On the blog today, we have a 1976 "dedicated rookie"
for former Cy Young winner and Baltimore Orioles ace Mike Flanagan, who
made his MLB debut during the 1975 season:
Flanagan
appeared in two games for the Orioles in 1975 before earning a spot the
following season, which saw him appear in 20 games, half of those out
of the bullpen, with 1977 his first true year as a Big League starter.
That
season saw him go 15-10 over 36 games, 33 of them starts, tossing the
first two shutouts of his career, while completing 15 and throwing 235
innings.
1978 would see him make the A.L. All-Star team,
incredibly the only time that would happen for him, as he would go on to
win 19 games against 15 losses, throwing what would end up being a
career-best 281.1 innings.
In 1979, it would all come together
for the lefty, as he would go on to have his best year as a Major
League pitcher, winning a league-leading 23 games for the American
League champs, going 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA and five shutouts, striking
out 190 batters and completing 16 games.
Those numbers would
also get him a sixth-place finish in the MVP race at season's end,
teaming up with Jim Palmer, Denny Martinez, Scott McGregor and Steve
Stone to give Baltimore one heck of a starting five.
Though
he'd never reach those numbers again, he would end up putting in 18
years in the Big Leagues, winning 167 games against 143 losses, posting a
3.90 ERA over 2770 innings with 19 shutouts and 1491 strikeouts.