Time
to add to my on-going “Minor League Days” thread, celebrating the stars
of 1971 by showing them back when they were still in the Minors.
Today we add the great Juan Marichal to the set:
Marichal was a 22-year-old about to embark on a Hall of Fame career in
1960, playing for the Tacoma Giants before making his Major League debut
later in the season.
During his time with the team he posted a record of 11-5 with a 3.11
earned run average, completing 12 of his 18 starts while tossing three
shutouts.
Once called up to the big show he would go 6-2 over 11 starts, with a
2.66 ERA and six complete games, including a shutout in his 1st MLB
start.
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!
Easily would have been the first 3-time Cy Young winner if not for Koufax and Gibson.
Ah well, I’m sure his spot in Cooperstown makes it a bit easier to take.
