MLB is not that easy - For some players it’s all downhill

[Peter_Spaeth]

If his rookie year was in fact his best, then he fits your question perfectly, although many of his later years may have been very good.

And I quote. Let’s find the player with the best firstnyear (SIC), who never had another year that was better.

I disqualify you as being qualified to disqualify me. LOL.

And I repeat. MVP his rookie year. Never higher than 7th after that.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

If his rookie year was in fact his best, then he fits your question perfectly, although many of his later years may have been very good.

And I quote. Let’s find the player with the best firstnyear (SIC), who never had another year that was better.

I disqualify you as being qualified to disqualify me. LOL.

And I repeat. MVP his rookie year. Never higher than 7th after that.

“Best first year, who never had another year that was better.”

Clearly stated in the OP.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

“Best first year, who never had another year that was better.”

Clearly stated in the OP.

Right. So if 2001 was in fact his best year, and he never had another year that was better, he's a valid answer. And I say it's arguable that if he won the MVP that year and never finished higher than 7th afterwards, it was his best year.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Right. So if 2001 was in fact his best year, and he never had another year that was better, he's a valid answer. And I say it's arguable that if he won the MVP that year and never finished higher than 7th afterwards, it was his best year.

Argue with your mirror. Sayonara.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Argue with your mirror. Sayonara.

It may be more perceptive.

[Fred]

Crap, you took the first player that came to my mind with the bird...

Tony Oliva? He set his season "highs" for most runs, hits, doubles, triples, homeruns, OPS, total bases and slugging percentage in this season.

He won a batting title his rookie year, however he won another batting title 7 seasons later with a BA that a little higher than his rookie year (.337 vs .323).

Bottom line, he put up his best season numbers in his rookie year.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Right. So if 2001 was in fact his best year, and he never had another year that was better, he's a valid answer. And I say it's arguable that if he won the MVP that year and never finished higher than 7th afterwards, it was his best year.

I agree that Ichiro is in play and a viable guess. It must be determined whether 2001 is his best year, or whether 2004 is his best year. I would select 2001 because of the ROY, his MVP, making the playoffs (last time in Seattle), and the atmosphere that surrounded not only him, but Albert Pujols. Both jumped into the spotlight and took off racing.

One must also decide if Japan Professional baseball should count for anything.

[Leon]

So I guess if I threw out here, conversely, that Sandy Koufax's best year was arguably his very last one, I would get harshly criticized and possibly exiled?

Originally Posted by frankbmd

“Best first year, who never had another year that was better.”

Clearly stated in the OP.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Leon

So I guess if I threw out here, conversely, that Sandy Koufax's best year was arguably his very last one, I would get harshly criticized and possibly exiled?

I can’t find the “banned” button.

[egri]

How about Billy Rohr? In his first start, he came a strike away from a no-hitter. He went 1-2 the following year, and was gone from the majors.

[Bigdaddy]

Ok, I'm squeezing Frank's timeline here a bit, but in 1961 Cuno Barragan of the Cubs hit a homerun on the first pitch he saw in the majors. Never hit another one in his career.

So maybe not such a great first year, but a great first pitch. Finished with a career .202 avg (and 1 HR) after starting at 1.000 avg and a 4.000 slugging percentage.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by egri

How about Billy Rohr? In his first start, he came a strike away from a no-hitter. He went 1-2 the following year, and was gone from the majors.

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Ok, I'm squeezing Frank's timeline here a bit, but in 1961 Cuno Barragan of the Cubs hit a homerun on the first pitch he saw in the majors. Never hit another one in his career.

So maybe not such a great first year, but a great first pitch. Finished with a career .202 avg (and 1 HR) after starting at 1.000 avg and a 4.000 slugging percentage.

I have checked and neither Billy or Cuno ever received any Hall of Fame votes for their first game accomplishments.

Of note Billy in his first year with Boston followed his one hitter with another complete game win before finishing the year 2-3. But in his second and final year in the bigs with Cleveland he was undefeated posting a 1-0 record.

Cuno in his third and final year played three innings and struck out in his only AB.
Despite his auspicious start, he was a bit of a hot potato, initially affiliated with the Cubs, then the Braves, then the Dodgers, then the Braves and back to the Cubs, who finally sent him to the Dodgers (bypassing the Braves this time around.

Both are good candidates for the thread, but the length of career takes precedence over a precipitous decline in productivity.