Here’s a “Nickname” card for one of the hardest throwers of his time, “Sudden Sam” McDowell:
McDowell was a beast on the mound during his prime, which was sadly shortened because of various issues including injuries.
Three times topping 200 strikeouts, two of those seasons saw him top
300, with a league-leading high of 325 in 1965 when he also led the
American League with a 2.18 earned run average to go along with a 17-11
record.
He’d go on to lead the league in K’s four other times during this run
between 1965 and 1970, along with a 20-win season in 1970 and a career
low 1.81 ERA in the “Year of the Pitcher” 1968.
It’s a shame he only had ten full seasons during his career, seeing as
he ended up with 2453 career strikeouts with a 141-134 record and a nice
3.17 ERA.
Once he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Gaylord Perry after
the 1971 season his career went downhill quickly, barely hanging on the
final four years before retiring after 1975.
Nevertheless between 1964 and 1971 he was a monster on that mound,
striking fear in opposing batters while racking up the K’s and getting
named to six all-star teams.