Chandler’s league-leading 1.64 ERA was the lowest posted during the 1940s.
Dizzy Trout (left) and Hal Newhouser combined for 3 consecutive ERA titles from 1944-1946. Trout was the first Tigers pitcher to lead the American League in ERA since 1902.
1920s – In a decade where 6 out of 16 major league teams hit for an average of .290 or better, it’s not hard to understand why no pitcher had a combined earned run average under 3.00. In the previous decade, 3 pitchers – Walter Johnson, Ed Walsh and Smoky Joe Wood – averaged less than 2.00 for the last 10 years of the dead ball era. A livelier ball meant run scoring boomed and ERAs ballooned. Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose career ERA ended at 2.56, was a half-point higher pitching in the 1920s. Dolf Luque and Dazzy Vance each led the National League with the lowest ERA twice. Red Faber, Stan Coveleski and Lefty Grove each led the American League twice.
Who almost made the list? Eppa Rixey at 3.24, Dazzy Vance at 3.33, Red Faber and Urban Shocker at 3.34.
1930s – Most of the pitching highlights during the run-happy 1930s belonged to 2 southpaws destined for the Hall of Fame. Carl Hubbell owned the National League in the 1930s. The New York Giants left-hander not only averaged 19 victories per season for the decade, but he also led the league in ERA 3 times and finished second a total of 3 other seasons. Lefty Grove was just as dominant, if not more so, in the American League, posting the league’s lowest ERA 7 times.
Who almost made the list? Hal Schumacher at 3.38, Van Mungo at 3.42, Bob Feller at 3.43.
1940s – Decade ERAs dropped dramatically in the 1940s and the leading averages would stay in the sub-3.00 level for the rest of the century. Spud Chandler had one outstanding season in 1943, when he led the American League in victories (20), complete games (20), shutouts (5) and ERA (1.64) while winning the Most Valuable Player award. But Chandler also consistently posted sub-3.00 ERAs in the full seasons he pitched. Hal Newhouser was the only American League pitcher to win the ERA title twice. The same for Howie Pollett in the National League.
Who almost made the list? Mort Cooper at 2.93, Tex Hughson and Claude Passeau at 2.94.
The Best In dividual ERAs for Each Decade (1950s-1970s)
1950s
Whitey Ford
2.66
Warren Spahn
2.92
Billy Pierce
3.06
Allie Reynolds
3.07
Ed Lopat
3.12
1960s
Sandy Koufax
2.36
Juan Marichal
2.57
Bob Gibson
2.74
Mike Cuellar
2.76
Dean Chance
2.78
1970s
Jim Palmer
2.58
Tom Seaver
2.61
Bert Blyleven
2.88
Gaylord Perry
2.92
Andy Messersmith
2.93
Whitey Ford posted the best ERA among pitchers in the 1950s and was the American League leader in earned run average twice during that decade.
Billy Pierce posted the American League’s best ERA in 1955 with a 1.97 and finished among the league’s top 10 in earned run average 6 times during the 1950s.
When Sandy Koufax led the National League in earned run average from 1962 to 1966, it marked the first time that any major league pitcher had won 5 consecutive ERA titles.
From 1962 to 1966, the only major league pitcher to post an earned run average that was better than Sandy Koufax was Dean Chance, whose 1.65 ERA in 1964 was the best in baseball.
1950s – In 5 different seasons during the 1950s, a New York Yankee pitcher led the American League in earned run average. Twice in the decade, that Yankee was Whitey Ford, who led all major league pitchers in ERA for the decade. Allie Reynolds and Ed Lopat also led the league once, as the Yankees had 3 of the top 5 ERAs for the decade. Warren Spahn was a National League ERA champ only once, and no National League pitcher won more than a single ERA crown during the 1950s.
Who almost made the list? Bob Buhl at 3.15, Johnny Antonelli at 3.18, Sal Maglie at 3.19.
1960s – The 2.36 ERA posted for the 1960s by Sandy Koufax was the lowest decade ERA since the end of the dead ball era.
