Best Single Season Ever (Statistically) for a Player

[ElCabron]

There's really only room for Ruth and Bonds on this list, but in the 1938 Mexican League, Martin Dihigo led the league in pitching AND hitting. He was 18-2 with a 0.92 ERA and won the batting title with a .387 average.

-Ryan

[Peter_Spaeth]

I wonder if Bill James will come out with a new version of his book, last updated in 2003. It will be interesting to see how high Bonds would now rank (I imagine 2nd) and also ARod.

[JP]

Dihigo wins! Case closed. Thread closed. Thanks for playing everyone!!!

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Ruth 1920 & 21, also Foxx in 1932. You have to throw out the 1930 season because of the ball used that year. By 1932 the ball had been tamed down again. Bonds is no longer in any of my record books, Pujols should have a few more MVPs.

Gibson in 1968 is one of my pitching favorites but you have to remember that the mound that year was higher than ever, corrected the next season. The teams kept raising theirs mounds following suit with the Dodgers who tried to help Koufax and Drysdale since they had very little hitting. I don't think any of those three pitchers needed any extra help though!

[barrysloate]

Given how incredibly dominant Gibson was in 1968, how did he lose nine games?

[Abravefan11]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Given how incredibly dominant Gibson was in 1968, how did he lose nine games?

Gibson gave up 27 total runs in his nine losses.

Run Totals for Gibson's Nine Loses

5-1, 3-2, 1-0, 2-0, 3-1, 6-4, 3-2, 1-0, 3-2

[barrysloate]

Still tough to lose nine times when your era is 1.12.

And I do remember that at one point in the first week of September his ERA was 0.99! A few bad starts near the end of the season brought it up a bit.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Given how incredibly dominant Gibson was in 1968, how did he lose nine games?

Although I asked the same question earlier, the answer is probably a combination of low scoring games and unearned runs.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

Peter you are right, remember Yaz led the AL that season with a .301 average which is probably always going to be the record for lowest to lead a league in the modern era. Also, I agree with Barry, how did Gibson lose ANY games. The St. Louis attack was solid for such a weak season. That is until they ran into Lolich in October!