Amazing Pitching Record I stumbled on:

[kairos12]

Last edited Fri Jun 16, 2017, 12:00 PM - Edit history (1)

In today's baseball the complete game is quickly becoming an endangered species. I can only recall watching one this year.

Between 1901 and 1906, Jack Taylor (Cubs and Cards) threw 188 complete games in a row. In August of 1906 his string of 1727 innings without being relieved was broken.

Maybe the most unbreakable of all baseball records.

[BeyondGeography]

1. More recent vintage, take a look at Mickey Lolich's '71 season

25-14 with 376 IP, 29 CG. Averaged almost 8.5 innings per outing for 45 starts.

Didn't even win the Cy Young that year! Came in 2nd to Vida Blue.

[Eyeball_Kid]

2. Both are incredible feats. I'm most impressed with Taylor's.

[BeyondGeography]

3. The contrast with the present is enlightening

For seasons, no one beats Happy Jack Chesbro, 1904: 41-12, 454.4 IP, 48 CG, 1.92 ERA. His arm was never the same.

[longship]

5. That's my Tigers!!

His 68 season, especially his World Series performance was amazing, too, unfortunately eclipsed during the season by Denny McLain's 31 wins. Mickey redeemed himself in the World Series.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Awesome teams

Here's another thing Denny did that year:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/sports/baseball/09mclain.html

Yankee fan here. I used to look at those Tigers teams and wonder how we'd ever win. I was a kid and boy did we stink. What a great era for baseball though.

[longship]

7. Thanks. Did not know about that one.

McLain ended up being a real dirt ball (eventually went to jail) but during the 68 main season he could do little wrong.

[kairos12]

10. I was a Cardinal fan. I watched Gibson fan 17 in Game One

and then the Cards lost the series. I think Lolich was one of the last pitchers to start and win 3 Series games. I think Lolich went on to operate donut shops.

Great baseball history.

[longship]

11. Yup! He ran a doughnut shop north of Detroit for years.

He's Polish, you know. And I hear that he's a real humble nice guy.

I am a huge Lolich fan.

[longship]

8. BTW, Lolich hid his ball grip behind his beer belly.

True!

[BeyondGeography]

9. Love it

That thing was substantial.

I'm amazed McLain is still alive. He probably is, too.

There's a pretty good case for Lolich to be in the Hall, IMO.

[Bleacher Creature]

4. I've always wondered whether elbow problems are a function of modern pitching styles.

Because if not, you either had to have pitchers playing with ligament tears, or fading into oblivion after blowing out their elbow.

And you don't need to go that far back, since Tommy John surgery only started in the late 70s.

That said, 188 straight games is pretty amazing!