Dizzy Trout (left) and Hal Newhouser combined for 3 consecutive ERA titles from 1944-1946. Trout was the first Tigers pitcher to lead the American League in ERA since 1902.
1920s – In a decade where 6 out of 16 major league teams hit for an average of .290 or better, it’s not hard to understand why no pitcher had a combined earned run average under 3.00. In the previous decade, 3 pitchers – Walter Johnson, Ed Walsh and Smoky Joe Wood – averaged less than 2.00 for the last 10 years of the dead ball era. A livelier ball meant run scoring boomed and ERAs ballooned. Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose career ERA ended at 2.56, was a half-point higher pitching in the 1920s. Dolf Luque and Dazzy Vance each led the National League with the lowest ERA twice. Red Faber, Stan Coveleski and Lefty Grove each led the American League twice.
Who almost made the list? Eppa Rixey at 3.24, Dazzy Vance at 3.33, Red Faber and Urban Shocker at 3.34.
1930s – Most of the pitching highlights during the run-happy 1930s belonged to 2 southpaws destined for the Hall of Fame. Carl Hubbell owned the National League in the 1930s. The New York Giants left-hander not only averaged 19 victories per season for the decade, but he also led the league in ERA 3 times and finished second a total of 3 other seasons. Lefty Grove was just as dominant, if not more so, in the American League, posting the league’s lowest ERA 7 times.
Who almost made the list? Hal Schumacher at 3.38, Van Mungo at 3.42, Bob Feller at 3.43.
1940s – Decade ERAs dropped dramatically in the 1940s and the leading averages would stay in the sub-3.00 level for the rest of the century. Spud Chandler had one outstanding season in 1943, when he led the American League in victories (20), complete games (20), shutouts (5) and ERA (1.64) while winning the Most Valuable Player award. But Chandler also consistently posted sub-3.00 ERAs in the full seasons he pitched. Hal Newhouser was the only American League pitcher to win the ERA title twice. The same for Howie Pollett in the National League.
Who almost made the list? Mort Cooper at 2.93, Tex Hughson and Claude Passeau at 2.94.
The Best In dividual ERAs for Each Decade (1950s-1970s)
1950s
Whitey Ford
2.66
Warren Spahn
2.92
Billy Pierce
3.06
Allie Reynolds
3.07
Ed Lopat
3.12
1960s
Sandy Koufax
2.36
Juan Marichal
2.57
Bob Gibson
2.74
Mike Cuellar
2.76
Dean Chance
2.78
1970s
Jim Palmer
2.58
Tom Seaver
2.61
Bert Blyleven
2.88
Gaylord Perry
2.92
Andy Messersmith
2.93
Whitey Ford posted the best ERA among pitchers in the 1950s and was the American League leader in earned run average twice during that decade.
Billy Pierce posted the American League’s best ERA in 1955 with a 1.97 and finished among the league’s top 10 in earned run average 6 times during the 1950s.
When Sandy Koufax led the National League in earned run average from 1962 to 1966, it marked the first time that any major league pitcher had won 5 consecutive ERA titles.
From 1962 to 1966, the only major league pitcher to post an earned run average that was better than Sandy Koufax was Dean Chance, whose 1.65 ERA in 1964 was the best in baseball.
1950s – In 5 different seasons during the 1950s, a New York Yankee pitcher led the American League in earned run average. Twice in the decade, that Yankee was Whitey Ford, who led all major league pitchers in ERA for the decade. Allie Reynolds and Ed Lopat also led the league once, as the Yankees had 3 of the top 5 ERAs for the decade. Warren Spahn was a National League ERA champ only once, and no National League pitcher won more than a single ERA crown during the 1950s.
Who almost made the list? Bob Buhl at 3.15, Johnny Antonelli at 3.18, Sal Maglie at 3.19.
1960s – The 2.36 ERA posted for the 1960s by Sandy Koufax was the lowest decade ERA since the end of the dead ball era.
Similar Books
