[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Ah, Wilbur Wood. He had some monster seasons as both a Reliever and a Starter. His run from '68 to '74 is pretty fascinating.

Fascinating indeed!

Originally Posted by Wikipeda

Wilbur Wood, who had previously relied on a fastball and curveball, refined the knuckleball (My Note: playing for the Columbus Jets of the International League in 1966) with the help of veteran knuckleball specialist Hoyt Wilhelm. He spent the next four seasons as a relief pitcher for Chicago. In 1968, he set a record (broken the next year) with 88 games pitched and was named the Sporting News American League Fireman of the Year.

The White Sox tried to trade Wood before the 1971 season, but an injury to starting pitcher Joe Horlen caused them to put him in the starting rotation. That season, pitching coach Johnny Sain suggested that Wood pitch with only two days' rest between starts, since knuckleball specialists do not put as much stress on their arms as other pitchers. Wood proceeded to lead the AL in games started from 1972 through 1975, starting a career-high 49 games in 1972 (My note: with an ERA of 2.51). That season, he also recorded a career-high 376 2⁄3 innings pitched (My note: more than 7 2/3 innings per start!). He won 20 or more games for four consecutive seasons, leading the AL in 1972 and 1973 with 24 wins. In 1973, Wood also matched the 1916 record of Walter Johnson of a pitcher to win and lose 20 or more games in a season. Wood was an All-Star in 1971, 1972, and 1974.

Perhaps Wilbur Wood's best season though was 1971 when he pitched 334 innings in 44 appearances including 42 starts and 22 complete games in those starts. And he posted a stellar ERA of only 1.91 while pitching all those innings!

I mean "Wow!"