Has there ever been a group of pitchers as formidable as this year’s Fab Four in the League Championship Series? Tim Lincecum (Giants), Roy Halladay (Phillies), CC Sabathia (Yankees) and Cliff Lee (Rangers) all have a Cy Young Award on their resumes, and all are in their primes. What other years had great aces in the LCS?
1969 » Tom Seaver (Mets), Phil Niekro (Braves), Jim Perry (Twins), and Mike Cuellar (Orioles) were 91-37 in 1970, the best combined record for a foursome of LCS aces.
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1971 » Gaylord Perry (Giants), Doc Ellis (Pirates), Vida Blue (A’s), Jim Palmer (Orioles). Palmer and Perry would win a combined five Cy Youngs. Blue (24-8, 1.82) was brilliant in ’71. The weak link, Ellis, had his best year (19-9) in ’71.
1973 » Tom Seaver (Mets), Jack Billingham (Reds), Palmer (Orioles), Catfish Hunter (A’s). All but Billingham, who had his best year in ’73 (19-10), won a Cy Young, including Palmer and Seaver in ’73.
1986 » Dwight Gooden (Mets), Mike Scott (Astros), Roger Clemens (Red Sox) and Mike Witt (Angels) were a combined 77-30. Scott and Clemens had Cy Young seasons. Gooden won the award the previous year. The weakest link was Witt, who had his best year in ’86 (18-10, 2.84).
1988 » Orel Hershiser (Dodgers), Gooden (Mets), Clemens (Red Sox), and Dave Stewart (Athletics). Stewart was the only one who hadn’t won a Cy Young, but his 21-12 record in ’88 was worthy.
