Time to add another player to my "missing" 1971 "Baseball's Greatest Moments" set, this time Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants, celebrating his explosive MLB debut when he tossed a one-hitter to announce his arrival:
All
the man did in his Big League debut was one-hit the Philadelphia
Phillies, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning before a two-out
single by Clay Dalrymple broke it up.
He would end up with a one-hit shutout, and give everyone a glimpse at what we were all in store for over the next 16 seasons.
As much as Marichal is celebrated as an all-time pitching legend, you
still have to feel for the guy when you consider the timing of all his
banner years in the big leagues.
In 1963 he has his breakout year, going 25-8 with a 2.41 E.R.A., but takes a back seat to another guy who has a breakout year, Sandy Koufax.
In 1966 he wins 25 games again, but again takes a backseat to a now dominating Koufax, who wins 27 along with a bunch of other eye-popping numbers.
In 1968 he sets a career high of 26 wins to go along with a 2.43 earned run average, but wait, a guy named Bob Gibson has a year for the ages, winning both the Cy Young Award and the M.V.P.
But when you look at the decade as a whole, there wasn't a better pitcher in the game from 1960-1969, as Marichal went on to win 191 games, winning 25 or more wins three times, post seven sub-3.00 E.R.A. seasons, top 200+ strikeouts six times , and get selected as an all-star every year between 1962-1969.
What a BEAST on the mound!
He would go on to collect 243 wins, 2303 strikeouts, 52 shutouts and a
sparkling 2.89 earned run average over 16-seasons, getting named to nine
all-star teams.
Easily would have been the first 3-time Cy Young winner if not for Koufax and Gibson.
In 1963 he has his breakout year, going 25-8 with a 2.41 E.R.A., but takes a back seat to another guy who has a breakout year, Sandy Koufax.
In 1966 he wins 25 games again, but again takes a backseat to a now dominating Koufax, who wins 27 along with a bunch of other eye-popping numbers.
In 1968 he sets a career high of 26 wins to go along with a 2.43 earned run average, but wait, a guy named Bob Gibson has a year for the ages, winning both the Cy Young Award and the M.V.P.
But when you look at the decade as a whole, there wasn't a better pitcher in the game from 1960-1969, as Marichal went on to win 191 games, winning 25 or more wins three times, post seven sub-3.00 E.R.A. seasons, top 200+ strikeouts six times , and get selected as an all-star every year between 1962-1969.
What a BEAST on the mound!