One hit wonders/Freak years

[D. Bergin]

Kevin Mitchell 1987

Like Norm Cash, he had other pretty good seasons, but this one really stood out.

Led the league in HR's, RBI's, Slugging, OPS, OPS+ and Total Bases on the way to an almost unanimous MVP Award.

Only season he ever led the league in anything and he compiled more Black Ink in that season, then many HOF'ers have in their entire careers.

[packs]

Lesser extent but Aaron Small won all of 25 games in his entire career but in 2005 at age 33 he went 10-0 for the Yankees and pitched his only complete game and shutout of his career.

He never won another game.

[D. Bergin]

1961 was a good year for these types of seasons.

Jim Gentile had an identical WAR (more then double his 2nd best season) to Roger Maris, led the league in RBI's (tied with Maris), and had a much higher OBP and higher Slugging% and OPS+ then Maris.

[Cliff Bowman]

It will be difficult to top Kyle Wright, 21-5 in 2022, 3-11 otherwise.

[rats60]

Irv "Young Cy" Young won 20 games as a rookie for a team that only won 51 games and led NL pitchers with 9.9 Pitching WAR. He pitched 5 more seasons and he had an ERA+ below 100 all 5 finishing with a career ERA+ of 88 and 11.6 WAR.

In 1914 Bill James went 26-7 with a 1.90 ERA, ERA+ 150, finished 3rd in MVP voting as he helped the Braves win a World Championship and accumulated 7.9 WAR. He pitched 3 other seasons and went 11-14 and accumulated 0.4 WAR.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Not the same thing but it always freaked me out that Yaz 3 seasons of 40 or more home runs, but none between 30 and 40, and actually only one season between 23 and 40.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Dick Hughes. 16 game winner in 1966, won 4 games otherwise. Ron Bryant won 24 in 1973 and a total of 3 after that.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by rats60

Irv "Young Cy" Young won 20 games as a rookie for a team that only won 51 games and led NL pitchers with 9.9 Pitching WAR. He pitched 5 more seasons and he had an ERA+ below 100 all 5 finishing with a career ERA+ of 88 and 11.6 WAR.

In 1914 Bill James went 26-7 with a 1.90 ERA, ERA+ 150, finished 3rd in MVP voting as he helped the Braves win a World Championship and accumulated 7.9 WAR. He pitched 3 other seasons and went 11-14 and accumulated 0.4 WAR.

Irv Young screwed up the E98 & E97 sets forever when they called him Cy Young.

[KJA]

Danny Jackson in 1988

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

1961 was a good year for these types of seasons.



Jim Gentile had an identical WAR (more then double his 2nd best season) to Roger Maris, led the league in RBI's (tied with Maris), and had a much higher OBP and higher Slugging% and OPS+ then Maris.

1961 Yankees had John Blanchard and Luis Arroyo. Blanchard, a backup catcher, hit .305 with 21 HRs. Arroyo was 15-5 with 29 saves and a 2.19 ERA. Neither player had another year close to those numbers.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[John1941]

Harry Krause was 18-8 with a league-leading 1.39 ERA for the A's in 1909 as a 20-year-old rookie. He had arm trouble after that and won only 18 more games in the majors, but had a long successful career in the PCL.

Every thread needs a card: