Posted by crazystengel on 4/28/2016 4:04:00 AM (view original):
Okay, here's one in a similar vein:

Many of us remember Mike Mussina winning 20 games in his final season (2008). And if asked who was the last pitcher before Mussina to win 20 in his final season, many of us would know the answer is Sandy Koufax (1966).

The question here is, who was the last pitcher before Koufax to win 20 in his final MLB season?

Koufax left because of an injury, so I was thinking about great pitchers that left due to an injury, or even death. Maybe there's some guy who won before WW2 and never returned but, then I remembered the Black Sox scandal. So is the answer their ace, Eddie Cicotte?

Correct, Cicotte won 21 in 1920 and then was banned for throwing the 1919 Series. Same deal with his teammate Lefty Williams, who won 22 that season.

The only other pitcher in the 20th century to accomplish "20 and done" is Henry Schmidt, who went 22-13 in 1903 for Brooklyn. He wrote the Superbas prior to the 1904 season that he would not be returning because, "I do not like living in the East and will not report." Schmidt was a 30 year old rookie with an ERA+ of 84, so I don't believe he was throwing away a Hall of Fame career, but still.

Another pitcher almost joined Mussina in his "20 and done" season. Brandon Webb had 22 wins in 2008; he played one game in 2009 (I assume he was injured in that game?) and then never returned. I'd forgotten how good Webb was in his final 3 seasons: a Cy Young award and two CY runner-ups. Finished at 29.

Lets turn it around, since 1920 only 2 pitchers have lost 20 games in their final season.

Posted by lastinspace2 on 4/28/2016 1:43:00 PM (view original):
Lets turn it around, since 1920 only 2 pitchers have lost 20 games in their final season.

I can't imagine anyone getting that one without looking it up...

I am thinking it must be a couple of veterans that pitched for the 1962 Mets - Maybe Roger Craig is one?

Posted by lastinspace2 on 4/28/2016 1:43:00 PM (view original):
Lets turn it around, since 1920 only 2 pitchers have lost 20 games in their final season.

I'm gonna go with this guy
Denny McLain

what a rapid demise

Did Brian Kingman ever pitch after his 20-loss season?

Or Wilbur Wood seems like another possible candidate

We still need to answer the 20-loss pitcher/last season question - by the way, apparently three pitchers have retired after losing 20 games since 1920, not two.

But I have a couple of questions as well:

1. who was the second best left-handed hitting and left-handed throwing outfielder born in Donora, Pennsylvania on November 21?

2. Which pitcher holds the record for most games pitched in his career without any relief appearances?

1.) Ken Griffey Jr (hat tip to Bill James)
2.) I don't know...but the name that comes to mind is Don Sutton

Sutton definitely relieved in his first few seasons. I think Nolan Ryan did, too. So I'm really not sure who to say.

I think Clemens relieved like 4 times in his career. Which is slightly more than 0. Geeze, I can't think of anyone, because most of the elite starters had enough stuff to be useful in relief in crucial situations.

It could be someone like Maddux or Glavine. I would say Mussina, but I know he did relieve. You'd think it would be somebody without elite stuff.

Jack Morris would make sense for the same reason...

Posted by dahsdebater on 4/28/2016 5:02:00 PM (view original):
It could be someone like Maddux or Glavine. I would say Mussina, but I know he did relieve. You'd think it would be somebody without elite stuff.

I had no idea, so I looked it up, and it turns out Mussina only had 1 relief appearance. The right answer has been said, though