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john/z28jd It was lower in difference between them but not percentage wise which is the real indicator when youre dealing with different eras. Mathewson's ERA was less than 75% of the leagues average while Koufax's was over 75% and that includes Mathewson's last 2 1/2 years when he was below league average,he didnt go out on top. If he did the difference would be even greater. I always said Koufax benefits so much from going out on top,if you could switch Doc Goodens career numbers so his last season was first and his first was last he would be in the hall of fame due to the Koufax comparison,now he has no chance.
No one brings up Larry Corcoran but his 1880-84 seasons he went 170-83,pitched on 3 pennant winning teams and threw 3 no-hitters,then he blew out his arm from overwork. His numbers which are great are even skewed by the 1884 season when the White Stockings changed the rules on what consititutes a home run in their home park,the year Ned Williamson hit 27 homers and 3 of his teammates also hit over 20(something that didnt happen once in Cubs history for another 27 years). If he had those mediocre years thrown in so he reached the 10 year minimum it would be hard to keep him out of the hall but he was done after 8 years. No one calls him one of the greatest but its hard to find a much better 5 year stretch