EXPANDED LEAGUE LEADERS: 1975 N.L. E.R.A.

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.

MISSING IN ACTION- 1974 BUZZ CAPRA

Though he would go on to have his finest season in a Major League uniform in 1974 as a member of the Atlanta Braves, I am posting a “missing” card for Buzz Capra for that year as a New York Met, for whom he suited up the previous season:

Capra was purchased by the Braves from the Mets in March of 1974, so I don’t think Topps would have had him on his upcoming team in time for printing.
Capra appeared in 24 games for the “Ya Gotta Believe” Mets of 1973, all out of the bullpen, as he posted a 2-7 record with a 3.86 earned run average.
But once in Atlanta in 1974 he was in a groove, as he went on to lead the National League in ERA with a sparkling 2.28 along with a 16-8 record over 39 games, 27 of which were starts.

MISSING IN ACTION-1973 BUZZ CAPRA

Here's another one of those "I found a nice photo and I'm gonna use it" deals: a 1973 "missing" Buzz Capra card.

Take a look:

Admittedly I can understand why Topps didn't have a card for Capra in their 1973 set, as "Buzz" only appeared in 14 games for the Mets, good for a 3-2 record with a 4.58 E.R.A. over 53 innings of work in 1972.

However there ARE guys who played less in '72 that were included in the '73 set, so what the heck, why not?

Besides, Capra is one of those interesting guys from the decade that had this ONE very good year, and that's it.

In 1974 Capra came out of nowhere and posted a 16-8 record with five shutouts and a league-leading 2.28 earned run average for the Atlanta Braves.

Those numbers got him some attention, as he finished ninth in Cy Young voting as well as 20th in M.V.P.

Sadly for him (and Atlanta), arm troubles derailed his career and he only played parts of the next two seasons before one last hurrah in 1977, appearing in 45 games, mainly in relief, and posting 139.1 innings before calling it a career.