The history of baseball is intertwined with the present day game. Anything, even the weakest ground ball from the past, is a foundation for the game we know today. In preparation for opening day and beyond, I am taking a look back at the top five greatest individual seasons from each year since 1880. Today's column features the top five statistical seasons from 1880.
No. 5: 1B Cap Anson (Chicago White Stockings)
Despite being one of the most racist men in Baseball history (maybe second all-time behind Ty Cobb) Adrian Constantine “Cap”Anson was the game's first superstar. He played 27 seasons at the Major League level, winning four batting titles (the first of which came in 1879). Anson was the Major Leagues all-time hits (3,435) and RBI (2,075) leader upon his retirement after the 1897 season. He was inducted into the National Baseball of Fame by the Old Timer's committee in 1939 as a reward for his hard work on the field.
1880 is considered Anson's first “superstar” season at the Major League level. The then 28-year old hit .337 with a league leading 74 RBI in 86 games. (Games were limited in this era of baseball history compared to other eras.) 1880 marked the first of eight seasons where Anson led the National League in RBI. He finished second in the NL with 120 hits. His aforementioned 86 games were also second in the league.
No. 4: RHP Monte Ward (Providence Grays)
Monte Ward was the Babe Ruth of baseball before Ruth was even born. Ward played 17 Major League seasons, seven of which were spent as a starting pitcher. He went 164-103, with a lifetime 2.10 ERA in those seven seasons. He even led the National League in ERA (1.51) during his rookie year of 1878. Ward nearly won the pitcher's triple crown in 1879, leading the NL with 47 wins, 239 strikeouts and finishing third with a 2.15 ERA.
Ward was just as good at the plate as he was on the mound. He retired with 2,107 hits, along with approximately 540 stolen bases. 1887 was his best season at the plate, leading the National League with 111 stolen bases, 545 at bats and 129 games. Ward also hit .338 at the plate. The Veterans Committee inducted Ward into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
1880 was a another good season for Ward. The then 20-year old won 39 games and had a 1.74 ERA for the Grays. He threw a career high 595.0 innings and struck out 230 batters. Ward also led the NL with eight complete game shutouts.
No. 3: OF George Gore (Chicago White Stockings)
1880 was the best season in the 14-year career of George Gore. Gore, nicknamed “Piano Legs” was a career .301 hitter in the Major Leagues. Looking back, he would be the type of player the “SABR” community dreams about. Gore had a lifetime .386 OBP, having led the National League in walks three times. His best OBP season (.434) came with the White Stockings in 1886. This was due to his NL leading 102 walks, a statistic unheard of at this time in baseball history.
Gore led the National League with a .360 average in 1880, marking the only time he led the league in hitting. He had 116 hits, 23 doubles and led the National League with a .399 OBP and a .463 slugging percentage. In an era before the playoffs, Gore led the White Stocking to a division (and thus league) title in 1880.
No. 2: RHP Larry Corcoran (Chicago White Stockings)
If your favorite team was going to start a rookie pitcher next season, how many wins would expect from him? 10 wins? Maybe 15? Well I don't know how many wins fans were expecting from Larry Corcoran during his rookie season of 1878, but he provided more than anyone could've expected.
Corcoran was 20 years old entering his first season of Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Stockings in 1880. The White Stockings had a great season in 1880. They went 67-17 under the aforementioned manager Cap Anson.
Corcoran was the heart and soul of the ball club. In his rookie season, Corcoran went 43-14 with a 1.95 ERA. He threw a career high 536.1 innings and led the league in strikeouts with 268. He started 60 games for the White Stockings in 1880, completing 57 of them. Corcoran even helped out offensively in 1880; batting .231 with 11 doubles and 25 RBI in 72 games. Keep in mind, Corcoran was a 20 year old rookie accomplishing these feats in Major League Baseball.
This was the start of a five year stretch where Corcoran averaged 34 wins per season. Corcoran had 170 career wins by the age of 25. He could've been one of baseball's greatest pitchers had injuries not plagued his final three seasons. Corcoran retired after the 1887 season with 177 career wins and a 2.36 ERA.
No. 1: RHP Jim McCormick (Cleveland Blues)
Jim McCormick is one of the few, lucky pitchers who deserve to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but were forgotten due to history's fast paced movement. McCormick pitched ten seasons in the Major Leagues, winning 265 games and posting a lifetime 2.43 ERA. He threw 4275.2 innings and struck out 1,704 batters.
1880 was McCormick's first big season in the Major Leagues. The then 23-year old led the National League with 45 wins and an astounding 657.2 innings pitched. Think about this statistic for a moment. McCormick started 74 games for the Blues in 1880. He completed 72 of the 74 games. Imagine a pitcher doing that in this era of Major League Baseball. It's almost impossible to put into words. In fact, McCormick made 485 starts in the Major Leagues. He finished his career with 466 complete games. If that isn't Hall of Fame worthy, I don't know what is!
Did I leave anyone off this list? Do you have any questions or thoughts you want to add? Let us know in the comments section below!
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