and only allowed three hits and two walks and no runs. The Giants scored four times to put the team one win from the title, which they would get the next day. Madison Bumgarner was a World Series champ at 21. It was difficult for the Giants to top a World Series title, and they finished out of playoff position at 86-87 in 2011. However, Bumgarner continued his development, putting up a 3.21 ERA while surpassing 200 innings and going 13-13.
He went 16-11 with a 3.37 ERA in 2012 while San Francisco improved to 94 wins to clinch the NL West title once again. With the collapse of two-time Cy Young winner Tim Linecum, Bumgarner got the ball in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds, but he didn't have his magic from two years earlier, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings as the Giants fell behind in the series 0-2. They battled back to advance to the NLCS, where they faced the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. Bumgarner got the ball for Game 1, but he was even worse, allowing six runs in 3.2 innings. Nevertheless San Francisco won in seven games for another pennant. They would face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Bumgarner got the ball in Game 2 after Barry Zito and Pablo Sandoval helped the Giants to a Game 1 victory. Giants fans were understandably nervous after his two previous performances, but he threw seven shutout innings to give San Francisco a 2-0 win and a 2-0 series lead. They would complete the sweep three nights later. Bumgarner would take the next step towards becoming one of baseball's top pitchers in 2013, as he lowered his ERA below 3.00 for the first time in a qualifying season, finishing at 2.77 with a 13-9 record. However, the Giants collapsed to 76-86. Bumgarner had become San Francisco's ace in 2014. He was up to the task, going 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA while also passing 200 strikeouts for the first time. The Giants won 88 games and that was only enough for the second Wild Card slot. They faced the prospect of playing the Wild Card Game on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, San Francisco had Bumgarner on the mound, and he threw a complete game shutout with ten strikeouts. The Giants moved on to face the Washington Nationals in the Division Series. San Francisco won the first two games on the road, although the second game was an 18-inning marathon. Bumgarner started Game 3 and he pitched valiantly, allowing three runs (two earned) in seven innings, but Washington's Doug Fister allowed only one to saddle Madison with the loss. Still, the Giants won the series in Game 4. The NLCS was a rematch with the Cardinals. Bumgarner got the ball in Game 1 and threw 7.2 shutout innings. He got the ball again in Game 5 with a chance to clinch the pennant. He labored through eight innings, allowing three runs, but the Giants scored four runs in the last two innings to win the game and the pennant, setting up an all-Wild Card match-up with the Kansas City Royals. Bumgarner pitched Game 1 on regular rest and allowed one run in seven inning, with a solo home run by Salvador Perez the only damage. His next start came in Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. He pitched his second shutout of the post-season to put the Giants on the precipice of their third title in five years. However, the Royals' Yordano Ventura threw seven shutout innings of his own in Game 6 to force a decisive Game 7. Tim Hudson had the ball but got only five outs before getting replaced by Affeldt with the score tied 2-2. San Francisco took the lead in the fourth, and after Affeldt pitched one more scoreless inning, Madison Bumgarner came marching out on two days rest. He allowed a single to his first batter Omar Infante, but then 14 straight to put the Giants one out from the title. Alex Gordon broke that streak with a single and went to third on an error. Bumgarner calmly retired Perez and put the stamp on another Giants World Series title.
Bumgarner's epic performance in the 2014 post-season had made him one of the most celebrated figures in sports. He was named the World Series MVP, and also the Sportsman of the Year, joining 300-game winners Tom Seaver and Randy Johnson, both of whom did it while helping their teams to the title. The Giants finished short of the post-season in 2015, but Bumgarner won 18 games for the second straight year with a 2.93 ERA. He lowered his ERA to a career-low 2.74 in 2016 and went 15-9, while the Giants returned to the post-season as the Wild Card entrant once again. Bumgarner got the ball in the Wild Card Game on the road against the New York Mets, and pitched yet another shutout. However, San Francisco's Division Series opponent was the 103-win Chicago Cubs, trying to win their first World Series title in 108 years. Bumgarner was tasked with starting Game 3 to prevent a sweep. He labored through five innings, allowing three runs. The Giants still took a 5-3 lead into the ninth before Sergio Romo blew the save. San Francisco still scored in the 13th to extend the season, but Chicago clinched the next night, ending the Giants' Even Year Magic. San Francisco was hopeful that they would come back with Bumgarner continuing as their ace, and fans of the 300-win club felt that he would be the next great hope for the milestone with 100 wins by age 26. He got off to a decent start in the 2017 season, but went 0-3 due to poor run support. He decided to go dirt biking on an off-day. That trip would end in disaster as he sustained an accident that left him with bruised ribs and more crucially a left shoulder sprain. The injury would shelve him for almost three months. He pitched well upon his return, but San Francisco's offensive woes continued, and Bumgarner was saddled with a 4-9 record despite an above-average 3.32 ERA while the Giants fell to 64-98. Any hopes that the 2018 season would be better was dashed as Bumgarner suffered a fractured left pinkie while fielding a comebacker in spring training. The injury kept him out until June, and not even his return could solve San Francisco's offensive woes and he ended the season 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA. He went through April 2019 unscathed in terms of health, but went 1-4 with a 4.30 ERA for his worst first month since 2011. While there are hopes that he can return to become a top flight starter, he is staring his 30th birthday in the face with more questions than answers. How much more does he have left in his tank?
Ricky Nolasco - 114
Date of Birth: December 13, 1982
Years Played: 2006-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 76
Wins after age 30: 38
Wins in 30s: 38
Wins on June 4, 2009: 29
Wins on June 4, 2019: 114
Wins after June 4, 2009: 85
Ricky Nolasco was not where he wanted to be on June 4, 2009. The Florida Marlins' Opening Day starter was now in New Orleans with the Marlins' AAA affiliate, having been demoted almost two weeks earlier after a disaster start against the Tampa Bay Rays left him 2-5 with a 9.07 ERA. He had made two starts with the Zepyrs and was 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA, and was hopeful to reclaim his place in the Major League team, where he was the Marlins' best pitcher a year earlier. Carlos Enrique Nolasco was born in Corona, California just outside Riverside. His parents were Mexican immigrants who were huge fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and started calling their son Ricky after Rick Monday. They instilled the love of the game in young Ricky, who grew up in nearby Rialto playing the game. He became a star pitcher in high school and caught the eyes of scouts. The Chicago Cubs made Nolasco their fourth round draft pick in 2001. After a short period of contract negotiation, he signed early enough to make five appearances with the rookie-level AZL Cubs before the end of the 2001 season, and went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA. He pitched well with low-A Boise and high-A Daytona in 2002 and 2003, going a combined 18-7 with a 2.77 ERA. He was promoted to AA West Tennessee in 2004 and held his own, leading to a stint with AAA Iowa in May. His time in Iowa was a disaster, as he went 2-3 with a 9.30 ERA in nine starts. He finished the season in West Tennessee, and spent all of 2005 with the Diamond Jaxx. He was exception, going 14-3 with a 2.89 ERA. However, the Cubs were starting to sour on their right-handed prospect. When the Marlins made Juan Pierre available on the trade market at the end of the 2005 season, Chicago pounced on the opportunity, sending Nolasco and two other players to Miami. Nolasco went into spring training hoping to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. His efforts were successful, and he began the season in the Florida bullpen, pitching three scoreless innings in his Major League debut on April 5, 2006. He was sent in mostly as a mop-up pitcher, but managed two relief wins while putting up a 4.15 ERA in 11 appearances. With the Marlins plummeting to the worst record in the National League, manager Joe Girardi decided to throw young Ricky into the rotation. He pitched only 3.2 innings in his first start on May 17, but five days later he threw seven one-run innings against his former team for his first win as a starter. He struggled to a 4.96 ERA in 22 starts, but went 9-10 as the Marlins clawed their way to a respectable 78-84 record.
Girardi was given the pink slip after the season despite winning the Manager of the Year title, and he was replaced with Fredi Gonzalez. Nolasco made the Opening Day roster once again as a reliever, but he had a disastrous first appearance, allowing three runs in 1.1 inning before getting placed on the Disabled List due to right elbow inflammation. He came back in May and was marginally better before getting shut down for the rest of the season. Nolasco went into spring training in 2008 feeling healthy, and once again made the team as a reliever. He threw 5.2 shutout innings in two appearances before he was given another shot at starting. His first few starts were disastrous, but settled down in May. On July 7, 2008 he pitched eight one-run innings against the San Diego Padres, and defeated 300-game winner Greg Maddux for his 10th win of the season. He soon showed off his strikeout stuff, reaching double digits three times in August. He finished the season 15-8 with a 3.52 ERA and 186 strikeouts, winning the team pitching triple crown as the Marlins finished with a surprise 84-77 record. Nolasco was rewarded as the Opening Day starter for 2009, but he struggled in six innings, allowing five runs. His opponent the Washington Nationals were even worse as he came away with a win. He continued to struggle leading to his eventual demotion in May. He made his return on June 7 with three runs (two earned) in seven innings against the Giants, but suffered another loss. It was still enough for him to keep his rotation spot. He was spotty through the rest of the season, mixing disaster starts with phenomenal performances, such as his eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts on July 5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He saved his best performance for last, as he struck out 16 in 7.2 innings against the Atlanta Braves, allowing only two runs, all unearned to finish at 13-9 despite an ugly 5.09 ERA. He led the team with 195 strikeouts while the Marlins ended with a strong 87-75 showing.
Ricky Nolasco settled into a pattern of being a pitcher who was never quite an ace for a team that was never quite ready to contend. He led the the team with 14 wins in 2010 despite a below-average 4.51 ERA and missing the last month of the season with a knee injury. In 2011 he went 10-12 with a 4.67 ERA and followed it up by going 12-13 with a 4.48 ERA, during which he established club records for wins and strikeouts, both of which he still holds. He started 2013 as the Opening Day starter for the second time in his career. He pitched decently, allowing two runs in six innings but suffered a loss to the Washington Nationals, who were now the defending NL East champions. However, Nolasco seemed like an afterthought as the Marlins' ace of the future Jose Fernandez was on the Major League roster. Nolasco didn't pitch poorly, putting up a 3.85 ERA in 18 starts through July 3, which would be his lowest since 2008. However, he was 5-8 due to some poor run support. As he was due to become a free agent in the off-season, the Marlins traded him to his childhood team the Dodgers. He relished getting to pitch in front of his family regularly, and went 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA. The Dodgers clinched the NL West, and Nolasco had a chance to pitch in the post-season for the first time in his career. He was on the Division Series roster but didn't pitch as Los Angeles defeated the Atlanta Braves in four games. He got the ball in Game 4 the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals with the Dodgers down 2-1. He pitched valiantly, but allowed three runs in four innings as Los Angeles lost putting them on the edge of elimination. The Dodgers forced a Game 6, but were vanquished then.
Nolasco became a free agent at the end of the 2013 season. The Minnesota Twins were trying to climb back on top of the AL Central after three losing seasons, and were hoping for a strikeout pitcher to fix a rotation that had been one of the worst in the game. They hoped that Nolasco would be the answer and signed him to a four-year $48 million deal after the Dodgers showed no interest. He was their Opening Day starter, but his first start was a disaster, as he went six innings and allowed five runs against the Chicago White Sox. The rest of the season was not much better as he ended the season 6-12 with a 5.38 ERA while the Twins finished last. He missed much of April 2015 due to elbow inflammation but pitched decently upon his return in May, winning five straight starts where he posted a 3.77 ERA and picked up his 100th career win. An ankle injury kept him out until September and he was awful upon his return. The Twins finished in second in spite of him. He remained healthy in 2016 but was just bad, going 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA through July. Minnesota miraculously found a trade target for their failed free agent starter, the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched well for his new team, putting up a 3.21 ERA in 11 starts, but still went 4-6. The Angels brought him back in 2017 but he was a disaster, going 6-15 with a 4.92 ERA. He had gone 25-43 with a 4.99 ERA during the life of his contract. He became a free agent, but was only able to sign a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He was a disastrous in spring exhibition games, and was released. He sat out the rest of the 2018 season, but his itch for competition hadn't cleared. He signed another free agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He accepted a reassignment to AAA Reno, but opened the season on the disabled list due to an undisclosed injury. He has yet to make an appearance and his professional future is in question.
J.A. Happ - 114
Date of Birth: October 19, 1982
Years Played: 2007-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 35
Wins after age 30: 79
Wins in 30s: 79
Wins on June 4, 2009: 5
Wins on June 4, 2019: 114
Wins after June 4, 2009: 109
The Philadelphia Phillies were the defending World Series champions for the second time in their history, and were in first place on June 4, 2009 despite the majority of their rotation struggling with ERAs above 4.00. The one exception was rookie J.A. (pronounced "Jay" instead of "Jay Ay") Happ, who stepped in the rotation in mid-May and was 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA after throwing seven shutout innings against the San Diego Padres a day earlier. It was a pleasant surprise for a player that had never been ranked as a top prospect. James Anthony Happ was born in Peru in Northern Illinois. He was born into an athletic family, and played baseball and basketball at St. Bede Academy in his hometown Peru. He was not drafted out of high school, so he went ahead to Northwestern University. He was primarily a reliever in his freshman year, but moved into the rotation in the following two years where he saw terrific success. He caught the eyes of the professional scouts, and the Phillies drafted him in the third round of the 2004 draft. He wasted little time in signing and was dispatched to low-A Batavia. He pitched well in his half a season before moving up to A-ball Lakewood in 2005. He had another successful season before getting the call to make one start in AA Reading, where he allowed one run in six innings. Happ started 2006 in high-A Clearwater, and jumped three levels, finishing in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he had another start allowing one run in six innings. However, his fastball was merely average, and only after his successful 2006 season did he debut on Baseball America's top 10 prospects for the Phillies, slotting in at number 8. 2007 was somewhat of a disaster, as he spent the most of it in Philadelphia's new AAA team in Ottawa. He stumbled to a 4-6 record with a 5.02 ERA in 24 starts. He did get a call to the Majors an emergency start on June 30, 2007, and he allowed five runs in four innings against the New York Mets. He was eventually shut down due to elbow fatigue. The Ottawa team was sold to owners who moved the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania in Lehigh Valley. Happ greatly improved his numbers, and had three separate stints with the Major League club. He made four starts and four relief appearances and pitched decently. Philadelphia won the NL East, and Happ was included in the NLCS roster. He made only one appearance, allowing one run in three innings in a Game 3 loss. Nevertheless, the Phillies still won the pennant and the World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Happ kept his rookie eligibility going into 2009, and he made a second appearance on Baseball America's top 10 Phillies prospect list, ranking at number 9. He made the team out of spring training and pitched in the bullpen. He had somewhat of a rocky start, but had six scoreless appearances in April and May to lower his ERA to 2.49. The Phillies rotation was scuffling, and manager Charlie Manuel opted to demote veteran Chan Ho Park and move his young southpaw into the rotation. Happ responded with three strong starts, including the seven shutout innings on June 3. He ended up with going 10-4 with a 2.99 ERA as Philadelphia clinched another NL East title. With Cliff Lee and mid-season acquisition Pedro Martinez in the mix, Happ was moved to the bullpen in the playoffs. He made one start in Game 3 against the Colorado Rockies and allowed three runs on three innings. The Phillies still won the series and later the NLCS in a rematch with the Dodgers. They faced the New York Yankees in the World Series, but they fell in six games. Happ still finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, losing narrowly to Florida's Chris Coghlan. Even though the Phillies went out and acquired Roy Halladay in the off-season, they still found room for Happ as the fourth starter in the 2010 rotation. He threw two scoreless starts, but had to leave in the sixth inning in his second start due to forearm pain similar to the injury that had hampered him in Ottawa three years earlier. He wound up disabled for three months before making a return near the end of July. Meanwhile Philadelphia was in talks with the Houston Astros to acquire ace Roy Oswalt. The deal was eventually completed with Happ being one of three young players sent to Houston. Happ pitched well for an Astros team that was not going anywhere, ending up 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 13 starts with is new team. He was named the fourth starter going into 2011, but was annihilated by the Cincinnati Reds. He recovered with a decent month of May, but was disastrous in June and July, going 1-7 with a 7.66 ERA. By the end of July Houston was by far the worst team in baseball. He recovered in August and September, but still finished 6-15 with a 5.35 ERA as the Astros collapsed to a 56-106 record. He wasn't much better in 2012, going 7-9 with a 4.83 ERA as Houston was on their way to finish 55-107. Happ's most notorious start came on June 13 when he allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco. Meanwhile his mound opponent Matt Cain pitched a perfect game.
The Astros were under new leadership in 2012 and they opted to completely demolish the team for a complete rebuild. A little more than a month after the perfect game, Happ was included in a three-for-seven trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. He fared little better north of the border, going 3-2 with a 4.69 ERA. He was Toronto's fifth starter in 2013, and was 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA going into a start against the Rays. He had already allowed one runs and had two runners on with one out in the second. Desmond Jennings followed by lining a 3-1 pitch back towards the mound. Happ had little time to react and the ball connected with his head. Jennings ran all the way to third while Happ laid on the mound. He had suffered a skull fracture and as well as a twisted knee was out for three months. He made his return in August and initially struggled, but was better in September and ended 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA. He seemed to suffer from no ill effects from his accident and went 11-11 with a 4.22 ERA in 2014. The Blue Jays picked up his option year after the season but ended up trading him to the Seattle Mariners. Happ was mediocre in Seattle, going 4-6 with a below-average 4.64 ERA. However, the Mariners were still able to trade him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a pitching prospect. While in Pittsburgh, he came under the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage, who was a decent left-handed reliever during his career. Searage noticed a couple of mechanical problems that led to difficulties with the consistency of his fastball. Happ allowed four runs in 4.1 innings in his first start in Pittsburgh, but in working with his new pitching coach he finished the season going 7-1 with a 1.37 ERA while the Pirates won 98 games and the Wild Card. Alas Happ could only watch as the Pirates lost to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Game. Nevertheless he took his new mechanics into free agency, and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. His improvements after one year away was evident, as he finished with a 3.18 ERA despite his return to the American League. With his run prevention and Toronto's powerful offense, Happ went 20-4 and helped the Blue Jays to a Wild Card spot. Toronto won the Wild Card game before sweeping the Texas Rangers in the Division Series, with Happ getting a win in Game 2. He also pitched well in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians, but he was out-dueled by Josh Tomlin and the Blue Jays lost in five. He still finished sixth in Cy Young voting.
An elbow injury cost Happ six weeks in the 2017 season, and affected his effectiveness before and after the injury. He managed to recover and pitched well down the stretch, but Toronto's vaunted offense disappeared, and Happ ended up going 10-11 with a 3.53 ERA as the Blue Jays finished fourth and with a losing record. He recovered somewhat in 2018 and managed to get 10 wins by the end of June even with his ERA rising to 3.62. Nevertheless he was still named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. Still, with Toronto going nowhere in the standings for a second straight year and Happ in the final year of his contract, the Blue Jays traded him before the trade deadline to the New York Yankees. The Yankees were in a tight race for the AL East title and needed to bulk up on their pitching. While Happ was not the Yankees' most glamorous trade acquisition, especially after a viral infection set him to the injured list shortly after the deal. However, he turned out to be the key figure, as he went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts. The Yankees ended up losing by eight games to the Boston Red Sox, forcing them into the Wild Card Game, where they defeated the surprising Oakland Athletics. Happ got the ball in Game 1 of the Division Series against Boston, but he was knocked around by the dominating Red Sox offense. New York ended up falling in four games. Nevertheless the Yankees still re-signed the left-hander to a two-year deal. Happ hasn't been quite the same in 2019, but with the team getting bit by the injury bug he may still play an important role in a team with World Series aspirations.
Johnny Cueto - 125
Date of Birth: February 15, 1986
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 96
Wins after age 30: 29
Wins in 30s: 29
Wins on June 4, 2009: 14
Wins on June 4, 2019: 125
Wins after June 4, 2009: 111
The Cincinnati Reds were defeated on June 4, 2009 to split a four-game series with the first-place St. Louis Cardinals. While they remained two and a half games behind the Cardinals, the Reds had to have a sense of optimism, especially with the performance of their star prospect Johnny Cueto. He had tossed 6.1 one-run innings the day before to put him at 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA, a tremendous showing for the man predicted to be Cincinnati's next ace. Cueto was born in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. San Pedro de Macoris became widely renowned in the 1980s and 1990s for the sheer volume of players sent to the Major Leagues. A good number of those were shortstops thereby giving the city the nickname "The Cradle of Shortstops." However, it was also the hometown of a few pitchers, most notably the colorful Joaquin Andujar, who was ace of the World Series winning Cardinals in 1982 and losing pitcher in Steve Carlton's 300th win a year later. Cueto grew up playing baseball like several of the other youngsters. He would practice when he wasn't picking fruit to help support the family, although he would later recall how his mother pushed him more than he did. He started out as an outfielder but transitioned to pitching due to his strong arm. Nevertheless he was only 5'10" as teenager before topping out at 5'11" and was more pudgy than built, which scared away several prospective scouts. He eventually went to a tryout held by the Reds shortly after turning 18 in 2004. Cincinnati only just starting to build a presence in the Dominican, and they saw enough promise to sign young Johnny. He spent 2004 pitching in the Dominican Summer League while taking English lessons. The Reds brought him stateside and he started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He struggled to a 5.02 ERA, but impressed scouts with his control, and they moved him up to high-A Sarasota where he made two appearances with a 3.00 ERA. He began the 2006 season as a starter with Class A Dayton and was phenomenal, earning a promotion back to Sarasota. He showed his success a year earlier wasn't a fluke, going 7-2 with a 3.50 ERA. 2007 would be a big year for Cueto. He started the season in Sarasota, but advanced two levels, and ended the season posting a 2.05 ERA in four starts with AAA Louisville.
With his quick development in 2007, Cueto officially entered the prospect landscape, getting ranked within the top 100 prospects prior to the 2008 season. The Reds saw his promise, especially after a strong spring training. He made the team out of spring training, and he made his Major League in the third game of the season on April 3, 2008. He dazzled against the defending AL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out ten. That ended up being the high point of his season as the National League caught up to him. His ERA jumped over 5.00 before the end of April and he finished 9-14 with a 4.81 ERA as Cincinnati finished fifth in the six-team NL Central with a 74-88 record. Still, Cueto had survived the trial by fire, and management was confident that he would take the next step in 2009. His season began inauspiciously, as he allowed four runs in six innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his debut, but he quickly turned things around. His strong start on June 3 topped off a stretch of ten starts where he went 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA. He had a few rough starts after that, but his ERA was still 2.69 after throwing six shutout innings with only one hit against the Diamondbacks on July 1. After that things kind of fell apart for Cueto. He allowed nine runs while getting only two outs against the Philadelphia Phillies in his next start, and he went 3-7 with a 7.05 ERA in his last 14 starts. He ended the season 11-11 with a 4.41 ERA, only slightly better from the year before. Cueto got off to another rough start in 2010, but pitched his first complete game shutout on May 11, and went on a groove after mid-June. He finished the season 12-7 with a 3.64, and more importantly the Reds broke through with their first division title in 15 years. He made his post-season debut in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Phillies, against whom he had the disaster start the year before. He was much better, allowing just two runs (one earned) in five innings, but Philadelphia's Cole Hamels was even better, and the Reds were swept. Cueto started the 2011 season disabled due to some arm irritation, but he was phenomenal upon his return, finishing 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA
The Reds sank into third in 2011 despite Cueto's heroics. Still, he was determined to remain healthy and deliver a great year in 2012. He was named Cincinnati's Opening Day starter and threw seven shutout innings against the Miami Marlins. He was 10-5 with a 2.39 ERA at the All-Star break, but was inexplicably left off the All-Star team. He shook off the disappointment and ended the season 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting, and more importantly helped the Reds to another NL Central title with 97 wins, Cincinnati's highest win total since the days of the Big Red Machine. Manager Dusty Baker lined his rotation up so Cueto can get the Game 1 start in the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants. He started out strong, striking out leadoff man Angel Pagan, but strained his back while pitching to Marco Scutaro and had to leave the game. The Reds held on to the win, but San Francisco ultimately prevailed in five games. Cueto was hoping to be healthy again in 2013, but ultimately suffered from a variety of injuries, limiting him to only 11 starts where he still went 5-2 with a 2.82 ERA. Cincinnati still finished with 90 games and took the second Wild Card spot. Cueto had seemingly recovered from a latissimus dorsi strain and was picked to start the Wild Card Game against the Pirates, making their first post-season appearance in 21 years. The Pirates were hungry, and walloped Cueto for four runs in 3.1 innings. Cincinnati was never able to recover, and lost 6-2. Cueto was determined to put the disappointment of the 2013 season behind him, and went into 2014 with a new level of resolve. He started the season with eight runs in his first seven starts, putting up a 1.31 ERA while recording double digit strikeouts three times. However, the Reds offense gave him scant support and he was only 3-2. He did not let that distract him, and went into the All-Star break 10-6 with a 2.13 ERA, more than enough for him to make his first All-Star team. He kept his dominant pitching up in the second half, and won his 20th game in the final game of the season, ending 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA. He was rewarded with a second-place finish in Cy Young voting, behind only Clayton Kershaw who had an MVP season. Unfortunately in spite of Cueto's heroics the Reds ended up 76-86, well out of playoff position.
Cincinnati exercised an option on Cueto in 2015, but he was still due to become a free agent after the season. He was strong in his first 19 starts, going 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA, but the Reds were sinking towards the bottom of the division. They shopped him before the trade deadline, and the Kansas City Royals were more than happy to pick him up. The Royals were well on their way to the AL Central title a year after winning the AL pennant as the Wild Card. They knew they had a powerful offense, but were concerned they didn't have the pitching for a deep playoff run. Cueto struggled in the American League, going 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts after the trade. Then he struggled in Game 2 of the the Division Series against the Houston Astros, allowing four runs in six innings but Kansas City still won the game to tie the series. The Astros won Game 3 and were six outs from elimination in Game 4, but they miraculously came back to win and forced a Game 5. Cueto was on the mound for the deciding game, and he pitched like an ace, allowing only two runs in eight innings as the Royals moved on. His next start was in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays and he was putrid, allowing eight runs in eight innings. Nevertheless Kansas City won their second straight pennant, and Cueto got the ball in in Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Mets after a hard fought win in Game 1. He turned in a masterpiece, throwing 122 pitches in a complete game, allowing but one run. The Royals would win their first title in 30 years in five games, and Johnny Cueto had a World Series ring. He entered free agency that off-season, and wasted little time in signing with the Giants in a return to the National League. The Giants were looking to continue their Even Year Magic in 2016, and Cueto became a major contributor. He went 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA before the All-Star break, and was not only picked onto the team, he was named the starter. However, he pitched poorly allowing homers to his former Royals teammates and picked up the loss. Cueto was a more pedestrian 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA in the second half, but still went 18-5 with a 2.79 ERA. The Giants won a Wild Card slot, but won the Wild Card Game over the Mets, and Cueto was the Game 1 starter against the 103-win Chicago Cubs. He was near the top of his game, allowing one run in eight innings while striking out ten. However, San Francisco couldn't score and he suffered a tough-luck 1-0 loss, and the Giants lost the series in four games. Cueto struggled with a blister problem in 2017 and went 8-8 with a 4.52 ERA, his worst showing since his rookie season. He was off to a great start in 2018 but suffered a right elbow sprain that eventually required Tommy John surgery, keeping him out for most of the 2019 season. There's no telling how Cueto would perform upon his return, but there is also no denying his resolve that brought him from the streets of San Pedro de Marcoris to the Major Leagues.
Date of Birth: February 15, 1986
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 96
Wins after age 30: 29
Wins in 30s: 29
Wins on June 4, 2009: 14
Wins on June 4, 2019: 125
Wins after June 4, 2009: 111
The Cincinnati Reds were defeated on June 4, 2009 to split a four-game series with the first-place St. Louis Cardinals. While they remained two and a half games behind the Cardinals, the Reds had to have a sense of optimism, especially with the performance of their star prospect Johnny Cueto. He had tossed 6.1 one-run innings the day before to put him at 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA, a tremendous showing for the man predicted to be Cincinnati's next ace. Cueto was born in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. San Pedro de Macoris became widely renowned in the 1980s and 1990s for the sheer volume of players sent to the Major Leagues. A good number of those were shortstops thereby giving the city the nickname "The Cradle of Shortstops." However, it was also the hometown of a few pitchers, most notably the colorful Joaquin Andujar, who was ace of the World Series winning Cardinals in 1982 and losing pitcher in Steve Carlton's 300th win a year later. Cueto grew up playing baseball like several of the other youngsters. He would practice when he wasn't picking fruit to help support the family, although he would later recall how his mother pushed him more than he did. He started out as an outfielder but transitioned to pitching due to his strong arm. Nevertheless he was only 5'10" as teenager before topping out at 5'11" and was more pudgy than built, which scared away several prospective scouts. He eventually went to a tryout held by the Reds shortly after turning 18 in 2004. Cincinnati only just starting to build a presence in the Dominican, and they saw enough promise to sign young Johnny. He spent 2004 pitching in the Dominican Summer League while taking English lessons. The Reds brought him stateside and he started in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He struggled to a 5.02 ERA, but impressed scouts with his control, and they moved him up to high-A Sarasota where he made two appearances with a 3.00 ERA. He began the 2006 season as a starter with Class A Dayton and was phenomenal, earning a promotion back to Sarasota. He showed his success a year earlier wasn't a fluke, going 7-2 with a 3.50 ERA. 2007 would be a big year for Cueto. He started the season in Sarasota, but advanced two levels, and ended the season posting a 2.05 ERA in four starts with AAA Louisville.
