1909 Key Retirees - Pitchers
Ed Doheny, Giants
Doheny had some very productive seasons and some very ugly seasons. He is just one on a long list of recent and current Giants pitchers that have underperformed when compared to their expectations. Since all fields in MLHR are neutral, I have to assume that this is a result of poor defense for nearly two decades. After all, his career BABIP is .319, which I think speaks volumes. The league average is about .299. He did lead the league with 19 wins in 1901 and also had a superb 1905 season where he posted a 1.91 ERA in 70.2 relief innings. He was also in the Top 10 in losses five times and twice led the league in walks allowed. Then again, he finished in the Top 10 in saves twice, holds twice, K's six times, fewest HR/9 six times and most K/9 six times.
Kid Nichols, Braves
Nichols had a solid MLHR career, but he never quite approached the dominance I expected. He was the 1897 PoY. He finished in the Top 10 in wins four times, including his final season in which he tied his career high with 17 wins. He also led the league in losses in 1904 and 1907 and finished in the Top 10 ten times. He was also a huge innings eater, leading the league in 1892 and finishing in the Top 10 an amazing fourteen times. He led the league in strikeouts five times. He was also in the Top 10 an impressive thirteen times. He also put up a ton of Top 10 finishes in several key pitching ratios: ERA four times, WHIP nine times (led league once), K/BB thirteen times (led league twice), fewest RA/9 nine times (led league once), fewest H/9 six times (led league once), fewest BB/9 fourteen times (led league once), most K/9 thirteen times (led league four times), quality start percentage seven times and complete game percentage eleven times (led league once). He also finished in the Top 10 in WAR eleven times (led league twice) and VORP five times. This all tells me that had he played for a more successful team like the Phillies, Cardinals or Cubs, he might be on the verge of a Hall of Fame nomination.
Amos Rusie, Cardinals
Rusie's former teammate
Cy Young was supposed to be the ace of the St. Louis staff, but it was actually Rusie who consistently earned that title. He won two PoY awards and finished second all-time in wins. In fact, he led the league in wins twice and finished in the Top 10 nine times. He was also in the Top 10 in innings four times, strikeouts eight times, ERA ten times (led league twice), WHIP five times (led league once), fewest RA/9 six times (led league once), fewest HR/9 fifteen times (led league four times), fewest H/9 ten times (led league twice), most K/9 five times, VORP ten times (led league twice), quality start percentage eleven times (led league four times) and WAR fourteen times (led league twice). He also led the league in walks in 1908 and finished in the Top 10 eight times.
