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

[rats60]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I thought this was the prewar player I was trying to find, but..........


He pitched 3 innings in 1909. My decision to exclude players with insignificant first years was based on not having to determine where to draw the line.

If not Ford, then Vean Gregg. 23-7 1.80 ERA 1.054 WHIP 8.8 WAR 10th in MVP voting. Led league in ERA, ERA+, WHIP and H/9. He had 2 more productive years, but neither as good as his first and then struggled with injuries.

If you are going by WAR it would be Fidrych, but another prewar pitcher would be Irv Young who had 9.3 WAR as a rookie and negative .8 for the rest of his career. His W/L wasn't that great 20-21, but 41 CG, 7 SH, 378 IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.079 WHIP. Led league in WAR for pitchers, IP and CG. 2nd in shutouts, 5th in wins, Ks 6th in WHIP. He was on a really bad team the Braves went 51-103.

[rats60]

Here is the best modern era regular player, Mitchell Page with Oakland in 1977. He hit .307/.405/.521 with an OPS+ 154 WAR 6.1. His career WAR is 8.1. 21 HR 75 RBI 85 runs scored. He saw a significant drop his 2nd year to 2.3 WAR and the stuck around for 6 more years as a replacement level player under 1 WAR. Interesting that future Hofer Eddie Murray beat him out for ROY by 3 votes by hitting 6 more HR and driving in 13 more runs, but with much lower ave, obp, slg and only 3.2 WAR.