1. Name the last pitcher to throw 10 complete games in a season.
2. Name the last pitcher to throw 15 complete games in a season.
3. Name the last pitcher to throw 20 complete games in a season.
4. Name the last pitcher to throw 25 complete games in a season.
5. Name the last pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season.
6. Name the last pitcher to throw 35 complete games in a season.
(Irv Young was the last to throw 40, with the Boston Braves in 1905. I wouldn’t ask that one).
Answers below:
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P
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L
E
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S
P
A
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E
1. Randy Johnson in 1999
2. Curt Schilling in 1998
3. Fernando Valenzuela in 1986
4. Randy Jones in 1976
5. Catfish Hunter in 1975
6. Bob Feller in 1946
20 – Fernando Valenzuela ?
25 – Rick Langford ?
30 – Gaylord Perry ?
Rick Langford had 28 in 1980, I believe.
10 — Halladay
15 — Gooden
20 — Blyleven
25 — Lankford
30 — Marichal
35 — Spahn
6 — My prediction for the number of my answers that are wrong.
Well, there ya go. 0-6, just as predicted.
Do I get some sort of credit for that?
Seemingly from 1972-1976 American League managers (especially) were nailed to the bench. Catfish Hunter had complete games in 91 of 189 starts, Luis Tiant 97 of 155 and Gaylord Perry had a mind-boggling 132 of 188 during this time. In fact, Perry only had 15 No Decisions during this 5 year run! Those were the most extreme examples but double digit complete games for starters were routine in this time. Can you imagine this now? Guys wouldn’t last 5 starts let alone 5 years.