What do you think is the greatest year ever by a player way under the radar?

[Tabe]

Zach Greinke's 2015: 19-3, 1.66 ERA. His ERA all year was never over 1.97.

Luis Tiant's 1968: 21-9, 1.60 ERA. 0.871 WHIP, 9 shutouts.

[Robbie]

One I always think of is Steve Carlton's 1972 season.
The team's record was 59-97. He was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA, and struck out 310 batters. I'm stunned every time I think about what he did that year on that team.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Steve Carlton did not exactly fly under the radar though.

[bgar3]

Joe Wood 1912 season
34 and 5, 35 complete games, 10 shutouts, and 3 wins in the World Series. Just for kicks he batted .290

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Steve Carlton did not exactly fly under the radar though.

I agree... maybe "under appreciated" is more appropriate... IMO

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Robbie

One I always think of is Steve Carlton's 1972 season.
The team's record was 59-97. He was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA, and struck out 310 batters. I'm stunned every time I think about what he did that year on that team.

Can you imagine how many losses they would have had without Carlton that year? Maybe 115-120?

[MRSPORTSCARDCOLLECTOR]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Zach Greinke's 2015: 19-3, 1.66 ERA. His ERA all year was never over 1.97.

Luis Tiant's 1968: 21-9, 1.60 ERA. 0.871 WHIP, 9 shutouts.

Still can't believe Looie is not in the Hall of Fame.

[LincolnVT]

2019 Rafael Devers! 😊

[Cliff Bowman]

One has already been mentioned, but I was always amazed as a kid looking at the backs of their baseball cards at the one monster year by these three, Norm Cash in 1961, Tommy Davis in 1962, and Deron Johnson in 1965.

[rats60]

Honus Wagner 1908. 1st in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, hits, TB, 2B, 3B, RBI, SB, 2nd in runs, 1b & HR. He had 11.5 oWAR, Hans Lobert was 2nd place with 6.5. I don't think a player has ever dominated a league like that. He did that in the lowest scoring season of the dead ball era, league ERA 2.35 and the toughest hitting park, 16% below league average. Bill James rates it as the best season ever.

[insidethewrapper]

1959 Roy Face 18-1 pitching record.

[tedzan]

Russ Ford

1910 W-L 26 - 6 (rookie year)

1911 W-L 22 - 11






TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by rats60

Honus Wagner 1908. 1st in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, hits, TB, 2B, 3B, RBI, SB, 2nd in runs, 1b & HR. He had 11.5 oWAR, Hans Lobert was 2nd place with 6.5. I don't think a player has ever dominated a league like that. He did that in the lowest scoring season of the dead ball era, league ERA 2.35 and the toughest hitting park, 16% below league average. Bill James rates it as the best season ever.

Honus Wagner was a player under the radar?

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Honus Wagner was a player under the radar?

His 1908 season was. It is not like almost every other season mentioned isn't well known. The OP picks the all time record for RBIs in a season and the last pitcher to win 30 games and says they are under the radar

[frankbmd]

I hate to throw gasoline on this thread, but all seasons before 1935 flew under the radar which wasn’t invented until then.

So I’ll add Ruth and Cobb and all our other prewar friends including Wahoo, Cy and my namesake, “The Crab”.

[timn1]

I have to agree with this. 1908 was a serious pitcher’s year and Wagner dominated completely. Wagner is known as a great player, sure, but I think he is still underappreciated. in this season he was Babe Ruth and ty Cobb combined. Greatest season of all time, imho.

Sorry guys, but anybody batting.390 in 1929 or 1930 is batting.305 in an average year. Those years were offensive explosions.

Tim

Originally Posted by rats60

His 1908 season was. It is not like almost every other season mentioned isn't well known. The OP picks the all time record for RBIs in a season and the last pitcher to win 30 games and says they are under the radar