The Most Bad Luck Pitching Seasons In Baseball History

[steve B]

For the great pitchers with bad luck seasons, it might be worth looking at who they pitched against. I don't know exactly how it worked back then, but at one point somewhat recently schedules and starts would get moved so the teams number 1 pitcher went against another teams number 1.

That was also likely back then to increase attendance for a poor team.

[Theodderthebetter]

I am sure this will stir up some people but I am going to make the case for Bob Gibson in 1968. He gave up 38 earned runs in 34 statrs and managed to lose 9 games and was on a great team. That has to be bad luck!

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Theodderthebetter

I am sure this will stir up some people but I am going to make the case for Bob Gibson in 1968. He gave up 38 earned runs in 34 statrs and managed to lose 9 games and was on a great team. That has to be bad luck!

Below are the 9 losses for Gibson. 3 were shutout losses and 4 had enough unearned runs without which games would have been tied or the Cardinals ahead so with a little more luck, he could have had only 2 losses.

April 20 - 5-1 loss to Cubs, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 5 runs, 3 earned

May 12 - 3-2 loss to Astros, Gibson pitched 8 innings and gave up 3 runs, 2 earned

May 17 - 1-0 loss to Phillies in 10 innings, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 1 earned run

May 22 - 2-0 loss to Dodgers, Gibson pitched 8 innings and gave up 1 earned run

May 28 - 3-1 loss to Giants, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 3 earned runs

Aug 24 - 6-4 loss to Pirates, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 6 runs, 3 earned

Sept 1 - 3-2 loss to Giants, Gibson pitched 8 innings and gave up 3 runs, 2 earned

Sept 17 - 1-0 loss to Giants, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 1 earned run, a first inning home run to Ron Hunt

Sept 22 - 3-2 loss to Dodgers, Gibson pitched complete game and gave up 3 runs, 2 earned

[dgo71]

Bert Blyleven for essentially the first decade of his career.