04-07-2024, 08:27 AM
(04-06-2024, 01:58 PM)BobK Wrote: Or Juan Marichal
It was Marichal, who won more games in the 1960s (191) than Gibson (164), Drysdale (158), Bunning (150), Kaat (142), Larry Jackson (141 for the Cardinals) or Koufax (137).
It's a bit of an unfair question. Until 1966, there was only one Cy Young winner in the majors, and until 1970 sportswriters only had a single first place vote. Marichal had great years from 1963 to 1966 (most wins in 1963, highest WAR 1965, best winning % in 1966), but Koufax won three of the four and Dean Chance won the other. Marichal had great seasons in 1968 (most wins) and 1969 (lowest ERA, 21 wins) but Gibson had his amazing year in 1968 (1.12 ERA...and how did he lose 9 games that year?) and in 1969 Tom Seaver led the league in wins (25) and the Mets won the pennant. So when MLB finally expanded the Cy Young vote to include 2nd and 3rd place votes, Marichal had his last good season (18-11) when Jenkins finished 24-13 (winner) and Seaver finished 2nd (10.2 WAR leader). Marichal finished 8th, tied with Bill Stoneman of the Expos who gave up 146 walks.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