With his quick development in 2007, Cueto officially entered the prospect landscape, getting ranked within the top 100 prospects prior to the 2008 season. The Reds saw his promise, especially after a strong spring training. He made the team out of spring training, and he made his Major League in the third game of the season on April 3, 2008. He dazzled against the defending AL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out ten. That ended up being the high point of his season as the National League caught up to him. His ERA jumped over 5.00 before the end of April and he finished 9-14 with a 4.81 ERA as Cincinnati finished fifth in the six-team NL Central with a 74-88 record. Still, Cueto had survived the trial by fire, and management was confident that he would take the next step in 2009. His season began inauspiciously, as he allowed four runs in six innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his debut, but he quickly turned things around. His strong start on June 3 topped off a stretch of ten starts where he went 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA. He had a few rough starts after that, but his ERA was still 2.69 after throwing six shutout innings with only one hit against the Diamondbacks on July 1. After that things kind of fell apart for Cueto. He allowed nine runs while getting only two outs against the Philadelphia Phillies in his next start, and he went 3-7 with a 7.05 ERA in his last 14 starts. He ended the season 11-11 with a 4.41 ERA, only slightly better from the year before. Cueto got off to another rough start in 2010, but pitched his first complete game shutout on May 11, and went on a groove after mid-June. He finished the season 12-7 with a 3.64, and more importantly the Reds broke through with their first division title in 15 years. He made his post-season debut in Game 3 of the Division Series against the Phillies, against whom he had the disaster start the year before. He was much better, allowing just two runs (one earned) in five innings, but Philadelphia's Cole Hamels was even better, and the Reds were swept. Cueto started the 2011 season disabled due to some arm irritation, but he was phenomenal upon his return, finishing 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA
The Reds sank into third in 2011 despite Cueto's heroics. Still, he was determined to remain healthy and deliver a great year in 2012. He was named Cincinnati's Opening Day starter and threw seven shutout innings against the Miami Marlins. He was 10-5 with a 2.39 ERA at the All-Star break, but was inexplicably left off the All-Star team. He shook off the disappointment and ended the season 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting, and more importantly helped the Reds to another NL Central title with 97 wins, Cincinnati's highest win total since the days of the Big Red Machine. Manager Dusty Baker lined his rotation up so Cueto can get the Game 1 start in the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants. He started out strong, striking out leadoff man Angel Pagan, but strained his back while pitching to Marco Scutaro and had to leave the game. The Reds held on to the win, but San Francisco ultimately prevailed in five games. Cueto was hoping to be healthy again in 2013, but ultimately suffered from a variety of injuries, limiting him to only 11 starts where he still went 5-2 with a 2.82 ERA. Cincinnati still finished with 90 games and took the second Wild Card spot. Cueto had seemingly recovered from a latissimus dorsi strain and was picked to start the Wild Card Game against the Pirates, making their first post-season appearance in 21 years. The Pirates were hungry, and walloped Cueto for four runs in 3.1 innings. Cincinnati was never able to recover, and lost 6-2. Cueto was determined to put the disappointment of the 2013 season behind him, and went into 2014 with a new level of resolve. He started the season with eight runs in his first seven starts, putting up a 1.31 ERA while recording double digit strikeouts three times. However, the Reds offense gave him scant support and he was only 3-2. He did not let that distract him, and went into the All-Star break 10-6 with a 2.13 ERA, more than enough for him to make his first All-Star team. He kept his dominant pitching up in the second half, and won his 20th game in the final game of the season, ending 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA. He was rewarded with a second-place finish in Cy Young voting, behind only Clayton Kershaw who had an MVP season. Unfortunately in spite of Cueto's heroics the Reds ended up 76-86, well out of playoff position.
Cincinnati exercised an option on Cueto in 2015, but he was still due to become a free agent after the season. He was strong in his first 19 starts, going 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA, but the Reds were sinking towards the bottom of the division. They shopped him before the trade deadline, and the Kansas City Royals were more than happy to pick him up. The Royals were well on their way to the AL Central title a year after winning the AL pennant as the Wild Card. They knew they had a powerful offense, but were concerned they didn't have the pitching for a deep playoff run. Cueto struggled in the American League, going 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 13 starts after the trade. Then he struggled in Game 2 of the the Division Series against the Houston Astros, allowing four runs in six innings but Kansas City still won the game to tie the series. The Astros won Game 3 and were six outs from elimination in Game 4, but they miraculously came back to win and forced a Game 5. Cueto was on the mound for the deciding game, and he pitched like an ace, allowing only two runs in eight innings as the Royals moved on. His next start was in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays and he was putrid, allowing eight runs in eight innings. Nevertheless Kansas City won their second straight pennant, and Cueto got the ball in in Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Mets after a hard fought win in Game 1. He turned in a masterpiece, throwing 122 pitches in a complete game, allowing but one run. The Royals would win their first title in 30 years in five games, and Johnny Cueto had a World Series ring. He entered free agency that off-season, and wasted little time in signing with the Giants in a return to the National League. The Giants were looking to continue their Even Year Magic in 2016, and Cueto became a major contributor. He went 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA before the All-Star break, and was not only picked onto the team, he was named the starter. However, he pitched poorly allowing homers to his former Royals teammates and picked up the loss. Cueto was a more pedestrian 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA in the second half, but still went 18-5 with a 2.79 ERA. The Giants won a Wild Card slot, but won the Wild Card Game over the Mets, and Cueto was the Game 1 starter against the 103-win Chicago Cubs. He was near the top of his game, allowing one run in eight innings while striking out ten. However, San Francisco couldn't score and he suffered a tough-luck 1-0 loss, and the Giants lost the series in four games. Cueto struggled with a blister problem in 2017 and went 8-8 with a 4.52 ERA, his worst showing since his rookie season. He was off to a great start in 2018 but suffered a right elbow sprain that eventually required Tommy John surgery, keeping him out for most of the 2019 season. There's no telling how Cueto would perform upon his return, but there is also no denying his resolve that brought him from the streets of San Pedro de Marcoris to the Major Leagues.
Gio Gonzalez - 129
Date of Birth: September 19, 1985
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 91
Wins after age 30: 38
Wins in 30s: 38
Wins on June 4, 2009: 1
Wins on June 4, 2019: 129
Wins after June 4, 2009: 128
Gio Gonzalez sat in the visiting dugout at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was June 4, 2009 and the Sacramento River Cats were demolishing the Salt Lake Bees on their way to a 19-10 slaughtering. Gonzalez wasn't going to be getting in the game. He had pitched the day before and went six innings allowing only one run in a much closer 3-1 victory, moving his AAA record to 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA. He was hoping it would eventually lead him back to the Majors, where he had been just two weeks earlier. It was the ultimate destination for the right-hander who was already with the third organization in his short career. Giovany Gonzalez was born in Hialeah, Florida just outside Miami. Both of his parents were of Cuban descent, with his father from New Jersey and his mother from the island. He was raised in a relatively poor side of town, but his parents supported him in his passion for the game of baseball. He became a pitcher, and became a star pitcher for Hialeah High School, helping the team to two state championships and getting close to a third. After his junior year in 2003, he was given the chance to transfer to Monsignor Edward Pace High School, a secondary school whose alma mater included former Chicago White Sox ace Alex Fernandez who makes his home in Hialeah. Fernandez was right-handed while Gio is a lefty, but he still looked up to the older pitcher, and was more than pleased to be drafted by the White Sox in the supplemental first round of the 2004 draft. He signed just a little more than a week after the draft and pitched in both rookie-league Bristol and A-ball Kannapolis, where he held his own for an 18-year-old starter. He started the 2005 season in Kannapolis, but after he went 5-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 11 starts he was promoted to high-A Winston-Salem. His ERA rose to 3.56, but he went 8-3. Scouts began taking notice of the young left-hander, especially scouts with the Philadelphia Phillies. In November 2005, Chicago traded for slugger Jim Thome for Aaron Rowand, a young pitcher, and a player to be named later. Two weeks later Gonzalez found out he would be that player to be named later. He went to AA Reading in the Phillies system and struggled, going 7-12 with a 4.66 ERA, but his future was still bright. Almost a year after Gonzalez's inclusion in the Thome trade, the Phillies traded for Chicago's Freddy Garcia, sending over Gavin Floyd and the young lefty. Gonzalez had a strong year with AA Birmingham, but early in 2008 he received the devastating news that the White Sox was trading for Nick Swisher of the Oakland Athletics, and they were including Gio in the trade.
Gio Gonzalez had been a professional for four years but he was already involved in four trades. He started the 2008 season in AAA Sacramento, and went 8-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 23 starts. That was good enough for Oakland, and they called him up for his Major League debut on August 6, 2008. His first start against the Toronto Blue Jays was mediocre, allowing four runs in six innings, but picked up his first win in his next start, when he allowed one run in five innings to the Tampa Bay Rays. The rest of the 2008 season was disastrous, and he was eventually demoted to the bullpen, where he pitched six scoreless innings in three appearances, but that was only enough to allow him to finish with a 7.68 ERA. Gonzalez opened 2009 back in Sacramento. He went 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his first four starts and was called up in early May. He had a disastrous relief appearance on May 3 and was optioned the next day. Two weeks later he received another call-up and had another disastrous relief appearance, and went down again the next day. His brief taste of the Majors only served to motivate him further. By June 24 he had gone 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 12 starts, and Oakland called him up once again. His first start with the A's in 2009 was against the San Francisco Giants and their future-Hall of Fame starter and 300-game-winner Randy Johnson. Gonzalez pitched poorly, allowing six runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings and the Big Unit had his 302nd career win. The rest of the season was fairy inconsistent, with spectacular starts mixed with terrible ones. He ended the season 6-7 with a 5.75 ERA. By 2010 Gonzalez was no longer a prospect and needed to shape up or get shipped out. However, he found a mentor in Dallas Braden who was two years older than also threw left-handed. Braden taught the younger pitcher about everything he knew, especially after throwing a perfect game against the Rays on May 9. Gonzalez matured quickly and improved to 15-9 with a 3.23 ERA while leading the A's with 200.2 innings, beating out his friend in each of the categories. He was even better in 2011, making his first All-Star team after going 8-6 with a 2.47 ERA in the first half. He finished the season 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA, both of which led the team.
However, the A's finished 2nd with an 81-81 record in 2010 and third after going 74-88 in 2011. General manager Billy Beane knew the time was right to trade his young starters for even younger players. He traded Trevor Cahill to the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 9, and two weeks later shipped Gio to the Washington Nationals. It was a bit unexpected, but Washington was a young team that showed a lot of promise, and was also willing to offer a five-year extension with options that would keep him in DC through 2018. Gonzalez was blown out in his first start, but followed it with three scoreless starts. By the All-Star break Gio was 12-3 with a 2.92 ERA, and Washington was sitting on top of the NL East. He made his second straight All-Star team, and by the end of the year he had gone 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA, leading the National League in wins. He ultimately finished third in Cy Young voting, but the Nationals clinched the division with 98 wins. Gonzalez was given the honor of pitching Game 1 of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. He labored through five innings while walking five, but allowed only one hit and two runs and the Nationals ended with the win. However, St. Louis fought back to force a Game 5. Gio was on the mound once again and allowed three runs in five innings, but Washington were ahead 6-3 and carried a 7-5 lead into the ninth. Sadly the Cardinals scored four runs on closer Drew Storen and ultimately clinched the series. Things got even worse that off-season when the Biogenesis scandal broke, and Gonzalez was named as a player connected to the clinic that was suspected of dealing performance enhancing agents. He vehemently denied any connection with the clinic and was eventually cleared, but his numbers took a tumble in 2013, going 11-8 with a 3.36 ERA while Washington won only 86 games. His numbers slid further to 10-10 with a 3.57 ERA as he dealt with shoulder inflammation, but the Nationals clinched another division title with 96 wins. Gonzalez got the ball in Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants with Washington down in the series 1-2. A win would extend the season, but the Giants scored two unearned runs off Gio, and eventually scored the go-ahead run in the seventh and took the game and the series on their way to another World Series title. Gonzalez's numbers slid further in 2015 while the team was embroiled in controversy. He went 11-11 in 2016 with a 4.57 ERA that was below-average for the first time since 2009, but Washington won another division title. He started Game 3 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and didn't pitch all that well, but the Nationals still won, giving them a 2-1 series lead. Unfortunately the Dodgers won the next two to clinch the series.
Gonzalez had seen his ERA climb every year in Washington while his win totals had ranged between 10 or 11 in four straight seasons, and had seen his stock fall. However, he knew he still had the potential to become a top-flight Major League starter. He showed it off in his first start in 2017, pitching seven shutout innings against the Miami Marlins. He ended the month of April 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA. His ERA rose briefly above 3.00 in the end of May and beginning of June, but he brought it back down. Despite a difficult September where he went 2-3 with a 5.47 ERA, he still ended the season 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA, posting his highest win total and lowest ERA since 2012. He led the team with 201 innings, the most he had thrown since posting 202 in 2011. The Nationals also won 97 games for their first NL East title in an odd-numbered year. They would go on to face the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the Division Series. Gonzalez got the ball in Game 2. He allowed three runs in five innings and left with the team down 3-1, but the Nationals scored five runs in the eighth to win the game and tied the series at 1. The two teams traded wins to force a Game 5, and Gio was named the starter. He allowed three runs in three innings, but left with Washington ahead 4-3. Manager Dusty Baker called on ace Max Scherzer in a relief role, but the Cubs torched the Cy Young winner-to-be for four runs and went on to win the game and the series, the Nationals' fourth first-round exit. The Nationals had exercised both of their options, but Gonzalez's struggles continued into 2018, and through the end of August he was 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA. Washington had also collapsed and struggled even to remain at .500. Gonzalez was in the final year of his contract, and once he cleared waivers the Nationals traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers, who were the midst of a tight division race. A rejuvenated Gio went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts, and threw five shutout innings against he Detroit Tigers in the final game of the season to maintain a tie with the Cubs atop the NL Central. The Brewers won the tie-break game, and then swept the Colorado Rockies in the Division Series. Gonzalez was tabbed to start Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. However he was replaced after only two innings after allowing a home run to fellow Hialeah native Manny Machado. Milwaukee won the game when reliever Brandon Woodruff homered off of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Gonzalez made another start in Game 4, but sprained his ankle in the second inning. He was removed from the post-season roster and watched as the Brewers lost in seven games. He became a free agent for the first time in his career, but didn't get any offers and had to sign a minor league deal with the New York Yankees in late March. He was assigned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre, but pitched poorly in three starts. He opted out of the deal before signing with Milwaukee once again. The Brewers promptly inserted him into the rotation, and he has pitched well for them, hoping for another deep playoff run.
Rick Porcello - 139
Date of Birth: December 27, 1988
Years Played: 2009-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 135
Wins after age 30: 4
Wins in 30s: 4
Wins on June 4, 2009: 6
Wins on June 4, 2019: 139
Wins after June 4, 2009: 132
The Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers on June 4, 2009. The series was a bit of a blow for the Tigers, especially their rookie pitcher Rick Porcello, who was the first Detroit pitcher to get slaughtered by the potent Red Sox offense. Porcello had won all five of his starts with a 1.50 ERA in May to win the American League Rookie of the Month award, but he allowed three runs in just 4.1 innings as Boston waltzed to a 5-1 victory on June 2. Nevertheless even with the loss, Porcello's 6-4 record and 3.70 ERA were still a strong mark for the 20 year old just two years out of high school. Frederick Alfred Porcello was born in Morristown, New Jersey, and he was raised in nearby Chester, New Jersey. Young Rick played several sports, but it was baseball that he was drawn to. It was helpful that his maternal grandfather was Sam Dente who had played for five teams in a Major League career that stretched from 1947 through 1955 and played on the 1954 Indians team that won 111 games and the AL pennant. Dente was already 66 when Rick was born, but his influence helped led Rick and his two brothers towards baseball. His older brother Zach pitched for Lehigh University just before Rick entered high school. High school baseball was more limited in New Jersey as the brutal winters limited year-round play. However, Rick was able to enroll in Seton Hall Preparatory School, which was one of the best baseball programs in the country much less New Jersey. Rick was the star pitcher during his four years there, saving his best performance as a senior. That year he went 10-0 with a 1.44 ERA and pitched a perfect game. He also helped the school to yet another state baseball championship. Porcello was heavily recruited by colleges, and he ended up signing a letter of intent with the University of North Carolina. However, he was also heavily scouted by Major League teams. A few teams were scared off by his choice of agent, the controversial Scott Boras, but the Tigers had no such qualms. The defending American League champions used their first round pick on Rick Porcello. An intense negotiation ensued, but all was said and done he had signed a four-year contract worth $7.28 million with a $3.5 million signing bonus, the highest given to a high school draft pick. He signed too late to play in the minors in 2007, but in 2008 Detroit dispatched him to high-A Lakeland. He spent the entire season in Florida, but more than held his own, going 8-6 with a 2.66 ERA in 24 starts, an impressive showing for a 19-year-old.
Porcello was invited to Major League camp during spring training. He impressed the team with his maturity and his 2.63 ERA in exhibition game, and he made the team on the Opening Day roster. At just 20 years and three months, Rick was the youngest player to make the Majors out of spring training for 2009. He made his Major League debut in the fourth game of the season on April 9, 2009 against the Toronto Blue Jays. He struggled, allowing nine hits and four runs in five innings. However, he picked up his first win in his next start against the Seattle Mariners on April 19, then had his magical month of May. He recovered from his difficult start against Boston to post a decent June, but struggled mightily in July, putting up an 8.79 ERA while having a few starts skipped. He pitched better down the stretch and was 14-9 with a 4.04 ERA at the end of 162 games. However, the Tigers finished tied with the Minnesota Twins atop the AL Central. With the Red Sox having already claimed the Wild Card, the AL Central came down to a tie-break game, with the winner moving on to the Division Series while the loser goes home. Jim Leyland made a surprising move, calling on his young rookie Rick Porcello to start the crucial game. Porcello was up to the task, allowing just one run through the first five innings while the Tigers took a 3-1 lead. However, he allowed a home run to Jason Kubel in the sixth, then walked Michael Cuddyer, leading to his removal. He watched from the dugout as reliever Zach Miner pitched out of the jam, but the Twins scored twice to take the lead in the seventh. Detroit tied the game in the eighth and the game went to the extra innings. The Tigers scored in the 10th, but Minnesota scored against closer Fernando Rodney in the bottom of the inning and the game kept going. Rodney eventually allowed another run in the 12th on Alexi Casilla's walk-off single, and the Tigers' strong season where they spent 164 days in first ended just short of the post-season. Porcello picked up seven first place votes in Rookie of the Year voting but finished third behind Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey and Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, just another disappointment. The troubles continued for Porcello and the Tigers as he struggled mightily in 2010. Through June 19 he was 4-7 with a 6.14 ERA and ended up getting optioned to AAA Toledo. He pitched well in four starts in Ohio and pitched better upon his return, going 6-5 with a 4.00 ERA, but his 10-12 record and 4.92 ERA were far from his rookie successes, and the Tigers ended up in third place with an 81-81 record.
Porcello was no longer guaranteed of a rotation spot in 2011, but still made the rotation. He still struggled with his consistency, ending with a 4.75 ERA not much better than in 2010, but the Tigers offense picked him up and he went 14-9 as the Tigers won 95 games and the AL Central handily. Porcello made his post-season debut in Game 4 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees with a chance to clinch the series as Detroit held a 2-1 series lead, but the Yankees hammered him for four runs in six innings to force a Game 5, which the Tigers won to advance to the ALCS against the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. He was asked to warm up during a lengthy rain delay in the middle of Game 1, then came out and threw two perfect innings, but the Tigers still lost the game. He was asked to start Game 4 and pitched valiantly, leaving with the lead, but the Rangers rallied against the Detroit bullpen to take a 3-1 lead in the series. The Tigers won Game 5 and were leading 2-0 going into the third, but the vaunted Texas offense scored five times against two pitchers who got only one out. Porcello came in to try to end the inning, but allowed two inherited runners to score, then allowed two more runs before Ryan Perry retired Adrian Beltre to end the inning. The Rangers romped to a 15-5 win and the pennant. Porcello renegotiated his contract before 2012, then went out and lowered his ERA to 4.59. He went 10-12 as the Tigers dropped to 88 wins, but it was still enough to win the division, and Porcello had another chance in the post-season. However, he was relegated to the bullpen, and made only two appearances as Detroit advanced to the World Series but were swept by the San Francisco Giants. The 2012 off-season was even more troubling as Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey, dealing damage across the state including in Porcello's hometown in Morris County. He became very active in hurricane cleanup, even giving up his number 48 to free agent signing Torii Hunter in exchange for a donation to the Hurricane Sandy fund. Porcello went out and lowered his ERA once again to 4.32, which was still below average, but went 13-8 as the Tigers won a third straight AL Central title. He was placed in the bullpen once again, but had a chance to come into the ninth against Boston in Game 2 of the ALCS, tasked with bringing a tie game into extra innings. However, he allowed an unearned walk-off run and the Red Sox eventually won the pennant in six games. Through his first five season Porcello was 61-50, but his 4.51 ERA and 5.4 strikeouts / 9 innings were well below average, and by 2014 Tigers fans were wondering if this was all they'll get from their first-round draft pick. He answered with his strongest season. He was 7-1 with a 2.91 ERA through May 17. He pitched two straight complete game shutouts in June and July, and added a third in August. He ended the season with a career-high 15 wins and a career-low 3.43 ERA. Detroit won their fourth straight division title, but they were swept out of the Division Series by the Baltimore Orioles before Porcello could even make an appearance.
The Tigers rewarded Porcello for his best season by trading him to the Boston Red Sox of all teams in December, and they negotiated a four-year extension. The Red Sox had been going through some strange times since 2009. They made the playoffs only once, in 2013 when they walked over the Tigers to win the World Series, but sandwiched between those years were also their first two last place finishes since 1992. Porcello struggled in his first year in Boston, and had a 5-11 record with a 5.81 ERA when he went on the Disabled List for the first time in his career with a strained right triceps. He pitched better in his eight starts after his return, putting up a 3.14 ERA, but he still finished his season 9-15 with a 4.92 ERA as the Red Sox finished in last place once again. The Boston faithful were bemoaning their luck, but Porcello turned things around in 2016, winning his first five starts with a 2.76 ERA. He then went 5-0 again in July with a 2.57 ERA, before getting his 100th career win with eight two-run innings against the Yankees on August 9, and his 20th win a month later. He ended the season 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 189 strikeouts, all career highs. The Red Sox also rebounded to win 93 games and the AL East title. Porcello started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, but pitched poorly in an eventual sweep. Nevertheless when the BBWAA awards were announced after the season, Rick Porcello was chosen as the Cy Young winner, beating out his former Tigers teammate and mentor Justin Verlander in a narrow vote, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy since Pedro Martinez in 2000. Porcello went into the 2017 season with a fresh outlook. Boston rewarded him with his first Opening Day start, and he delivered 6.1 solid innings for his first win. That ended up being the high point, as when the season ended he led the American League in losses with 17, hits allowed with 236, and home runs with 38. His 4.65 ERA was roughly league average, but it still wasn't enough to keep him out of the bullpen in the post-season as the Red Sox had gone on to win the AL East anyways. He pitched one inning in a mop-up role in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Houston Astros. He got the start in Game 4, but lasted only three innings as the Astros took the series that day. The Red Sox weren't sure which Porcello would come out in 2018. He started the season hot, winning his first four starts with a 1.40 ERA. He battled through some difficult stretches, but ended the season 17-7 with a 4.28 ERA while the Red Sox towered over baseball with 108 wins. He appeared in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Yankees in relief, but it was to protect a 5-3 lead in the eighth, which he did successfully. He got the chance to close out the series in Game 4, which he did with five solid innings of one-run ball. He appeared out of the bullpen once again in Game 2 of the ALCS rematch against the Astros and pitched a scoreless eighth to secure a 6-4 lead. He started Game 4 and struggled, allowing four runs in four innings, but the Red Sox still won the game en route to the pennant a day later. Porcello finally had another chance to win a World Series. He started Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but lasted only 4.2 innings in a game that eventually went 18. That was the only Boston loss as they clinched the title two days later. Both Porcello and the Red Sox had a bit of a championship hangover in 2019, but he has pitched much better after his awful first two starts, and the Red Sox as once again positioned themselves as a force to be reckoned with.
Date of Birth: August 26, 1985
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: None
Wins by age 30: 99
Wins after age 30: 47
Wins in 30s: 47
Wins on June 4, 2009: 1
Wins on June 4, 2019: 146
Wins after June 4, 2009: 145
The second anniversary of the 2007 draft was quickly approaching on June 4, 2009, and the man who was the overall number one draft pick that year had already made quite a name for himself. In less than two years David Price had already played in a World Series, and had picked up his first Major League win five days earlier, when he allowed one run in 5.2 innings against the Minnesota Twins while striking out 11. While being the 1.1 pick was no guarantee for future Major League success, it seems the Tampa Bay left-hander was well on his way towards it. Price was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a small city located half an hour of Nashville. Murfreesboro was the county seat of Rutherford County, and was the geographic center of Tennessee, but the population was between 30,000 and 40,000 when Price was born in 1985. Young David was a rabid fan of the game as a kid. He was a fan of the Atlanta Braves and their brash outfielder David Justice. Murfreesboro continued to grow as David Price did, and by the time he prepared to enter high school, the city had almost doubled in population. Price enrolled in the public Blackman High School, which opened their doors that year. He became the star athlete, excelling in both the basketball court and the baseball diamond, getting voted as the Most Athletic. Scouts took notice of the tall southpaw, and the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in the 19th round of the 2004 draft. He chose instead to stay close to home and went to Vanderbilt University. Price was initially overwhelmed by the college workload and the competition, and at one point he told his coach he had decided to drop out of school to work in a McDonald's back in Murfreesboro. Coach Tim Corbin convinced him to tough it out, and he went on to put in a decent season, going 2-4 with a 2.86 ERA. His ERA rose to 4.16 in his sophomore year, but he also struck out 155 batters in 110 innings, and was named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award. That off-season he went into Cuba and helped the USA team win the World University Baseball Championship. Price went into his junior year full of confidence, and it showed in his stats. He went 11-1 with a 2.63 ERA, and increased his strikeout rate to 194 in 133 innings. He also volunteered in the community. His college career ended in defeat when he entered the final game of the Nashville regional in relief and allowed the winning run to score in the 10th, hanging him his only loss of the season, but he went on to win the Golden Spikes, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Roger Clemens Award, and the Brooks Wallace Award. He was the consensus top prospect going into the draft, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays having gone 61-101 the year earlier made him the top choice. They ended up signing Price to a six-year, $11.25 million contract including a $5.6 million signing bonus.
Price didn't make his professional debut until 2008, when he was assigned to high-A Vero Beach. He ended up going 11-0 with a 1.87 ERA in Vero Beach and AA Montgomery, not losing a game until he was promoted to AAA Durham in August. He recovered nicely and was called up in September, making his Major League debut coming out of the bullpen on September 14 against the New York Yankees. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed only two runs. He made four more appearances including one start and ended up with a 1.93 ERA. The Rays ended ten seasons of misery by winning 97 games and clinching the AL East. The team brought price along, but he didn't see any action in a four-game Division Series win over the Chicago White Sox. He made his post-season debut in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, retiring Jacoby Ellsbury in a Boston victory. He showed up again in Game 2, coming in and getting the last two outs in the top of the 11th before the Rays rallied in the bottom of the inning to secure Price's first Major League win. The two teams dueled to a 3-3 tie after six games, forcing a Game 7. The Red Sox took an early 1-0 lead, but Tampa Bay scored runs in the fourth, fifth, and seventh. Boston loaded the bases in the eighth, but manager Joe Maddon brought in his secret weapon: David Price. He fanned J.D. Drew to end the inning, then pitched a scoreless ninth and the Tampa Bay Rays were heading to the World Series. Price saw action in two World Series games against the Philadelphia Phillies, and was the last Rays pitcher to pitch before the Phillies clinched their second title in Game 5. It was a successful debut season for David Price, but Tampa Bay still saw him as a starter, and he started the 2009 season with Durham. He went 1-4 with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts, but the loss of starter Scott Kazmir due to a quadriceps strain eventually led to the team to call up their top prospect. Price got off to a hot start and had a 2.37 ERA through June 11, but the rest of the season was a wake-up call as he put up a 4.77 ERA after that point to finish 10-7 with a 4.42 ERA. The Rays fell to 84 wins and finished third. Price knew that he had to improve, and he started the 2010 season pitching like his first few starts in 2009. He was 10-2 with a 2.31 ERA in mid-June, and made his first All-Star team a month later. The main difference was that he remained strong in the second half, and finished 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA, finishing second and third in those categories. More importantly the Rays won the division with 96 wins. He had a chance to prove his mettle in the post-season, but got a rude awakening against the Texas Rangers in the Division Series, losing both Games 1 and 5 to end the Rays season. His second-place finish in Cy Young voting provided little comfort. Price made the All-Star team again in 2011, but in his last start before the All-Star break, he allowed a home run to Derek Jeter which was the Yankees shortstop's 3,000th win. Price ended the season 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA, but broke 200 strikeouts for the first time. The Rays made the post-season as the Wild Card team and faced off against the Rangers once again in the Division Series. Price started Game 3 and pitched decently, but still suffered the loss as Texas eliminated the Rays once again. 2011 had been a major step back for David Price, and he knew he had to improve going into 2012. He had a strong first half, going 11-4 with a 2.82 ERA going into the All-Star break, when he made the team for the third straight year. However, he really got in the groove in the second half. He went 9-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 14 starts, defeating the White Sox in his final start of the season to become the first Rays pitcher to win 20 games. His 2.56 ERA had also led the American League, and with that he was named the American League Cy Young award winner for 2012. However, despite 90 wins, Tampa Bay found themselves three games out of the second Wild Card spot, and Price had to settle by watching the first ever Wild Card Game on television.
