Not your typical 83-79 team -- trivia
 

FIVE pitchers who would end up with 200 or more wins.
Two hitters who would end up with 500 or more HR, and another more than 450, and yet another more than 300.
Three other hitters (different from the above) who would end up with more than 2500 hits.


Name the team and the players and no cheating. Clue not all the players were on the team for the full season.

I was wrong I was thinking the odd dud Orioles team of 1972, but Frank Robinson was already gone, and they actually missed a number of the benchmarks.

To me, the number of players with these ultimate career stats on one team is astonishing, and it's both pitching and hitting.

I agree, I was figuring with the 4 man 20 win rotation thye might have each made 200 and maybe someone was hanging on at the end of their career with 200 wins. Then, though the era's didn't jibe right, I was thinking Reggie in his one year with the Orioles (though I realized that was later after I thought about it) and Frank Robinson gave me 2 500 HR guys and Boog and Brooks didn't quite get me to 450 and 300 but I was clutching at straws. Stopped thinking at that point.

I need another hint.

I spent about an hour going through Baseball Reference team by team and looking at season records.

If a team went 83-79 I looked at their roster.

Did this for about half the teams until I gave up.

None were close.

At least two of the batters later spent significant time on the Orioles.

That was enough of a hint. Never woulda come up with that in a million years.

Unless I'm missing a 500 HR hitter, this answer is wrong, but the 1990 Texas Rangers came damn close.

1989 Rangers
Sosa 500 HR
Palmeiro 500 HR
Juan Gonzalez 450 HR
Sierra 300 HR
Buddy Bell 2500 H
Julio Franco 2500 H
Harold Baines 2500 H

Nolan Ryan, Charlie Hough, Kenny Rogers, Jamie Moyer, Kevin Brown 200 W

Sosa! I had everyone else

Minor correction, Juan Gonz actually only had 434 HR, hope that didn't throw anyone.

D’oh. Only about a dozen guys had between 450 and 499 HR, so I focused on that list.

Well you threw me.

Has the 1990 Donruss Juan Gonzalez Error card reached its peak value yet?

I saw him very early in his career in a day game at Fenway. Had never heard of him, he hit two lasers over the wall.

Great question. I zeroed in on the steroid era sluggers who bounced around (Thome, Sheffield, ARod, Manny, etc.). Finally thought about late '80's-early '90's Rangers. Forgot about Moyer being there and didn't think Kevin Brown got to 200 wins. Also I assumed Ruben Sierra met one of the criteria. Didn't remember Buddy Bell was still around then. That was fun. I enjoyed racking my brain. Thanks again.

Just noticed Baines had 384 HR's. Still doesn't belong in the HOF though.

Less challenging sequel which I've done before. This team had four pitchers who ALREADY had 200 or more wins (I think 2 over 250), plus a pitcher who never got to 200 but who was the ace of the staff.

1954 Cleveland Indians?

No. Good answer but Lemon wasn't there yet. And no fifth pitcher as ace.

wasn't Score a rookie in 55 or 56 and they added Newhouser as a reliever? SO you had Feller, Lemon, Wynn, Garcia, Score and Newhouser

Lemon didn't win 200 until 1957 I don't think? If it was 1956 it still doesn't work because Newhouser was gone. Garcia didn't win 200.

Lemon won his 200th in 1956, but Newhouser being gone screws it up. Can I add Sal Maglie and Don Mossi together?

No but you can try another team.

Again, I get close, but seem to come up short. The best I can find is the 1988 Twins had Niekro, Carlton, Blyleven, and staff ace Frank Viola.

It's hard because not all the pitchers pitched for the team for the entire season.

Was it the '79 Yankees with Catfish Hunter, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, and Luis Tiant, and then Ron Guidry as the staff ace?

And then oddly enough, didn't they actually repeat the feat and do it again in 1980 by replacing Catfish Hunter with Gaylord Perry?

The Yankees of the early-mid 80s. Too lazy to research but at various times they had Jim Kaat, Phil Niekro, Gaylord Perry, Tommy John, Luis Tiant and Rick Reuschel.

John didn't hit 200 wins until 1980 so I think that's your answer

1980 Yankees: John, Kaat, G Perry, and Tiant, with Guidry the best pitcher although John had a slightly better year. Catfish was gone as of 1979. Of course they also had Gossage.

Yup, he din't hit 200 wins till 1980. So it is just 1980.

Interestingly, all three pitchers not in the Hall are typically in the discussion of who should be. Not true of any of the 4 Rangers 200 game winners.