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Twenty Game Loser? Hall of Famer - Page 4


© Harold Friend
Page 4

Jul 17, 2005


Phil Niekro was a contemporary of Carlton. Niekro spent most of his career with the Braves. In 1969, the knuckleballing righty was the Braves' top pitcher, winning 23 games, but in 1977 Niekro lost 20 games while winning 16, and in 1979 he again lost 20 games but this time he won 21. Niekro won 318 games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

It is recognized that in the early part of the 20th century, pitchers started many more games than they do in modern times, which resulted in the top pitchers getting many more decisions. Statistics can be misleading and one must be judicious when drawing conclusions. The fact that a pitcher lost 20 games in season does not necessarily mean he was not a good pitcher. Run support, opposing pitchers, and luck are all factors, but it is interesting that so many Hall of Fame pitchers actually lost 20 games in a season.

References:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/will...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/youn...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/john...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wals...

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcgi...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/marq...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/ches...

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rixe...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballl...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/ruff...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lyon...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/robe...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/carl...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/niek...

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
5.   Jul 19, 2005 11:41 AM
In response to Nothing to be ashamed about posted by H2O:

Agree completely but in the playoffs and World Series or even in critical ...

-- posted by LouGehrig
4.   Jul 19, 2005 11:11 AM
It also seems the single season strikeout record is also one batters want to avoid--even though many on the list who once held the record are now in the Hall of Fame.

Another way to look at it is t ...

-- posted by H2O
3.   Jul 19, 2005 8:18 AM
In response to Re: Newsom posted by LouGehrig:

Good story. As the gurus say, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

Hank ...

-- posted by humorous_sage
2.   Jul 18, 2005 8:55 AM
In response to Newsom posted by humorous_sage:

That is a great question. I certainly do not know. I will try to find out, but I DO ...

-- posted by LouGehrig
1.   Jul 18, 2005 8:07 AM
If I remember correctly, Buck Newsom pitched both ends of a double header throwing right handed in one game and left handed in the other. However, it MIGHT have been in the minors at the time pitchin ...

-- posted by humorous_sage



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