The Rays agreed to a $10,112,500 contract with their ace for 2013 to avoid arbitration, but a triceps strain in May sent Price to the Disabled List for the first time. He missed a month and a half, and after 162 games he was 9-8 with a 3.39 ERA. Tampa Bay ended the season tied with the Texas Rangers for the second Wild Card spot. Even though Price hadn't pitched well against the Rangers in his previous post-season appearances, and had gone 1-4 with a 5.98 ERA in his eight previous regular season starts against Texas, he was the starter in the crucial tie-break game. He ended up dominating the opposition, crushing their spirits with each passing inning. When the dust had settled he had allowed just two runs in a complete game effort, and the Rays were moving on to the Wild Card Game, which Tampa Bay also won to earn a face-off against the Red Sox in the Division Series. He got the ball in Game 2, but this time Boston had his number, scoring seven runs in seven innings as they won the game and the series. Even with his abbreviated 2013 season, Price received another raise in the off-season, but he was quickly pricing himself out of Tampa Bay's price range. He was very strong in 2014, going 11-8 with a 3.11 ERA and had 189 strikeouts through July while making the All-Star team once again. However, the Rays were off to their worst start in years. And at the trade deadline they made a three-team deal with the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, with Price going to the Motor City. It wasn't a total loss, as Price was joining a team that was leading the AL Central. He went 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA and 82 strikeouts to finish 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA and an American League-leading 271 strikeouts. And the Tigers held on to win the AL Central, earning a match-up with the Baltimore Orioles in the Division Series. Price started Game 3 with Detroit down 0-2. He had his best post-season performance, throwing eight innings and allowing two runs, but the Tigers were only able to score one and he suffered another first-round exit. He agreed to a $19.75 million deal for 2015 with Detroit, the largest one-year deal by an arbitration-eligible player. He also got to a terrific start, going 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA through July. However, the Tigers also collapsed, and Price was dealt once again, this time to the Toronto Blue Jays, who were in a furious battle to make their first post-season since 1993. He stepped in and went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 starts after the trade, and the Blue Jays completed their quest to win the AL East. He had gone 18-5 and led the AL with a 2.45 ERA, but he turned his attention once again to the post-season. Toronto drew the Texas Rangers of all team in the Division Series. Price thought he had exorcised his demons against Texas in the tie-break game, but they knocked him around for five runs in seven innings and took the first game. He was summoned from the bullpen in Game 4 and allowed three runs in three innings, but the Blue Jays were already ahead 7-1 when he came in. Since starter R.A. Dickey didn't complete five innings, Price picked up his first post-season win since Game 2 of the 2008 ALCS. Toronto completed the series victory in Game 5, giving Price a chance to pitch in the ALCS for the first time in seven years. He started Games 2 and 6 against the Kansas City Royals, but pitched poorly in both starts, and watched as the Royals celebrated their second straight pennant in the latter game.
Nevertheless, Price's strong 2015 season helped him finish second in Cy Young voting, and firmly established him as one of the top free agent pitchers in the off-season. It was the Boston Red Sox of all teams that came calling, signing him to a seven-year, $217-million deal. However, Price struggled with inconsistency for most of the first half of the 2016 season. He was 8-5 but had an ugly 4.74 ERA through the end of June, definitely not what the Red Sox thought they paid for as they were well behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. However, Price started heating up in July, going 9-4 with a 3.33 ERA in his final 18 starts. Boston followed suit, as they took over first place for good in September and ending with the AL East title. Price's 3.99 ERA was ugly, but his 230 innings and 228 strikeouts led the team, and his 17-9 record was also strong. He got the start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, but pitched poorly as the Red Sox wound up getting swept. Price opened the 2017 on the Disabled List due to elbow inflammation. He pitched poorly when he returned in May, and ended up getting into a verbal altercation with Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley, who was broadcasting for NESN. He was pitching better afterwards, but his elbow flared up again, keeping him out until mid-September. Price was used exclusively as a reliever upon his return, and maintained the role in the Division Series against the Houston Astros. While he pitched well, he still couldn't prevent another loss. Prior to 2018, Price acknowledged that he hadn't pitched all that well in Boston. He had a renewed sense of determination, but it didn't necessarily translate into the stats. He finished the regular season with a 16-7 record and 3.58 ERA as the Red Sox won 108 games and their third straight AL East title. He struggled in Game 2 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees and Game 2 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros, contributing to the narrative that David Price struggles in the post-season. However, he knew that he was a better pitcher than what he had shown. He got the ball on short rest in Game 5 of the ALCS with the Red Sox ahead in the series 3-1. He stepped up, pitching six shutout innings as the Red Sox captured the pennant. He was chosen to start Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and allowed two runs in six innings to capture the win. Two days later he came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning of Game 3 with the game tied 2-2, and recorded two outs before Craig Kimbrel came in to finish the rest of the inning. The Dodgers won the game in 18 innings, but Boston won Game 4 to give Price a chance to clinch a World Series title. He allowed a home run to the leadoff batter David Freese, but then pitched into the eighth inning to deliver a World Series title to Boston. While Steve Pearce won the World Series MVP award, Price won the Babe Ruth award for his overall work in the post-season, and was also named the Comeback Player of the Year. He struggled with some elbow tendinitis in 2019 as the Red Sox got off to a difficult start, but he has come back healthy and ready to help lead Boston towards another post-season run.
Ervin Santana - 149
Date of Birth: December 12, 1982
Years Played: 2005-
Years on Top 10: 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 96
Wins by age 40: 149
Wins after age 40: 0
Wins after age 30: 53
Wins in 30s: 53
Wins on June 4, 2009: 51
Wins on June 4, 2019: 149
Wins after June 4, 2009: 98
While John Lackey was tangling with the Toronto Blue Jays, his teammate on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was preparing himself for his start the next day against the Detroit Tigers. The 2009 season had not been kind for Ervin Santana. He had sprained an an elbow ligament in the off-season, and he didn't make his debut on May 14. He hadn't pitched well in his four starts upon his return, allowing 19 runs, all earned in 18 innings for a 9.50 ERA. It was a stark difference for a man who had been one of the Angels' top starter a year earlier. Santana was born Johan Ramon Santana in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. He played baseball like several of the Dominican youth, and his skills caught the eyes of scouts for the Anaheim Angels, who signed the 17-year-old right-hander in September 2000. He made his stateside debut in 2001 and pitched well with the AZL Angels before struggling in rookie-league Provo. He spent all of 2002 toiling in class-A Cedar Rapids before advancing to high-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2003. He was pitching well, but he was also getting confused with the Johan Santana, the left-hander on the cusp of superstardom pitching for the Minnesota Twins. In order to separate himself from the older Johan Santana, he made the decision to change his name to Ervin, just because it sounded good. He finished the 2003 season with AA Arkansas, and could have moved on in 2004 except elbow and shoulder pain kept him in AA all year.
After he bounced back with seven solid starts in Arkansas in 2005 and three more with AAA Salt Lake, Santana made his Major League debut on May 17, 2005. His ERA in 23 starts was an unsightly 4.65, but he went 12-8 as the Angels took the AL West. He was thrust into the post-season in Game 5 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees when starter Bartolo Colon had to leave in the second inning. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs, but the Angels held on to a 5-3 win to move on to the ALCS. Santana got a start in Game 4 against the Chicago White Sox, but pitched poorly and they eventually lost the series. Santana improved to 16-8 in 2006 with a 4.28 ERA, but the Angels missed the post-season. He struggled for most of 2007 and was optioned for a time to AAA Salt Lake, but came back to take part in the Division Series loss to the Boston Red Sox. Santana had his best year in 2008, going 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA. Los Angeles won another division title, but they fell once again to the Red Sox, with Santana pitching poorly.
Santana had his struggles to open the 2009 season. He seemed to turn the corner in his June 5 start against the Tigers, allowing only one run and coming an out from a complete game, but had another disastrous start on June 11 and ending up back on the disabled list. He finished the season 8-8 with a 5.03 ERA. He spent the post-season in the bullpen, picking up a win in relief in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Yankees, but watching helplessly as the Evil Empire took the pennant. Santana bounced back in 2010, going 17-10 with a 3.92 ERA, but the Angels collapsed and fell to third. He threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on July 27, 2011 as the Angels remained in contention until September, but the team fell short while Santana finished at 11-12 with a 3.38 ERA. He struggled with the longball in 2012 and went 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA. The Angels exercised Santana's option for the 2013 season before swapping him to the Kansas City Royals. He struggled with run support with the rapidly improving Royals team, but he finished with a 3-24 ERA despite a 9-10 record. He turned down the Royals' qualifying offer and became a free agent. Teams became scared off by the potential for losing a draft pick. He finally signed with the Atlanta Braves after spring training had started. He put up a decent season, going 14-10 with a 3.95 that was below league average. Still, Santana was able to sign a four-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. Before he could take the mound in 2015, he was suspended after testing positive for Stanozolol, the steroid that wrecked the careers of Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson and baseball star Rafael Palmeiro.
Santana wouldn't make his Twins debut until July 5, 2015. He ended the season 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA, roughly league average. He turned things around by putting up a 3.38 ERA in 2016, but went 7-11 as the Twins went 59-103, the worst record in the Majors. Santana came out strong in 2017, and made his first All-Star team since 2008. He finished with a 3.28 ERA that was his best since his one year with the Royals in 2013. The Twins' young players all blossomed, and Santana finished with a 16-8 record. Minnesota also recorded a historic comeback, jumping to 85 wins and earning the second Wild Card spot, making it the first time a team made the playoffs the same year they held the overall #1 pick. Santana was chosen to start the Wild Card Game against the Yankees. However, while the Twins battered New York starter Luis Severino for three runs in the first, Santana turned around and allowed three runs in the first, then one more in the second. The Twins tied the game in the top of the third, but the Yankees battered the Minnesota bullpen and sailed to an 8-4 win. Santana had surgery in the middle finger on his pitching hand in the 2017-18 off-season, getting a capsular release for the MCP joint. While it was felt that he could return in 10-12 weeks, his rehab was slow, and he didn't make his return until July. And he was blasted for an 8.03 ERA in his five starts before he was shut down once again. He wasn't ready to quit and signed with the Chicago White Sox for 2019. He wasn't much better and was battered to the tune of a 9.45 ERA in three starts before getting designated for assignment. He asked for and was granted his release. Santana was not ready to call it a career, and almost a month after his release he signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He had been spending time in extended spring training to build up arm strength, but he has debuted with the St. Lucie Mets, and still hopes to remain a productive Major League pitcher.
Adam Wainwright - 153
Date of Birth: August 30, 1981
Years Played: 2005-2010, 2012-Active
Years on Top 10: 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 66
Wins after age 30: 87
Wins in 30s: 87
Wins on June 4, 2009: 32
Wins on June 4, 2019: 153
Wins after June 4, 2009: 121
The St. Louis Cardinals were ending a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with a victory on June 4, 2009. While that was a boost for St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright, he was also mentally preparing for his start the next day against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies were last place in the National League East, ahead of only the sad sack Washington Nationals, but they also had plenty of potent bats. But Wainwright was also one of the top pitchers in the National League, and was 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA even he pitched relatively poorly in his last start four days earlier. It was something he had been planning for since his early life, although with a few curves in between. Wainwright was born in Brunswick, Georgia between Savannah and Jacksonville. He was into baseball as a child, but his childhood was thrown into turmoil as his parents divorced when he was seven years old. His father moved to Florida, while Adam and his older brother Trey stayed with his mother in Georgia. Trey Wainwright was seven years older and eventually became a mentor and father figure to young Adam. He taught Adam everything knew, and even built a pitcher's mound in the backyard. Young Adam practiced as much as he could, and was a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves. His adolescence coincided with the Braves' rise into one of the most dominant teams in the National League. By the time he was in high school, Adam was over six feet tall and played football as well as baseball. He soon became known all around Georgia for his fastball that exceeded 90 miles per hour, and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Georgia. He was a heavily scouted prospect, but signed a letter of intent to attend Georgia Tech. At the insistence of his brother he told scouts for every team about his dead-set plan to go to college, all except for one team: the Atlanta Braves. When the 2000 draft came around, 28 teams bypassed Adam Wainwright, but the Braves called his name with the 29th overall pick. He wasted little time to sign a contract, and his dream was coming true. He had the chance to become an Atlanta Brave. The Braves sent him to the rookie Gulf Coast League, and he went 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA earning a promotion to rookie-league Danville, where he continued to pitch well. Wainwright continued on to A-ball Macon in 2001, then high-A Myrtle Beach in 2002 before moving on to AA Greenville in 2003. He went 29-24 with a 3.49 ERA during those three seasons, and seemed poise to take the next step in 2004.
Adam Wainwright could practically taste his opportunity to pitch for his childhood team, but in the 2003 off-season the Cardinals were looking to trade their talented but oft-injured outfielder J.D. Drew. Several teams were interested, but only the Atlanta Braves was willing to part with enough talented young players to secure the deal. Atlanta sent over a pair of young pitchers with Major League experience, including Jason Marquis, who would eventually be the losing pitcher in Tom Glavine's 300th victory. However, the key figure in the deal was none other than Adam Wainwright. At the time of the trade Wainwright was preparing to ask his future father-in-law for permission to marry his childhood sweetheart. The trade was a big shock, but getting permission to marry helped lessen the sting, and he went into the 2004 season looking forward for a fresh start. Life threw another curveball as Wainwright struggled in 12 starts with AAA Memphis before an elbow strain shut him down. The elbow was able to heal with rest and rehabilitation, preventing the need of Tommy John surgery, and he was able to have a fresh start with Memphis in 2005. He went 10-10 with a 4.40 ERA, and was enough to convince the Cardinals to bring him up in September. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 2005, pitching the ninth inning in a game against the New York Mets with St. Louis down 4-2. He struggled, allowing a single and a walk, then Victor Diaz blasted a three-run home run. Wainwright finished the inning to lower his ERA to 27.00, then lowered it again to 13.50 with another scoreless appearance. The Cardinals left him off their post-season roster, but when the 2006 season started he made the team as a reliever. He started out as a middle reliever, pitching a few low-leverage innings, but he was effective, making five appearances and pitching 7.2 innings before he was finally scored upon. In September closer Jason Isringhausen was shut down due to hip pain, and Wainwright was given the chance to close out games, and he ended the regular season with a 3.12 ERA, 17 holds, and three saves. The Cardinals clinched the NL Central despite an 83-78 record, and manager Tony LaRussa installed Wainwright as the post-season closer. He finished all three wins in the Division Series against the San Diego Padres, but only one game needed saving. He then closed three of four victories in the NLCS against the Mets. His most critical came in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7, protecting a 3-1 lead. He recorded two outs, but loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, and memories of his Major League debut came flashing back, except he wasn't facing Victor Diaz, but MVP candidate Carlos Beltran. Beltran took a fastball for a strike, then fouled off a curveball. Wainwright followed with another curve. Beltran had seen plenty of curveballs in his career, and this one seemed like it would end high and out of the strike zone. Yet it ended up breaking right in the middle of the plate, and Beltran could only watch in horror as home plate umpire Tim Welke rang him up. The Cardinals had won the pennant. The World Series against the Detroit Tigers seemed like cakewalk, but Wainwright was there striking out Brandon Inge to clinch the title.
The post-season run was exhilarating, but Adam Wainwright was developed as a starter, and he intended to fill that role. Manager LaRussa agreed with that assessment, and installed Wainwright as his fourth starter in 2007. He pitched well in his first start, but later went through some struggles and had an ERA above 5.00 through June 7. He settled down afterward, putting up a 2.92 ERA in his final 20 starts to finish the season 14-12 with a 3.70 ERA, leading the team in wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. However, the Cardinals fell to 78-84 as they dealt with adversity including the loss of ace Chris Carpenter to Tommy John surgery and the death of reliever Josh Hancock. Wainwright suffered an injury of his own in 2008, straining his right middle finger that kept him out from June to August, but his 11-3 record and 3.20 ERA were both improvements from the year before. His pitching would take a huge step forward in 2009. He won his first three decisions in April. He struggled a bit in May and June, including a poor start on June 5 against Colorado, but went 11-3 with a 1.90 ERA from July onward to finish 19-8 with a 2.63 ERA. The bullpen blew a 6-1 lead in the last three innings in his final start to keep him from 20 wins, but his 19 wins were still enough to lead the National League. With Carpenter back and healthy, the Cardinals went 91-71 to win the NL Central. Wainwright pitched eight excellent innings in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing only three hits and one run, but Matt Holliday's ninth inning error led to a comeback victory and a sweep. Wainwright went on to get the most first place votes in Cy Young award voting, but finished third behind Carpenter and eventual winner Tim Lincecum. Adam Wainwright was now one of the top pitchers in the National League, and he pitched like one in 2010. He got off to a strong start, going 7-3 with a 2.28 through the end of May, then picked up his first complete game shutout on June 4, 2010. He was 13-5 with a 2.11 ERA through the All-Star break and made his first All-Star team. He ended the season strong and was able to reach the 20-win plateau, finishing 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA. He finished second in Cy Young voting to Roy Halladay, who had won unanimously, but it was still an ace-type season, even if the Cardinals missed the post-season.
Wainwright did have some elbow pain near the end of the season. Given his history of elbow problems in 2004, he had an MRI done that did not show a tear. However, the elbow continued to bother him during spring training in 2011. This time a tear was diagnosed, and he ended up going under the knife for Tommy John surgery. He had to watch from home as St. Louis ended up winning the Wild Card, the pennant, and finally the World Series. The Cardinals awarded Wainwright with a ring, but he knew he could do more to help the team.Wainwright declared himself healthy and made the team out of Opening Day in 2012. However, he struggled mightily, allowing eight runs in three innings in his second start of the season. He was still 6-8 with a 4.75 ERA through the end of June. Yet Wainwright didn't suffer any pain, and he started to get back in the groove in July. In the last three months he went 8-5 with a 3.18 ERA, and finished with 14-13 with an ERA below 4.00, at 3.94. The Cardinals won a Wild Card spot for the second straight season, then won the inaugural National League Wild Card Game against the Braves of all team with Kyle Lohse on the mound. Wainwright started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals and pitched well, allowing one run and striking out 10, but he had to leave in the sixth inning once his pitch count hit 100, and Washington rallied to win. The series eventually stretched to a fifth game. New manager Mike Matheny turned to Wainwright, but he was awful, getting pounded for six runs in 2.1 innings. This time it was the Cardinals that rallied late to take the series. Wainwright got the ball again in Game 4 of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched a strong game to help St. Louis to a 3-1 series lead, but the Giants swept the last three games to take the pennant on their way to the World Series. Nevertheless, Wainwright felt confident in his surgically repaired elbow, and turned around to have a strong season in 2013. He went 19-9 with a 2.94 ERA while making his second All-Star team. He didn't have a chance to win 20 games as he won his 19th game in his final start, but he led the National League in wins for a second time. Meanwhile the Cardinals won 97 games and the NL Central. They faced the Wild Card winning Pittsburgh Pirates in the Division Series. Wainwright got the ball in Game 1 and pitched seven one-run innings for the win. then when the Pirates forced a Game 5, he came back and threw a complete game, allowing only one run to help the Cardinals take the Series. St. Louis went on to face the Dodgers in the NLCS. Wainwright pitched well in Game 3 but suffered a loss as the Cardinals were shut out, but St. Louis still won the pennant in six games. Wainwright had another chance to help his team to a World Series title, but pitched poorly in two games against the Boston Red Sox as the Cardinals dropped the Series in six. He finished second in Cy Young voting for a second time, but it was little consolation.
Wainwright got the start in Opening Day 2014, and defeated the Reds for his 100th win. He went on to have another strong year, winning 20 games for the second time while posting a career-low 2.38 ERA. He made his third All-Star team, and also led the National League with three shutouts. More importantly, St. Louis won another division title. Wainwright opened Game 1 of the Division Series against the Dodgers, but pitched poorly, allowing six runs in 4.1 innings. The Cardinals rallied to win, then won the series in four. St. Louis went on to face the Giants in a NLCS rematch. Wainwright started both Games 1 and 5, but the Cardinals lost both games and later the pennant. He finished third in Cy Young voting in 2014, the fourth time he finished in the top three in voting, confirming his status as an ace. He was off to a terrific start in 2015, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in three starts. He had thrown four scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 25, but hurt his ankle when running out a pop fly. He was eventually diagnosed with an Achilles tendon rupture, a huge blow that seemed like would cost him his entire season. Yet Wainwright was not ready to declare his season over. He worked hard to rehabilitate, and was cleared to pitch again before the end of the season. He made three relief appearances in the last five games of the season, and was placed on the Division Series roster against the Chicago Cubs. He pitched well in three relief appearances, but the Cardinals were losing in all three games, and lost the series in four games. Wainwright was healthy again in 2016, and he started his best career stretch at the plate. He had been a career .198/.226/.285 hitter with six home runs and 39 RBIs, but in 2016 and 2017 alone he hit .231/.252/.452 with four home runs and 29 RBIs. He won the Silver Slugger in the latter season. Unfortunately, that success did not translate to the mound. He struggled in April 2016 just as he did four years earlier when returning from Tommy John surgery. He was able to pitch better in the second half just like he did in 2012, but he still ended the season 13-9 with a 4.62, easily his worst numbers in his career. He ended up suffering a back injury in 2017 that cost him most of the final month and a half of the season. His 12-5 record and 5.11 ERA were even worse than the year before. He made three separate appearances on the Disabled List in 2018, and went 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA when he was able to pitch. Wainwright toyed with the idea of retirement in the off-season, but ultimately decided to come back for 2019. He had continued to be a shell of his former dominant self, but he did manage to secure his 150th career win. Adam Wainwright may be close to the end of his career this season, but there's no denying that at his best he was one of the best pitchers in the National League, and he's more than made the Braves regret trading him away.
Clayton Kershaw - 158
Date of Birth: March 19, 1988
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: 2019
Wins by age 30: 144
Wins after age 30: 14
Wins in 30s: 14
Wins on June 4, 2009: 8
Wins on June 4, 2019: 158
Wins after June 4, 2009: 150
Dodger Stadium was the site of one of the most compelling match-ups on June 4, 2009. The Dodgers, who were first in the NL West, were facing against the first-place team in the NL East, the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, in the first game of a four-game series. Dodgers manager Joe Torre turned to one of the top young pitchers in baseball to make this crucial start: Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw pitched valiantly, allowing one run in the fourth and another run in the sixth. However, the Phillies hitters made him work, and he had thrown 105 pitches through five and 1/3 innings, and Torre went to the bullpen. Los Angeles ended up losing the game 3-0, and Kershaw saw his record fall to 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA. Nevertheless, he remains one of the most hyped young pitchers in baseball. Clayton Kershaw was born in Dallas, Texas. His parents divorced when he was ten years old, and he was raised by his mother in the Highland Park neighborhood of Dallas. Kershaw's mother, a niece of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh who is credited with the discovery of Pluto, worked several jobs to support life as a single parent in one of the most affluent neighborhoods. Yet she was also fiercely supportive of her son's passion for sports. He played soccer and basketball and hockey, usually alongside his best friend Matthew Stafford. Yet it was on the baseball diamond where she shined the brightest. He was still a chubby freshman when he started at Highland Park High School in 2002, but he went through a growth spurt during his high school years and by his senior year a slimmer Kershaw had a dominant fastball as well as a majestic curve. Those pitches helped him become one of the best high school pitchers in the country. He went 13-0 while recording an 0.77 ERA, and struck out 139 in 64 innings. He also added a perfect game in the playoffs. USA Today and Gatorade both picked him as the Player of the Year, and went into the 2006 draft as one of the most highly touted prospects. The Dodgers held the seventh pick in the draft, and were more than pleased when the six teams ahead of them picked a quintet of college pitchers and third baseman Evan Longoria. Even with his high profile, Kershaw and the Dodgers were quick to agree on a $2.3 million signing bonus, forgoing a commitment to Texas A&M. The Dodgers sent him off to the rookie Gulf Coast League, and he dominated in ten appearances, going 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA. A year later he moved up to A-ball Great Lakes, and despite being 19, he went 7-5 with a 2.77 ERA while striking out 134 in 97.1 innings. He finished the 2007 season with AA Jacksonville and finally looked human, going 1-2 with a 3.65 in five starts. It was still enough for Baseball America to name him the seventh best prospect going into the 2008 season. Kershaw was invited to Major League spring training in 2008. He was playing an exhibition game against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and was facing the veteran Sean Casey, trying to hang on for one more year. With the count 1-2, Kershaw reached back and broke off a nasty curveball. Casey just stood and watched as he was called out on strikes. The game was televised and broadcasting legend Vin Scully marveled at the pitch, saying "He just broke off Public Enemy number one." Even though it was a spring training game, the pitch made waves around the internet.
The Dodgers still sent Kershaw back to Jacksonville to open the season, but once he dominated helpless AA hitters to a 2.28 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings, Los Angeles knew it was time to bring the kid up. Clayton Kershaw was promoted and he made his Major League debut on May 25, 2008 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched well, allowing two runs in six innings, but ended with a no-decision. He began struggling in his next few starts. Major League hitters were far more patient, and took advantage of the young rookie's inconsistent command. Through his first eight starts he had a 4.42 ERA and a 33/24 strikeout to walk ratio, and had yet to win a game. The Dodgers shipped him back to AA, but when he went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA he was back in Los Angeles before the end of the month. He was knocked around in a difficult start in the thin air in Colorado, but won his first game on July 27, throwing six shutout innings against the Washington Nationals. He had a few more difficult starts the rest of the season, including another against Washington where he allowed five runs in 2.1 innings while Cristian Guzman hit for the cycle, but his final 5-5 record with a 4.26 ERA was still decent for being the youngest player in the Majors. The Dodgers included Kershaw on the post-season roster, and he made two relief appearances in the NLCS against the Phillies, but Philadelphia clinched the pennant in six games. Kershaw made the starting rotation out of spring training in 2009. He started with two fantastic starts, striking out 13 San Francisco Giants in the latter. However, he was hammered in his following two starts on the road, pitching in hitters havens in Houston and Denver. Near the end of May it had become clear that while Kershaw had two top pitches, he needed a third one to be able to fool Major League hitters. During a bullpen session in Wrigley Field, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and bullpen catcher Mike Borzello told the youngster to try throwing a slider. He broke out some picture perfect sliders. That June 4 start was the first one where he incorporated the pitch in games, and while he initially struggled to get a handle on the pitch in game situations, he quickly mastered it and began dominating Major League hitters like AA hitters. From June 16 onward he went 5-3 with a 1.77 ERA. His 8-8 record was a bit unflattering, but the 2.79 ERA and 185 strikeouts (in 171 innings) showed that Clayton Kershaw had become one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Dodgers finished the season atop the NL West. Kershaw got his first post-season start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched well, allowing two runs in 6.2 innings, but it took a mortifying error by Matt Holliday for the Dodgers to escape with the win. That set up a NLCS rematch with the Phillies. Kershaw started Game 1 and was hammered. He came out in relief in Game 5 with Los Angeles down 3-1 and losing 6-3. He allowed two more runs as Philadelphia won the pennant.
The Dodgers were prepared for Clayton Kershaw to step in as an ace in 2010, but they were a bit concerned when he battled through some difficult starts early in the season. On May 4 he lasted just 1.1 inning while allowing seven runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. As it turned out, Kershaw was still struggling to find consistency in his slider command. As he became more comfortable with the new pitch, his walk rate and ERA both went down while his strikeout rate went up. He put up a 2.54 ERA after his disaster start against Milwaukee, and finished the season 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA, including his first complete game shutout. The Dodgers ended up missing the post-season, but Kershaw used that time to marry his high school sweetheart Ellen, and together they took a trip to Zambia as part of a mission trip. He was inspired to build an orphanage in Zambia. Kershaw went into the 2011 season filled with renewed determination. He struggled somewhat in April, going 2-3 with a 3.52 ERA, decent numbers for mere mortals but not where Clayton Kershaw wanted to be. He doubled down on his efforts, and by the All-Star break he was 9-4 with a 3.03 ERA. He was named to his first All-Star team, but once the season resumed he took his game to a whole other level. He went 12-1 with a 1.31 ERA in his final 14 starts, winning eight of his last nine starts and striking out 10 in his one no-decision in between. At the end of the season, he had won the Pitching Triple Crown with 21 wins, a 2.28 ERA, and 248 strikeouts. He was awarded his first Cy Young award. More importantly, he donated a portion of his salary towards his humanitarian projects in Africa. He went into the 2012 season with more goals to raise towards his humanitarian efforts, going beyond simply the orphanage. He had another strong season in 2012, going 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA, leading the league in ERA for the second straight year. He finished second in Cy Young voting to R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets, and the Dodgers missed the playoffs for a third straight season, but Kershaw was more thrilled about winning the Roberto Clemente award for his humanitarian efforts, and celebrated the opening of his orphanage. Kershaw went into the 2013 season refreshed, and he opened it with a bang. He threw a complete game shutout on Opening Day against the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, and also added a home run, showing that he's come a long way from the kid that hit .076/.103/.076 his first three seasons. The Dodgers struggled to score runs for him, but he was also preventing runs at an incredibly pace. His ERA remained below 2.00 after July 26, and when the season ended he had gone 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA. More importantly Los Angeles captured their first NL West title since 2009. Kershaw started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, and overpowered his opponents, striking out 12 in seven innings while allowing only one run. He got the start again in Game 4 and was also strong, and the Dodgers won the series, even if Kershaw received a no-decision. He started Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cardinals. He was strong once again, allowing only an unearned run in six innings. However, the Dodgers were shut out and lost to fell to 0-2 in the series. They were on the brink of elimination in Game 6 and turned to Kershaw. He was unable to deliver, allowing seven runs in four innings, and St. Louis took the pennant.
Kershaw was still awarded his second Cy Young award, and he signed a seven year extension worth $215 million, and he was ready for a big season in 2014. He traveled with the team to Australia and got the start in the historic Opening Day game in Sydney, throwing 6.2 one-run innings for the win. However, after returning to the United States he started noticing some discomfort in his back while throwing. The Dodgers put him on the Disabled List out of precaution, and he lingered on there into May, during which they fell into third place. Kershaw knew he had much to do upon his return, but struggled somewhat. His ERA was still 2.93 going into a start against the Colorado Rockies on June 18. He dominated the Rockies hitters from first pitch. He struck out 15 batters, and the only man to reach came in the top of the seventh on a throwing error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez. It was Kershaw's eighth complete game shutout, but more importantly his first no-hitter. It was the beginning of an 18-start stretch where he went 15-1 with a 1.32 ERA. By the time the season was over he had gone 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA. He came just three strikeouts short of winning his second Pitching Triple Crown, but still won his third Cy Young award. More importantly, he won the MVP as the Dodgers rebounded to 94 wins and the NL West title. Los Angeles went for a rematch against the Cardinals in the Division Series. Kershaw was his usual dominant self and was leading 6-2 going into the seventh. However, the St. Louis hitters began pounding his offerings for hits. By the time Matt Carpenter cleared the bases with a bases-loaded double, Kershaw had allowed seven runs, which swelled to eight when Carpenter scored. It puzzled analysts everywhere. Four days later the Dodgers called on Kershaw for Game 4. He pitched better, allowing three runs in six innings, but the Dodgers only scored two, and the Dodgers were eliminated. Kershaw continued his humanitarian work in the off-season, collaborating with CURE International and expanding his efforts into the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, baseball fans were wondering if Kershaw had a problem with post-season pitching. Kershaw opened the 2015 season and began striking out hitters at a rate he never had before. He reached double-digit strikeouts 13 times, and passed the 200 strikeout plateau on August 12. In his final start he became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2002 to record 300 strikeouts in a season. However, the baseball world had their eyes on Kershaw in the post-season. He pitched well in two starts in the Division Series against the New York Mets, allowing a total of four runs in 13.2 innings with 19 strikeouts, but he couldn't save the Dodgers from losing in five. Kershaw started the 2016 season pitching as well as he has ever pitched. He was striking hitters out at a furious pace while almost completely eliminating walks. He was 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA through June 26. However, the back pain that had bothered him two years earlier returned, and he was diagnosed with a herniated disc. He did not return until September. He finished season as strong as ever, and went 12-4 with a 1.69, but he finished 13 innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title. Nevertheless the Dodgers won the NL East again. He started Games 1 and 4 of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals and didn't pitch all that well, but Los Angeles won both games to force a Game 5. The Dodgers took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, and when closer Kenley Jansen walked two batters with one out, manager Dave Roberts called on his ace, who retired the last two hitters to save the series. Los Angeles went on to face the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS. Kershaw started Game 2 and threw seven shutout innings for the win, but the Cubs still took a 3-2 series lead with a chance to clinch in Game 6. Kershaw started the deciding game, but pitched poorly, and Chicago won their first pennant since 1945.
There were some question marks regarding Kershaw's health going into the 2017 season. He silenced most of his doubters with his usual dominating work, and went into a July 23 start 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA. He threw two scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves, but his back tightened up, and he left for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the second inning. He went onto the Disabled List, and didn't make his return until September. He pitched well in his first start, but afterward went 2-2 with a 4.23 ERA in his last five starts. He still met the minimum to qualify for the ERA title, and led the league with 18 wins and a 2.31 ERA, and still finished second in Cy Young voting. However, the Dodgers powered their way to 104 wins, and all eyes were on Clayton Kershaw. He started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and didn't pitch all that well, but Los Angeles still won on their way towards a sweep. Next up came an NLCS rematch against the Chicago Cubs. Kershaw started Game 1 and only lasted five innings, but he allowed just two runs as the Dodgers took the game. He was on the mound again in Game 5 with a chance to clinch the pennant, and this time he delivered six strong innings, allowing but one run. Meanwhile the Los Angeles offense went bonkers and won the game 11-1, clinching their first National League pennant since 1988. The Dodgers clinched early enough for Kershaw to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros on regular rest. The Astros won 101 games and had an all-time great offense, leading the Majors in runs and fewest strikeouts. Nevertheless, Kershaw carved through the Astros lineup with each, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out 11. However, Houston captured Games 2 and 3 before Los Angeles won Game 4, making Game 5 a critical match-up. Kershaw started the crucial game and went through the minimum in the first three innings while the Dodgers handed him a 4-run lead. However, he faltered in the fourth, allowing the Astros to tie the game on a walk, a single, a double, and a three-run home run by Yulieski Gurriel. Los Angeles fought back when rookie sensation Cody Bellinger hit a three-run home run in the fifth, but Kershaw walked two with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Kenta Maeda came in and allowed a game-tying home run, saddling Kershaw with six runs in 4.2 innings. Houston ended up winning the back-and-forth game, but the Dodgers won Game 6 to force a seventh game. Manager Roberts brought Kershaw in the third and he contributed with four scoreless innings. Unfortunately the Astros had already scored five runs and held on to win the World Series. It was a disappointing finish, but his post-season performance was encouraging. Back pain and biceps tendinitis limited Kershaw to a 9-5 record and a 2.73 ERA in 2018. The Dodgers still won their sixth straight NL West title to give Kershaw another chance for a ring. He threw eight shutout innings in the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in a sweep, and Los Angeles went on to face the Brewers in the NLCS. He scuffled in Game 1, allowing a home run to relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff. Still, the series was tied going into Game 5, giving Kershaw a chance to redeem himself. He was up to the task, throwing seven one-run innings as the Dodgers won, but Milwaukee took Game 6 to force another seventh game. Los Angeles took a 5-1 lead, and Roberts called upon his ace to pitch the team into another World Series, which he did with a groundout and two strikeouts. Kershaw came back to start Game 1 in the World Series against the 108-win Boston Red Sox. He ended up getting hammered. He came back in Game 5 and pitched better, but the Red Sox still won the game and the series, and Kershaw felt the sting of back-to-back World Series losses. He dealt with shoulder inflammation that kept him out for the first two weeks of the season. Still, he was strong in his return. With the Dodgers entrenched atop the NL West, it gives the man who had long been the Best Pitcher in Baseball another chance for a World Series ring.
Cole Hamels - 160
Date of Birth: December 27, 1983
Years Played: 2006-Active
Years on Top 10: 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 99
Wins after age 30: 61
Wins in 30s: 61
Wins on June 4, 2009: 42
Wins on June 4, 2019: 160
Wins after June 4, 2009: 118
The Philadelphia Phillies went into Dodger Stadium on June 4, 2009 to open a highly-anticipated match-up between two first-place teams. The Phillies were leading the more hotly-contested NL East division, and their status as the defending World Series champions made them more of a target. They sent the reigning NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels to start the game, but he had been trying to find his footing in 2009. He was terrible in his previous start, allowing six runs in six innings. The Phillies still won, but his ERA had climbed to 5.21. He ended up tossing his best start of the season, delivering a complete-game Maddux on just 97 pitches. The performance calmed fans in Philadelphia, and assuaged their worries about the man they had come to view as their ace. Cole Hamels was born and raised in San Diego. He played several sports and considered soccer his best sport as a youth. However, he was a big baseball fan, rooting for the San Diego Padres. He was a fan of the Padres' Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman, who thrived on a change-up. He would later emulate the Atlanta Braves' future 300-game-winner Tom Glavine, who relied on a change-up like Hoffman, but threw left-handed like Hamels. However, when he started at Rancho Bernardo High School, he impressed scouts with a fastball that was already approaching the mid-90s. He also helped the team to post-season success. Prior to his junior year he injured his left arm while playing a pick-up football game. He didn't think much of it and pitched in a summer league game. However, he ended up breaking the arm mid-pitch, bringing back memories of Dave Dravecky a decade earlier. Cole was shut down for the rest of his junior year, during which he studied for and rocked the SATs. He showed no signs of rust his senior year, going 10-0 with an 0.39 ERA, striking out 130 in 71 innings. Several teams, including the Padres, were wary of the San Diego left-hander. However, the Phillies had no such issues, and drafted Cole with the 17th overall pick. The negotiations were much more difficult than Philadelphia expected, but Hamels finally signed near the end of August. He didn't make his professional debut until 2003, but he completely dominated hitters at A-ball Lakewood, going 6-1 with an 0.84 ERA in 13 starts, striking out 115 helpless batters in 74.2 innings. The Phillies promoted him to high-A Clearwater. Hamels went 0-2, but still pitched very well with a 2.73 ERA. He was one of the top prospects going into 2004 and pitched well in Major League spring training, but a strained elbow limited him to just four starts with Clearwater. He was prepared to come back in 2005, but fractured the fifth metacarpal in his left hand in a bar fight, the same bone that delayed Randy Johnson's Major League debut. He came back and pitched well, but back spasms shut him down the rest of the season
A lot of Hamels's luster was gone going into 2006. He was pitching in Clearwater for the fourth straight season. He dominated in four starts, convincing the Phillies there was little more he can learn pitching to high-A hitters. They promoted him all the way to AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre. When he posted a 0.39 ERA in three starts, that convinced the Philadelphia front office that he may be ready for the Big Leagues. Hamels received a ticket to the Majors, and made his Major League debut on May 12, 2006. He struggled with some inconsistency, and hit the Disabled List due to a shoulder injury, but still finished the season 9-8 with a 4.08 ERA. Hamels had gotten a taste of the Majors, and that motivated him to work hard in the weight room in the off-season, and he came back stronger than ever. He made his first All-Star team after going 10-4 with a 3.72 ERA in the first half. An elbow sprain shelved him for a month in August. Nevertheless, he still led the team with 15 wins, a 3.39 ERA, and 177 strikeouts. More importantly, the team came back from a seven-game deficit on September 12 to capture the NL East. Hamels made his post-season debut in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Colorado Rockies and pitched well, but picked up a loss as the Rockies went on to sweep. He made some headlines early in spring training in 2008 when he complained about the $500,000 salary the Phillies gave him. His comments left some fans grumbling, but he went out and had an even stronger season. His ERA by the All-Star break was half a run lower than the year before, but he was left off the All-Star team. He still finished strong, and led the team with a 3.09 ERA and 196 strikeouts, although his 14 wins were behind the 45-year-old Jamie Moyer. Moyer had become a mentor for Hamels since arriving in Philadelphia three years earlier, not only with his lessons about succeeding without top velocity, but also about work ethic and humility. Hamels opened the post-season with a Game 1 start in the Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He threw eight dominant, shutout innings and the Phillies advanced. Hamels opened the NLCS against the Dodgers as well, and allowed two runs in seven innings and picked up the win. Six days later he got the ball in Game 5 when a win would send Philadelphia into the World Series. He threw seven innings of one-run ball, and won his second game of the series. He was awarded the NLCS MVP. Then the Phillies waited for the ALCS to finish, with the Tampa Bay Rays emerging victorious in seven games. Hamels got the ball in Game 1, and allowed two runs in seven innings for the win. He started Game 5 once again with a chance to pitch Philadelphia to a series win. He got through six innings and allowed two runs, but rain suspended the game. When play resumed two dayays later, the Phillies completed the win. Hamels was left with a no-decision, but he was still awarded the World Series MVP. Hamels received a three-year, $20.5-million contract in the off-season, which he happily signed.
Expectations were high going in 2009, but Hamels had some elbow tightness in the spring training. He was cleared to start the season on the Opening Day roster, but he didn't pitch until the fourth game of the season, and he was hammered for 12 runs in 9.2 innings in his first two starts. Fans in Philadelphia grumbled that Hamels's big contract had weakened his resolve, even after his season turned around following the June 4 Maddux. He finished 10-11 with a below-average 4.32 ERA, both a dramatic fall from the year before. The Phillies still won the division title, but Hamels struggled in the post-season, and Philadelphia won the NL pennant but lost the World Series to the New York Yankees. The Phillies made a big splash in the off-season, trading away Cliff Lee who was instrumental in getting the team into the World Series, but also acquiring Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays. Hamels ended up getting lost amidst the hoopla. Nevertheless, Halladay's arrival may have been beneficial for Cole. He grabbed a lot of the attention especially with his perfect game, and Hamels was able to work through some early season struggles to end the season on a strong note. He posted a 2.28 ERA from July onward, but only went 6-5. His 12-11 record was overshadowed by that of his teammate, but his 3.06 ERA was the lowest of his career, and he also broke 200 strikeouts for the first time. The Phillies won the NL East handily, and faced the Cincinnati Reds in the Division Series. Once again Halladay made headlines by throwing a no-hitter in Game 1. Hamels allowed five hits in Game 3, but still recorded a complete game shutout to finish the sweep. Philadelphia moved on to face the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS. Hamels got the ball in Game 3, and turned in a decent performance, allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings, but the Phillies were shut out, and the Giants completed the series win in six games. On the heels of a disappointing loss, Philadelphia was active again during the hot stove season. They re-signed Cliff Lee, and with Halladay and Hamels and Roy Oswalt, who was acquired late in the 2010 season, and the Phillies had what many analysts considered the best pitching rotation in baseball history. Oswalt was limited by arm injuries, while Joe Blanton, Kyle Kendrick, and Vance Worley spent time in the fourth and fifth role. Meanwhile Halladay and Lee turned out monster performances, with the former going 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA and the latter going 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA. Hamels also had a strong year, making the All-Star team for the first time in four seasons, but he missed a few starts in August due to some shoulder and elbow pain, and his 14-9 record and 2.79 paled in comparison with his two more accomplished teammates. Nevertheless, the Phillies won 102 games and their fifth straight division title, and faced the Wild Card St. Louis Cardinals in the Division Series. The teams split the first two games, and Hamels had the start in Game 3. He delivered six shutout innings, and picked up the win as Philadelphia scored three runs in the top of the seventh. However, the Cardinals won Game 4, and pulled off the upset when Chris Carpenter out-pitched Roy Halladay in a 1-0 game. The "phantastic" Phillies rotation would be going home after the first round.
Hamels underwent off-season surgery to repair a hernia and remove some loose bodies in his left elbow. He also agreed on a new contract for the 2012 season. With Halladay suffering from shoulder pain and Lee limited by an oblique strain and poor run support, Hamels stepped up as the ace for Philadelphia. He courted some controversy by hitting hyped Washington rookie Bryce Harper with a pitch on May 6, then admitted to doing it on purpose, earning him a short suspension. However, he went on to make his second straight All-Star team, then signed a six-year contract extension worth $144 million, including an option for an addition year. He ended the season 17-6 to establish a new career high in wins, and posted a new high in strikeouts with 216, and also posting a 3.05 ERA. However, the Phillies only managed 81 wins to end their post-season streak. Hamels was rewarded for his strong work by being named the Opening Day starter for 2013, but he was rocked for five runs in five innings against the Atlanta Braves, then allowed eight runs in 5.2 innings against the Kansas City Royals. His struggles continued in May when he lost all six of his starts with a 4.95 ERA. His performance stabilized in June and he went 7-5 with a 2.96 ERA the rest of the way, but with the poor start and the spotty run support late in the season, he finished with an ugly 8-14 record despite a 3.60 ERA and 202 strikeouts. Meanwhile the Phillies team that had won 102 games in 2011 had collapse to 73 wins, and longtime manager Charlie Manuel was replaced by Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Hamels suffered from biceps tendinitis in spring of 2014 that kept him out of Major League action until April 23. He struggled in his first few starts, and through May 27 he was 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA. However, he was dominant the rest of the way, posting a 1.91 ERA from June onwards, a period spanning 23 starts. However, he went only 8-6 as Philadelphia hitters continued their offensive struggles. On September 1 he pitched six scoreless innings against the Braves in Atlanta and didn't allow a hit. However, he also walked five batters and hit another, so he already had 108 pitches by the end of his six innings. A trio of relievers came in and kept the Braves hitless, and the Phillies had their first no-hitter since Halladay's post-season no-no in 2010. Hamels ended the season with a career-low 2.46 ERA, fifth in the National League, but because Philadelphia had a second-straight 73-win season, Cole only went 9-9. There were a few trade rumors swirling around him, but Hamels remained a Phillie going into 2015. He recovered from a rough stretch to open the season to put up his usual solid numbers, and on July 25 he pitched against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and threw a no-hitter of his own, striking out 13. However, by then Philadelphia was dead last with the worst record in the Majors, and Sandberg had already been sacked. The cries for a Hamels trade were becoming deafening, and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. finally pulled the trigger, sending Cole and reliever Jake Diekman to the Texas Rangers for a haul of six players.
Hamels was joining a Rangers team that had finished last in 2014 with 95 losses, and were still below .500 and eight games behind the surprising Houston Astros. He was bombed in his first two starts in Texas, but he allowed one fewer run in each of his starts in August. Meanwhile, the Rangers started to get hot. They went 36-20 in August and September, and won eight of their last ten against Houston. Hamels had a chance to help his new team clinch the AL West on the last day of the season. He delivered with a complete game victory against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing only two runs, as Texas completed its last-to-first comeback. Hamels had went 7-1 with a 3.66 ERA with the Rangers, and had another chance to compete in the post-season, getting a start in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched decently, although it took 14 innings before Texas won to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Blue Jays came back and won two games to force a deciding Game 5. Hamels was chosen to start that crucial game. He pitched into the seventh as the Rangers took the lead on a controversial play. However, the normally sure-handed Texas defense fell apart and the bases were loaded on three errors. Hamels induced a force at home before getting replaced, and the Rangers bullpen allowed the tying run to score on a missed pop-up that still resulted in the second out, and a devastating three-run home run by Jose Bautista. Hamels was saddled with the loss, but there was still a feeling of optimism going into the 2016 season. That optimism was realized as Texas jumped out into a massive lead. Hamels was extremely sharp, and made his first American League All-Star team He was 14-4 with a 2.67 ERA through August 25, and there was some talk that he could become the first Rangers pitcher to win a Cy Young award. However, he went 1-1 with a 6.75 in his final six starts. His overall record of 15-5 and 3.32 ERA were still solid, but not deserving of a Cy Young vote. Nonetheless, Texas still won 95 games and clinched the best record in the American League, earning a Division Series rematch with the Blue Jays. Hamels was chosen to start Game 1, and he was annihilated, allowing seven runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings as Toronto waltzed to a 10-1 victory en route to a sweep. All of a sudden the Texas magic was gone. Hamels got off to a strong start in 2017 and was 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA through April, but he suffered an oblique strain that kept him out for two months. He was extremely inconsistent upon his return, and pitched poorly as the Rangers were trying to stay relevant in the Wild Card race. He ended the season 11-6 with a 4.20 ERA. The 2018 season was even worse. He remained healthy and won his 150th game by defeating the Yankees on May 22, but collapsed to 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA with a string of terrible starts in July. Texas was buried deep in last, and traded Hamels to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were in a tight race for the NL Central, but their new trade acquisition was phenomenal in August, going 4-0 with an 0.69 ERA as Chicago pulled ahead. However, September was a different story as he went 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA and the Cubs found themselves tied with the Brewers for the division, requiring a tie-break game to determine the NL Central winner. The Brewers won 3-1, and Chicago had to face the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card game. The game remained tied 1-1 in nine nail-biting innings. Hamels was called to pitch the 10th, which he did successfully. He came out for the 11th, but that got a little hairy as he loaded the bases, but managed to escape the jam. Nevertheless the Rockies still won in the 13th. The Cubs still exercised the option from the extension signed back in 2012. Hamels struggled in his first start of the season against his former team the Rangers while the Cubs collapsed into last, but he quickly turned his season as his team did as well. Hamels may be in the last year of his contract, but he intends to keep pitching until his 40s, and he may have the talent to do so.
Date of Birth: July 27, 1984
Years Played: 2008-Active
Years on Top 10: 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 85
Wins after age 30: 77
Wins in 30s: 77
Wins on June 4, 2009: 2
Wins on June 4, 2019: 162
Wins after June 4, 2009: 160
The Arizona Diamondbacks' off-day on June 4, 2009 gave Max Scherzer a chance a take stock at where he's been. He's been a highly touted prospect and has seen some flashes of brilliance during his sophomore season, but had only managed two wins thanks to an anemic offense, and was 2-4 with a 4.47 ERA after his absolute worst start in the Majors, a shellacking at the hands of the Atlanta Braves on May 31 where he allowed eight runs on 3.2 innings. He knew he could had the capability to be much better than he has been, and that sense of confidence had been instilled in him since his early days. Maxwell Scherzer was born in St. Louis and raised in the suburb of Chesterfield, which had once been the home of 300-game-winner Steve Carlton. Young Max was born with heterochromia, which left one eye blue and one eye brown. He was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, and was active in sports along with his younger brother Alex. He quickly showed himself to be incredibly competitive on the playing field, and that made up for any lack of talent that he had. He was fairly good in high school, but did not have the mid-90s fastball or exceptional command to make him one of the top prospects in the 2003 draft. The Cardinals were the only team to take a flier on the hometown kid, picking him in the 43rd round, but Scherzer was already fully invested in attending the University of Missouri Columbia. He kept his intensity in college, but at the same time he underwent an intense transition. He struggled in his freshman year as he fought to correct some spotty mechanics that included a notorious head whip, and went 0-1 with a 5.85 ERA. Yet he had the determination to succeed, and after an entire winter of working out, he came back in his sophomore year as one of the top pitchers in the Big 12, going 9-4 with a 1.86 ERA and striking out 131 in 106 innings. Injuries to his finger and biceps tendinitis limited him his junior year, but there was still one team that believed in his potential, the Arizona Diamondbacks. They held the 11th overall pick, and when their turn came they used that pick on Max Scherzer. However, the two sides were unable to make an agreement over the signing bonus. The months wore on, and soon August came by, when Scherzer had to make a decision about returning to Columbia. Yet this was the final year of the old draft-and-follow system, and as long as Max doesn't return to college negotiations can continue until the end of May. The situation remained at a détente through the winter, and when spring rolled around Scherzer signed with the independent Fort Worth Cats. He got into three games and blew hitters away with a mid-90s fastball, posting an 0.56 ERA in three starts. The Diamondbacks capitulated and offered a four-year, $4.3 million deal. The team shipped Scherzer to high-A Visalia, and he was even better than he was in Fort Worth, putting up an 0.53 ERA in three starts. He finished the season with AA Mobile, where he was hit hard after suffering a drop in velocity. He shared his struggles with his brother, who identified that Max was being too cavalier with his leg kick. He made the necessary corrections, and finished the season on a strong note, going 4-4 with a 3.91 ERA but with 76 strikeouts in a 3.91 ERA.
The Diamondbacks sent Scherzer to the Arizona Fall League, and he opened the 2008 season with AAA Tucson. He was dominant in April, putting up a 1.17 ERA in his first four starts, and Scherzer was called up for his Major League debut less than a year after signing. He made his debut on April 29, 2008, coming in the third inning in a mop-up role and throwing 4.1 perfect innings with seven strikeouts. He soon entered the Diamondbacks rotation, sandwiched between Dan Haren and future 300-game-winner Randy Johnson. He pitched decently in three starts, but went 0-2 before going back in the bullpen. He was thrown into mop-up situations usually with the Diamondbacks already losing, and despite pitching well, he returned to Tucson in June. He completed a strong season in AAA but was called back up in late-August with Arizona struggling through a losing stretch that threatened their increasingly precarious division lead. The team had fallen into second by the time they put Scherzer back into the rotation. This time he was following the Big Unit, and picked up a tremendous amount of knowledge from the 45-year-old veteran. He went 0-2 with a 3.68 in three starts to finish at 0-4 despite a strong 3.05 ERA. His 66 strikeouts in 56 innings was a sign of his tremendous potential. The Diamondbacks let Randy Johnson sign with the San Francisco Giants, and put Scherzer in the rotation for 2009 after one start in Visalia. As fate would have it Arizona had two early series against the Giants, and Max faced off against the Big Unit in San Francisco and Phoenix. Scherzer pitched well in AT&T Park, allowing just one run in seven innings, but Randy threw seven shutout innings to pick up win 296. He struggled in Chase Field, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings, but Randy only lasted 3.1 innings, and the win went to the late Justin Miller. Scherzer was 0-7 with a 3.39 ERA in his career before picking up his first win on May 16 with six shutout innings against the Braves, then had two dominating starts with ten strikeouts. Then came the horrific start against Atlanta, and the whispers about Max Scherzer grew louder. Max found solace in talking with his brother, but by the end of the season he had gone 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA, decent numbers for a last-place team, but the Diamondbacks were ready to move on. They orchestrated a three-team trade with the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers, and their one-time big-name prospect was on the move to Detroit. Scherzer started out strong in the Motor City, but he was soon sporting a 7.29 ERA by May 14, and the Tigers sent him down to AAA Toledo. He was dominant in two starts, with an 0.60 ERA, and he was back in the Major League team shortly thereafter. In his first start back in the Big Leagues he struck out 14 Oakland Athletics in just 5.2 innings, a record for a stint shorter than six innings. He was inconsistent in June, but started dominating in July, going 8-5 with a 2.31 ERA in the last three months of the season, finishing the year 12-11 with a 3.50 ERA. Scherzer battled with inconsistency for all of 2011. He ended the season with a career-high 4.43 ERA, but still went 15-9 as the Tigers won the AL Central. Max made his post-season debut with a dominant Game 2 Division Series start against the New York Yankees, throwing six shutout innings. He then came back in Game 5 with a relief appearance as Detroit won the game and the series. Next up came the Texas Rangers in the ALCS. Scherzer pitched well in Game 2, but the Tigers ultimately fell on Nelson Cruz's walk-off grand slam. He got the ball again in Game 6 with Detroit facing elimination. The bottom fell out completely. The Tigers handed him a 2-0 lead, but then he lost the ability to retire any batters in the third. The Rangers ended up scoring nine runs, with Scherzer being on the hook for six of them, and Texas took the pennant by a score of 15-5.
Max Scherzer was devastated by how the 2011 season ended for him and the team, and the 2012 season turned out to be even worse. He was 5-4 through June 12, but also had an ugly 5.76 ERA. He had shown flashes of brilliance, striking out 15 Pittsburgh Pirates on May 20, but had more horrible starts than strong ones. Meanwhile his brother kept him grounded, and offered him encouragement, suggesting that a turnaround was coming. Max finally had a strong start on June 17, throwing eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks even while pitching around a rain delay. He finally had a performance he could feel good about, but four days later he would get a phone call that would turn his world upside down: his brother had hung himself. Alex Scherzer had suffered from Major Depressive Disorder, but kept the worst of it hidden from his family. Max grieved the death while also grappled with a sense of guilt, but also threw himself into his work. He pitched against the Pirates just two days after the news, and from that point on he was unstoppable, going 10-2 with a 2.61. During one stretch he won five straight starts while putting up a 1.03 ERA, during which he won his 50th game on August 26 against the Los Angeles Angels. He ended the season 16-7 with a 3.74 ERA, and finished second in strikeouts with 231 behind his teammate Justin Verlander. Scherzer continued his brilliance into the post-season. He won his first two starts with two runs (one earned) in 11 innings, while the Tigers clinched the pennant. He started Game 4 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants tasked with avoiding the sweep. He pitched valiantly, allowing three runs in 6.1 innings, but Detroit was swept anyways. Scherzer returned to St. Louis in the off-season to process what had been an emotionally trying season. After six months of compartmentalizing his grief, Max opened up and had a moment of catharsis. He went into the 2013 season with a renewed determination to be the best pitcher he can be. His first start was a bit messy, as he allowed four runs in five innings, but he still picked up the win. He was almost unstoppable afterwards. He won his first 13 decisions, and later reached 20 wins on September 20. He ended the season 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA. He set another career high with 240 strikeouts, but still finished behind the R angers' Yu Darvish. He had another strong showing in the post-season, striking out 11 in a Game 1 Division Series victory over the Athletics, then picking up the win in relief in Game 4. He struck out 13 in a Game 2 start in the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, but Boston ended up winning the game after Scherzer left. Max was tasked with extending the Detroit season in Game 6, but had a relatively poor start as the Red Sox clinched the pennant. He was named the Cy Young award winner unanimously, but he knew his pitching could still reach another level. The 2014 season ended up being somewhat of a mixed bag for Scherzer. He won only 18 games instead of 21, although that was still enough to lead the American League. And his ERA rose to 3.15 thanks to the presence of a handful of disaster starts, including a shellacking at the hands of the Kansas City Royals on June 17 where he allowed 10 runs in four innings. Yet he set a new career high with 220.1 innings, and broke 250 strikeouts for the first time with 252. The Tigers' fourth straight division title gave him another shot at the post-season, but he was putrid in his Game 1 start against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing five runs in 7.1 innings, leading to an eventual sweep.
