Game 7 of the World Series. What pitcher, past or present, would you

[maveric]

want on the mound?
This is my guy. The ultimate big-game pitcher. Mean & nasty, not afraid to pitch inside, and can hit too! I dont think that he's lost more than one series game ever. He pitched in the 64, 67 and 68 series'.

Bob Gibson is the MAN!

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Jack Morris 1991 Twins

[kikiek]

2. You beat me to it! Same response here.

[wellstone dem]

27. beat me to it too

I was there. Sitting way up in the rafters right behind home plate. My best friend was sitting in the bathroom because the Twins did better when she was in there. I was sitting in the obstructed view seat because the Twins did better when I sat there. Tie game, 7th game of the Series, after a nailbiting 6th game. 9th inning and still tied, bottom of the 10th, out walks Jack Morris, to pitch his 10th inning of the night. My one regret is not taking a picture of the scoreboard at the end of the game. Outstanding.

[Yupster]

3. Sandy Koufax

wouldn't be a bad matchup with Gibson. I'm sure they did pitch against each other a few times.

For just one poinbt in time, I've never seen anyone as unhittable as Orel Hershiser at the end of the 1988 season, though Don Larsen would say that was just because you didn't see me pitch a perfect game in the World Series, and that was against a great hitting team with Gil Hodges, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Carl Furillo and Pee Wee Reece.

[NewJeffCT]

I'd agree on Koufax

Maybe the most dominating pitcher for a stretch in his short career.

[chaumont58]

10. Agreed the most dominating pitcher during his glory years

When he was on, and that was most of the time, he was unhittable. I tape recorded the ninth inning of his nohitter against the Giants in '63(if memory serves). In 1963, he was 25 and 5. That was the year the Dodgers beat the Yankees four straight for the world title. He set a record for strike outs in a world series game against the Yankees that year. One of the Yankees, Berra, I think, came back to the dugout after being over matched and wondered out loud how Koufax ever lost 5 games.
Sandy also gives out awards for lefty blogs. One hell of a guy, and I'm a Giant fan.

[leftofthedial]

52. yep. Koufax in his prime

Bullet Bob was a great choice too.
But Koufax in his prime was the best ever.

[SoDesuKa]

4. Warren Spahn

Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.

On September 16th, 1960 at the age of 39, Spahn earned his 11th 20-win season with a no-hitter against the Phillies. Spahn also sets a Milwaukee club record with 15 strikeouts in the victory... On October 5, 1958 Spahn shutout the Yankees on two hits in Game Four of the World Series. Spahn stopped Hank Bauer's 17-game WS hitting streak... Five days past his 40th birthday, on April 28, 1961, Spahn became the 2nd-oldest pitcher (after Cy Young) to hurl a no-hitter, blanking the Giants 1-0. Hank Aaron drives in the only run off loser Sam Jones. It is Spahn's 290th win and 52nd shutout... On August 11, 1961 Spahn's 2-1 victory against the Cubs makes him the 13th 300-game winner... In 1963, at the age of 42, Spahn becomes the oldest 20-game winner. it is his 13th 20-win season, tying Christy Mathewson

http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/spahnwarren/

[chaumont58]

15. Spahnie won a battlefield commision in World War II

He was a combat engineer. Once, he was asked if he felt unlucky to have lost three good years during that war. He replied something to the effect that he didn't feel unlucky at all, that he knew a lot of 19 year olds that wouldn't get any older. I saw him pitch against the Giants, way back in '61. He faced a very good Giant pitcher named Mike McCormack. Henry Aaron hit two solo homers and Orlando Cepeda hit one solo for Giants. The MILWAUKEE Braves won two to one. Spahn's windup and delivery were the picture of perfection.

[maveric]

18. He was at Bastogne, the Battle of the Bulge.

[BrotherBuzz]

42. I'll vote for Warren Spahn, too....

Ummm, only if he's wearing a Giants uniform. ;)

Cool side note: Willie Mays' first major league home run was against Spahn on May 28, 1951. ...

