Bob Feller Career

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by G1911

Similar type pitchers. Ryan's ERA is terrible for somebody in talks about the greats, but 5,300 innings is a lot to be 12% over the league over. A pitchers primary job is to not give up runs, not to get flashy K's. If you get a good highlight reel and walk runs in, it doesn't help your team anymore.

Feller was really only bad in 2 seasons, 1952 (after which he regained form and was an aid to his club) and his final season like most players. Pujols was a detriment to his team for like 7 years. Feller is great until he's 29, then he's good until he's done at 37. Pretty normal trajectory, but he gets a higher rating because he started and was good at such an unusually young age.

I would have though most pitchers in the top 20-30 or so of all time were great quite a few years longer than age 29? Seems early to go from great to good/OK.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I would have though most pitchers in the top 20-30 or so of all time were great quite a few years longer than age 29? Seems early to go from great to good/OK.

28-32 is when males typically start to leave physical peak. Tons of pitchers fall in this age range, it's pretty normal. It's abnormal for the exceptional, for the top 20, because they are exceptional. Feller makes it into that category because he was great starting at a far younger age than normal, and so ends up similarly.

[G1911]

My favorite Feller is also the '53:

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I would have though most pitchers in the top 20-30 or so of all time were great quite a few years longer than age 29? Seems early to go from great to good/OK.

How many of those great pitchers started pitching full-time in the majors at the age of 17? Hmmmm, 17 to 29 is 13 seasons. I bet a lot of pitchers would be thrilled to be that good for that long. Look at Koufax, he was only great for less than half that time, yet many people consider him up there with the best of all time.

Bob Feller is tied for 46th all-time in career WAR for pitchers with Amos Rusie. Give him the years he missed, and he starts getting close to the top 10.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobC

How many of those great pitchers started pitching full-time in the majors at the age of 17? Hmmmm, 17 to 29 is 13 seasons. I bet a lot of pitchers would be thrilled to be that good for that long. Look at Koufax, he was only great for less than half that time, yet many people consider him up there with the best of all time.

Bob Feller is tied for 46th all-time in career WAR for pitchers with Amos Rusie. Give him the years he missed, and he starts getting close to the top 10.

He is 34th in WAR7 so a significant step up from WAR ranking. I thought it would be even better given his incredible start, but maybe he isn't getting credit for his best 7 season stretch because the war intervened after only 6. Certainly an interesting career from several viewpoints.