Statistically what MLB Pitcher had the best individual season ever? And why?

Question

I have my own idea. Lets see what you people think. Use stats.

Answer 1

Well this depends and since you didn't put any specification on when in baseball you're referring to I'll give you me top three seasons in baseball era

The dead ball era till 1919

Obviously this one goes to Cy Young who in 1901 his first year in Boston he won the pitching triple crown h**l of a stat line

1901 33 wins 10 losses 38 complete games 5 shut outs 371.3 IP  158 strikeouts 1.62 ERA 0.972 WHIP h**l of a season

The Golden era (live ball era)

Now you're talking about a more level playing field for pitchers but I'm gonna go with Nolan Ryan who in 1973 for the then California Angels but one great stat line (little high on losses but he had no offense and look at the complete games he pitched)

1973 21 wins 16 losses 26 complete games 4 shut outs 383 strikeouts 2.87 ERA 1.227 WHIP and he threw 2 no-hitters that year

And for the Steroid Era * (1990 - present)

And for the lovely steroid era of baseball again there are a couple of pitchers here one could choose from but I'm going to go with Randy Johnson who in 2002 while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacs put one tremendous stat line for the era winning the pitching triple crown.

2002 24 wins 5 losses 8 complete games 4 shut outs 334 strikeouts  2.32 ERA 1.031 WHIP and he went on to win his 5th Cy Young award that year

There's a lot of pitchers out there who have great years, Sandy Koufax in 1963, Don Drysdale in 1965, Dwight Gooden in 1985, Pedro Martinez in 2000, John Smoltz in 2002, and a lot of Greg Maddux's years, but the three I mentioned stick out most in my eyes.

Answer 2

In 1913, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators had a record of 36-7 with and earned run average of 1.14.

Answer 3

Great Question!  In the modern era, it's not even close.  In 1968, Bob Gibson pitched 13 shutouts, won 22 games, and had a 1.12 era!  That's not a typo....1.12.   He pitched over 300 innings and had about 250 Ks.  Denny McClain in 1968 was close with his 31-6 record.  Steve Carlton in 1972 had the most heroic season when he won 27 of their 61 games for the Phillies.

Answer 4

There's been some pretty good ones.

1913 - Walter Johnson, 36-7 and a 1.14 ERA

1914 - Dutch Leonard, 19-5 and a 0.96 ERA!

1931 - Lefty Grove, 31-4 and a 2.06 ERA

1978 - Ron Guidry, 25-3 and a 1.74 ERA

1994 - Greg Maddux, 19-2 and a 1.63 ERA.

I'll go with Lefty Grove because he did it against guys like Ruth and Gehrig and he had to pitch against them numerous times because there were only 8 teams back then.

Answer 5

I think Greg Maddux in 1995, he only had 25 starts went 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA. Give that guy 8 more starts hes probaly 23-3. thats DOMINANT!

Answer 6

Here is one that nobody has thown out there - Bob Gibson in 1968.

1.12 ERA - never been touched

He started 34 games and completed 28 of them with 16 shutouts. In the other 6 games he was lifted for a pinch hitter which means that never in 34 games was he knocked out of a game by the opposing hitters. NEVER.

only gave up 198 hits in 308 innings.

He only had a 22-9 record, but his team was shut out several times and he never lost by more than 2 runs.

Answer 7

For starters

Pedro Martinez, 2000, went 18-6, era of 1.74 where the league ERA was 5.07, giving him an ERA + of 291.

In 217 innings, he struck out 284, walking only 32.(9 to 1 K:BB ratio)

His WHIP was .737.

He won the Cy Young and 5th in MVP

In 99, he went 23-4, era of 2.07 (compared to league average of 5.02, ERA+ of 243), In 213 innings, he struck out 313 and walked 37

He won the Cy Young and was 2nd in MVP

1995, Greg Maddux goes 19-2 in a shortened season with a 1.63 era, he strikes out 181 and walks only 23

1968, Bob Gibson goes 22-9 with a modern day record of a 1.12 era.

Even though the league era was only 2.90, this represents a ERA+ of 258.

He pitches 304 innings and K's 268 batters.

He wins both MVP and Cy Young.

From the olden days, Walter Johnson's 1913 season sees him go 36-7 with an era of 1.14 (259 era+), Pitches 346 innings and walks only 38.

He wins an MVP for this.

For closers, Dennis Eckersley 1990 season.  He has an ERA of .61, whip of .61, an ERA+ of 606.  

In 73 innings, he K's 73 and walks 4.

Comes 5th in Cy Young and 6th in MVP.

Answer 8

I think the single greatest pitching performance I have ever seen in one baseball season was Ron Guidry for the Yankees in 1978.

Ron Guidry (1978)

25 - 3

1.74 ERA

Over 200 strikeouts

1978 MVP Finalist

Cy Young Award

World Series Champion

** Here is a tidbit for you baseball fans. The whole tradition of fans standing up and clapping when a pitcher had two strikes on a batter started with Ron Guidry in this very same season when he set a Yankees record for 18 strikeouts in one game against the Angels on June 17, 1978.

On top of that, also consider how many future hall of famers he had to regularly pitch to just in his division alone?

Carlton Fisk

Carl Yasztremski

Jim Rice ( Should be in the hall)

Eddie Murray

Paul Molitor

Robin Yount