Top Five starting rotations in Pittsburgh Pirates history

Jul 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A major league baseball sits on the field prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1921 Pittsburgh Pirates:

The 1920s were very good to the Pirates as they won two NL pennants and a World Series in the decade and were generally always competitive. The 1921 Pirates finished with 90 wins, good for second place in the NL, but while the offense was fairly average, the pitching was insanely dominant. In a league where the average ERA was 4.03, the Pirates were over a run better.Their numbers were fantastic across the board.

The staff was lead by Wilbur Cooper as he went 22-14 with a 3.25ERA, 3.47FIP, 118ERA+ and was worth 8.2WAR.

Whitney Glazner wasn’t far behind Cooper as he went 14-5 with a 2.77ERA, 3.53FIP, 138ERA+ and 7.6WAR.

Usually if you have a pitching staff where you’re third starter is worth two wins less than your number two, you’re in trouble, not exactly the case in 1921 as Early Hamilton went 13-15 with a 3.36ERA, 3.75FIP, 114ERA+ and was worth 5.3 Wins Above Replacement.

Babe Adams was pushing 40-years-old in 1921 but that did not stop him from putting together one of the best seasons of his 19 year career. He went 14-5 with a 2.64ERA, 3.08FIP, 145ERA+ and accumulated 5.5WAR.

The one through four of the Pirates put up some ridiculous numbers for the post dead ball era, so it’s really easy to forget that this rotation had a fifth starter in Johnny Morrison. On most teams, Morrison’s numbers would be that of a number one starter, but on this Pirates team, he was the last option. He went 9-7 with a 2.88ERA, 3.36FIP, 133ERA+ and was worth 4.4WAR.

2. 1921 rotation:

Wilbur Cooper (22-14, 3.25ERA, 3.47FIP, 118ERA+ and 8.2WAR
Whitney Glazner (14-5, 2.77ERA, 3.53FIP, 138ERA+ and 7.6WAR)
Earl Hamilton (13-15, 3.36ERA, 3.75FIP, 114ERA+ and 5.3WAR)
Babe Adams (14-5, 2.64ERA, 3.08FIP, 145ERA+ and 5.5WAR)
Johnny Morrison (9-7, 2.88ERA, 3.36FIP, 133ERA+ and 4.4WAR)

Staff Totals:2.98ERA, 3.43FIP, 130ERA+ and 31WAR

Full stats:

Rk	Name	W	L	ERA	GS	GF	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA+	FIP	WHIP
1	Wilbur Cooper*	22	14	3.25	38	0	29	2	327.0	341	145	118	9	80	134	118	3.47	1.287
2	Whitey Glazner	14	5	2.77	25	6	15	0	234.0	214	88	72	5	58	88	138	3.53	1.162
3	Earl Hamilton*	13	15	3.36	30	4	12	2	225.0	237	103	84	5	58	59	114	3.75	1.311
4	Babe Adams	14	5	2.64	20	3	11	2	160.0	155	57	47	4	18	55	145	3.08	1.081
5	Johnny Morrison	9	7	2.88	17	4	11	3	144.0	131	49	46	3	33	52	133	3.36	1.139
	Rank in 8 NL teams	2	7	1			1	2	1	1	1	1	1	3	1

The 1921 Pirates didn’t win or even go to the World Series, but that doesn’t take away from their dominance. The number one team on our list didn’t go to the World Series either, mostly because it didn’t exist yet.

Next: The number one rotation in Pittsburgh Pirates history...

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