MLB History

There were 69 starting pitchers from the 1960s who pitched in at least 200 games.

If a player does not appear on the list of the 69 eligible players list, then they either didn’t reach 200 games or I consider them a pitcher from the 1950s or the 1970s.

The 2000s, at least first half of them, were a good decade for the Atlanta Braves.

With superstars plentiful throughout, making this list was difficult.

But, I was finally able to assemble a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, short stop, third baseman, three outfielders, five starters, a reliever, and a closer (with the year that each had their immaculate performance).

With eight players coming from just two seasons, it may look like I became lazy while making this.

But, I assure you, this article took a lot of time and I feel that these fifteen players had the best indiviual seasons

The San Francisco Giants have had one of the strongest traditions of pitching in all of baseball throughout their franchise history. They have had countless Hall of Famers, league leaders and two Cy Young award winners.
When they were the New York Giants, they boasted such names as Carl Hubbell, Christy Mathewson, Red Ames, Joe McGinnity, and Rube Marquard. Since the Giants relocated to San Francisco in 1958, Juan Marichal, Vida Blue, Gaylord Perry, Rod Beck, and Mike Krukow have all taken the mound.

During my childhood, when I was first learning about baseball, I can remember asking my father, “Who is a good pitcher?”  We lived near Washington D.C., and the hapless Senators offered little to root for, but my father answered, "Now Camilo Pascual, he’s a good pitcher.  But it’s hard on him, because Washington is never very good.”  I can vaguely remember him saying something about Pascual keeping a good ERA and pitching many good games, even though it was hard to win.

Malcolm Schwartz and his friend, David Broman , lived in Flushing, Queens during the 1950s. Each attended his first baseball game on May 12, 1956.

Mal's father, who was born in Brooklyn, took him to Ebbets Field to see the Dodgers play the Giants. David's father was born in the Bronx, and they went to Yankee Stadium to see the Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles.

May 12 was quite a day for someone to attend his first baseball game, as Malcolm Schwartz, who hated the Yankees, discovered.

Baseball to those who love the game is the purest of all sport.

A game of imperfection, where greatness is judged by obtaining three hits for every ten at bats.

But for those who follow every moment, every inning, of every game, because we never know when greatness will strike.

Not in just in terms of overall plays in this forum, but some of the players, a few with such limited overall skills, have moved on to other teams, not because of free agency's big dollars, but players seeking a job.

DeWayne Wise, shown above, and Eric Brunlett.

They call him ‘The Hawk”; a name fitting for one of the most tenacious, ball hunting outfielders in MLB history.

He was better known as Andre Dawson.

For nine years—what has probably been an eternity for Dawson—the eight time Gold Glove Award winner has patiently waited for that one phone call that ever HOF nominee yearns to hear, and for nine long years, that call has perpetually remained silent.

The new year is looming around the corner, and with 2010 comes the knowledge that Spring Training will begin in just a couple short months.

If you were looking to pick your greatest ever Philadelphia Phillies lineup based on single-season offensive performances, where would you start?

Do Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Chase Utley deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Von Hayes, Juan Samuel, and Larry Bowa?

Is Chuck Klein the greatest outfielder ever? Is the past worth more the present? Is power more important than speed?

It all points to one all-encompassing question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Phillie had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Ed Rand has rooted against the Yankees all his life.

He recently became ecstatic, or least extremely pleased, when he read an article in an old baseball magazine about how Bob Cerv was sent to Kansas City and how the Yankees' reject almost won the 1958 American League Triple Crown.