Tom Glavine was among the finest pitchers of his time, compiling a distinguished 20-year, 300-win career likely to be recognized with his enshrinement in the HOF. Among Glavine’s many accomplishments was a season performance which, at the time, had not been achieved in either league in almost 60 seasons. What was this accomplishment?
Clues:
- When Glavine became the ninth pitcher since 1901 to achieve this feat, he was (like most who had done it before him) past age 30
- The eight pitchers preceding Glavine accomplished this feat within a span of just 23 seasons. None of them are in the HOF.
- A tenth pitcher achieved this feat before Glavine retired, becoming the oldest pitcher to do so. Like Glavine, he is probably destined for the HOF.
- Besides Glavine, there is only one other lefthander among these ten pitchers
Congratulations (and welcome back) to Raphy, with an assist from Richard Chester. Raphy identified search criteria satisfying the above clues. The season I had in mind was Glavine’s 2004 campaign with 200+ IP, ERA+ >= 100, zero wild pitches and zero hit batsmen. The list of pitchers to do this since 1901 satisfies the above clues.
