Bret Saberhagen
From BR Bullpen
Bret William Saberhagen
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.
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[edit] Biographical Information
For the first ten seasons of his career, Bret Saberhagen had a unique pattern of pitching better in odd numbered years than in even numbered years. As a rookie for the Kansas City Royals in 1984, he went 10-11. In 1985, he went 20-6 and won the Cy Young Award as the Royals won the World Series. In 1986, his record fell to 7-12 and his ERA swelled to 4.15, but in 1987, he went 18-10 with an ERA almost one run lower than the previous year. The next season, he was again sub-.500, but in 1989, he had his best season, going 23-6 with a 2.16 ERA and winning another Cy Young Award. He struggled to a 5-9 record in 1990 but rebounded to 13-8 in 1991.
Prior to the 1992 season, Saberhagen was traded to the New York Mets but only appeared in 17 games, going 3-5. He bounced back to .500 in 1993. Finally, in 1994, he broke the pattern, going 14-4 for the Mets with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 143 batters while walking only 13, an incredible 11.00 K/BB which broke Jim Whitney's record. The next year he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, appearing in only nine games. He did not appear in a game in 1996 and after signing with the Boston Red Sox, only pitched in six games in 1997. However, he made a nice comeback in 1998, winning 15 games for the Sox. The next season he won 10 more. He again sat out in 2000 and then appeared in just a handful of games for the Red Sox in 2001. Saberhagen ended his career with a respectable 167-117 record with a 3.34 ERA.
While pitching for the Royals, Saberhagen never lost a post-season decision, going 2-0. Saberhagen has never won a post-season decision pitching for anyone else, compiling an 0-4 record.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time All-Star (1987, 1990 & 1994)
- 2-time AL Cy Young Award Winner (1985 & 1989)
- 1985 World Series MVP
- AL Gold Glove Winner (1989)
- 1987 AL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- 1998 AL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- AL ERA Leader (1989)
- AL Wins Leader (1989)
- AL Winning Percentage Leader (1989)
- AL Innings Pitched Leader (1989)
- AL Complete Games Leader (1989)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1985, 1987, 1989 & 1998)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1985 & 1989)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1985 & 1987-1989)
- Won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985
| AL Cy Young Award | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 1985 | 1986 |
| Willie Hernandez | Bret Saberhagen | Roger Clemens |
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
| Frank Viola | Bret Saberhagen | Bob Welch |
[edit] Records Held
- Best strikeout to walk ratio, season, 11.00, 1994
