On September 26, 1971, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer wins his 20th game of the year, becoming the fourth Orioles pitcher to win 20 games in the 1971 season. This made the 1971 Orioles pitching staff the first since that of the 1920 Chicago White Sox to field four 20-game winners.
The Orioles began the 1971 season as the two-time defending American League champions and the defending World Series champions. The team was led by two Robinsons: outfielder Frank, a two-time MVP and the 1966 winner of the “triple crown” (leading the American League in home runs, runs batted in and batting average), and Brooks, an excellent hitter and one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball history.
The team’s impressive defense featured four eventual 1971 Gold Glove winners–shortstop Mark Belanger, second baseman Davey Johnson, center fielder Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson–as well as three pitching aces: Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar. To many in baseball, the team, with legendary manager Earl Weaver at the helm, was considered nothing short of unbeatable.
As it turned out, the team was even better than expected thanks to the stellar play of its fourth starting pitcher, the previously unremarkable Pat Dobson. Dobson played so well that he reached the 20-game plateau before Jim Palmer, the most celebrated of the team’s aces and a future Hall of Famer. By the time Palmer took the mound on September 26 against the Cleveland Indians, the Orioles had already clinched the American League East and were readying themselves for a playoff showdown with the Oakland Athletics. Palmer dismantled the Cleveland offense with his typical pinpoint precision and control, giving up only three hits on the way to a 5-0 Oriole victory, for his 20th win of the season.
Palmer ended 1971 with 20-10 record and a 2.71 earned run average, while McNally went 21-5 with a 2.89, Cuellar went 20-9 with a 3.08 and Dobson finished 20-8 with a 2.90. After beating the A’s in the playoffs, the Orioles lost a heartbreaking seven-game World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, led by superstar Roberto Clemente.
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
-----------------------------------------------------
To donate via Stripe, click here.
-----------------------------------------------------
Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
There have been just three 20-game winners since 2016 total in all of baseball. The National League has had none since Scherzer won 20 in 2016.
Those old pitchers used to throw a dozen complete games a year also with many 120-130 pitch outings. Now a pitcher is yanked after 80 or so pitches.
Lots of factors though: specialty bullpens, all of the breaking balls driving up pitch counts, juiced balls and bats, smaller ballparks, 4-man rotations.
Who knows? Maybe they were just tougher stock back then. Pitchers are “gassed” after 5-6 innings nowadays. I remember how a Palmer, Seaver, Ryan, Clemens or Carlton would seem to get stronger and stronger as a game went on.
|Tougher stock.
Watched Clemens final game at Fenway.
Glory days of youth. Played Little league, Babe Ruth, Legion baseball. 71 was first year for Babe Ruth league. Bob Prince, Pirates announcer, one of a kind. Summer nights on the radio.
I sure do miss America! Fishing, swimming, bicycles, hay what’s that, a girl, wow.
Too bad i’ll never see it again. Was a die hard Phillies fan, and more importantly a fan of the game, the beautiful history of something that so much so paralleled the history of America. That all went right out the window when they took a knee and started preaching to the good people of America how bad we suck. I expected so much more out of gentlemen I considered to be the most cerebral in all of sports. Haven’t seen one pitch all season, probably will never see another if things stay on this trajectory.
Those were the days.
Fergie Jenkins was “like nobody else.”
I think 6 straight 20 game seasons.
One year he had I think 30 complete games out of maybe 39 or so starts.
He could hit too.
Yeah, I took it all in on the radio.
Vince Loyd, Lou Boudreaux.
I remember Wilbur Wood got two wins in one day, pitched like 14 innings. Course he threw a knuckleball mostly.
Heck, one year Wilbur Wood LOST 20 games, went like 24 – 20.
The rich kid in 5th grade had his mom take about 6 of us to Wrigley, I thought it was Heaven.
I agree with BotClan, I sure do miss America.