The Oakland Athletics won back-to-back World Series in 1972 and 1973. But during the 1973 Series, owner Charles Finley tried to "fire" one of his players (second baseman Mike Andrews, who was having trouble fielding the ball). After the Series, manager Dick Williams resigned. A new manager, Alvin Dark, was hired, and the Athletics entered the season as a team in turmoil.
        It didn't matter; these guys seemed to thrive on controversy. The Athletics won their division, beat the Orioles in the playoffs, then beat the Dodgers to win their third straight World Series. Their pitching was still the best in the league; ace Catfish Hunter won his only Cy Young Award.

        Jim Hunter was 19 years old when he joined the Kansas City Athletics in 1965. The Athletics were a horrible team at that time, and would soon move to Oakland. Hunter quickly established himself as the Athletics' best pitcher (and made two All-Star teams), though after five years he still had yet to have a winning season.
        Charles O. Finley bought the Athletics, and brought them back to respectability. Finley was a showman who liked his players to wear gaudy uniforms and creative facial hair; he also liked colourful nicknames, and Jim Hunter became forever known as "Catfish". He also started to win; in 1970, Hunter won 18 games. Then starting in 1971, Hunter compiled five consecutive 20+ win seasons, and became one of the biggest stars in the game. Not only did Hunter win during the season, but he was a great playoff pitcher; the Athletics won three straight World Series from 1972-74, led by Hunter as the ace of their staff.
        This year was probably Hunter's best; he led the AL in both wins and ERA. Hunter benefitted from playing for a great team in a great pitcher's park, but he would have been a great pitcher anywhere. After the season, Hunter left Athletics and signed as a free agent with the Yankees; he had another big season with them, winning 23 games. But Catfish also blew his arm out, and was finished at age 30. Incredibly, he still managed to win 224 games in his career, and was elected to the Hall Of Fame. Sadly, in 1999 Hunter died from Lou Gehrig's disease- the second baseball Hall Of Famer to die from that rare illness.
        Hunter does have some stiff competition from some other outstanding pitchers. Ferguson Jenkins had six straight 20+ win seasons for the Cubs; Jenkins then turned 30, so the Cubs decided he was better off pitching for Texas. If there was any doubt about Jenkins being a great pitcher, I think that 25 wins for the dreadful Rangers should settle the question.
        Spitball master Gaylord Perry had another outstanding, saliva-soaked season. Though I am not Perry's biggest fan, an argument can certainly be made that he was the best pitcher in the league. I will take Perry behind Hunter and Jenkins; for the fourth spot, it's a tough choice between Luis Tiant and Nolan Ryan. Ryan had another awesome season as a power pitcher, though he did walk over 200 men. Tiant was learning to pitch without a great fastball, and was doing just fine. It's close, but I will give the edge to Luis, and his seven shutouts.