The Most Bad Luck Pitching Seasons In Baseball History

[John1941]

These guys didn't just have bad luck seasons: they had bad luck careers.

In a seven-year-career between 1896 and 1904, Ned Garvine had a 124 ERA+ but a win-loss of 58-97. Highlights were 1900 (10-18, 2.41 ERA, 149 ERA+ for the Cubs), 1901 (8-20, 3.39 ERA, 103 ERA+ for the Milwaukee Brewers), and 1904 (5-16, 1.72 ERA, 159 ERA+ for the Dodgers and Highlanders.)

Eddie Smith, who pitched for the White Sox, Phillies, and Red Sox between 1936 and 1947, had only one winning record in his 10 years in the majors and finished with a career win-loss of 73-113 despite a career ERA+ was 108.

Scott Perry, who pitched for the Athletics in their 1920-era doldrums, was 4-17 with a 95 ERA+ in 1919 and and 11-25 with a 111 ERA+ in 1920. He jumped the Athletics in mid-1921 to pitch semi-pro ball, and who can blame him?

Ned Garver was of course the top pitcher on some bad Browns teams in the early 50s; in 1950 he was 13-18 but led the league with an ERA+ of 146. For his career he had a 129-157 record but a 113 ERA+.

For his career Jose DeLeon had an approximately average 102 ERA+ but a record of 86-119.