Tuesday Trivia: Most shutouts in a single season

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by cgjackson222

Which two pitchers are tied with the most shutouts in a single season?

I'll guess Nichols and Keefe.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I'll guess Nichols and Keefe.

Great guesses, but Nichols' high was 7 and Keefe's was 8.

The two pitchers I am looking for had twice as many as Keefe.

[jingram058]

Without looking I would never have guessed...

[Jim65]

I know 1 is Grover Cleveland Alexander, the other I don't know, I'll guess Walter Johnson

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Jim65

I know 1 is Grover Cleveland Alexander, the other I don't know, I'll guess Walter Johnson

Correct! Grover Cleveland Alexander is one of two players to have 16 shutouts in a season, which he accomplished in 1916.

Walter Johnson was a great guess, and is the only person with more career shutouts (110) than Alexander's 90. Alexander has a pretty big lead over the 3rd place Christy Mathewson's 79 or Cy Young's 76.

But the Big Train's single season high was 11 in 1913.

[jayshum]

Bob Gibson in 1968?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Ed Walsh the year he won 40?

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Bob Gibson in 1968?

Great guess! Bob Gibson had 13 shutouts in 1968, the year before they lowered the mound. He is tied for the 3rd most Jack Coombs who had 13 in 1910.

The only other live-ball era players with double digit shutouts in a single season are Sandy Koufax (11 in 1963), Dean Chance (11 in 1964), Mort Cooper (10 in 1942), Bob Feller (10 in 1946), Bob Lemon (10 in 1948), Jim Palmer (10 in 1965), Juan Marichal (10 in 1975), and John Tudor (10 in 1985).

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ed Walsh the year he won 40?

Good guess. Ed Walsh had 11 in 1908, the year he had 40 wins.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

I thought Alexander was the only one with 16.

Well, when you hear the other guy with 16 shutouts, you might feel like he shouldn't be counted because you have to go WAAAY back.
But it was in the National League, which makes it legitimate to me.