The first step in doing this was to download postseason data from Retrosheet and modify my program to read this into a usable format. As a quick aside, during this step my data processing logic got tripped up. In tracking down the error, the thing that had tripped it up was what I had considered an impossibility: a tie postseason game. I found the story pretty interesting. In 1922, Game 2 of the World Series was tied 3-3 after 10 innings. Here's the description of what happened from Wikipedia:
That game was called on account of darkness, but many thought there was sufficient light to have played some more innings (the sun was still in the sky), and there were some suspicions that one or both teams might have "allowed" the tie to happen to increase the overall gate receipts. Commissioner Landis was among those who was dissatisfied with the result. One story is that Landis asked Umpire Hildebrand, "Why the Sam Hill did you call the game?" The umpire answered, "There was a temporary haze on the field." The game decision was in the hands of the umpires, but the Commissioner's Office controlled the gate receipts. Landis ordered the money, more than $120,000, turned over to World War I charities, thus nullifying any impropriety. The tied game would turn out to be the third (and final) tied game in the history of the World Series. The other two tied games occurred in 1907 and 1912. No ties are possible under the modern rules, which allow for suspension of a tied game and resumption of it at a later date, as with Game 5 of the 2008 World Series.
Anyways, I generated a list of the Top 25 postseason pitching duels of each decade as well as the Top 100 all-time which you can see in spreadsheet form here. I was curious to see where Roy Halladay's no-hitter from last year came in, but it only made it to #25 of the 2000s and didn't even crack the top-100 all-time. The culprit? Edinson Volquez. The Reds pitcher not only had a poor season but also gave up 4 runs in 1.2 innings to ruin any chance the game had of being a great duel.
And now, here are the top-10 of all-time. Unsurprisingly, the list is topped by four Game 1's, since these are most likely to match staff aces. Also, pitching duel darling Dwight Gooden makes an appearance as well.
10. Kevin Brown (Padres) @ Tom Glavine (Braves)
10/8/1998 (NLCS Game 2. Padres 1-0). Padres 3-0. 9 innings
Kevin Brown: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 SO
Tom Glavine: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 6 SO
9. Andy Pettitte (Yankees) @ Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks)
10/28/2001 (WS Game 2. Diamondbacks 1-0). Diamondbacks 4-0. 9 innings
Andy Pettitte: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Randy Johnson: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO
8. Bob Feller (Indians) @ Johnny Sain (Braves)
10/6/1948 (WS Game 1. Tied 0-0). Braves 1-0. 9 innings
Bob Feller: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
Johnny Sain: 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
7. Randy Johnson (Mariners) @ Mike Mussina (Orioles)
10/5/1997 (ALDS Game 4. Orioles 2-1). Orioles 3-1. 9 innings
Randy Johnson: 8.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 13 SO
Mike Mussina: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
6. Whitey Ford (Yankees) @ Sandy Koufax (Dodgers)
10/6/1963 (WS Game 4. Dodgers 3-0). Dodgers 2-1. 9 innings
Whitey Ford: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Sandy Koufax: 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
5. Andy Pettitte (Yankees) @ John Smoltz (Braves)
10/24/1996 (WS Game 5. Tied 2-2). Yankees 1-0. 9 innings
Andy Pettitte: 8.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
John Smoltz: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO
4. Matt Morris (Cardinals) @ Curt Schilling (Diamondbacks)
10/9/2001 (NLDS Game 1. Tied 0-0). Diamondbacks 1-0. 9 innings
Matt Morris: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Curt Schilling: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
3. Dwight Gooden (Mets) @ Mike Scott (Astros)
10/8/1986 (NLCS Game 1. Tied 0-0). Astros 1-0. 9 innings
Dwight Gooden: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
Mike Scott: 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO
2. Kevin Brown (Padres) @ Randy Johnson (Astros)
9/29/1998 (NLDS Game 1. Tied 0-0). Padres 2-1. 9 innings
Kevin Brown: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 16 SO
Randy Johnson: 8.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
1. Greg Maddux (Braves) @ Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks)
10/16/2001 (NLCS Game 1. Tied 0-0). Diamondbacks 2-0. 9 innings
Greg Maddux: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Randy Johnson: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO
Thus concludes the subject of pitching duels. If you'd like to review the generated lists of Top 25 for each decade and Top 100 all-time in spreadsheet form, click any of the following links:
- Bill James' original method, completed for all games from 1918-2010
- My improved method, which factors in a pitcher's career, the teams' record and adjustments for complete games, no-hitter and perfect games. Regular season only.
- The improved method applied to all postseason games from 1918 to 2010
My plan for my next post is to extend this idea to come up with the greatest pitching rivalries of all-time. After that, I'm not sure. So if you have any ideas for deep, dark corners of the statistical world that need exploring, let me know.
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