Baseball's Best Decade by Carroll Conklin Page A

a Cy Young award in each major league. Steve Carlton was a 20-game winner 4 times in the 1970s (and 2 more times in the 1980s). Ferguson Jenkins won 20 or more games 7 times between 1967 and 1974. A 5-time 20-game winner, Tom Seaver won 3 Cy Young awards during his career.
    Who almost made the list? Catfish Hunter at 169, Don Sutton at 166, Phil Niekro at 164.

    The Top Winning Pitchers for Each Decade (1980s-2000s)
     
    1980s
Jack Morris
162
Dave Stieb
140
Fernando Valenzuela
128
Bert Blyleven
123
Nolan Ryan
122
     
    1990s
Greg Maddux
176
Tom Glavine
164
Roger Clemens
152
Randy Johnson
150
John Smoltz
143
     
    2000s
Andy Pettitte
148
Randy Johnson
143
Jamie Moyer
140
Roy Halladay
139
Tim Hudson
137
Roy Oswalt
137
     

    1980s – One of baseball’s most durable starters in the 1980s, Jack Morris was a 20-game winner twice in the decade. Dave Stieb finished second in decade wins despite never having won more than 17 games in a season. Fernando Valenzuela was a 20-game winner one time, going 21-11 in 1986 while leading the National League with 20 complete games. Bert Blyleven notched 287 career victories with 3,701 strikeouts (number 5 all time). Nolan Ryan led the National League in ERA twice during the 1980s, the only times he accomplished that in his long career.
    Who almost made the list? Mike Scott at 114, Ron Guidry at 111, Dwight Gooden and Phil Niekro at 110.
     
    1990s – The 1990s pitcher rankings saw a return to a “probable” Hall of Fame line-up (when eligibility kicks in). The fact that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson are all now 300-game winners virtually assures their eventual inclusion at Cooperstown. John Smoltz’s career numbers (including a 24-8 Cy Young season in 1996) will almost certainly reserve his place among baseball’s immortals.
    Who almost made the list? David Cone at 141, Mike Mussina at 136, Chuck Finley at 135.
     
    2000s – This decade’s victory leaders posted the lowest total since the 1940s, a reflection of major league baseball’s gradual de-valuation of starting pitchers, complete games … and 20-game winners. A pitcher’s effectiveness and value are no longer measured (as much) by how many wins the pitcher collects over the course of a season. Less than half of the decade’s Cy Young award winners were 20-game winners, and only one of the decade’s winners was strictly a reliever (Eric Gagne in 2003). Of the top 5 pitchers, only Randy Johnson and Roy Halladay were Cy Young recipients.
    Who almost made the list? C.C. Sabathia at 136, Mark Buehrle at 135, Mike Mussina and Greg Maddux at 134.

    The Top Strikeout Pitchers for Each Decade (1920s-1940s)
     
    1920s
Dazzy Vance
1,464
Burleigh Grimes
1,018
Dolf Luque
904
Walter Johnson
895
Lefty Grove
837
     
    1930s
Lefty Gomez
1,337
Lefty Grove
1,313
Carl Hubbell
1,281
Red Ruffing
1,260
Dizzy Dean
1,144
     
    1940s
Hal Newhouser
1,579
Bob Feller
1,396
Bobo Newsome
1,070
Johnny Vander M eer
972
Dizzy Trout
930
     

    A 31-year-old rookie for the Dodgers in 1922, Dazzy Vance led all major league pitchers in strikeouts during the 1920s, on his way to 197 career victories.
     

    Yankees ace Lefty Gomez led all major league hurlers in strikeouts during the 1930s, but with the lowest leading total for any decade after 1920.
     
       
     
                           
     
    For a 20-year period, from 1938 to 1957, the American League leader in strikeouts was most likely to be a Cleveland Indian. Five Indians hurlers topped the AL in strikeouts 12 times during that period: Bob Feller (1938-1941, 1946-1948), Allie Reynolds (1943), Bob Lemon (1950), Herb Score (1955-1956), Early Wynn (1957).
     

    Hal Newhouser was the major leagues’ most prolific strikeout artist of the 1940s.
     

    Johnny Vander Meer led the National League in strikeouts 1941-1943, averaging 187 strikeouts per season.
     
    1920s – Leading the National League in strikeouts 7 consecutive seasons during the 1920s, Dazzy Vance was