Nevertheless, Scherzer became a free agent after the season, and he was positioned for a big payday as one of the top free agent starters. The Washington Nationals had been one of the stronger teams, with AL East titles in 2012 and 2014, but failed to get out of the Division Series. Furthermore their general manager was Mike Rizzo, who was Arizona's scouting director when Scherzer was drafted. They went at negotiations hard, and agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal that was heavily backloaded. He stepped to the top of the Nationals rotation and made his first Opening Day start. He struck out eight New York Mets in 7.2 innings, but allowed three unearned runs to suffer a loss. Nevertheless he acclimated quickly to National League pitching, and on June 14 he pitched a complete game one-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 16 while giving up the lone Brewers hit in the seventh. Six days later he started against the Pirates and was even better, retiring 26 straight batters until he hit pinch-hitter Jose Tabata with a pitch to end the perfect game bid. He still retired the next batter to complete the no-hitter and his second straight shutout. However, the Nationals were highly dysfunctional in 2015, and by October they were eliminated from post-season consideration. Scherzer made his final start in the second game of a double-header in the season's penultimate day. He remembered the sting of his Opening Day loss, and threw a dominating 17-strikeout no-hitter, with only a sixth inning throwing error keeping him from a perfect game. He ended the season 14-12 but with a 2.79 ERA and 276 strikeouts, staggering numbers, but ones that were meaningless without a post-season run. Scherzer opened the 2016 season inconsistently, and through the beginning of May 11 he was 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA, while Washington had lost an early lead and looked up at the Mets. On that day he was facing his former team the Tigers and his former teammate Jordan Zimmermann, who had recovered from being the losing pitcher in Randy Johnson's 300th win to sign a humongous five-year deal with Detroit. Scherzer struck out two in the first, then struck out the side in the second and the third, but not before a Jose Iglesias home run blew an early lead and tied the game at 1. He struck out only one former teammate in the fourth, but record two in the fifth and sixth. The Nationals took the lead again in the bottom of the sixth, and Scherzer responded by striking out a pair in the seventh and the side in the eighth. He already had 106 pitches, but with 18 strikeouts in eight innings, manager Dusty Baker let Max go out in the ninth to try for history. Slugger J.D. Martinez led off with a Huge home run, but Miguel Cabrera struck out for the third time for strikeout number 19. Victor Martinez followed with a single. Nevertheless Baker stuck with his ace, who struck out Justin Upton to tie Kerry Wood and 300-game winners Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson for the nine-inning strikeout record. McCann grounded out to end the chance at the all-time record of 21, but it was still a much-needed win for Scherzer and the Nationals. He went on a roll after that point, going 16-5 with a 2.60 ERA to finish at 20-7 with a 2.96 ERA. More importantly Washington finished on top of the NL East once again, and faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. Scherzer pitched poorly in Game 1, but the series ended up going to a Game 5. Baker gave Max the ball once again for the deciding game, and he held the Dodgers to one run in six innings. He came out for the seventh, but Joc Pederson hit a game-tying homer, and Los Angeles scored three more runs before the end, and won the game and the series.
Despite the difficult end to the season, Scherzer was still awarded his first National League Cy Young award and second overall. He went into 2017 instilled with the belief that the Washington Nationals don't need to wait for an Even Year to win a division title. He suffered from a stress fracture in his right knuckle in January, but he still participated in spring training and avoided the Disabled List to start the season. Scherzer was strong in the first two months, and helped the Nationals build up an immense lead that reached double digit in June, and they never looked back. Meanwhile Max continued to make some strikeout records. He struck out the side on just nine pitches in the fifth inning on May 14, a celebrated feat that no pitchers have done more than twice, with Randy Johnson turning the trick in 1998 and 2001. A neck issue limited Scherzer in August, sending him to the Disabled List for only the second time in his career. He came back strong, and finished the season 16-6 with a career-low 2.51 ERA, while leading the National League for the second straight season with 268 strikeouts. He finished behind the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw in both wins and ERA, but held a tremendous advantage in strikeouts and innings pitched, and as a result won his second straight Cy Young award. More importantly the Nationals won 97 games and took the NL East in an odd-number year for the first time. Washington faced off against the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the Division Series. Scherzer wasn't available to make an appearance until Game 3 when the series was already tied. He pitched 6.1 innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead and the Cubs ended up winning 3-2. The Nationals won Game 4 and the series went to a Game 5. Gio Gonzalez got the start, but only lasted three innings, although Washington still had a 4-3 lead. Manager Baker decided to call upon his ace in the fifth. Scherzer got two quick outs, but then los the ability to record an out. By the time the inning mercifully ended, Chicago had claimed a 7-4 lead, and survived a furious rally to win the game and the series 9-8. Scherzer was saddled with a blown save and a loss. It was a disappointing finish, but the baseball world felt that he had taken over the mantle of Best Pitcher in Baseball. He showed off that level of dominance in 2018. He lost his second start of the season, but then went on a nine-game winning streak which ran his record to 10-1 with a 1.95 ERA. He then went on an inexplicable month-long win drought where he went 0-4 despite a 2.73 ERA in five starts, allowing no more than three runs in each start. He then went on a strong finish and ended the season 18-7 with a 2.53 ERA, leading the National League in wins. Yet he truly shined in the strikeout category. He reached double digit strikeouts an astounding 18 times in 33 starts, topping out with 15 on May 6. He went into the final start of the season with 290 strikeouts, and went on to fan 10 Miami Marlins to finish at exactly 300. It was a terrific performance, but his strong work was overshadowed by the 1.70 ERA of the New York Mets' Jacob deGrom. When the Cy Young results were announced Max finished well behind the Mets ace. Even worse, Washington fell back into dysfunction and finished at 82-80. The Nationals were even worse in 2019 and unexpectedly became one of the worst teams in baseball. Scherzer still dominated hitters, but fell victim to Washington's struggling offense, porous defense, and abysmal bullpen to post a losing record, an unfamiliar territory for a man that had long been one of the forces of nature on the pitcher's mound.
Felix Hernandez - 169
Date of Birth: April 8, 1986
Years Played: 2005-Active
Years on Top 10: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 143
Wins after age 30: 26
Wins in 30s: 26
Wins on June 4, 2009: 44
Wins on June 4, 2019: 169
Wins after June 4, 2009: 125
The Seattle Mariners had an off-day on June 4, 2009 while waiting for the Minnesota Twins to arrive into Seattle so the two teams could begin a three-game series. The Mariners were confident about their chances against the Twins, especially since the man starting the first game of the series was Felix Hernandez. "King Felix" was only 23, but he was already a veteran with 115 career starts under his belt. Yet with a 5-3 record and a 3.41 ERA thus far in the season, it seems 2009 would be the year when Felix would mature into the dominating ace that the fans in Seattle knew he could be. Felix was born in Valencia, the third largest city in Venezuela. Venezuela was a baseball hotbed, and the Hernandez family was one of tremendous talent. His father, also named Felix was a pretty good pitcher in his youth, and passed on his fearsome fastball to his son. Young Abraham, as he is known to his family, eventually looked up to another pitcher who was making waves in the Major Leagues. Freddy Garcia had joined the Mariners organization in the 1998 trade for Randy Johnson. He made his debut in 1999 and won 17 games for Seattle. Felix watched bright-eyed from his home in Valencia, but it became evident early on that he had much more potential than his idol. He first appeared on the scenes at a tournament in Venezuela sometime during the 2000 season. The 14-year-old opened eyes with his mid-90s fastball and tremendous control. The Mariners were one of several teams that sent scouts to keep an eye on the tantalizing young kid. Teams were forbidden to offer any contracts until a prospect was 16, and the curious Adrian Beltre case kept Major League Baseball on high alert for any funny business about changing birth years to make a player older. Yet the Mariners scouts kept in constant contact with the Hernandez family. Freddy Garcia's successes with the record-breaking 2001 Mariners also make a mark on Felix. When his 16th birthday came on April 8, 2002 the Major League teams came calling. The New York Yankees submitted the first bid, and the Atlanta Braves submitted the most money. The small-market Mariners only offered $710,000, but after a few months of negotiations, Felix finally signed with Seattle on July 4, 2002. He was sent to the Venezuelan Summer League as part of the initial contract instead of going to the Dominican Republic like most Venezuelan prospects. He made his stateside debut with low-A Everett in 2003. Despite being just 17 years old, Felix overwhelmed older hitters and posted a 7-2 record with a 2.29 ERA and recorded 73 strikeouts in 55 innings. His dominance was such that a Mariners blog dubbed him "King Felix," a moniker that stuck. He was brought up to A-ball Wisconsin and shined in two starts. The Mariners didn't want to rush the youngster, and Felix started 2004 with high-A Inland Empire, but he finished it with AA San Antonio having gone 14-4 with a 2.95 ERA in both teams. Baseball America named Hernandez the #2 prospect in all of baseball prior to the 2005 season. He started with AAA with a 9-4 record and a 2.25 ERA, and there was no reason for him to remain in AAA. Only a case of shoulder bursitis kept him from making his debut any earlier. Felix made his Major League debut on August 4, 2005 with five strong innings against the Detroit Tigers, but suffered a loss. He picked up his first win five days later with eight shutout innings against the Mariners. On August 26, he had a chance to play against the Chicago White Sox, where his idol Freddy Garcia now played, but he opposed Orlando Hernandez instead and ended with a no-decision. He faced Seattle's former ace Randy Johnson in a start against the Yankees on August 31 and allowed just two runs in eight innings, but the Big Unit threw seven scoreless innings, and Mariano Rivera saved his 276th win. By the end of the season Felix only went 4-4, but his 2.67 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 84.1 innings were a tremendous showing for a 19-year-old.
It was a terrific debut year for Felix, and he also became close friends with Seattle's free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. The two were seven years (and one day) apart in age but Hernandez gained enough trust from the older player that he was entrusted with Adrian's lifelong secret that he hated having his head touched. Nevertheless, Felix's off-season was a bit contentious. He suffered from shin splints, and couldn't work out as much as the Mariners would have liked, and went to spring training out of shape. He had also wanted to pitch for Venezuela in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, but the Mariners disapproved of the decision and appealed to the World Baseball Classic committee to have him removed. Hernandez still made the Opening Day roster, and pitched well in his first start, only a day after his 20th birthday, but suffered a loss. He then fell into a frustrating spell of inconsistency, alternating tremendous starts with terrible ones. He struggled to control his emotions, and often lost his command. He threw a complete-game Maddux on August 28 with 95 pitches against the Los Angeles Angels, but his first start was the only day his ERA ended under 4.50. He ended the season 12-14 with a 4.52, somewhat of a slap in the face, but also a wake-up call. Felix focused on his conditioning, and was given his first Opening Day start. He dominated the Oakland Athletics with eight shutout innings and 12 strikeouts. He was even stronger in his next start, against the Boston Red Sox, as he threw a complete game, one-hit shutout. However, his ascendance was limited by elbow tightness, which was eventually diagnosed to be merely a strained pronator muscle, but it still kept him out for almost a month. Felix struggled initially when he made his return, but he 10-3 with a 3.70 ERA after July. The Mariners made a run for the Wild Card in an attempt to make their first post-season since 2007, but the run ultimately fell short, but Felix's 14-7 record and 3.92 ERA were a major step forward. Felix continued his progression in 2008, but he was frustrated by the team's dramatic regression. He was only 6-5 despite a 2.87 ERA going into a start against the New York Mets on June 23. He powered a grand slam against Johan Santana, the first grand slam by an American League pitcher since 1971 and the first home run by a Mariners pitcher ever. However, he left the game one out from qualifying for the win due to an ankle injury that kept him out for two and a half weeks. He finished the season with a 3.45 ERA and cracked the 200-inning plateau, but had a 9-11 record as the Mariners finished 61-101. Felix did play for Venezuela in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but even with an interrupted spring training he got off to a terrific start, going 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in April. However, he had a stretch of three starts where he went 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA, leading to his manager Don Wakamatsu calling him out for "not stepping up." That fired Hernandez up, as he had his two strong starts. He allowed one run in seven innings against the Twins on June 5 but the Mariners lost the game 2-1. He still went 3-0 with an 0.94 ERA that month to win Pitcher of the Year, and later made his first All-Star team. He continued to excel in the second half, and he finished the season on a run where he went 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA in seven starts from September onwards. The Mariners won 85 games, while Felix ended the season 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA. He also cracked 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career, with 217. He finished second in Cy Young voting to the Kansas City Royals ace Zack Greinke who only won 16 games, but had a 2.16 ERA despite pitching in front of an inferior defense.
Felix and the Mariners went into the 2010 season full of promise, but in January he was struck with the tragic news that his best friend Adrian Beltre had declined his option with the Mariners and was leaving to sign a one-year deal with the Red Sox. He was so devastated that he couldn't help but call up Adrian's new teammates and spilled his closely guarded secret. He went on to sign a five-year contract extension which would keep him in Seattle through 2014. Felix opened the season strong, but went through a difficult May, going 0-3 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts. Meanwhile the Mariners fell apart, going 8-19 to fall from being half a game out in a tightly-packed AL West division to last place and eight games out. Felix recovered his dominance, but his team couldn't, collapsing to another 61-101 season. So despite his league-leading 2.27 ERA and 249.2 innings and his not-quite-league-leading 232 strikeouts, Felix had gone 13-12. Yet besides his win-loss record his statistics were so far ahead that of any other pitcher that Hernandez was awarded with the American League Cy Young award. It was a season that was difficult to follow, but Felix did what he could. He struggled to recapture the consistent brilliance that he had exhibited the year before, but he still made the All-Star team on the strength of his 140 strikeouts in 144 innings as well as his 3.19 ERA in spite of his 8-7 record. His second half was not quite as strong, but the Mariners collapsed once again to finish last, albeit with a 67-95 record. He finished 14-14 with a 3.47 ERA, and still recorded 222 strikeouts. It would have been a strong season for a pitcher with less of a pedigree but for a man of Felix's caliber it was one that seemed to be a step back on the strength of two tremendous years. He was hoping for a bounce-back year in 2012, and it seemed like it would be the case as he started out with a 2.23 ERA in six starts in the season's first month. A few rough starts in May and June added a run and a half to his ERA. However, he rebounded and even threw his first complete game shutout of the season, and it helped him to yet another All-Star team. He came out of the All-Star break with another shutout over the Texas Rangers, where his friend Adrian now played. He then powered his way to three complete game shutouts in August. The middle one on August 15 was a masterpiece. Facing the Tampa Bay Rays, he retired all 27 batters for a perfect game, while striking out 12. His September was rough as he went 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA, but he still went 13-9 with a 3.06 ERA, and the Mariners improved to 75 wins, even if they still finished last. Felix Hernandez's accomplishments in 2012 had established him as the face of the Mariners franchise, even with the team struggling for most of his tenure. He was so instrumental that the team had designated a section in Safeco Field as the King's Court in 2011, and on Felix's game days it would become transformed into a section of rabid fans wearing matching yellow T-shirts and holding K signs. Even though he had two more years on his extension signed in 2010, Seattle knew they wanted to keep Felix a Mariner for life, so they negotiated a seven-year extension worth $175 million, making him for a brief time the highest-paid pitcher in history. He went out and won his 100th career game on April 22 over the Houston Astros, the new entrant into the AL West. He made another All-Star team. but struggled once the calendar turned to August. He went 1-6 with a 5.15 ERA in his last nine starts, and missed time due to an oblique strain, although he avoided the Disabled List. He finished the season 12-10 with a 3.04 ERA, striking out 216 to reach the 200-K mark for the fifth year in a row. The Mariners also avoided last place, although it was more due to the Astros' 51-111 ineptitude rather than any significant improvements in their play.
Felix had a renewed sense of determination for 2014. It had been far too long since the Mariners were competitive, and he wanted to lead them there. He opened the season with a strong win over the Los Angeles Angels, striking out 11. He went through a rough patch in April and May that ended with his first ejection on May 12 against the Rays when he was tossed with two outs in the seventh after allowing a bases-loaded double to Ryan Hanigan. He still recorded his first win in over a month even if his ERA jumped to 3.03, the last time all year his ERA would be above 3.00. He made his fourth straight All-Star team, and lowered his ERA below 2.00 for a few starts in July and August. He ended the season 15-6 with a 2.14 ERA, and established a career-high with 248 strikeouts. Meanwhile the Mariners finished at 87-75 for their best showing since 2007, but still finished well out of playoff contention. Felix had a strong argument for his second Cy Young award, but ultimately finished narrowly behind the Cleveland Indians' Corey Kluber, who won 18 games and led the league with 269 strikeouts. Still Felix had tremendous confidence going into 2015 that he could continue his dominance through the life of his extension. He got off to a tremendous start, striking out ten in an Opening Day start against the Los Angeles Angels, and pitching a complete-game shutout against the Minnesota Twins later in the month. He recorded his 2,000th strikeout in a win on May 10, and ended the month with another shutout to lower his ERA to 1.91. He opened June with two disastrous starts in his first three starts, but he recovered and had an 11-5 record with a 2.84 ERA by the All-Star break, during which he made the team for the fifth straight year. In spite of his dominance, the Mariners were still closer to last than first. He went 7-4 in the second half, but the record was belied by a 4.48 ERA. He ended the season with 18 wins, but his 3.53 ERA was his highest since the 2007 season, and he failed to reach 200 strikeouts for the first time since 2008. Meanwhile Seattle's 76 wins were 11 fewer than the year before. Nevertheless, Felix went into the 2016 season with 143 wins, just three behind Jamie Moyer's Mariners record of 145 wins, and 13 behind his idol Freddy Garcia's record of 156 wins. He was hoping that the second half of the 2015 season was just a blip. He made his eight straight Opening Day start, and pitched well against Adrian and the Rangers, allowing three runs (one earned) in six innings. Unfortunately, the Mariners scored only two and he would suffer his first ever Opening Day loss. He recovered from that temporary setback, and on May 21 he had gone 4-3 with a 2.21 ERA and had passed Moyer while Seattle sat on top of the AL West. However, observers noted his fastball velocity had gone down even with his success, and they noted how he was prone to big innings. Many predicted a disastrous start would be a matter of time, and he had one against the Twins on May 27, allowing six runs in six innings. Normally Felix would bounce back well from these poor starts, but on June 1 he went on the Disabled List for the first time since 2008 with a calf strain. The injury would keep him out of commission until July 20, during which the Mariners fell into third. He would try to make up for lost time, and went 7-4 in the second half for the second straight year, during which he won his 150th game on the fourth anniversary of his perfect game. He also posted 4.48 ERA identical to the second half of the 2015 season. Felix ended 2016 with 11-8 with a 3.82 ERA, and remained two wins short of Garcia. Seattle did finish in second place, but they still finished three games out of playoff position.
Felix pitched in another World Baseball Classic in 2017 before making another Opening Day start, but suffered another loss with two runs in five innings. He did come back to tie his former idol with his 156th win on April 19, but right shoulder pain took him out of the next start in the second inning. He was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, and that put him on the disabled list until late June. He came back to go 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts. The last of those starts came against the Texas Rangers, and he got to congratulate Adrian Beltre for his friend's milestone 3,000th hit. Yet he was shelved again five days later, this time with biceps tendinitis. He came back in time to make three more starts, but he had gone 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA. Felix was determined to have a strong season in 2018. He made his tenth consecutive Opening Day start and reversed his defeats in his two previous seasons, throwing 5.1 shutout innings against the Cleveland Indians for a win. However, he went into a complete free-fall, allowing eight runs in four innings against the San Francisco Giants in his next start, and posting more terrible starts than good ones as he went on to post a 5.13 ERA through July 6. However, he was 8-7 as the Mariners had a comfortable lead for a Wild Card spot and remained in striking distance of the Astros atop the AL West. Back problems would force him onto the Disabled List. He stayed out for two weeks, but struggled after his return. He hit the nadir on August 7 against the Rangers deep in the heart of Texas. Seattle handed him a 2-0 lead in the second, and Felix led off the bottom of the inning striking out his good friend with a wipeout curveball. Adrian's backhand swing was so uncharacteristic that Felix couldn't help but laugh mirthfully while Beltre gave a sheepish smile. However, Hernandez fell apart starting in the third, and by the time Adrian came up again in the sixth the Rangers had scored 10 runs. Felix tried to start his friend off with a curveball, but Beltre blasted it to deep center field for his 468th career home run. There was no more laughter, as it would be the final time the two buddies faced each other. The Mariners demoted Hernandez to the bullpen, but he made only one relief appearance before injuries forced him back into the rotation. He ended the season winless in his last eight decisions with a 6.34 ERA while posting a career-worst 5.55 ERA. Seattle ended with 89 wins, their most since 2003, but still missed the second Wild Card spot by eight games. The Mariners opened the 2019 season in Japan, but while Felix made the trip he wouldn't be making the start, ending his streak of Opening Day contests at ten. He relied more on his curveball when he did pitch, and his 4.31 April ERA seemed strong compared to his struggles since 2017. That all seemed to be a mirage as he allowed 14 runs (13 of them earned) in just 7.1 innings in two May starts against the Yankees and the Red Sox. He did pick up his 2,500th strikeout against Boston, but ended up on the Injured List with a latissimus dorsi strain, his numbers at 1-4 with a 6.52 ERA. Felix is now in the final season of his seven-year extension, and though he started out 45-25 with a 2.86 ERA in his first three years, he had gone 26-31 with a 4.79 ERA since. There is no question that he is only a shell of his former dominant self. Now baseball fans wonder whether or not he would be able to re-invent himself, or if one of baseball's most dynamic careers is nearing its end.
Jon Lester - 181
Date of Birth: January 7, 1984
Years Played: 2006-Active
Years on Top 10: 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 100
Wins after age 30: 81
Wins in 30s: 81
Wins on June 4, 2009: 31
Wins on June 4, 2019: 181
Wins after June 4, 2009: 150
The Boston Red Sox were in a pretty good place on June 4, 2009. They completed a sweep against the Detroit Tigers and had moved into a tie with the New York Yankees on top of the AL East. They were heading home after a ten-day road trip, and with a three-game series against the hated Yankees looming, they had a chance to take control of the division. However, there was one thing that might have been a concern, and that was the performance of their ace left-hander Jon Lester. Lester had helped Boston win their second title in the 2000s, and was perhaps the team's best pitcher in 2008. Yet he was 4-5 with an uncharacteristic 5.65 ERA, and that was after a dominating win against the Toronto Blue Jays in his previous start, one where he struck out 12 batters in six innings while allowing one run. There were some things he was doing well. He was leading fourth in the American League with 74 strikeouts, but he also had a lot of terrible starts. He was walking an unusually large number of batters, and there was a rumor he had lost confidence in his throws to first base. Still, the fact that Lester was there for fans to worry about was a miracle in and of itself. Jon Lester was born in Tacoma, Washington. He was an active child and took part in many different sports, with the full support of his loving parents. Baseball was his first love, and young Jon was a rabid fan of the Seattle Mariners and their many star players, including Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr., and their ace Randy Johnson, who like Lester was left-handed. One of his biggest sports thrills as a kid was getting to go to Fenway Park in Boston to watch his beloved Mariners take on the Red Sox. Unfortunately, he missed getting to see the Big Unit pick up his 78th win by a day. Lester went to Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma. He dazzled on the mound from the get-go, making the varsity team as a freshman and winning the MVP of the league that year. A year later he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Washington as a sophomore. By his senior year he stood 6'4" and boasted a fastball in the mid-90s. It was thought he would get drafted in the first day of the 2002 draft. The first round came and went without Lester's name getting called, but he was picked up by the Red Sox in the second round. He was Boston's first pick in the draft, with their first-round pick going to the Oakland Athletics for the signing of Johnny Damon. The Red Sox offered a $1 million signing bonus, and after much deliberation Lester accepted with just enough time to pitch one game in the rookie Gulf Coast League. It did not go well as he allowed six runs in 2/3 of an inning, but only one of those runs were earned. He pitched better with class A-Augusta in 2003 and high-A Sarasota in 2004, but his numbers weren't overwhelming. Nevertheless, the Red Sox had included Lester's name in a proposed trade with the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez, but the Player's Association killed the deal. He pitched much better with AA Portland in 2005, and he was placed on Baseball America's top 100 prospects list for the first time. The Florida Marlins had reportedly wanted Lester in a trade for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett, they were ultimately convinced to take Hanley Ramirez instead.
Lester opened 2006 with AAA Pawtucket, but he excelled with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts, and even with a 3-4 record the Red Sox felt it was time to bring their top pitching prospect to the Majors. He made his Major League debut on June 10, 2006, pitching against Texas in Fenway Park. He marveled at the fact he was pitching in the stadium where he had watched a game over a decade earlier, but only lasted 4.1 innings, allowing three runs as he got a no-decision. He still went on to win his first five decisions, putting up a 1.98 ERA in seven starts while he was at it. Major League hitters began catching up with his fastball, and on August 18 he allowed seven runs in 3.2 innings against the Yankees. He had gotten into a small car accident before the start, and so when he complained of some back pain officials thought the accident was the cause of it. He traveled to Anaheim and picked up a win against the Angels to move him to 7-2, but he later admitted he had been dealing with pain before the accident, and also had been having night sweats. The Red Sox eventually allowed Lester to see a doctor, but when a physical exam showed some abnormalities, he was transferred to Massachusetts General. Further testing showed that Jon had anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a blood cancer of the Non-Hodgkin's type. He went through chemotherapy with the CHOP regimen, and by December a CT scan showed that Lester was cancer-free. However, the medications in CHOP, namely cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone all do quite a bit on the body, and the Red Sox did not want him to face too intense competition so soon after getting the treatment. He was sent to open the season in A-ball Greenville before getting called up to Pawtucket. He pitched well in AAA and was called back to the Big Leagues in July. He struggled to a 5.67 ERA in six starts before getting sent to make one confidence-boosting start in Portland. He pitched much better in his return, putting up a 3.34 ERA in five starts and one relief outing. The Red Sox won the AL East, and Boston put Lester on the post-season roster. He came in relief in two ALCS losses against the Cleveland Indians, but the Red Sox still won the pennant. When Boston took a 3-0 lead against the Colorado Rockies in the World Series, they turned to Lester, who threw 5.2 shutout innings and the Red Sox clinched the title. A healthy Lester was ready for a whole season in the Red Sox rotation in 2008. He pitched the second game of the Opening Series against the A's in the Tokyo Dome but suffered through a loss. He struggled for most of April, but settled down as the calendar turned to May. He threw his first complete-game shutout on May 19 against the Kansas City Royals, holding them hitless. It was a triumphant moment for the pitcher who had already survived so much. He ended the season 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA, leading the team with 210.1 innings. The Red Sox fell to second place, but still won the Wild Card. Boston faced the Angels in the Division Series. Lester started Game 1 and got the win. He threw seven shutout innings in Game 4 and got a no-decision, but the Red Sox still advanced to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS. He started Game 3 and was awful. The series still went to seven games, and Lester got the start in the deciding game. He was far better, but the Red Sox still lost the game and the pennant.
The Red Sox were determined to get back in the World Series in 2009, and Lester was seen as an important piece that would bring them there, as they signed him to a five-year extension worth $30 million. However, he was blasted for 11 runs in 11 innings in his first two starts. And baserunners were being more cavalier in taking leads. Lester recorded four pickoffs in his first four games, but thereafter he had much less success. Nevertheless, by June he was turning a corner. He threw a complete game victory against the Rangers on June 6 with one run and 11 strikeouts, and that was the start of a stretch of 21 starts where he went 11-3 with a 2.35 ERA to finish 15-8 with a 3.41 ERA. He also struck out 225 to break 200 for the first time, and finished third in the American League. Boston ended with 95 wins for the second straight year, and won the Wild Card once again. They faced the Angels in the Division Series for the second straight year. Lester had the start in Game 1, but allowed three runs in six innings, while the Red Sox were shut out and took the loss, getting swept out of the series a few days later. Lester was ready to put 2009 behind him, but got off to a horrific start once again in 2010, allowing 15 runs in his first three starts. He still had a 4.71 ERA at the end of April, but went on to have a fantastic month of May, going 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA. He was 11-3 with a 2.77 ERA by the All-Star break, and was named to his first All-Star team. He survived some difficult starts, but won his 19th game with a week left in the season. Lester had a chance to win his 20th game in his last start, but the Red Sox had been eliminated from playoff contention two days earlier, and his heart wasn't in it, allowing eight runs in four innings against the Red Sox. His 19-9 record and 3.25 ERA belied how well he pitched, but he still finished fourth in Cy Young voting. 2011 was a new season, but Lester had his first Opening Day start. He was abysmal, allowing five runs in 5.1 innings against the defending AL champion Rangers, but Lester shook it off to have another strong year where he made another All-Star team, although he had to miss the game due to a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. He was 15-6 with a 2.93 ERA through September 6, and Boston had a comfortable eight-game lead in the Wild Card race within striking distance of the division. However, Lester went 0-3 with a 10.54 ERA in his next three starts while the Red Sox went on a 4-15 freefall to fall into a tie with the Rays with two games to play. Both teams won game 161 to set up a deciding final day. Lester started the game for the Red Sox. He allowed two runs in six innings, but Boston carried a 3-2 lead going into the ninth, while the Tampa Bay was getting dominated by the Yankees, a rare time when Red Sox fans grudgingly rooted for their hated rivals. However, after a long rain delay, Jonathan Papelbon blew the save on a walk-off by light-hitting Robert Andino. Meanwhile, the Rays came back and tied the Yankees, then won in 12 innings to end Boston's season. The collapse took on more drama when news of pitchers drinking beers while eating fried chicken in the Red Sox clubhouse during games. Lester came out and admitted to drinking, but only when they were not pitching.
