This is a Monster Card that is well overdue. The pitcher who all pitchers are compared. It’s Ed Walsh of 1908.
In 1908, ‘Big Ed’ went 40-15 with the Chicago White Stockings. In 464 innings, 66 games and 49 starts, he compiled 269 strikeouts, 42 complete games, and 11 shutouts, all league marks in 1908. He also had a 1.42 which ironically was ‘only’ third in the AL in 1908 behind Addie Joss (1.16) and someone named Cy Young (1.26).
| Year | Tm | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | CHW | 40 | 15 | .727 | 1.42 | 66 | 49 | 42 | 11 | 6 | 464.0 | 343 | 2 | 56 | 269 |
Yes, Ed Walsh received an A&B grade from APBA for his 1908 performance but it’s his Master Game grade which gives it its significance. If I’m not mistaken, he received APBA’s perfect Master Game pitching grade of 30 to go along with his (YZ).
If that weren’t enough, Walsh has a playable card (6-6-8-8-9-9-10) when it comes to offense too. He went 27 for 157 and collected 7 doubles and a triple and a homer each. Walsh’s 10 comes as result of his two stolen bases.
It wasn’t just Walsh’s ERA that put him over the top so what was it? He does come in second in single season wins in the post-1900 era at 40 (behind Jack Chesbro’s 41 in 1904) but my guess is that his over-the-top playing time put him in APBA’s upper echelon. Walsh’s inexhaustible 49 starts, 42 complete games and 464 innings while still maintaining his miniscule 1.42 ERA was enough reason to give him the rare 30.
thanks to Rich who suggested this a while ago!
Won a lot of games with that Big Ed card!
As always, you are very welcome!
Nice to see Big Ed. We’ve had a face to face dice league for 35 years (30-40 game season
when we were younger; 15-16 game seasons for the last dozen years or so) and Ed (122-102
with another 17 wins in the World Series)trails only Big Train Johnson (124-118)in career wins. Walsh once outdueled Johnson in a 16-inning 3-2 game. I should note two things – both pitchers were awarded ZZ’s after APBA instituted them in 1991. If you’re wondering about the relatively low winning percentages, well, it’s not exactly a pitching league in as much as every position is filled out with various “Monster Cards”. No such thing as a “44-8” in our league.
Gary Growe
The Lord High Commissioner
APBA Halll of Fame League
I predict when this set is recomputed, that Walsh will be rated as : A & C (X) (Z)
excuse me, it would be proper to award Walsh a (ZZ).
I believe he is the only pitcher to ever lead the league in Wins AND Saves