11.00

A week or so ago, I talked about statistical highlights of the 1994 MLB season that was never completed.  There was the Matt Williams run at 61 home runs.  Tony Gwynn batting .394.  Chuck Knoblauch's attempt to break and single season record for doubles, and of course Greg Maddux's ridiculous performance.

I had pushed another to the back of the line, and completely forgot to add it until tonight.  One stat that technically is the single season record belonged to New York Mets starting pitcher Bret Saberhagen.  His strikeout to walk ratio in 1994 was an astounding 11.00.  That number is correct, 11 strikeouts for every walk.  Only five Major League starters have ever carried a K/BB ratio of 9.00 or higher.  Two of them did it in the 19th century, George Bradley (1880) and Jim Whitney (1883 and 1884).  Two others have done it more recently with Curt Schilling (2002) and Cliff Lee (2010). 

However, none of done it better than Saberhagen in 1994.  He tallied 143 strikeouts while walking only 13 batters.  He finished the year with a 14-4 record, and 2.74 ERA.  He would finish third in the Cy Young voting behind Montreal's Ken Hill, and of course Atlanta's Greg Maddux.