Nevertheless, Boston made several changes for the 2012 season. Chief among them was the firing of manager Terry Francona and the hiring of former Rangers manager Bobby Valentine. Lester was still the Opening Day starter, and he pitched seven strong innings, allowing but one run, but the Red Sox lost. They ended the first two months in last place, while Lester continued to struggle, going 3-4 with a 4.79 ERA. Boston fought back in June climbing as high as third, but completely collapsed, going 16-42 to end up back in last. Lester's struggles continued all season, and he ended up 9-14 with a 4.82 ERA, putting up a career high in ERA and a career low in winning percentage. Bobby V was let go and replaced with John Farrell. Lester started Opening Day, and threw five innings of two-run ball as the Red Sox beat the hated Yankees, and that started a magical season where Boston held first place all season except for a stretch in May. Lester struggled during that stretch, and those struggles continued into June and July. Much of those poor pitching performances came as he lost the feel for his trademark cutter while also making poor pitches when ahead in the count. He found his footing in August, and went 5-2 with a 2.19 ERA in his last ten starts and finished at 15-8 with a 3.75 ERA. More importantly he had a chance in the post-season once again. He started Game 1 in the Division Series against the Rays and pitched well as the Red Sox advanced in four. He had a strong start as well in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers, but lost as Boston was shut out. He had another change in Game 5 with the series tied and wasn't quite as sharp, but the Red Sox won and clinched the pennant in the next game. Boston faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, and Lester got the ball in Game 1. He threw 7.2 innings of shutout ball as the Red Sox won. Five days later he started Game 5 with a chance to win the title. He delivered 7.2 one-run innings and won his second World Series title. Boston rewarded his efforts by exercising the option worth $14 million. Lester put forth a strong effort on Opening Day, allowing two runs in seven innings against the Orioles, but the Red Sox still lost 2-1. That was a sign 2014 would be a different season. Lester was still terrific, striking out 15 Athletics in a dominant eight-inning start on May 3. He had a 2.52 ERA through the end of July, and had made his first All-Star team in three years but was 10-7 as Boston had fallen to last place. Meanwhile the team he had dominated in May were leading the AL West, and were looking for a veteran pitcher that could help the team avoid a third straight early playoff-exit. Jon Lester was that pitcher, coming over in the trade deadline. Lester continued his strong pitching, going 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts. However, Oakland went 22-33 and found themselves not just outside of first in the division, but in the second Wild Card spot by one game. They'd have to beat the Kansas City Royals on the road in a Wild Card Game. The A's felt confident with Lester on the mound, as Oakland took 2-0 lead against James Shields. However, the Royals had gotten word that the A's starter had stopped throwing to first altogether. They were aggressive on the bases and one run in the first and two in the third. Lester clamped down on baserunners and Oakland eventually scored five runs in the sixth to take a 7-3 lead. He had thrown just 95 pitches going into the eighth, but Alcides Escobar and Loenzo Cain both singled and stole second, and his night ended once he walked Eric Hosmer. Kansas City kept running even after Lester was gone, and eventually tied the game in the ninth, sending it to extra innings. The A's took the lead in the 12th, but the Royals rallied and won on Salvador Perez's walk-off single. It was a crushing blow and another cog in the history of Oakland's playoff heartbreak under the reign of Billy Beane. Lester still went 16-11 with a 2.46 ERA, and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.
Jon Lester became a free agent after the 2014 season. Red Sox fans were hopeful that he would return to Boston, but he broke their hearts by signing a six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for $155 million. The Cubs' post-season misery were well documented, but they hoped Lester's magical touch could end that curse. His first few starts in Chicago were terrible, and while he eventually came back to post a strong season, he still went 11-12. The Cubs still won 97 games and won the second Wild Card spot. Lester sat and watched as Jake Arrieta won the Wild Card Game, then he started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Cardinals. He pitched into the eighth inning, but the Cubs were shut out. That was Chicago's only loss as they moved on to face the New York Mets in the NLCS. Lester started Game 1 but didn't pitch well, and the Cubs were swept away. The breaking of the curse would have to end in 2016. This time Lester had a strong month of April, and carried that through June. He two disastrous starts before the All-Star break where he allowed 13 runs in 4.1 innings and saw his ERA jump by almost a run, but came on strong and went 10-1 with a 1.76 ERA in the second half. He won his 19th game on with a week remaining once again and had another chance to win 20 in his final start. The Cubs had already clinched the NL Central, but he still bombed against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing five runs in five innings to suffer a loss, but he still finished 19-5 and set a new career low with a 2.44 ERA. The post-season was still key, and Lester's Game 1 start in the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants set the tone for a four-game series victory. He started Game 1 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and threw six innings of one-run ball. He ended with a no-decision, but the Cubs still won. He next started Game 5 with the series tied. He tossed seven innings of one-run ball as the Chicago won once again, and clinched the pennant in the next game. Lester finally had another opportunity to pitch in the World Series with a chance to end 108 years of suffering, but to do so he'd have to get past the Cleveland Indians. He started Game 1 but pitched poorly as the Cubs were shut out, and by Game 5 the Indians had a 3-1 lead and had a chance to end their own 68-year drought. Lester started that game, and delivered with two runs in six innings. Chicago scored three to force another day. The Cubs won Game 6 as well, and the series would be decided in a Game 7 with Indians ace Corey Kluber facing Chicago's Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs battered Kluber and reliever extraordinaire Andrew Miller for a 5-1 lead, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought in Lester with two outs in the fifth after Carlos Santana walked. Lester allowed a single that was compounded by a throwing error by catcher David Ross, and threw a wild pitch that led to two runs scoring. However, he ended the inning, and Chicago added an insurance run in the sixth. Lester breezed through the eighth and got two outs before allowing another single. Maddon frantically brought in closer Aroldis Chapman, who allowed the Indians to tie the game on a double and a home run by Rajai Davis. The game remained tied through the 9th after which there was a 17-minute rain delay. The Cubs came out with two runs in the top of the 10th. The Indians came back with one on a single by Davis, but then Mike Montgomery retired Michael Martinez and the longest drought had finally ended. Lester ended up finishing second in Cy Young voting to Max Scherzer, who won 20 games but also had an ERA half a run higher.
There was little else to accomplish once you've helped end the longest World Series drought in baseball history, and Jon Lester suffered through a bit of a hangover in 2017. He started out with three strong starts, including his first Opening Day start with Chicago, but he struggled with inconsistency, culminating in a start against the Red when he allowed nine runs (seven earned) in 1.2 innings against the Reds. Lester went onto the disabled list for the first time since 2011 after that, but was still mediocre after that. He finished the season 13-8 with a 4.33 ERA. The Cubs fought off a large charge by the Milwaukee Brewers to win the NL Central for a second straight year. Lester started Game 2 of the Division Series against the Washington Nationals and allowed one run in six innings, but Chicago ended up losing the game. He came back three days later in relief with the Cubs already down 1-0. He threw three perfect innings before allowing a walk to Ryan Zimmerman. Lester had been working on his pickoff move, and picked off the Nationals first baseman. Then he allowed a single to Daniel Murphy and his day was over. Chicago ended up getting shut out, but still won the series in Game 5. Lester started Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. He allowed one run but only lasted 4.2 innings, and the Dodgers won on their way to the pennant. He began 2018 as the Opening Day starter once again and pitched poorly, but the Cubs still won the game. He went on to have a very strong first half, and made another All-Star team after going 12-2 with a 2.58 ERA in the first half. The second half would be a different story. He still went 6-4, but his ERA and risen to 4.50. The Cubs had also dropped into a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers in a tie with the Brewers for the NL Central. Jose Quintana started the tie-break game, but Chicago ended up dropping the game 3-1, and the Cubs had to play the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card Game. Lester was named the starter, and saw it as a chance to atone for his failures in the Wild Card Game four years earlier. He allowed a run in the first, but that was all that he allowed through six innings before his night ended having thrown 86 pitches. Unfortunately Chicago was only able to score one run as well, and the game went into extra innings. The Rockies scored a run in the 13th, and the Cubs couldn't answer, ending their season. Lester went into the 2019 still going strong for a Cubs team that started out miserably but has climbed back into contention. He had two more years left on his contract, but was still mum about retirement. As long as he is pitching effectively he will continue to aim towards his fourth World Series ring.
Zack Greinke - 193
Date of Birth: October 21, 1983
Years Played: 2004-Active
Years on Top 10: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 106
Wins after age 30: 87
Wins in 30s: 87
Wins on June 4, 2009: 42
Wins on June 4, 2019: 193
Wins after June 4, 2009: 151
The Kansas City Royals were not doing well on June 4, 2009. They were trying to avoid the AL Central basement, but had blown a 2-0 lead in the last three innings of an afternoon game against the Tampa Bay Rays, stretching their losing streak to seven games. And they had to travel to Canada to face the Toronto Blue Jays. Thankfully, their starter in the first game in the three game series was Zack Greinke, who had established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. He was still 8-1 with a 1.10 ERA even after a relatively poor performance in his last start, in loss number 4 of seven. It was still a triumphant moment for the Royals, who had to have tremendous patience for the circuitous path that Greinke had taken to get to this point. Donald Zackary Greinke was born in Orlando, Florida, but he grew up in the suburb of Apopka. Young Zack lived, eat, and breathed baseball. He played several sports when he was a kid and was pretty good at all of them, but by the time he was in middle school baseball was his only obsession. He played baseball on school teams during the school year, and went on travel teams in the summer. Part of that was because of his talent. He was a tremendous hitter, hitting for average as well as power, but his coaches had put him on the mound because he was too talented. He had a natural feel for pitching and can throw an overpowering fastball, but retires hitters on strong off-speed pitches instead. Another possible reason was because he felt more comfortable on the baseball diamond. He had noticed a strong sense of unease when around other, as he worried about how they judged him. He did well enough in baseball that he can put those feelings at ease. Greinke would be named by the Orlando Sentinel as the High School Player of the year as a junior, and by the time he was a senior he the Gatorade Player of the Year. He was highly touted in the 2002 draft, and the Royals picked him as the sixth overall pick. He was the fourth high school pitcher chosen, but Kansas City offered a $2.5 million bonus that was enough for him to forego a commitment to Clemson University. Greinke got his start with the rookie Gulf Coast League, where he dominated in three games. He struggled a bit when they moved him up to low-A Spokane, but when that season ended he still went to high-A Wilmington and pitched two scoreless innings in relief. He was already recognized by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Royals system. He started the 2003 season back in Wilmington, but went 11-1 with a 1.14 ERA in 14 innings. That earned him a promotion to AA Wichita, where he held his own for a 19-year-old pitcher. He remained the number on prospect, and Baseball America bumped him up 40 spots to number 14 in the overall top 100 list. Greinke started 2004 in AAA Omaha, and after six starts he had a 2.51 ERA. That was all the Royals needed to see, and they called him up in the end of May.
The 2004 Royals were one of the worst teams in baseball. Kansas City had gone 83-79 in 2003, then went out and spent millions on free agents, including former Rookie of the Year winner Benito Santiago and former two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez. However, they went out flailing with no hope for improvement, so it was as good of a time as any to bring up a top prospect. Greinke made his Major League debut on May 22, 2004 with a strong start, but he got a no-decision. He won his first game on June 8 with seven shutout innings against the Montreal Expos. He was mostly strong with a few disaster starts in between, but ended the season 8-11 with a 3.97 ERA, leading the team in ERA, and second with 100 strikeouts. It was a strong performance for which he finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, and the Royals named him Pitcher of the Year. He was often a little aloof in the clubhouse, but most on the team chalked it up to a young rookie struggling to adjust. The team was expecting big things out of Greinke in 2005. They went out acquired Jose Lima, who was so good with Kansas City in 2003 before pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004, to serve as a mentor. Greinke started the season with two scoreless starts, but the Royals lost both games. He then went on an awful stretch where he went 0-6 with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts, getting no-decisions or losses even when he was pitching well. He soon lost focus, and the game became a miserable experience. From June to August he was one of the worst pitchers, going 2-10 with a 7.74 ERA in 16 start before improving slightly in September, ending the season 2-1 on a 3.82. His 5-17 and 5.80 ERA were terrible, but the entire Royals team was terrible. Jose Lima went 5-16 with a 6.99 ERA. The team went on a 19-game losing streak and finished a franchise-worst 56-106. The Kansas City front office still didn't know about Greinke's suffering until he came to them in spring training 2006. He opened up about his stresses. He talked about wanting to quit and become a professional golfer. The team sympathized with their pitcher, and granted him a leave of absence. Greinke returned to Florida and saw a psychologist. He was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, which would explain the tension he'd feel around other people dating back to his days in high school. He saw a physician and was given antidepressant. He was able to return to the game slowly in June, spending three months in Wichita. He did not pitch well, putting up a 4.34 ERA in 18 games, but he was able to feel better about himself and the game. The Royals called him up in September, and he pitched three times out of the bullpen. Greinke spent all of 2007 on the Major League roster. He started out in the rotation, but went 1-4 with a 5.71 ERA in seven starts before he was moved to the rotation. He put up a 3.54 ERA in 38 appearances and had 12 holds with one save. He returned to the rotation and made seven more starts, and was terrific with a 1.85 ERA to finish 7-7 with a 3.69 ERA overall. Greinke went back to starting full time, and had a terrific year. He was able to shake off disaster starts, and when the season ended, he was 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA, the lowest by a Royals starter since Kevin Appier's 3.40 ERA in 1997.
The 2009 season would be Greinke's crowning achievement. He won his first six decisions with two shutouts and an 0.40 ERA. He made his first All-Star team when he went into the break 10-5 with a 2.12 ERA. He struck out 15 Cleveland Indians. He ended the season with a 2.16 ERA, which tied Bret Saberhagen's 1989 for second lowest by a Kansas City pitcher in a qualifying season. His 242 strikeouts were just two behind Dennis Leonard in 1977 for the franchise record. He only went 16-8 because the Royals were still a 65-97 team, but it was more than enough for Greinke to win the Cy Young award, the first by a Kansas City pitcher since Saberhagen's second 20 years earlier. The team was hopeful that Greinke could duplicate those numbers, but it was not to be. He still had a 2.72 ERA through May 18, but from then on he struggled with his consistency. The Royals shopped him around the trade deadline, but couldn't find any takers, and he remained in Kansas City for the remainder of the season and ended 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA. He still asked for a trade, and the Royals granted him his wish, sending him to the Milwaukee Brewers for four young players. He would later come to regret how he handled the off-season, but he had bigger things to worry about, as he suffered a rib fracture that cost him his all of April. He returned in May, but struggled heavily, putting up a 5.63 ERA despite his 7-3 record. However, he was still posting strong strikeout numbers that suggested a turnaround, which came in the second half of the season, when he went 9-3 with a 2.59 ERA. His 3.83 ERA was a bit high, but he still went 16-6 as he got the run support that was so lacking in Kansas City. He also recorded 201 strikeouts. Moreover the Brewers won the NL Central with 96 wins, and Greinke finally had a chance to pitch in the post-season. His post-season debut was inauspicious, as he allowed four runs in five innings, but Milwaukee won the game on their way to a series win. He had the start in Game 1 of the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals and was even worse, allowing six runs in six innings, but the Brewers offense powered to a win. He started Game 5 with the series tied at 2, but allowed five runs in 5.2 innings. Only two of those runs were earned, but Milwaukee lost, and were eventually eliminated in six games. Greinke went into 2012 striving to be better. He pitched seven shutout innings in his first start, but followed that up with a disaster, allowing eight runs in 3.2 innings. He remained somewhat inconsistent, although he had more strong performances than the disastrous ones. He did make some strange history in July. He started against the Houston Astros on July 7, but was ejected after facing two batters. He started the next day in the last game before the All-Star break. He came back and started the first game after the break, becoming the first player since Red Faber in 1917 to start three straight games. Still, by the end of July the Brewers were below .500. Greinke was due to become a free agent, and Milwaukee couldn't come to a contract extension. They ended up trading him to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who were within striking distance of the AL West and the Wild Card.. Greinke struggled in his first five starts with the Angels, going 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA. He was able to turn things around and ended the season 6-2 with a 2.04 ERA, but it was not enough to keep the Angels from finishing out of playoff position.
Greinke still had a strong season in 2012, going 15-5 with a 3.48 ERA and 200 strikeouts. He became a free agent, and was the prized pitcher on the market. He put out a large contract demands, but had no shortage of suitors. In the end he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for six years and $147 million in a contract that included an opt-out clause. Some felt that he signed with the Dodgers because he could pitch in the pitcher's haven of Dodgers Stadium, others thought he wanted to play in the National League so he could hit regularly, but in the end he admitted it was all about the money. Greinke was joining a Dodgers team that was looking to make a return to the post-season after three years of missing out. He pitched well in his first two starts, but in the latter start a hit batsman led to a brawl that resulted in Greinke breaking his clavicle. The injury required surgery and it was thought that he would miss two months, but he was cleared to make a rehab start a month after the incident. He was back on the mound by mid-May. While his first start after the injury was a success, he had a few rough starts. He turned things around and went 10-2 with a 1.90 ERA from July onward, winning his 100th game as the first of a five-win month of August. He ended the season 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, but he really dominated with the bat, hitting .328/.409/.379 and winning the Silver Slugger award. The Dodgers also won the NL West with 92 wins, and Greinke got a chance to pitch in the post-season once again. He started Game 2 of the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves and allowed only two runs in six innings, but the Dodgers still lost the game. They went on to win the series, and Greinke got the ball in Game 1 in an NLCS rematch of sorts against the Cardinals. He was fantastic, allowing two runs in eight innings with ten strikeouts, but St. Louis won the game. The Cardinals had a 3-1 lead when Greinke started again in Game 5. He pitched seven innings allowing two runs and the Dodgers extended their season, but only by one game. Greinke started the 2014 season continuing the excellent pitching he had maintained since July the year before. He didn't allow three earned runs until a start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 27, but he still struck out 11. He made his first National League All-Star team by going 11-5 with a 2.73 ERA. He finished just as strong, and ended the season 17-8 with a 2.71 ERA and 207 strikeouts. He didn't win another Silver Slugger, but he did pick up his first Gold Glove. The Dodgers repeated as NL West champions, and Greinke had another chance to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in a post-season series, this time in the Division Series. He started Game 2 and threw seven scoreless innings, and Los Angeles hung on to win the game. Unfortunately, that was the team's only win.
As good as Greinke had been in 2014, he took things to a whole other level in 2015. He allowed one run in six innings in his first start, and just kept going from there. His ERA remained below 2.00 the entire season, topping out at 1.97 after he allowed five runs in six innings in the thin air of Colorado. He made the All-Star team when he was 8-2 with a 1.39 ERA. He had a strong second half when he went 11-1 with a 1.99 to finish 19-3 with a 1.66 ERA. However, it couldn't match up with Jake Arrieta's 12-1 and 0.75, and Greinke missed out on a second Cy Young. He wasn't quite as sharp in the Division Series against the New York Mets, allowing five runs in 13.2 innings in two starts, dropping the decisive Game 5. Greinke was still able to exercise his opt-out, and he was more than happy to do so, especially with a season he had. Speculations were rampant over who would land the coveted but enigmatic ace. Many thought the Dodgers would re-sign Greinke, or else it would be the San Francisco Giants. In the end it was neither of those teams. The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they signed Zack Greinke for six years and $206 million, an average annual value of $31 million a year. The deal was seen by some as very questionable, especially as it involved a pitcher that had turned 32. These critics seemed to have been proven right as Greinke lost some speed on his fastball, and he was later hammered in his first few starts in Arizona. He allowed seven runs in four innings against the Rockies, and had another seven-run appearance later in the month. By the end of April he had a 5.50 ERA. His performance did stabilize in June when he went 4-0 with a 1.63 ERA, but he strained his left oblique in early July, and that kept him out for a whole month. When he returned he allowed nine runs in 1.2 innings against the Boston Red Sox, and in September he allowed eight runs in 4.2 innings in a return to Dodger Stadium. He finished the season 13-7 with a 4.37 ERA that was about league average. The critics clucked their tongues and all pitied the Diamondbacks, especially as Greinke's velocity continued to go down. Yet he had spent his entire career searching for ways to retire hitters without relying on elite velocity, and he showed that off with a resurgent season in 2017. He allowed two runs in five starts in his first start, and by the end of the month he was 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA. His win totals kept climbing as the Arizona offense started clicking. He was 11-4 with a 2.86 ERA by the All-Star break, and he made the All-Star team once again. By the end of August he had 16 wins and there was some thoughts that he could win 20 games for the first time in his career with a strong final month. He only recorded 1 win while pitching to a 3.90 ERA, but the 17-7 record and 3.20 ERA were still very strong numbers, especially as he paired it with 215 strikeouts. More importantly the Diamondbacks won 93 games and took the first Wild Card spot. Greinke got the start for the Wild Card Game against the Rockies. He struggled mightily and allowed four runs in 3.2 innings, but Arizona came out on top in the slugfest 11-8 for a date with the division winning Dodgers. The series didn't go well, and the Diamondbacks were staring at a potential sweep. Greinke was called on to rescue the season. He did what he can, but still couldn't avoid the loss. He still ended up fourth in the Cy Young race.
The critics grudgingly admitted they were premature in the demise of Zack Greinke, but when word came out of spring training that Greinke's velocity had continued to drop, they swore that 2018 would finally be the year. He had a strong first start, but the starts after that were disasters. He had a 4.50 ERA by the end of April despite a 3-2 record. However, he continued to retire hitters despite his diminished fastball, and by the All-Star break he had gone to 9-5 with a 3.39 ERA, and he was named on the All-Star team once again. The Diamondbacks were looked in a heavy battle against the Dodgers and the Rockies for NL West supremacy. Arizona was on top in the end of August, but they faltered in the final month and fell into third. Greinke's numbers also fell in that last month, as he went 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA. His 15-11 record and 3.21 ERA, and he came just one strikeout away from reaching 200 for the seventh time in his career. He won his fifth straight Gold Glove award. However, he hadn't lit the National League on fire with his bat. In the five seasons since his Silver Slugger campaign, he had hit only .216/.251/.302, and homered only twice, both of which came when he was still with the Dodgers. Zack Greinke still trusted in his hitting abilities, and in 2019 he finally came through with the offensive prowess he knew he was capable of. He homered twice in a start against the Padres on April 2, then knocked in his first career triple against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 25. He was inserted as a pinch-hitter in a May 12 game against the Atlanta Braves and knocked a single. He had been exhibiting the power he had not shown off before. Even with his stark improvement with his offense, his pitching hadn't suffered even with his continued lowered velocity. He was dominated in his Opening Day start against the Dodgers, allowing seven runs in 3.2 innings, but he has pitched better since. He struck out ten batters in his two-home run game against San Diego. He had also passed the 2,500 strikeout plateau on May 21. Zack Greinke has been a terrific pitcher in his career, but with all of the extra value that he adds with his bat as well as his glove, he may very well be the most valuable active pitcher in the game, something that seemed impossible in the mid-2000s.
Justin Verlander - 213
Date of Birth: February 20, 1983
Years Played: 2005-Active
Years on Top 10: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 124
Wins after age 30: 89
Wins in 30s: 89
Wins on June 4, 2009: 52
Wins on June 4, 2019: 213
Wins after June 4, 2009: 161
The 2009 season would be an important one for Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander. He was coming off an extremely difficult 2008 season where he remained healthy but struggled with his command and concentration to lead the American League in losses, but by June 4 he seemed to have righted the ship. He had gone 5-0 in May with a 1.52 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 41.1 innings, and had won the Pitcher of the Month award. And now as he watched the Tigers fall to the Boston Red Sox to complete the sweep, he was already beginning to map out his plan of attack for his start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim the next day. After all, he plans on being the ace of the Tigers for a long time. It was a goal he has had since his childhood in central Virginia. Justin Brooks Verlander was born in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, located in rural Goochland County outside of Richmond. Young Justin was very active as a child and played multiple sports, but he showed a strong interest in baseball after starting Little League. He had uncommon arm strength, a fact he showed off to his father Richard when he hurled a large clear across a pond that the elder Verlander could only throw halfway. However, while he was throwing faster than the other kids, he struggled with his control, walking batters or just simply hitting them. Richard Verlander soon became came to coach his older son. He would read as much as he can about baseball, and then when taught Justin all that he can, he took the boy to Richmond Baseball Academy for further development. And through it all he instilled in Justin a sense of hard work, discipline, and accountability. Verlander eventually began throwing in the 90s once he entered Goochland High School, and played basketball as well. He overwhelmed hitters as a senior, going 7-2 with an 0.39 and 142 strikeouts in 71 innings, and that was even when a bout of streptococcus pharyngitis kept him from throwing his best fastballs early in the season when most of the scouts were present. Verlander signed a letter of commitment with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, passing over other scholarship offers including Duke. A few scouts still called to assess his interest, and the Verlanders let them know that unless he goes into the first few rounds, he would be honoring his commitment to ODU. They complied, and he went undrafted through all rounds of the 2001 draft. Verlander got over his initial disappointment and headed to Norfolk. His elite velocity had returned by the time he got into college, and he developed further with his command and athleticism. He showed incredible potential in his first year and was named a Freshman All-American. Over the summer after his first year he went and played for the Wilson Tobs in summer collegiate ball. After his sophomore year he tried out and made the USA team that would be competing at the 2003 Pan American Games, joining California State Long Beach's Jered Weaver, Georgia Tech's Micah Owings and Arizona State's Dustin Pedroia. Verlander lost to Nicaragua in the preliminary round but USA still survived all the way to the finals, where they lost to Cuba. Verlander returned to Norfolk, and set a new Colonial Athletic Association record with 151 strikeouts in just 105.2 innings, break his old record from the year before. Even though Verlander had identical 7-6 records and saw his ERA tick up every year, he was still one of the top prospects entering the 2004 draft.
The Detroit Tigers had to have been feeling a little miffed going into the 2004 draft. They had one of the all-time worst seasons in 2003, going 43-119 and were saved from 121-loss infamy by a frantic winning streak at the end of the season. And yet they only had the #2 draft pick, since at the time the worst teams in the American and National Leagues were alternating the top two picks. Since it was the National League's turn to get the 1.1 pick, it went to the San Diego Padres, who finished a whopping 21 games ahead of Detroit at 64-98. And of course the league was switching to the more simpler where the worst team gets the top picks in 2005. Nevertheless the Tigers tried to make do. Pitching was a strength in the 2004, with CSU-Long Beach's Weaver, Vanderbilt's Jeremy Sowers as well as the Rice trio of Philip Humber, Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend all on board. The Tigers were in need of a complete overhaul, and needed to knock this pick out of the park. They had to pick a player that would deliver relatively quickly, and yet would be somebody that the Padres would likely pass on. They had their eyes on the skinny right-hander from Virginia. Verlander's fastball was elite, but teams were worried about his command issues, as he had walked 43 batters all three years. Still, the Tigers were impressed by his poise was well as his increasing strikeout totals. When draft day came, the Padres shocked the baseball world by drafting San Diego high school shortstop Matt Bush. Detroit went ahead with their plan of drafting Justin Verlander a few minutes later. After the draft, the Padres explained that their drafting of Bush was due to signability concerns, and that seemed to come into play as Bush signed just two weeks after the draft. Meanwhile, Verlander went into negotiations represented by his agent Mike Milchin. The negotiations seemed to drag on and on. The minor league seasons came to a close, and soon the Major League season ended as well. In the end the Tigers came out and announced to the press that the gulf was too large, and that they were moving on. This came as a shock to the Verlander family. Richard Verlander had a long history of contract negotiations from his lifelong work with the Communications Workers of America, but he had stayed hands off through the process, deferring to the agent. When he heard of Detroit's announcement he knew it was time to step in. He called up Tigers scouting director Greg Smith and re-opened negotiations. The two sides quickly pounded out a Major League deal worth $4.45 million with a $3.12 million signing bonus. Justin Verlander was going to be playing professional baseball after all in 2005. Shortly afterward he went to his best friend Daniel Hicks. Five years earlier Verlander had wanted to borrow 50 cents for a carton of chocolate milk. His friend would do so for 0.1% of Justin's first pro signing bonus. The two laughed about it at the time, thinking it would just amount to around 50 cents. In the end Verlander happily wrote Hicks a check for $3,120.
The Tigers invited Verlander to spring training, and then left him at Lakeland where he pitched for their high-A team. He struggled with his command early on, walking six in a game against the St. Lucie Mets on May 8. However, his sizzling fastball was evident from the start, and he was able to keep runs off the board. In 13 starts through June 16, Verlander was 9-2 with a 1.67 ERA, and had 104 strikeouts against only 19 walks in 86 innings. He earned a promotion to AA Erie, and had two scoreless starts through July. On July 4, 2005, the Tigers were playing a Fourth of July double-header, and needed a spot-starter to keep from burning an arm in their rotation. They decided that it would be a perfect time for their top prospect to get a taste of Major League pitching. Verlander was lifted from his July 1 Erie start and shipped to Cleveland where he made his debut. He struggled, allowing four hits and three runs before settling down and pitching into the sixth, when he walked Jody Gerut who eventually scored against reliever Jaime Walker. He struck out Travis Hafner for his first Major League strikeout. With four runs and four strikeouts with three walks in 5.1 innings. it wasn't the most stirring debut, but it showed he could get Major League hitters out. He stopped by Detroit before making his return to Erie and pitched in the Futures Game as part of the All-Star weekend festivities, throwing a scoreless inning and imagining the day when he could pitch there for real. That day ended up being two weeks later. The Tigers needed another spot starter in another double-header on July 23, and Verlander got his second Major League start against the Minnesota Twins. That start turned out to be more disastrous, as he allowed five runs in six innings. He returned to Erie, but began suffering from shoulder tightness during a start on August 2. The Tigers didn't want to risk a devastating shoulder injury and shut him down for the rest of the season. His 0-2 record and 7.15 ERA left more to be desired, but his 11-2 record and 1.29 ERA in two minor league levels showed just how talented their top prospect could be. Verlander was healthy going into spring training in 2006, and made the Opening Day roster. He was the fifth starter and opened the season facing the Texas Rangers deep in the heart of Texas. The Rangers had a fearsome offense, but young Justin shut them down for seven strong innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out seven. Meanwhile the Tigers beat up on Kevin Millwood, and Verlander had his first Major League win. A Verlander victory turned out to happen fairly constantly and he had a strong rookie season. He was blown out in his second start, but after that he recovered. He was dominant in May, throwing 20 straight scoreless innings while also recording his first complete game shutout. He struggled in the last two months, allowing a 5.82 ERA ten starts, but he still finished the season 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA, finishing fourth in wins and seventh in ERA. There was a strong crop of rookies that included Minnesota's Francisco Liriano, the Angels' Jered Weaver, and Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon. Yet it was Verlander that took the Rookie of the Year award in overwhelming manner.
