Orel Hershiser had one of the most remarkable seasons ever by a pitcher. First, he led the league in wins with 23, and his team won the division. His fabulous season also included 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, breaking the record held by former Dodger Don Drysdale. Despite strong competition from David Cone and Danny Jackson, Hershiser was a unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award.

         But Hershiser's heroics were just beginning. In the league playoffs, the Dodgers were underdogs against a mighty Mets team. Hershiser pitched brilliantly in his first two starts, but the Dodgers lost both games because of bullpen breakdowns. In the 12th inning of Game Four, the Dodgers took the lead on a Kirk Gibson homer, and Hershiser closed the game to earn a save. The series went to a deciding seventh game; Hershiser got the call, and threw a shutout. The Dodgers won, and Hershiser was the Series MVP.
        Next came the World Series; the Dodgers were again heavy underdogs against a mighty Oakland team. After a stunning win in Game One (on Kirk Gibson's famous homer), the Dodgers handed the ball to Hershiser in Game Two; he threw a shutout, and the series was half over. Hershiser won his next start in Game Five; the Series was over, the Dodgers were champions, and Hershiser was the World Series MVP.
        Hershiser was 30 this year, and in his prime. He wasn't a hard thrower, but he threw a good sinking fastball, and was a very intelligent pitcher, noted for keeping extensive information on opposing hitters. Hershiser had another great year in 1989, but he was also being worked too hard; Orel averaged over 260 innings pitched from 1987-89, then blew his arm out in 1990. He came back, and pitched some good ball upon his return, but was never again a Cy Young candidate. At this writing he is still pitching, now in his 40's, and is inching closer to the 200-win mark.
        In the Cy Young voting, Hershiser, Cone and Jackson were the only pitchers to receive votes. Jackson matched Hershiser for the league lead in wins. Danny began his career with the Kansas City Royals; he had good stuff, and pitched well in the 1985 playoffs. But 18 losses in 1987 earned him a ticket to Cincy; Jackson responded with the best season of his career. The rest of Jackson's career was a struggle; he pitched poorly in 1989, then had a disastrous stint with the Cubs. His career almost over, Jackson made a comeback with the Phillies in 1993, and pitched for them in the World Series.
        David Cone was another ex-Royal whom the Mets had acquired a year earlier. Within a year of their 1986 Championship, the Mets' vaunted pitching stuff had begun to decline; even 23-year-old ace Dwight Gooden was not pitching as well as he had before. Cone, now 25 years old, quickly established himself as the team's best pitcher, and led them to the playoffs. After this magical season, Cone's career began to drift, as did his team. He remained a dominant strikeout artist, and once struck out 19 batters in a game, but the K's didn't translate until wins until 1992, when Cone was dealt to Toronto, and helped the Jays win the World Series. Cone would remain one of the best pitchers of the 1990's.
        John Franco was the best closer in the league. Franco had a brilliant start to his career in Cincinnati, and this was his best season. A year later he was dealt to the Mets, a team he is still pitching for in 2000. Franco has 416 career saves, one of the best totals ever. Whether or not Franco should go into the Hall Of Fame one day is an open question. Though Franco has had a very good career, and has been a reliable pitcher for many years, this has been the only year in which he was the best closer in the league. He is the Tommy John of relievers, a solid pitcher who keeps going and going... but who probably falls short of greatness.