Full Description
Since the beginning of major league baseball, more than 12,000 pitchers have thrown from the mound. Of them, only twenty have reached the ultimate goal of their profession: to be a 300-game winner. Rich Westcott, celebrated sports historian and journalist, offers in "Winningest Pitchers" profiles of each of those twenty pitchers, including Cy Young, Gaylord Perry, and Nolan Ryan. In small biographies, photographs, and stats, we gain a full picture of each of these rare players whose combined greatness contributes to baseball's continued importance to American athletic life. Author note: Rich Westcott has some idea of what it's like to stand on the mound and face an opposing hitter, having been a pitcher himself before it became apparent that his fingers were more useful pounding keyboards than gripping baseballs. He is the author of 12 previous, including, most recently, "Great Home Runs of the 20th Century" and "A Century of Philadelphia Sports", both published by Temple. His career as a writer and editor has covered forty years, and he is the founder and for fourteen years served as editor and publisher of Phillies Report. Westcott lives in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Contents
Introduction 1. Pud Galvin: The First 300-Game Winner 2. Tim Keefe: Strong Will Prevails 3. Mickey Welch: A Lot to Smile About 4. Old Koss Radbourn: Never Too Tired to Pitch 5. John Clarkson: Thriving on Praise 6. Kid Nichols: No Decade More Dazzling 7. Cy Young: An Unapproachable Record 8. Christy Mathewson: Idol of the Masses 9. Eddie Plank: A Hitter's Nightmare 10. Walter Johnson: Fastball Was Fearsome 11. Grover Cleveland Alexander: From Triumph to Tragedy 12. Lefty Grove: Hot-Tempered Fireballer 13. Warren Spahn: The Complete Package 14. Early Wynn: Expert in Intimidation 15. Gaylord Perry: Master of Mind Games 16. Steve Carlton: No Distractions Allowed 17. Tom Seaver: Artist on the Mound 18. Phil Niekro: King of the Knuckleballers 19. Don Sutton: Never Missed a Turn 20. Nolan Ryan: Strikeout Specialist 21. Are 300-Game Winners a Vanishing Breed? Photo Credits About the Author
