What do you think is the greatest year ever by a player way under the radar?

[Peter_Spaeth]

For a decent player, Norm Cash's 1961 was absurd.

[kdixon]

Lefty O’doul 1929 batted .398 with 254 hits 152 runs 35 doubles 32 homers with 122 rbi and .465 OBP and gets no attention .

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For a decent player, Norm Cash's 1961 was absurd.

Yeah league went crazy that year with career years for decent players. Maris, Cash, Colavito, Jim Gentile

Fun fact Bobby Richardson finished 24th in MVP voting in 1961 with a -0.7 WAR wonder how many negative WAR's have gotten MVP votes!

[Tabe]

Steve Stone's 25-7, 3.23 Cy Young year in 1980.

Bob Welch's 27-6, 2.95 Cy Young year in 1990.

[Tabe]

Zach Greinke's 2015: 19-3, 1.66 ERA. His ERA all year was never over 1.97.

Luis Tiant's 1968: 21-9, 1.60 ERA. 0.871 WHIP, 9 shutouts.

[Robbie]

One I always think of is Steve Carlton's 1972 season.
The team's record was 59-97. He was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA, and struck out 310 batters. I'm stunned every time I think about what he did that year on that team.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Steve Carlton did not exactly fly under the radar though.

[bgar3]

Joe Wood 1912 season
34 and 5, 35 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 3 wins in the World Series. Just for kicks he batted .290

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Steve Carlton did not exactly fly under the radar though.

I agree... maybe "under appreciated" is more appropriate... IMO

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Robbie

One I always think of is Steve Carlton's 1972 season.
The team's record was 59-97. He was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA, and struck out 310 batters. I'm stunned every time I think about what he did that year on that team.

Can you imagine how many losses they would have had without Carlton that year? Maybe 115-120?

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Zach Greinke's 2015: 19-3, 1.66 ERA. His ERA all year was never over 1.97.

Luis Tiant's 1968: 21-9, 1.60 ERA. 0.871 WHIP, 9 shutouts.

Still can't believe Looie is not in the Hall of Fame.

[LincolnVT]

2019 Rafael Devers! 😊

[Cliff Bowman]

One has already been mentioned, but I was always amazed as a kid looking at the backs of their baseball cards at the one monster year by these three, Norm Cash in 1961, Tommy Davis in 1962, and Deron Johnson in 1965.

[rats60]

Honus Wagner 1908. 1st in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, hits, TB, 2B, 3B, RBI, SB, 2nd in runs, 1b & HR. He had 11.5 oWAR, Hans Lobert was 2nd place with 6.5. I don't think a player has ever dominated a league like that. He did that in the lowest scoring season of the dead ball era, league ERA 2.35 and the toughest hitting park, 16% below league average. Bill James rates it as the best season ever.

[howard38]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Steve Stone's 25-7, 3.23 Cy Young year in 1980.

Bob Welch's 27-6, 2.95 Cy Young year in 1990.

Given that Stone won the Cy Young award in 1980 I'd say that the actual best pitcher in the league that year, Mike Norris, was even further under the radar.

[Throttlesteer]

Harry Heilmann's 1923 season. There were a few others that came close, but this one stands out.

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Yaz 1967 WAR= 12.5

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR

Yaz 1967 WAR= 12.5

Yaz ain't exactly flying under the radar either

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by howard38

Given that Stone won the Cy Young award in 1980 I'd say that the actual best pitcher in the league that year, Mike Norris, was even further under the radar.

Good point.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For a decent player, Norm Cash's 1961 was absurd.

I would vote with Peter on this one. His performance in the '61 season was well above any of his other seasons....something like 80 bps for BA. I wonder what he did that year to give rise to the increased performance? He would have been 27 and in the prime of his like......such a huge increase in BA for 1 year is just odd.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

I would vote with Peter on this one. His performance in the '61 season was well above any of his other seasons....something like 80 bps for BA. I wonder what he did that year to give rise to the increased performance? He would have been 27 and in the prime of his like......such a huge increase in BA for 1 year is just odd.

He corked his bat.

He later did a story for Sports Illustrated where he documented the exact technique he used.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Tabe

He corked his bat.

He later did a story for Sports Illustrated where he documented the exact technique he used.

He once went to the plate without a bat. LOL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEboSkPUgUo