Today
we move on to the 1976 with my “Awards” sub-set, starting off with the
1975 Cy Young winners, two stalwarts of the era, Tom Seaver and Jim
Palmer:
In the National league, Seaver took home what would be his third and
final Cy, though he got ripped off in 1971 in my eyes, as well as in
1981 while with the Cincinnati Reds.
Anyway, Seaver put in what was a typical Seaver season in 1975, posting a
record of 22-9 with a 2.38 earned run average and 243 strikeouts along
with five shutouts.
The man was a pitching machine! It was the eight of nine straight 200+
strikeouts campaigns for “Tom Terrific”, on his way to a career 3640 K’s
for the future Hall of Famer.
Over in the American League, Palmer had arguably the best season of HIS
Hall of Fame career when he posted a record of 23-11, a career high in
wins, while also posting an earned run average of 2.09 with 10 shutouts,
the only pitcher to post double-digit shutouts in the decade.
He also chipped in 193 strikeouts while completing 25 of 38 starts for
the Orioles, even picking up one of his career four saves as well.
Two Hall of Fame legends in the prime of their career. What luck I got
to see them, as well as guys like Nolan Ryan, Fergie jenkins, Steve
Carlton and Phil Niekro take a Major League mound.
What an era.