[Jack Rabbit]

I'm a Giants fan, so it hurts to say this, but . . .

Sandy Koufax from Wikipedia

[Redstone]

5. Gibson, yes indeed, or Steve Carlton.

Redstone

[Submariner]

6. Bill Lee "The SPACEMAN"

:popcorn: :popcorn:

[dajoki]

7. gibson or koufax

they both messed up my yankeesx(

[maveric]

8. Gibson shut down the Red Sox in 67.

He just got back from a broken leg injury. There werequestions about how effective he'd be. He ended up winnin 3 games, a 1-hitter, a 4 hitter, he hit a couple of HR's in that series too.
His stuff was unhittable!

[dajoki]

21. stats

482-games started; 255-complete games. never will see that again http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gibsobo01.shtml:bounce:

[maveric]

22. 255 complete games! Amazing!

He had 20+ CG's in a season 7 times! 28 in 68 & 69!
Nowadays starters might pitch ONE CG a season.

[dajoki]

29. if they're lucky

i've been a yankee fan all my life. my first memories are of old yankee stadium, but there was none like gibson. iwas glad he was in the national league, but he got us in the '64 series(pitched a 10 INNING COMPLETE GAME!):applause:

[maveric]

25. Gibson was college eductaed and a Harlem Globetrotter too.

An amazing man and athlete!

[KitchenWitch]

9. the 1965 version of Sandy Koufax or the 1991 version of Jack Morris

Mudcat Grant would not be bad either!

[Hapameli]

11. John Wetteland ... only if he's still as hot as he used to be!

Or Sandy Koufax.

[MrSlayer]

12. Cy Young

Most wins in history.

[kevsand]

13. Gibson, without a doubt.

I got to see him pitch several times when I was growing up on the Illinois side of the river. I will never forget one Sunday afternoon in the old Sportsmans Park (before Busch Stadium) when I got to see him win his own ballgame by hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth. Now that's a gamer...

[Lannes]

14. If its late in the game

Mariano Rivera.Best closer ever.



If not then Nolan Ryan

[CubsFan1982]

16. Walter Johnson

I'm surprised The Big Train is getting no love.

[maveric]

20. Poor Walter played on many horrible Washington Senator teams.

He was only shining star in DC for many years.

[Yupster]

45. "First in war

First in peace

And last in the American League."

Actually the Senators weren't that bad.

They were dreadful in two eras, both of which were very popular, the 1920's and the 50's-early 60's.

Otherwise, they weren't so awfu.

And they had Goose Goslin.

Now the Browns -- they be awful.

[WhollyHeretic]

17. Curt Schilling

He is a republican and a loudmouth but still one of the best big game pitchers ever.

[NeoTraitors]

19. Going by statistics, Babe Ruth still

has the longest consecutive scoreless innings streak in World Series history. Plus you could bat him 3rd in a National League Park. Babe Ruth is my vote.

[Yupster]

46. But that's only because

he didn't have to pitch against Babe Ruth.

[PBR me]

23. Ben Sheets (Go Brewers!)

[Upfront]

24. 1964 World Series Star

Micky Lolech. He won three games for the Tigers. They beat Gibson and St.Louis I know I mis-spelled Micky L's last name, sorry.

[maveric]

26. That was 68 Series.

1964 featured the Yankees and the Cardinals.
Lolich was amazing in that series. 31 game winner Denny McLain was supposed to be the star but Lolich took it all.

[Allenberg]

28. I'll give you both.

All-Time - Christy Mathewson, 5-0 with a 2.86 ERA in WS Play. Bob Gibson, and John Smoltz also up there.

