More Tuesday Trivia: LHP best seasons by WAR

[judsonhamlin]

With this clue, I think Toad Ramsey from Louisville had one really good season.

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Both correct!

Waddell's 1904 season is tied for #6 on the list.

Matt Kilroy's 1887 season is #9 all-time.

We're now missing only #1, #2, #5 and #10.

Another hint: Two of the remaining players appear in the Old Judge (N172) set.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

With this clue, I think Toad Ramsey from Louisville had one really good season.

Yes!

Ramsey's 1886 season is #2 on the list. He pitched 66 complete games that year (tied with Matt Kilroy for most all-time in a season by a lefty) and had a 2.45 ERA.

We're now missing only #1, #5 and #10.

[Econteachert205]

Bobby schantz?

[Touch'EmAll]

Ruth had a couple top notch seasons with Boston.

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Bobby schantz?

The remaining 20th Century left-handed pitcher is in the Hall Of Fame.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Bobby schantz?

It is not Shantz.

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

Ruth had a couple top notch seasons with Boston.

Ruth would make the list if using overall WAR (including batting) but this one uses the pitching-only version, so Ruth doesn't make the cut.

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

The remaining 20th Century left-handed pitcher is in the Hall Of Fame.

The HOFer that took awhile to guess was Waddell - the remaining pitchers are non-HOFers.

So, we're still looking for the #1, #5, and #10 seasons.

A couple more hints:

-Seasons #1 and #10 were accomplished by the same pitcher in consecutive seasons for an American Association team.

-#5 was accomplished later when there was only one major league, prior to the formation of the American League. It happened in a year when offense went way up due to a change in pitching distance.

[clydepepper]

I'm ashamed that I don't have any idea who they are...as an ole' portsider my own self - I have always had a fascination with LHPs, but, I've gotten rusty...had forgotten Toad Ramsey altogether.

Lee Richmond, author of the very first Perfecto- he, I remember.

Seems like Ted Brittlestein (and I'm sure that's spelled incorrectly) had a big year way back...



anxious to see the answer.

My sole source for such information is BBR, and I just 'cheated' and could not find BRef WAR listed...you have my permission to call me stupid.
.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

I'm ashamed that I don't have any idea who they are...as an ole' portsider my own self - I have always had a fascination with LHPs, but, I've gotten rusty...had forgotten Toad Ramsey altogether.

Lee Richmond, author of the very first Perfecto- he, I remember.

Seems like Ted Brittlestein (and I'm sure that's spelled incorrectly) had a big year way back...
.

Lee Richmond had one incredible season in 1880 but it's further down the list.

Your second guess is close enough that the judges will give to you: Ted Breitenstein's 1893 season with the St. Louis Browns is #5 on the list. League-wide ERA was 4.66 that year but Breitenstein put a 3.18 over nearly 400 innings.

He didn't make it into the Mayo Cut Plug 1895 set and he was too late for the Old Judge set. I'm not even sure there are any cards of him - anybody seen one?

This leaves just one more name, who has #1 and #10 on the list...