More importantly, the Tigers won 95 games and won the Wild Card. Only two years after he doubted whether or not he would be a Tiger after all, Justin was making his playoff debut in historic Yankee Stadium to face the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the Division Series. He tried to keep his nerves under control, but allowed a three-run homer to Johnny Damon in the fourth. That was all the Yankees got as Detroit chipped away until they took the lead and the game, then won the series in four. The Tigers would be facing the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS. Verlander started Game 2 and didn't pitch well, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings, but the Detroit offense went wild, and gave Justin his first post-season win en route to a sweep. The Tigers were going to the World Series, and were facing the St. Louis Cardinals. The rookie was entrusted with Game 1. As much as Verlander tried to keep his emotions in check, the Cardinals blasted him for seven runs (six earned) in five innings as his World Series got off on the wrong foot. Six days later he got another opportunity in Game 5 to keep the season alive. He pitched better, allowing just three runs in six innings, but only one of those were earned. Nevertheless, the Tigers were held to two runs and St. Louis took the World Series. As young Verlander sat and watched the Redbirds celebrating, he knew he wanted to come back and get another shot at a title. Verlander went into the 2007 season as the number three starter. He opened the season against the Kansas City Royals, and allowed an unearned run, but the Tigers were defeated. Still, Verlander was had taken his pitching to another level through the first few months. He had his most dominant start of his young career on June 12 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He threw his second complete game shutout, and also broke double digit strikeouts for the first time in his young career, with 12. He did walk four, but didn't allow a single hit and had his first no-hitter. He became an All-Star for the first time when he was 10-3 with a 3.14 ERA through the All-Star break. However, his second half would be more difficult. He was able to put up an 8-3 record, but he had several more disastrous starts, and his ERA was 4.27. The Tigers were also in first at the break, but a poor August when they went 11-18 doomed them to just 88 wins and a spot on the couch for the post-season. Verlander did take a next step, as he went 18-6 with a 3.66 ERA while reaching 200 innings for the first time while increasing his strikeouts to 183. The 2008 season was supposed to be a next step in Verlander's evolution as a starter, as he was given his first Opening Day start. However, he was rocked for four runs in six innings against the Kansas City Royals. The rest of the month of April was a trial as he ended the month 1-4 with a 6.50 ERA. He pitched better in May, going 3.92 but still with a 1-4 record, and had a solid month of June, going 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA. However he went 7-8 with a 5.32 ERA from July onward, ending a difficult season with a below-average 4.84 ERA. The Tigers didn't do any favors as they fell to 74-88, with Verlander going 11-17. His strikeouts fell to 163 while his walk totals jumped to 87. The questions came flying by, was Verlander hurt? Or was he proving himself to be just a flash in the pan? Verlander would later admit he had lost control of his mechanics, leading to his command issues. He worked on fixing those issues, and was eager to test them out in 2009.
Verlander was given the Opening Day start in 2009 despite his struggles the year before. It turned out to be a disaster, as he allowed eight runs in 3.2 innings. His first four starts were a grind, as he allowed 21 earned runs in 21 innings, good for a 9.00 ERA, while walking nine while giving up three home runs. He did have 25 strikeouts as his fastball was humming, but he wasn't getting the results. On April 27 the Yankees came to Detroit for the first of a three-game series, and Verlander was matched with their ace CC Sabathia. New York was mired in .500, but they still had a fearsome lineup, and knocked seven hits off Verlander in seven innings. However, he held strong and didn't allow a single run or walk while striking out nine. The Tigers scored a couple of runs and held on to a 4-2 win, Verlander's first of a season. All of a sudden all the stress and negativity that had smothered him for a year and a month seemed to go away. Verlander went out and had his magical month of May, and it continued on. He threw eight shutout innings against the Angels on June 5, although the Tigers lost in the ninth. By the All-Star break he had gone to 10-4 with a 3.38 ERA and made the All-Star team once again. He finished the second half strong as well, and ended the season 19-9 with a career-low 3.45 ERA, both massive improvements from the year before. More significantly, he recorded 269 strikeouts, which towered above any other pitcher in baseball. He ended up finishing third in Cy Young voting, behind Zack Greinke and Felix Hernandez, both of whom had ERAs a run lower. It was still a strong season, even if Detroit missed out on the playoffs with an 86-win season. The Tigers extended him with a five-year $80 million deal, which would buy out the rest of his arbitration years. Verlander went into 2010 eager to see if he can continue his pitching successes. He had another difficult April as he went 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA and had 12 walks and 26 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. He continued to struggle with his control issues, but he was starting to pitch better. He won 11 games before the All-Star break, and that helped him make the team in spite of a 3.82 ERA. His pitching took off in the second half, and he did his best work in September, when he went 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA in six starts. He finished 18-9 and established a new low with a 3.37 ERA. He didn't have his insane strikeout totals from the year before, but still recorded 219. Meanwhile the Tigers were waiting to see if Verlander could take the next step to become an ace in 2011. He struggled somewhat in April, going 2-3 with a 3.64 ERA. He had better results in May when he also picked up his second no-hitter against Toronto in Canada on May 7, but by the end of the month he was still 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA and the Tigers were in second just one game over .500. Then June came and Verlander went on a roll. He went 6-0 and had an 0.92 ERA while Detroit took over the division lead. He continued to dominate and reached 20 wins by the end of August, and had 24 wins by September 24. With one more win he could become the first pitcher since Bob Welch in 1990 to win 25 games in a season. The Tigers had clinched the AL Central by then, so this would be Verlander's last shot to reach the mark. His opponents were the last-place Baltimore Orioles, but he struggled, allowing five runs in seven innings. He ended up with a no-decision, but he still won the Pitching Triple Crown with 24 wins, a 2.40 ERA, and 250 strikeouts.
Yet it was the post-season where Justin's attention was turned to. He was scheduled to start Game 1 of the Division Series against Sabathia, but the skies opened up in the second, and the game was suspended for a night. Doug Fister came in when play resumed and the Yankees dominated him to take a 1-0 lead. Detroit came back to take Game 2, and Verlander got the ball for another start in Game 3. He gutted through eight difficult innings, and New York scored four runs off of him, but the Tigers had scored five and he picked up the win. Detroit would take the series in five and it was off to deep in the heart of Texas where the Tigers would play the Rangers in the ALCS. Verlander started Game 1, and he suffered through four uneven innings, allowing three runs. A rain delay knocked him out of the game, and the bullpen took over. They kept the defending AL champs from scoring any more runs, but Detroit couldn't take advantage, and by Game 5 Texas was up 3-1 and one win from the World Series. Verlander took the ball and threw 7.1 tough innings, allowing four runs. The Tigers offense was alive that day and won the game to stay in the running, but the Rangers clinched in Game 6. Justin Verlander was still the most celebrated player in the off-season. He won the Cy Young award unanimously, and later took the MVP award as well, becoming the first starting pitcher to win the MVP since 300-game winner Roger Clemens did back in 1986. 2K Sports also invited Verlander to film a commercial for their new MLB 2K12 game. The company was supporting a contest where the first person to record themselves throwing a perfect game would win $1 million. The commercial featured model Kate Upton introducing the Perfect Club, a super exclusive club open only to pitchers that have thrown a perfect game, such as 300-game-winner Randy Johnson and Hall of Fame Senator Jim Bunning, whose paintings adorn the lobby. Kate sees a man who she initially thinks is the Big Unit, but seeing as the man is 6'5" instead of 6'10", she stops him and finds out he is Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander wearing a mustache and a wig, who had apparently trying been getting in multiple times. Verlander has two no-hitters but no perfect game, so an intimidating bouncer carries him out of the room. It was a fun little commercial, but one that would completely change his life. He and Upton had never met, but they found that they got along, and struck up a friendship. Verlander had a longtime relationship with his high school sweetheart Emily that was quite visible, but unbeknownst to the world the two had decided to end things during the 2012 season. Verlander didn't anticipate getting into a relationship with Upton but enjoyed being in her company. In July the two were spotted going to an Aerosmith concern together and were captured on social media attending a bar afterward. The gossip columns exploded over rumors or speculations. Meanwhile Verlander was trying to focus on his pitching. He was having another fantastic season, going 9-5 with a 2.58 by the All-Star break and had come two outs from his third no-hitter on May 18, but the Tigers were limping along in third. Verlander remained strong and did his best work in September, going 5-1 with a 1.93 ERA and helping the Tigers to another division title.
Verlander had another fantastic year, going 17-8 and finishing second with a 2.64 ERA and winning another strikeout crown with 239. He finished second in Cy Young voting in the narrowest of margins to David Price. Yet Verlander was focused on doing well in the post-season. He started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Oakland Athletics, who had come back to win the AL West in a stirring comeback. Verlander pitched brilliantly, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out 11. The Tigers still couldn't close out the series and forced a Game 5. Verlander took matters into his own hands and threw a complete game shutout, also with 11 strikeouts and Detroit was moving on to face the Yankees in the ALCS. The Tigers won the first two games, and Verlander started Game 3. He was working on a 2-0 shutout when he allowed a solo home run to Eduardo Nunez. He got a groundout, but manager Jim Leyland went to Phil Coke to get the save, and Detroit won the pennant the next night. Verlander finally had a chance to erase his World Series demons from six years earlier, but the San Francisco Giants would be a difficult opponent. He had been the most dominant pitcher in the first two rounds, but the Giants teed off of him in Game 1, with Pablo Sandoval hitting two home runs on his way to a three-HR night, and even pitcher Barry Zito delivering an RBI single. The Tigers lost miserably, and were swept away by San Francisco's Even Year Magic. Detroit still acknowledged all that Verlander had done for the team, and signed him to a seven-year contract worth $140 million. He repaid the favor by getting off to another strong start, throwing five shutout innings in his sixth straight Opening Day start and carrying a 1.93 ERA into a May 16 start against the Rangers deep in the heart of Texas. The Rangers lit him up to a tune of eight runs in 2.2 innings, and he continued to struggle into All-Star break. His manager Leyland still named him on the team on the strength of his 10-6 record and 3.50 ERA, but he was having shoulder pain, which he didn't have the last time he struggled like this five years earlier. He still finished the season on a strong note, striking out 22 in 12 scoreless innings in his last two starts to give him 217 strikeouts for the year. Still his 13-12 record and 3.46 ERA were aberrations compared to his dominance the past four seasons. The Tigers still won a third straight AL Central title, and Verlander pitched line a man possessed. He threw seven shutout innings with 11 strikeouts in Game 2 of a Division Series rematch against Oakland, but the A's won on a walk-off single in the ninth. The series went to a fifth game, and Verlander delivered with eight shutout innings and ten strikeouts. There was no walk-off this time as the Tigers went on to face the Red Sox in the ALCS. Verlander started Game 3 and threw eight innings, allowing one run while striking out 10. Unfortunately the Detroit bats were shut out and he suffered a loss, and Boston clinched the pennant in six games. It was a disappointing finishing to a difficult season for Justin Verlander.
He went into the off-season rigorous in his workout. However, while doing squats one day he suffered from an intense pain in his groin. He had an MRI that showed that in addition to a severe sports hernia, Verlander also had an undiagnosed injury in his rectus abdominis, the abs that make up his core. The core is crucial for maintaining posture, and with a weakened core the other muscles had to pick up the slack, eventually leading to injuries elsewhere. Verlander convalesced and in the meanwhile got even closer to Upton. He healed up well enough to make the Opening Day start, and pitched well through April, quite unusual for him. Still, the nagging shoulder pain continued, and it was only a matter of time when it would start affecting his pitching. The collapse ended up starting in May, and his ERA hovered close to 5.00 in July. He had a few good starts, but on August 11 he lasted only one while giving up five runs (four earned.) His fastball topped out at 86 miles per hour, 15 miles below his peak velocity. He cried in the tunnel that night, and thought his career would be over. The Tigers had an MRI done on Verlander's shoulder that did not show any structural damage but a lot of inflammation. He was still held out for almost two weeks. Verlander came back and mixed good starts with bad ones, and still won his 150th game on September 8. He ended the season 15-12 for a Tigers team that won 90 games, but his 4.54 ERA was his worst since 2008. Verlander started Game 2 of the Division Series against the Orioles and only lasted five innings, allowing three runs as Detroit wound up getting swept. Meanwhile people were speculating what was going on, with a lot of people pining the blame on Verlander's burgeoning relationship with Kate Upton, the sordid details of which were put online for the world to see once his phone got hacked. Upton was having an influence on Verlander, but not in a way people thought. She supported him through the dark moments when his mood was getting depressed, and she shared with him her own struggles with dealing with external criticism. More importantly, she connected him with her physical therapist Annie Gow in New York. Dr. Gow discovered the lack of flexibility that led to overcompensation elsewhere in his body, including his barking shoulder. Through intensive therapy, Verlander was able to regain his velocity going into 2015. However, he felt pain in his triceps late in spring training and started the season on the disabled list for the first time. When he felt like he was ready to return, another injury sidelined him, and an MRI revealed a latissimus dorsi tear. That ended up keeping him out until mid-June. He struggled in his early starts, including one against the Yankees on June 19 where he gave up a home run to Alex Rodriguez's for his 3,000th hit. However, he was pitching without pain, and began having more solid starts, including another shutout where he took a no-hitter into the ninth. He only went 5-8 as the Tigers collapsed to last place, but his 3.38 ERA was a major improvement. That off-season he proposed to Upton, and the engagement was announced during the Met Gala.
Verlander was fully healthy again in 2016, and he was eager to show the world he had plenty left in him. He was named the Opening Day starter again after the year off, but he ended up having another difficult April, and was still 2-2 with a 5.46 ERA by the end of the month. However, that may have been a sign that he was back to his old self. He began pitching like it in May and by the end of the season he had brought his ERA down to 3.04, second only to Toronto's Aaron Sanchez, who went 3.00. He went 16-9 and more importantly he had led the American League with 254 strikeouts. The Cy Young vote that year came down to Verlander and his former teammate Rick Porcello, now with the Red Sox. Porcello had won 22 games and had a strong ERA as well, but finished with 65 fewer strikeouts. It was a narrow vote and Verlander had more first-place votes, but two voters didn't include him anywhere, and Porcello took the award by five points. The results were maddening to Upton, but Verlander took it in stride, knowing he was back to the dominant pitcher of old. The Tigers had rebounded to win 86 games in 2016, and he was ready to go into 2017 and pitch his way back into the post-season. Verlander went into 2017 with two strong starts including an Opening Day win where he struck out 10 batters while allowing two runs in 6.1 innings. However, he followed that with a disastrous start, and he still finished the first month with a 1-2 record and 4.60 ERA. Meanwhile, Detroit had failed to take advantage of a weak AL Central division and sat at 12-12. Verlander and the Tigers both floundered through May and June, and by the end of July Detroit was ten games below .500. Verlander went 1-3 in July with a 3.82 ERA, and was sitting at 6-7 with a 4.29 ERA for the season. Teams did inquire about the Tigers ace, but found the price too steep. Yet Verlander had just about figured out what had ailed him. His July numbers were skewed by a start when he went 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs to the Cleveland Indians. Removing that start drops his ERA to 2.25. The July trade deadline came and went and he remained in Detroit, but teams could still make trades once a player clears waiver. The Tigers posted Verlander and he went unclaimed. He went on to have his best month of his season in August, going 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA. Meanwhile the Houston Astros were going through their roughest month of the season. The team had been in freefall from 2009-2013, culminating in three straight seasons of 106 or more losses, and being forced to jump into the American League. However, the new front office had fully embraced analytics and had a winning season in 2015 that resulted in a Wild Card spot. They won the Wild Card Game before falling in the Division Series to the eventual world champion Royals. After a down year in 2016, the Astros had surged to a double-digit division lead and the best record in the AL by the end of August. The team largely stood pat at the July trade deadline, a move that was publicly criticized by Houston players. The team then went 11-17 in August and was forced out of a three-game series when Hurricane Harvey led to catastrophic flooding. General manager Jeff Luhnow had asked about the Tigers ace in July but found the price too steep. With Verlander's resurgent August and the Astros struggling, Luhnow decided to revive talks. He went back and forth with his Detroit counterpart Al Avila before hammering out a potential deal. All they needed now was Verlander's approval. Justin was warned about a potential deal earlier, but when he was told a decision was needed there was less than an hour until the ultimate September 1 deadline. He talked with Upton and other friends and family, and received a call from Houston's Dallas Keuchel. In the end he agreed, but needed to rush out of the building to sign the confirmation papers that Tigers officials had outside. Evidence of the deal reached MLB officers with two seconds to spare.
Verlander arrived in Houston as they were finishing their first series after returning from Harvey. He made his Astros debut on the road in Seattle. He was spectacular in the regular season, going 5-0 with a 1.06 while Houston won 101 games. Verlander was returning to the post-season for the first time after his difficult 2014. He started Game 1 of the Division Series against the Red Sox, and allowed two runs in six innings, while diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve blasted three home runs. Houston won both games at home, but Boston took Game 3 to force a Game 4. Charlie Morton started the game, but left with one out in the fifth after a walk. Manager A.J. Hinch beckoned Verlander from the bullpen. He allowed a go-ahead to Andrew Benintendi, but shut the Red Sox down afterward. The Astros rallied to to win the game and the series, with Verlander getting the decision. Justin couldn't pitch in the ALCS against the Yankees until Game 2, but he pitched nine innings, allowing only a run on a fluky ground rule double, while striking out 13. Houston walked off to take a 2-0 lead in the series. The series switched to New York, and the Yankees took all three to put the Astros on the brink. They turned to Verlander for Game 6, and he delivered with seven shutout innings, then Houston won Game 7 to win their first American League pennant. Verlander was anointed ALCS MVP, but turned his attention to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started Game 2 and pitched valiantly, allowing three runs in six innings, but was in line for the loss until the Astros rallied. Houston eventually took a 3-2 series lead, and Verlander had a chance to pitch the Astros to the World Series in Game 6. He was even better, allowing just two runs in six innings, but Houston could only score one, and Justin suffered a loss. The Astros still won in Game 7, and Verlander finally had a World Series ring. Then he had to hurry off to Italy to get his wedding ring, as he and Upton got married. 2018 was Verlander's first full season in Houston, and he fully embraced the Astros' volumes of data. He had at his disposal information about spin rates and helped him optimize his pitch selection, which complements his years of experience. He also has other teammates with whom he could share information, such as Keuchel, a former Cy Young winner in 2005, and Gerrit Cole, obtained from Pittsburgh. It helped Verlander get off to one of his best starts. He threw six shutout innings on Opening Day, and his 1.36 ERA in April was the best of his career. Besides his run prevention, Verlander was also able to set new highs in strikeouts but putting more trust in his devastating four-seam fastball and improved secondary pitches. He tied a career high with 14 strikeouts in a game not once but twice. He made his first All-Star team since 2013 when he went 9-5 with a a 2.29 ERA in the first half, then won his 200th game on August 19 in a crucial match-up against the A's. He finished the season 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA, and a new high with 290 strikeouts. He cut his walks to 37, a new low in a qualifying season. Verlander had another strong showing in Cy Young balloting, but finished second for the third time in his career. The Astros reached the post-season again with 102 games. They swept the Indians in the Division Series, with Verlander getting a win in Game 1. He also posted a strong win in the ALCS against the Red Sox, but that was the only win the Astros managed, as Boston walked all over Verlander to clinch the pennant in five games. Nevertheless, the Astros extended Verlander for two more years, and he has rewarded their trust in him with another strong season. He has stated he wanted to pitch into his mid-40s like his idol Nolan Ryan, during which he can reach all sorts of milestones, including possibly 300 wins.
CC Sabathia - 249
Date of Birth: July 21, 1980
Years Played: 2001-Active
Years on Top 10: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Wins by age 30: 148
Wins after age 30: 101
Wins in 30s: 101
Wins on June 4, 2009: 122
Wins on June 4, 2019: 249
Wins after June 4, 2009: 127
After a difficult start, the New York Yankees were in a tie on top of the AL East division after a comeback victory over the Texas Rangers on June 4, 2009. They then had an off day before starting a three-game series with the defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays. The man slated to start that crucial game was their big off-season pitching acquisition, one they will pay $161 million over seven years: CC Sabathia. So far CC has been a strong addition to their rotation, with a 5-3 record and a 3.46 ERA. It had been a long journey to get to that point. Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. was born in Vallejo, California in the North Bay area. His grandmother shortened his name to CC just Carsten Charles was so hard to say. His father Carsten Charles Sabathia Sr. was a big sports fan, and took little CC to all watch all of the sports teams, from the Oakland Athletics to the San Francisco Giants to the Oakland Raiders to the Golden State Warriors. He also encouraged CC to play the games they watched together. And he would play, partaking in basketball and football and baseball. He would go to the Boys and Girls Club to play, and played with the RBI program. One of his biggest thrills was getting to meet legendary A's pitcher Dave Stewart. Carsten Sr. separated from his wife Margie when CC was 13. He still stayed close to the family, but Margie soon became the dominant figure in CC's life. She was fully invested in her son's athletic career, and made enough free time in her career as a telephone operator to catch CC, whose fastball was already approaching 90mph as a teenager. She also made sure that he developed a sense of hard work and accountability. She was the one that gave an 11-year-old CC the "There's no crying in baseball" speech a year before the release of A League of their Own. He was well over six-feet tall and had a strong sense of personal responsibility by the time he got into Vallejo High School. He played football and basketball, and helped those teams reach the playoffs, but baseball was his best sport. He went 6-0 as a senior and also posted an 0.77 ERA. He was more than just a pitcher, as he played first base on days he didn't pitch, and hit over .500. CC was only 17 when he was to graduate in 1998, and was heavily recruited by colleges to play multiple sports. He signed a letter of intent with the University of Hawaii to play football and baseball, but he put his faith in the Major League Baseball draft. Several baseball writers picked him to go in the first round, but since this was 1998 he didn't find out that he was drafted his mother called the school who announced over the intercom that CC Sabathia was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians, the defending AL champions. It was a special moment, one tinged with his feeling of sadness as his grandmother had passed away earlier in the year. The Sabathias didn't know what to do next, so they hired a couple of agents that would negotiate with the Indians. They waited around for the news, but after a few weeks they hadn't heard anything other than to remain patient. CC couldn't be patient. He had his bags packed and were ready to go. In the end Margie called the Indians and found they were just $200,000 apart in their figures. CC ended up signing for $1.3 million.
The Indians sent young CC to their rookie-league team in Burlington. He was a bit disappointed that Cleveland wanted him to be a pitcher, but he put his heart into it. He put up a 4.50 ERA in five starts, a decent showing for a kid that just turned 18. Sabathia reconnected with his father who had drifted apart while CC was in high school and had fallen into drugs. He also got into a serious relationship with his high school girlfriend Amber. Some elbow soreness early in the 1999 season delayed his arrival to low-A Mahoning Valley. He still dominated hitters to a 1.83 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. His 12 walks were a bit concerning, but he was called up to A-ball Columbus. He made only three starts and put up a 1.08 ERA, and led to another jump, to high-A Kinston. Sabathia finally met his match with those high-A hitters. He made seven starts and posted a 5.34 ERA. He did strike out 29 in 32 innings, but his walk totals edged up to 10. He still showed enough promise that Baseball America named him the top Indians prospect after putting him at #2 the year before. CC went back to Kinston in 2000 and had much more success. He lowered his ERA to 3.54 in ten starts, and struck out 69 against only 24 walks in 56 innings. He was called to AA Akron, and posted similar numbers in 17 starts: a 3.59 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 90.1 innings, and 48 walks. Baseball America named him the #7 prospect in all of baseball going into the 2001 season. He was invited to Major League spring training to see if he needed seasoning with AAA Buffalo or if he was ready to make the Majors. He had some struggles, but manager Charlie Manuel was impressed by his ability to pitch out of trouble. In the end he made the Opening Day roster as a 20-year-old, the youngest player on any of the Opening Day rosters. CC made his Major League debut on April 8, 2001 against the Balitmore Orioles. He got a bit of a rude awakening allowing a three-run homer to Jeff Conine in the first, but then struck out Mike Kinkade for his first Major League strikeout. He lasted until two outs in the sixth inning before he was replaced by Justin Speier, one of the pitchers that got a win on June 4, 2009. CC ended with a no-decision, but he got his first win five days later against the Detroit Tigers. He soon became a trusted member of the Indians rotation. He had some struggles, but the powerful Cleveland offense picked him up. His highlight came on July 13 when he defeated the Cincinnati Reds in an interleague game and struck out 11, including Ken Griffey Jr., his favorite player just a few years earlier. His ERA remained above 4.00 for most of the season, but he saved his best work for last, allowing just one run in 17 innings in his last three Major League starts. Sabathia ended the season 17-5 with a 4.39 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 180 innings. He ranked sixth in wins and seventh in strikeouts, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind MVP and Japanese sensation Ichiro. The Indians won the AL Central, and CC would be getting a taste of playoff action. He started Game 3 of the Division Series against Ichiro's Seattle Mariners. He went six innings and allowed two runs, while Cleveland went crazy with 17 runs to make a winner about of Sabathia. The Indians took a 2-0 lead, but that would be the last game they would win as the 116-win Mariners moved on in five games.
The Indians recognized the value in what Sabathia had brought to the team, and so after the season they inked him to a four-year extension worth $9.5 million. CC had never dreamed of being in possession of so much money, and as much as his mother taught him about accountability, he was a 21-year-old with seemingly unlimited money, and he began indulging in Major League excesses. He began partying every night and buying expensive clothes and jewelry. Amber saw what he was doing and called off their relationship. His mother also expressed her concern, but CC reassured her. On May 17, Sabathia and his cousin were robbed at gunpoint by a few former Cleveland State basketball players. The terrifying incident was a wake-up call, and he quickly proposed to Amber. The incident did wonders to his pitching as well. At the time of the robbery he was 3-4 with a 6.31 ERA. He still made the start a day after and threw six two-run innings. He went 10-7 with a 3.83 ERA and finished the season 13-11 with a 4.37 ERA. He led the team in wins and strikeouts. Unfortunately the Indians collapsed to 75 wins. CC went into the 2003 season ready to fulfill his potential. He shad his first Opening Day start, and was 4-2 with a 2.92 through the first two months of the season. He allowed seven runs in 4.1 innings against the Colorado Rockies on June 5, but to his credit it was in the thin air of Colorado, and he was thinking about his marriage which took place two days later. He was 8-4 with a 3.23 ERA at the All-Star break and was chosen for his first All-Star team. That month he also found out his father had terminal stomach cancer. Carsten Charles Sr. had become close with his son again and had stayed with him for a time in the off-season, much to Amber's chagrin. Still Carsten Sr. wanted to be around when his first grandson was born, which did happen when Carsten Charles Sabathia II was born in September. The three generation of Sabathias spent their precious time together, and Carsten Charles Sr. died in December. CC had his best season, going 13-9 with a 3.60 ERA, the first time he had it under 4.00, but the Indians collapsed further to 68-94. Sabathia was fantastic early in 2004, throwing seven shutout innings on Opening Day, and had a 2.89 ERA through May. Then in June CC found out that his cousin Nathan, who was one of his best friends growing up, died under mysterious circumstances. He pitched well upon his return and made his second straight All-Star team, but something changed in CC. He became extremely emotional through every start. He could be going well, but then a call would go against him or a ball would be misplayed, and he'd fall apart. He was shut down in mid-September, having gone 11-10 with a 4.12 ERA. The Indians still extended him for three years. A strained oblique delayed his 2005 debut, and he was sensational when he returned, but then the emotions got the best of him once again. He'd have some adversity and fall apart completely. Things finally came to a head when there was one stretch when he lost five straight games with an 8.39 ERA. At last he came to the realization that he was putting too much pressure on himself. He was putting so much pressure into being perfect for his father and cousin that he lost sight of his mechanics and what made baseball fun in the first place. He re-evaluated himself and went 9-1 with a 2.24 ERA in his last 11 starts. The Indians made a run for the division before falling short, but still won 93 games. Sabathia was 15-10 with a 4.03 ERA and led the team with 161 strikeouts, the most since his rookie year.
CC went into 2006 unencumbered by the pressures that had haunted him for a year, but he wasn't free from injuries. He made the Opening Day start but had to leave in the third inning after he re-injured his oblique. It kept him out of action for a whole month, but he was fantastic upon his return outside of a few disastrous starts in June, and finished with his best season, with a new career low in ERA at 3.22 and a new career high in strikeouts with 172. However, the Indians regressed mightily and went 78-84, and CC's record was just 12-11. He also had knee pain for most of the second half of the season, and underwent arthroscopic surgery. He was ready by the spring of 2007, and hoped that would be the last of his knee troubles. CC made his second straight Opening Day start, and pitched well in April. Meanwhile the Indians had taken over the AL Central lead. It would not be a walk in the park. Cleveland had to battle the Detroit Tigers for supremacy in the division for most of the season. Sabathia was an important contributor. He wasn't always sharp, but he generally gave the Indians a good chance to win. He was 12-3 with a 3.58 ERA by the All-Star break and made the All-Star team, but July was his worst month, as he went 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA. He turned things around in the last two months as he went 6-1 with a 2.48. Cleveland had fallen behind the Tigers in the July funk, but they followed their ace's footsteps and built up an insurmountable lead. CC's final win of the 2007 season was the 100th of his career. He finished 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA, and broke 200 strikeouts for the first time with 209. He didn't lead the league in any Triple Crown category, but his 241 innings towered over any other pitcher, and he was rewarded with the Cy Young award. More importantly he got another chance to pitch in the post-season. He wasn't at his best in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Yankees, but still picked up the win and the Indians moved on. He started Game 1 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox and was awful, but Cleveland won the next three and Sabathia had a chance to win the pennant for Cleveland in Game 5. Unfortunately he wasn't much better, and the Indians blew the 3-1 lead a few days later. It was a difficult finish, but CC was ready to move on. However, his 2008 season began in disastrous fashion, as he allowed 27 runs in 18 innings in his first four starts for a 13.50 ERA. Cleveland went 5-10 during that time. CC picked things up and was much better after that, as he had a 2.15 ERA in his last 14 starts. The Indians couldn't duplicate that and were in last place going into July. With their ace heading towards free agency, the Indians traded Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7.
The Brewers had been battling something more dangerous than mediocrity: irrelevance. They had not been to the post-season since 1982, and had a string of 12 losing seasons, but only in 2002 were they actually terrible. Their biggest claim to fame during that time came in 1998 when they were the first team to jump leagues, and their longtime owner Bud Selig took the acting label off his job as commissioner. They had a core of young players, and had finished with 83 wins in 2007. They were 49-40 when trading for Sabathia, and were in a battle for either the NL Central or a Wild Card spot as a consolation prize. CC picked up the win in his first start, and then posted three straight complete game wins, allowing one fewer run in each before ending with a complete game shutout. He electrified the crowd, and their energy motivated them as well. He went 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA in August, during which he won his second straight National League Pitcher of the Month award. He struggled in September, during which the Cubs clinched the division, but the Wild Card was still very much in play. With the Brewers one game back of the New York Mets on September 24, CC was asked to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on three days rest. He complied and threw seven one-run innings, striking out 11. The Milwaukee won to pull into a tie for the Wild Card. Four days later the two teams were still timed, and Sabathia came out to pitch again on three days rest against Chicago. He gutted through a complete game, allowing just one run. The Brewers scored once in the seventh and twice in the eighth and won to force at least a tie-breaker, which wasn't needed as the Mets lost to the Florida Marlins half an hour later. CC had gone 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA after the trade, with 128 strikeouts in 130.2 innings, a performance reminiscent of Randy Johnson's glorious two months with the Houston Astros in 1998. Like the Big Unit ten years earlier, Sabathia's stay in the post-season was short, as he allowed five runs in 3.2 innings in Game 2 of the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brewers lost in four games. Even with his abbreviated season he still finished fifth in Cy Young voting, picking up a first-place vote, and sixth in the MVP race. CC became a free agent after the season, and was looking to possibly go closer to home, but the Yankees gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. New York was looking for pitchers after their first playoff-miss since before the strike, and gave CC seven years and $161 million, setting a new record for a pitcher. Sabathia had his difficult Opening Day start, but recovered to have a strong season. He was much better in the second half of the season, and had his best month in August when he went 5-0 with a 2.64 ERA. He won his 19th game with one start remaining, but allowed five runs in 2.2 innings to finish at 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA and 197 strikeouts. Meanwhile New York won 103 games and waltzed to the playoffs. CC was still the Yankees' top starter, and pitched well in the first game of the Division Series as New York swept the Minnesota Twins. Their ALCS foes were the Los Angeles Angels, who had always frustrated the Yankees. Sabathia threw eight one-run innings in both Game 1 and Game 4 as the Yankees won the pennant in six games. CC was named the ALCS MVP. New York faced the Phillies in the World Series, and Sabathia had a chance for a rematch. He pitched well in Game 1, but Philadelphia's Cliff Lee kept the Yankees scoreless. He returned in Game 4 with three runs in 6.2 innings and got a no-decision, but the New York won, and captured the title in six games.
It was difficult to top a World Series title, but CC did his best to try. He struggled somewhat early in the season after a rough start on Opening Day, but he found a groove when the calendar turned to June. He was 8-0 in eight starts with a 1.81 ERA, and made the All-Star team for the first time as in New York. He won his 150th game with a win on August 7, and then cracked the 20-win milestone by defeating the Orioles on September 18, the first Yankees pitcher to do so since Mike Mussina did in 2008. He finished 21-7 and posted a 3.18 ERA, and he struck out 197 batters for the second straight season. New York did have to enter the post-season by the Wild Card route, but CC turned in a strong start in the Division Series as the Yankees swept the Twins for the second year running. Next up came the Texas Rangers, fresh off their first post-season series win after losing three times to New York in the 1990s. Sabathia started Game 1, but a fired up Rangers team pounded him for five runs in four innings. The post-season ghosts seemed to have awakened as for Texas as the Yankees scored once in the seventh and five runs in the eighth to pull out the victory. However, the Rangers seemed unafraid and won the next three in dominating fashion. New York turned to CC to rescue their season, and he stopped them with two runs in six innings despite allowing 11 hits. Alas, Texas captured the pennant in Game 6. Shortly after the season ended, Sabathia was diagnosed with a torn meniscus, and had to get yet another arthroscopic surgery. He re-dedicated his efforts at weight loss, as the 6'6" pitcher had weighed in at 300 pounds at certain times in his career, the first pitcher to reach that milestone, and the second Major League player overall after Walter Young, the 320-pound behemoth who played 14 games with Baltimore in 2005, then died in 2015 at 35 from a heart attack. CC went into 2011 feeling much healthier and stronger, and the improvements were evident on the mound. He went 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in April after a strong Opening Day start. He was 13-4 with a 2.72 ERA before the All-Star break, having thrown a complete game shutout in his last start of the first half. He started the second half strong and set a new career high with 14 strikeouts against the Mariners on July 26. He struggled a little in the second half, but still ended the season 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA, and recorded 230 strikeouts, his most in a season spent exclusively with one team. The Yankees also went back on top of the AL East, and faced the Tigers in the Division Series. CC started Game 1 opposite Justin Verlander, but his start was cut short after two innings due to rain. He came back in Game 3 and wasn't sharp as Detroit won. The series still went to a Game 5. Ivan Nova started for the Yankees, but lasted only two innings. New York was down 2-0 by the fifth, and Sabathia did what he had never done before, come in relief. He pitched 1.1 innings and allowed a run. The Yankees could only score twice, and they were eliminated. CC was disappointed, but he sublimated that into his charity work. He returned to his hometown of Vallejo and helped renovate the baseball field of his old high school through his charity foundation PitCCh In that he had started back in 2008. Meanwhile the decided not to exercise an opt-out clause on his contract, and added a one-year extension with an option.
Sabathia had been relatively free of injuries, and hadn't been on the Disabled List after the oblique injuries from 2005 and 2006. He's had the knee surgeries but they haven't limited him in any capacity as of yet. However, the 2012 season would be a struggle as CC's body began failing him. He had his fourth straight Opening Day start as a Yankee but pitched poorly, but had recovered to go 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA before a groin injury sent him to the DL in June. He came back in time to make the All-Star team, and pitched well in five other starts before elbow soreness shelved him again. He came back in two weeks and pitched well the rest of the way, finishing 15-6 with a 3.38 and 197 strikeouts for the third time in four seasons in New York. The Yankees won the AL East again, and Sabathia had another chance to make up for his struggles in the post-season the year before. New York faced the Orioles, who had defeated the Rangers in the first ever AL Wild Card Game. CC started Game 1 and pitched well, allowing two runs while coming just one out from a complete game. Baltimore still forced the series to go to five. Sabathia got the ball in Game 5, and he threw a complete game four-hitter, allowing just one run, and the Yankees moved on for their rematch against Detroit in the ALCS. CC didn't start until Game 4, during which New York was staring at a sweep. He didn't have the magic from the Division Series, as he allowed six runs (five earned) in 3.2 innings, ending the Yankees season. Afterwards Sabathia had elbow surgery to cut out a bone spur, but he was ready by Opening Day. He pitched poorly in his first start, but seemed to turn things around in April, but he never seemed to recover after allowing seven runs in seven innings in a start against the Rays. He struggled with his consistency, always seeming to follow a good start with a terrible one. He did win his 200th game on July 3, and at 32 he seemed like he'd still be a good candidate for 300 wins, but he went 5-7 with a 5.79 ERA after that point before his season ended due to a hamstring strain. He ended the year 14-13 with a career-high 4.78 ERA and the Yankees finished third. CC worked hard to get healthy again for 2014, and lost 40 pounds to show up in spring training weighing 275 pounds. He was selected as the Opening Day starter, but he was blasted for six runs in six innings by the Houston Astros, who had went 51-111 in 2013. He could never find a groove as his right knee was bothering him again. He went on the Disabled List in May having gone 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA, and ended up having surgery in July to end his season. Sabathia showed up in spring training in 2015 having regained much of the weight he had lost, feeling that the weight loss contributed to his poor showing. Japanese sensation Masahiro Tanaka had the Opening Day start, but CC didn't much care at this point. He wanted to do well, but he struggled from the start. He had only two starts where his ERA was below 5.00 through the first five months of the season, and he went back on the Disabled List in late August. He came back in September pitching much better, going 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in five starts, and the Yankees clinched a Wild Card spot. However, the before the Wild Card Game against the Astros it was announced that CC Sabathia would be going into alcohol rehab. It was a shock that hung over the team as they fell in the Wild Card Game. Before spring training started, CC opened up to the public about his battles with alcohol use disorder. He talked about how he spent the last road trip binge drinking as he had already made his last start. He opened up about his early career struggles, and the difficulties he still had in coping with his father's death in 2003. He found solace in alcohol, but also opened up about his need to get his story out. He had spent a month in rehab and read about the battles of other players that battled alcohol problems such as Bob Welch, who had died almost two years earlier.
It was a courageous move, but people wondered how Sabathia would fare on the mound. He struggled early, then went on the Disabled List due to a groin strain. He was a new pitcher upon his return, and put up an 0.97 ERA in his first six starts afterwards. He struggled with some inconsistencies after that as his knee continued to bother him, but he got through the season with a knee brace, and he had posted a 3.91 ERA when the season ended, his lowest since 2012. He only went 9-12 as the Yankees struggled to a fourth place finish, their worst in the standings since 1992. Yet he still felt he had some gas left in the tank. He may no longer have his elite fastball, but he had the experience and the command to pitch to batters' weaknesses, essentially becoming a crafty lefty. He started the season out with four strong starts, including five scoreless innings when he was the Yankees' number 2 starter. A three-start stretch when he allowed 18 runs in 15.2 innings wrecked his ERA, but he was tremendous in the six starts afterwards, putting up an 0.99 ERA before a hamstring strain shelved him for three weeks. He struggled a bit upon his return and went back on the Disabled List for knee pain, but he pitched much better once he recovered, and finished the season 14-5 with a 3.69 ERA. Meanwhile New York won the Wild Card with 91 wins. They dominated the Twins again before a date with the 102-win Indians in the Division Series. CC struggled in Game 2, but he had another chance with the Yankees forced a Game 5. New York took a 3-0 lead early. Sabathia pitched as well as he can but allowed two runs in the fifth. The elite Yankees bullpen held on and New York moved on to face the 101-win Astros. Houston took a 2-0 lead in Texas, but the series shifted to New York, and CC had the start in Game 3. He took control and threw six shutout innings as the Yankees won the game and the next two to put themselves at the verge of the pennant. However, the Astros won Game 6 to force a Game 7. Sabathia was chosen to start the crucial game. He pitched valiantly, but allowed one run in 3.1 innings. New York couldn't score once, and went home empty-handed. CC signed an extension once his original contract finally ran out, saying he would retire if the Yankees won the World Series. He suffered from a hip strain and some more knee problems in 2018, but still went 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA, the fifth straight season he lowered his ERA. The Yankees surged to 100 wins, but it was still only enough for a Wild Card. New York defeated the A's in the Wild Card Game, but were defeated by the 108-win Red Sox in the Division Series. Sabathia started Game 4 with the Yankees facing elimination, but lasted only three innings as Boston won the series. CC signed another one-year extension, but was found to have coronary artery disease. He underwent a cardiac cath with placement of the stent. Before the season he announced that it would be his last. His debut was delayed due to the cardiac procedure, and he was limited by his knee, but he did have time to reach a few more milestones, including his 3,00th strikeout on April 30. The 300-win-club is out of reach, but he can position himself into a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate.
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Wowsers. Why the heck do I feel so compelled to blabber so much. Anyways, these are the pitchers with 100 wins. As you can see they are pitchers of varying quality and stages in their career. Some still have several years left, and others are pretty much done. In other words they all have different likelihoods of reaching 300 wins. Now clearly nobody is knocking at 300's door, and it's entirely possible none of these pitchers can get 300, but some pitchers have maybe a 20% chance while others are at 0%. I'm not going to waste my time to compile the number of wins each of these players have in their 30s. It's completely irrelevant because each of these players are still in their 30s (except for Madison Bumgarner who is still 29 for a few more months.) What might be compelling is to compare and contrast how many wins each of these players have since June 4, 2009. It may be unfair because some players were still in minors or even still in college ten years ago today. Nevertheless, a high number of wins would indicate success within the past ten years. I've listed the win totals since June 4, 2009 before each of their profiles, but here are the ten winningest pitchers since June 4, 2009:
As you can see the list kind of goes in line with the ten winningest active pitchers, but you do see Cole Hamels, Adam Wainwright and Ervin Santana dropping off in favor of three pitchers that were in the beginning stages of their careers in 2009. Clearly each of these pitchers have had quite a bit of success in these 10 years, averaging anywhere from 12.5 to 16.1 wins per season. However, as we all know past success can predict future success, but it is not directly correlated. What I will do now is to take each of these active pitchers and I'll go ahead and separate them into three tiers, from people with absolutely no chance, to pitchers that probably have the best chance. Meanwhile there are those that are unlikely to get there, but I actually wouldn't be surprised if they do. These aren't necessarily determined by a formula, but I would try to take into account their age and how they have been pitching, and I will try to defend each of them. You may agree or disagree on a couple, but I'd like to hear your thoughts, if you have even gotten this far.
You Have No Chance (to survive make your time)
CC Sabathia
Adam Wainwright
Ervin Santana
Gio Gonzalez
Ricky Nolasco
J.A. Happ
Francisco Liriano
Edwin Jackson
The bottom tier is generally fairly easy to exclude. These are players that are near the end of their careers. Heck, CC Sabathia has already announced that he is retiring after this season. Adam Wainwright, J.A. Happ, and Edwin Jackson haven't done exactly that, but they're pitching at a stage where the decision may be made for them soon. Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco can't even pitch their way out of the minors yet. Gio Gonzalez hasn't pitched all that poorly this year, but he didn't sign until late April, and he had been on a downward trajectory, and he is still far away that the chances are virtually nil. And Francisco Liriano has been pitching well in the bullpen, but he's also 35, barely over 100, and he's a relief pitcher now. That's a recipe for not getting to 300.
Unlikely
Jon Lester
Felix Hernandez
Cole Hamels
David Price
Johnny Cueto
Jake Arrieta
Stephen Strasburg
Jon Lester is an interesting case. He's still relatively young (I mean he's just a year older than me), he's pitching for a very good Cubs team, and he's still pitching well. However, his WHIP and FIP has been trending the wrong way since 2016, with his walk rate inching upwards. He's also far enough that he'd have to pitch into the mid-40s, and I just can't see him doing that effectively to get to 300. I do firmly believe he will end up in the Hall of Fame someday, but not for getting to 300 wins. Felix Hernandez's regression had been one of the saddest things to watch. He was so good, so colorful, so energetic, and so young, but I do think he is about done. I'm not ready to put him in the bottom tier yet, but we'll see. As for Lester's teammate Cole Hamels, my views might be a bit skewed by watching him struggle for half a season in Texas last year. He has done much better in Chicago, but I haven't seen enough to definitively move him up. His 150th win was one of the coolest baseball moments I've gotten to witness in person, and may still have milestones ahead of him, but I just can't see him getting to 300. David Price is kind of in a similar boat. He is playing for the powerhouse Red Sox, but he hasn't pitched all that well with them. He's had 11 full seasons and he isn't even halfway to 300 yet. He'd have to maintain his win pace into his mid-40s, and I just can't see that. Johnny Cueto is returning from Tommy John surgery. He was pitching well before his surgery, but he is still returning from Tommy John surgery. Jake Arrieta was amazingly good for a span of about two or three seasons, and he's pitching fairly well this year for a good team, but he may be a case where early struggles doomed any chances for 300. Stephen Strasburg is still an electrifying pitcher, but his injuries have made it questionable whether or not he would be able to make it 200 wins, much less 300.
There is Still Hope
Justin Verlander
Zack Greinke
Max Scherzer
Clayton Kershaw
Rick Porcello
Madison Bumgarner
Chris Sale
And of course these are the players with the best chance. They are young enough and talented enough that 300 is still within their grasp. Justin Verlander is probably #1 on the probability scale. He is the winningest pitcher that hasn't announced his retirement at the end of the season. In fact, he has made it known that he wants to pitch into his mid-40s, a pace where he'd only have to average eight or nine wins a year to get to 300. Considering he's pretty much already there for this year he's got a pretty good shot. Plus he's been pitching about as well as he has in his career, for a good team with state of the art analytics and probably top of the line medical care. Now he could still have a catastrophic arm injury tomorrow, but I'm pinning my hopes on him for now. Zack Greinke has been surprising people with his consistency for so long that perhaps we shouldn't be surprised anymore. He's got an innate feel for the game, and is smart enough to retire hitters without the best velocity. With him I feel his main limitation is that he will lose the desire to keep playing before he gets to 300, like Mike Mussina did a decade ago, but while teams are still paying him, he's going to keep playing. Max Scherzer is a little bit on the old side to still be barely past 160 wins, and the Washington Nationals are kind of an embarrassment this year, but he is still an elite pitcher that seems to be getting better. And he was a late bloomer that may not have as much wear and tear on his arm that he can pitch into his mid-40s. Plus he is in a fierce battle with Verlander for most wins since June 4, 2009. What can we say about Clayton Kershaw that hasn't already been said? He has been the Best Pitcher in Baseball for several years. His back has limited him, but he has enough of a feel for the game that he would be able to make adjustments and keep pitching well. I mean, he can also decide he had enough of his back and go the Sandy Koufax route, but it would be more fun to hope he continues on towards 300.
Rick Porcello is a curious choice because he is not a good pitcher. His ERA is barely above league average, and his strikeout rate is far behind the average pitcher. And yet he did have a year when he posted a 3.15 ERA with 22 wins. And he only just turned 30. If he can make 2016's 22-4 season or even last year's 17-7 season commonplace, which is certainly a possibility given the fact he plays for the Boston Red Sox, then 300 wins might just be in his future. Madison Bumgarner is still the winningest pitcher right now below 30. It's true he hasn't reached double digits in wins since 2016 due to injuries, and it's true that his arm may have been abused enough early in his career that these injuries are more of a new normal that a blip in the path to greatness, but the good thing about hope is that you can imagine that the injuries the past two years may have preserved his arm so that he will rediscover his previous glories and get him to 300. I mean, he still has his whole 30s ahead of him. Chris Sale has also been a bit of an injury risk given the ailments that had limited him in 2014 and last year. Still, he is enough of a dynamo that he could come back and pitch well for the next decade. Being a flamethrower isn't necessarily a recipe for disaster.
Well, that's about the best I can do. Given the fact that nobody has gotten to 300, and yet I tried to predict some people back in 2010. At that time I predicted Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez as the ones with the biggest likelihood, and obvously none of them are going to get to 300. It's really quite a crapshoot. We're still about 4-6 years from Justin Verlander making a serious run at 300. He could get there, or he could flame out before then. It's possible one of the others will get there, and it's possible that they will also flame out. It's possible that one of the young studs get there, although none of them have stuck out like Verlander or Zack Greinke did in 2010. It's possible that the 300-win club truly is dead, and baseball will evolve to a place where starters are no longer an acual role that pitchers play. It's possible that Brian Kenny will win and the win statistic will die. There's so much about the future we don't know. All I do know is that I've spent the past seven months writing too much about Randy Johnson's 300th Win and all of the things that go with that. This will probably be the last thing I write about it unless I decide to try to gain access to do an oral history (hahahaha yeah right). But if you're the one person that actually made it to this point, I salute you.
Sources
Daaaang this ended up being a lot longer than I had anticipated bu that's been the story for this whole project. I thought I was being smart starting this all the way back in October, but even spending many sleepless nights on it, I'm barely getting it done before the deadline, and I haven't edited any of it. I guess that is is what it's like to write a book, because with close to 500,000 words that I've regurgitated in these five parts, it's around the length of several books that make people go "this book is fucking long." But I digress. Once again I am indebted to certain sites for certain sites. A lot of the statistics information came from my memories of statistics in undergrad, but for the T-test I just used Social Science Statistics. And the pretty charts came from Meta-Chart.
But anyways the bulk of this part is the biographies. We have our usual suspects such as Baseball Reference and (unfortunately) Wikipedia. I ended up relying a lot more on The Baseball Cube because they have some details not present in Baseball Reference, such as disabled list transactions, college stats, and contract information. I have also found out that the minor league baseball website has gamelogs for minor league seasons so it gives us a little bit more information about a player's minor league careers. Anyways. I did throw in a paragraph about the evolution of baseball after reading Joe Posnanski's recent article about the changes in the game. Meanwhile specific players have their own special soures.
John Smoltz
A lot of the information came from Smoltz's autobiography Starting and Closing which is very good and deals a lot with his early life and his injuries. Specifics about his rehab efforts came from the Morning Call and Go Upstate.
Mike Hampton
A lot of the details about his early life came from a profile by New York Daily News. The blog Purple Row also had a good summary of his career.
Jamie Moyer
I recall seeing the quirky fact about Moyer learning the circle change from Kevin Quirk the mascot from his Topps 1994 card, but I got more details about Quirk from an issue of St. Joseph's University magazine.
Johan Santana
A lot of details about Johan's early life came from Joe Posnanski's recent write-up for his Baseball 100 series.
Livan Hernandez
A lot of information about Livan's defection process came from an SABR article about the Hernandez Brothers.
Roy Oswalt
A lot of information about Roy Oswalt's early life came from an interview he did with ESPN, including his sparkplug story.
Andy Pettitte
Some history about potential trades surrounding Andy Pettitte acme from the Pinstripe Alley blog. I looked on the Daily Freeman for some specifics about his 2010 groin injury.
Freddy Garcia
Chicago Tribune had a good article about Freddy Garcia's early life. Then I looked on MLB Trade Rumors for details about his re-signing with the White Sox.
Derek Lowe
ESPN had a good article about Derek Lowe's early years, especially his basketball career that almost happened.
Jake Peavy
Bleacher Report had a good look at the financial scandal that had affected him the past few years, which included some facts from his early life.
Cliff Lee
The Phillies Nation blog took a look at the moments around Lee's two stints with Philadelphia.
Kyle Lohse
I looked at ESPN to try to get some more history about the injury he sustained and when exactly he went on the disabled list. Then I looked on the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel for information about his exertional compartment syndrome and the struggles he had dealt with because of it.
Bronson Arroyo
I had to look on Newspapers.com to access a Tampa Bay Times article about Bronson Arroyo's college recruitment process. Then I relied on the MLB site about his Tommy John surgery.
Dan Haren
Jason's Baseball Blog had a look at the Dan Haren trade. The LA Times had a great article about the last days of his career and the mental struggles he felt because of it.
Stephen Strasburg
The fact that Stephen Strasburg won his 100th game tonight makes this rather hairy. Thankfully there has been no shortage of information about Strasburg especially given his status as a hyped prospect. I did look at Jockbio a little bit just to check if there were anything I didn't know. I remember UVA's defeat of Strasburg in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, but I did look back at the UVA website for details, and ESPN had the rest of the results of the Irvine Regional. Some more information about his high school years came from a Sports Illustrated profile as well as ESPN and Maxpreps. There is a video with all 23 of Strasburg's strikeouts against Utah. And then I had to look up the Washington Post to find out why exactly Strasburg would't be pitching in the 2016 Division Series.
Jake Arrieta
The Sports Illustrated profile about Arrieta in their 2016 baseball preview issue had some very good information.
Edwin Jackson
Fangraphs had a great article that looked at the major moments in his career
Chris Sale
The Florida Gulf Coast University website still had some information about his college career. The Northwoods League site quoted an ESPN article about his early life and early struggles. ESPN themselves had an article about his conversion to the rotation. SB Nation had an inside scoop about the Chris Sale scissors incident while Jeff Passan gave a preview of what the retro uniforms would have looked like.
Francisco Liriano
A lot of the information about his early life came from a New York Times profile. The River City Blues blog had a look back at some of the injuries that had plagued him through 2011. Sports Illustrated had more injuries news from 2014. This was before I found out about the Baseball Cube.
J.A. Happ
The Northwestern University website still has some information about his college career. The Philadelphia Inquirer has some information about the injuries that plagued him in the minor leagues. I watched the video for the comebacker that fractured Happ's skull. Beyond the Box Score had information about how Ray Searage worked with him to improve his fastball.
Madison Bumgarner
The Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year profile had pretty much all the information that I needed about his early life and about his career.
Ricky Nolasco
I looked on the Miami Herald Fish Bytes blog for information about the injuries that affected Nolasco. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune had an article that went more into his early life.
Johnny Cueto
The Kansas City Star had an article about Cueto's early life and some of his career ups and downs. An interview with the Mercury News talked about the influence his mother had on him. The Minor League Ball blog had information about his days as a prospect.
Gio Gonzalez
The Washington Times had information about Gio's early life and the impact his parents had on him. I went to the Ringer for some more career summaries.
Rick Porcello
The New Jersey Monthly website has some history about his early life. I looked on the Seton Hall Prep website for some information about the history of their baseball program.
David Price
Yes, I did waste half an hour looking up the Blackman High yearbook on Classmates.com to look for the senior superlatives that David Price got. The Sports Illustrated article "Young Gifted and Black" had some information about his struggles in college. I looked on ESPN for the specifics of Vanderbilt's loss to Michigan.
Ervin Santana
The minor league ball blog had a look back at his early life as a minor leaguer, including his name change.
Adam Wainwright
A lot of the information about his early life came from JockBio. I did look up the LA Times for some information about his reaction to the trade. And then I went back and watched the strikeout of Carlos Beltran to get an idea of the pitches he threw.
Clayton Kershaw
Yes I did copy and paste some of this from Part IV, and so once again I looked back at the Bleacher Report article about his friendship with Matthew Stafford, as it also had the influences his mother had on him. Bleacher Report also had an article about the scouting of Clayton Kershaw. Grantland had information about his development, such as the curveball he threw to Sean Casey and the development of his slider. SportsNet had some additional details as well, including the timing of the meeting about the slide. ESPN had a couple of articles such as the moments that led to his breakout 2011 season and his rediscovery of the change-up. I spent a lot of time looking at his charity work, a and a lot of that stemmed from a USA Today article about his Roberto Clemente Award win.
Cole Hamels
Once again a lot of this was copy and pasted from Part IV, but I found some additional information about his early life from an MLB article and from Medium, the latter of which gave some more details about the arm fracture that affected him in high school. Some more details on the Philadelphia Inquirer provided some details about the fight that broke his hand in the minor leagues as well as some of his other injuries.
Max Scherzer
ESPN had a strong article about Max Scherzer and his brother's suicide, and that included a lot of details about his early life. The Washington Post also had a profile that detailed several stories that surrounded his career and professional development. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch had an article about his brief tenure with the Fort Worth Cats prior to signing with the Diamondbacks. And then Forbes detailed his relationship with Randy Johnson as a rookie.
Felix Hernandez
Information about Felix's early life and his scouting and his idolization of Freddy Garcia came from articles the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as well as Bleacher Report and a Spoirts Illustrated profile. ESPN provided a great article about his pitching career. Some of the stories about his relationship with Adrian Beltre came from some of the various sources over the year, but a lot of what made it in here came from stories told by Emily Jones in her podcast with Levi Weaver "Welcome to the Hit Show." I referred to the video for their final showdown.
Jon Lester
Some of the allusions to Jon Lester's struggles with throwing to first came from a recent article with Sports Illustrated. The Eagle-Tribune had a lot of information about some of his early life including his trip to Fenway Park and his idolization of Randy Johnson. I went to the Boston Globe for details about his diagnosis with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, then went to the Leukemia Foundation and Celegene to job my memory about the treatment of anaplstic large cell lymphoma. I went back to YouTube to look up the video about specifics about the last day of the 2011 season which had a good timeline about the specifics. I went to the Over the Monster blog to look up information about Lester's 2013 struggles.
Zack Greinke
I did refer quite a bit to Greinke's Jock Bio entry because I was getting too damned tired to look up the specifics about his early life. I did end up looking up an Orlando Sentinel article about some of his high school career. Joe Posnanski's Sports Illustrated cover article was a good resource for some of his struggles in 2005.
Justin Verlander
I did refer to Verlander's Jockbio, but I mostly used it for a guide to get other information. I looked up several articles about Verlander's early life including his relationship with his parents, such as Health Journal, the Richmond Times Dispatch, and Richmond Magazine. I found a Yahoo Sports article by Jeff Passan about his early life that was archived by the Communication Workers of America. Verlander has talked about the strep throat that influenced his velocity, but his interview with The Star was a good one. The Minor League Ball blog had a look back at his profile as a prospect. The San Diego Union-Tribune had a good article about what had led the Padres to draft Matt Bush. A Newsday profile had some information about how he was scouted by the Tigers. The Communication Workers of America also had an article about the test contract negotiations. Sports Illustrated had an interview where he talkeda bout the chocolate milk story. A lot of information about the latter part of Verlander's career and Kate Upton's role in it came from the definitive article by Bleacher Report. I did go back to watch the MLB2K12 commercial to write about it. Who would have thought that silly commercial could have such a big role on baseball history. Emily was mentioned in some of the other articles, but the Daily Mail traces back to the genesis of the rumors. The MLB article about Verlander's 2014 struggles was a good complement. There were a couple of articles detailing the trade to the Astros, but the MLB website and Sports Illustrated had the best ones. Ken Rosenthal's recent article on The Athletic was a good one in how Verlander uses data and his working with other pitchers.
CC Sabathia
Once again I looked at the JockBio as a bit of a roadmap. The Sports Illustrated article from the 2009 MLB preview issue had a lot of the information in details. MLB and New York Daily News both had information about his draft. Minor League Ball had a look back at his minor league career including the elbow problems that affected his first full minor league season. MLB also had an article with more details on the death of CC's cousin. Newsday had some information about his 2010 knee surgery and included information about the one from four years earlier. And CC's article with the Player's Tribune was a good look at his struggles with alcohol use disorder.
And with that I think we can consider this celebration of the 10th anniversary of Randy Johnson's 300th win complete!
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