Los Angeles and Houston were co-winners of the West Division this year.
Both teams were stocked with outstanding pitchers, and played in very good
pitchers' parks. Valenzuela had an amazing year, leading the league in innings,
complete games, strikeouts, and (most remarkably) shutouts, with eight! But
two of his teammates, Jerry Reuss and Burt Hooton, also had outstanding years
and had lower ERAs. Likewise in Houston, Nolan Ryan led the league in ERA by
a wide margin, but teammates Bob Knepper and Don Sutton also had fine years.
Valenzuela was just 20 years old this year; he
immediately became a baseball sensation, especially in Los Angeles, and in
the Mexican community. His success was not a fluke; Valenzuela won 19 games
next year, and 15 after that. He had a tough 1984 season, but rebounded with
two outstanding seasons, including 21 wins in 1986. But the wheels fell
off after that; Valenzuela threw a screwball, a pitch that puts great stress
on the arm. He threw at least 250 innings every year from 1982 to
1987, and by then his arm was ruined. Fernando was finished as
a great pitcher by age 26; he did hang on for several more years, occasionally
pitching well as a journeyman, and he even threw a no-hitter in 1990. Valenzuela
finished his career with 171 wins.
Two other great pitchers were still in their
prime. Tom Seaver had the league's best record; his Cincinnati Reds led the
NL in wins, but did not make the playoffs because they were not the leaders
of either the first or second half of the season. Steve Carlton won Cy Young
Awards in 1980 and 1982, and a third in between could easily be justified
this year.
In the actual Cy Young balloting, Valenzuela was
the winner, followed by Seaver, Carlton, and Ryan. This order is good, except that Carlton was likely a little better than Seaver (more innings, strikeouts; lower ERA). All four pitchers were among the leaders in wins, innings,
ERA, and winning percentage.
