Tuesday Twice

Peter,

Which Hall of Famer pitcher led the National League in strikeouts for seven straight seasons, five of those also leading the majors?

Hint: #1 His nickname “Dead Shot”, although it easily could have been, was not about his pitching accuracy.

Hint: #2 His ERA title one season was so dominant that it eclipsed the number of the second-place finisher by more than a run and a quarter.

Tuesday’s question answered:

Q. Who led his league ineluctably toward the Year of the Pitcher by leading his league with a 2.18 ERA?

Hint: #1 That same season, he also led in WAR, strikeouts and ERA+ & made the All-Star team (Striking out Pete Rose & Frank Robinson and inducing Joe Torre to hit into an inning ending double-play) yet only finished seventeenth (17th!) in Most Valuable Player voting, including finishing behind four other pitchers.

Hint: #2 He was the subject of one of the most famous trades of his era.

A. SAM McDOWELL  [SABR Bio]

– Ans. McDowell’s 2.176 was in 1965, and, as omen of things to come, the “Year of the Pitcher” recognized as 1968. Three pitchers in the NL posted even lower ERAs that season. Sandy Koufax 2.038, Juan Marichal 2.133, Vern Law 2.153.

– #1 The 1965 AL MVP voting. Alas, he was also listed as the 1965 ASG’s losing pitcher. McDowell’s league-leading numbers were WAR 8.3, 325 K & an ERA+ of 161.

– #2 In November 1971, he was traded to the Giants in exchange for future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry & Frank Duffy.

FCR – Howard Johnson, Norman, Oklahoma

~ D. Bruce Brown

Horsehide Trivia | 8830 Sandrope Court  | Columbia, MD 21046 US

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