Show Us Your Perfect "9"

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Posted By: bruce Dorskind

Only nine pitchers in the history of MLB have pitched 10 or more seasons without
ever experiencing a losing season.

Whilst we do not have representative examples of any of these pitchers' rookie
or key baseball cards in our collection, it would be fun to view each of them.

Spud Chander appears the least often as the 1940 Playball set is the only standard
issue which sports his card. The other issues are Cuban cards and Exhibits.


The ranking of the "Perfect 9" (in terms of number of seasons) is:

Deacon Phillippe 1899-1911
Urban Shocker 1916-1928
Dizzy Dean 1930. 1932-41. 1037
Andy Pettitte 1995-2006 ONLY ACTIVE PITCHER ON THE LIST
David Foutz 1884-1894
Spud Chandler 1937-1947
Jay Powell 1995-2005
Joe McGinnity 1899-2008
Babe Ruth 1914-21, 1930, 1933


Quite a group, indeed.


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

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Posted By: bruce Dorskind

We just happened to check the PSA Population Report.

There are only 11 cards of the 1940 Spud Chandler which have ever been
graded and only 1 PSA 7 and 1 PSA 8.

Does anyone know why this card is so very, very scarce?


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

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Posted By: barrysloate

The paper used for 1940 Play Balls appears to be soft, so finding a 9 would be very difficult. There are a number of sets where low quality paper was used.

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Posted By: Justin

I think putting Babe Ruth on that list is reaching, becuase he was only a full time pitcher for about 4-5 seasons. The rest were sporadic appearances. But otherwise that's a pretty interesting fact, and kind of surprising, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense.

Also Jay Powell? Weird

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Posted By: Patrick McHugh

That is amazing.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I saw the same list and it only pertained to players who never had a losing season. The ones you cited did, early in their careers.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

Here is what you missed so far: I assume if a player has a 5-5 season it is not considered losing.

Addie Joss

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Posted By: dennis

interesting, but one of those stats that is basicaly useless,luck or good teams play a large part in their success, not sheer talant.for a list of the real guys over 500 for 10 years or more,but not for entire career... here you go
1. grover cleveland alexander 19 years his 1st year he was 0-3
2.greg maddux 14
3.ford 14
4.matty 12
5.marichal 12
5.clemens 12 & 10 only guy to do it 2x
6.hubbell 12
7. feller 11
8.walter johnson 10
8.r. johnson 10
8. sutton 10

i'm sure i missed some

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

For the first 21 years Pete Alexander never had a losing season. In his last season in a part time role he was a loser.

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Besides his 1940 Play Ball card, he can be found on a 1940's exhibit card. However, his card is extremely tough to find.
Chandler's 1940 PB card is the 1st card on the Hi# sheet....therefore, making it a tougher card than others in this set.

Here's a nice picture of him from the 1947 Yankee Stadium photo pack....

TED Z

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Posted By: bruce Dorskind

Whilst Joss never had a losing season, and he was, 5-5 in his final year,
he was not on our list for a very good reason.

He only pitched in the Major Leagues for 9 years. Our list was limited
to players who pitched at least one game in a season in 10 or more
years and never had a losing season.

Certainly a few of the names on the list "were more lucky than great"
but as Vince famously stated

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets ability.

Some of the greats mentioned by other Board members had a string
of losing seasons towards the end of their career. Juan Marchiel
for example had three losing seasons in his last four years in the Big Leagues.

Thanks Ted for the insight on the rare Spud Chandler 1940 Play Ball. We have
never seen a high grade example at a show, at a major auction or on E-Bay.
Your input was quite helpful.


Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock