Dominant Pitching Seasons

SI Staff | Oct 8, 2008

Dominant Pitching Seasons

Sandy Koufax

AP

Winning his second of three Cy Young awards, Koufax threw a perfect game in 1965 while going 26-8 with a 2.04 ERA and an NL-record 382 strikeouts.

Pedro Martinez

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

In 1999, Martínez became just the eighth pitcher with multiple 300-strikeout seasons, finishing with 313 Ks, a 23-4 record and a 2.07 ERA to win his second Cy Young award.

Denny McLain

James Drake, Walter Iooss, Jr./SI

The first pitcher since 1934 to win 30 games in a season, McLain had a 1.96 ERA and won both the AL Cy Young and a World Series ring with the Tigers in 1968.

Greg Maddux

Brad Mangin/SI

In a strike-shortened season, Maddux went 19-2 in 1995 and led the league in WHIP, complete games and shutouts to win the last of his four straight Cy Young awards. His 1.63 ERA made him the first pitcher since World War II with back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 1.80.

Bob Gibson

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Setting a major league record with a 1.12 season ERA, Gibson won the NL CY Young, winning 22 games, 13 of them shutouts.

Dwight Gooden

Ronald C. Modra/SI

Only 20 years old, "Doc" Gooden dominated the National League, going 24-4 with eight shutouts, a 1.54 ERA and 268 strikeouts.

Roger Clemens

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Clemens won the first of back-to-back Cy Youngs with the Blue Jays in 1997, winning the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins (21), ERA (2.05) and strikeouts (292).

Steve Carlton

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The Phillies ace led the league in 1972 with 30 complete games, 310 strikeouts and 27 wins -- nearly half of the team's 59 wins that season.<br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com.