On the blog this Sunday, we move on to the top three pitchers in the National League in Earned Run Average for 1974 in my on-going "expanded league leaders" thread:
Leading off,
coming out of nowhere was Atlanta Braves pitcher Buzz Capra, a New York
Mets cast-ff, who had the season of his career in 1974 when he led the
league with a sparkling 2.28 ERA, completing eleven of his 27 starts
while tossing five shutouts.
Those five shutouts would end up
being the only ones of his seven-year Big League career, while the 16
wins represented just over half of his 31 wins.
He'd struggle
with injuries after his banner year, and would play parts of the next
three seasons before calling it a career at the end of 1977, still only
29 years of age.
Right behind Capra with a very nice 2.38 ERA
is teammate Phil Niekro, who also led the league with his 20 wins in
1974, throwing six shutouts while completing 18 games in his 39 starts.
It was the second 20-win season of the Hall of Famer's career, and the fifth season of sub-3.00 ERA to that point.
Incredible
to think that although already 35 years of age in 1974, he STILL had 13
years to go in his career, eventually finishing up with 318 wins by the
time he retired after the 1987 season.
In third place with a
2.41 ERA is New York Mets pitcher Jon Matlack, who was the league leader
with his seven shutouts in 1974 on his way to an unfortunate record of
13-15, completing 14 of 34 starts while striking out 195, making his
first All-Star team.
There you have it! The top three ERA men of the Senior Circuit for 1974, as we move along next week for the American League.