Current - Curt Schilling

[maveric]

31. Gibson, 9 WS games, all complete games was 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA.

[Allenberg]

33. Impressive.

Nice listing of who's who in the post season at BBRef, for those that don't use it.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/leaders_career_pitch.shtml

[asthmaticeog]

30. Anyone but Jose Mesa.

:eyes:

[maveric]

32. Or Mitch Williams and Calvin Schiraldi.

I know, they were relievers but both had horrendous WS's.

[NeoTraitors]

34. Thanks for the link!

Ruth 31 WS innings pitched, 0.87 ERA. Plus you add Babe frickin' Ruth to your line-up!

[enigmatic]

47. That fucker...

Being from Clevo and a lifelong tribe fan, I knew he would blow it before he ever threw a pitch in the 9th. And don't get me started on Tony Fernandez...

[bertha katzenengel]

35. I'm surprised no one's mentioned the Ryan Express.

Strikeout King. Seven no-hitters. So what if his teams usually sucked? He's the man to have on the mound.

[maveric]

36. In 1986 Ryan went 8-16. But had the lowest ERA in the majors!

An amazing feat! His teams wouldnt score runs for him!
Had he played for good teams he may have won 400 games.

[bertha katzenengel]

37. Yep. Poor guy. So many grand accomplishments, and no WS ring.

:(

'night, Mav -- 'night, all.

[NeoTraitors]

38. Wasn't he on the '69 Mets?

n/t

[maveric]

40. Yes, in the bullpen.

Before he learned how to control his rocket of an arm.

[NeoTraitors]

41. In any case, at least he got a WS

ring.

[Yupster]

48. Also got blisters

on his pitching fingers every start.

The Mets got sick of his bad controll and bad pitching health.

They knew he wouldn't last so they traded him for a washed up shortstop to play third base for them -- Jim Fregosi.

[Yupster]

50. When I was a kid, I went to

Met games a few times a year. My first I think was in 1964.

Anyway, we kept score every game in a scorebook which we also got autographs on.

I still have it. In 1968 (I would have been 9), the Mets hosted the Braves at Shea. If I have the lineups correct, Hank Aaron batted second which seems weird.

Anyway, the Mets starting pitcher was a rookie named Rayan. He pitched seven plus innings and lost it on three walks in the eighth by a 3-2 score. I wonder if anything ever became of him?

The autographs? No Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan or even Jerry Koosman. Best ones are Gaylord Perry (stopped his car and signed for me :) ), Gil Hodges, Buddy Harrelson, Ed Kranepool, Tommy Davis, Tug McGraw, Jerry Grote and a half dozen or so more including Greg Goosen and Don Bosch.

Great line by Jerry Grote. Paraphrasing ... 'I could have played another year or two, but I retired to spend more time with my family. ...... Then my wife left me.'

[benny05]

43. I would vote him

or Raleigh Fingers or Vida Blue

[sir_captain]

51. Great pitcher, but also one of the most overrated

players of all time.

His career ERA of 3.19 doesn't match up well with the best pitchers ever, and most importantly, he walked *far* more batters than any of the other top pitchers.

Pitchers who I think are clearly ahead of Ryan on the all-time list:

Clemens
Randy Johnson
Koufax
Pedro Martinez
Whitey Ford
Bob Gibson
Lefty Grove
Steve Carlton
Christy Mathewson
Greg Maddux

That's just the first ten I thought of, anyway.

All that said, he was still a hell of a pitcher...

[AntiCoup2K4]

39. Bobby Ayala

And I'd bet every dollar I had on whatever team he was pitching against :evilgrin:

[nickgutierrez]

44. Pedro Martinez

Yeah, he played for the stinkin' Red Sox for a long time, but at his peak he was better than any pitcher ever.

[Yupster]

49. Lefty Grove

if he could bring Mickey Cochrane, Jimmy Foxx and Al Simmons with him.

In my opinion the Philadelphia A's of 1929-31 were the best team of all time. Beat the Yankees for the American League title three years in a row -- that's the Babe Ruth - Lou Gehrig Yankees.