The Best Starting Pitching Staffs in the Last 100 Years: Part III

From Part I : Pitching, pitching, pitching. You may have heard the saying, “You can never have enough pitching.” Of course, if you are going to have good pitching it begins with your starting pitching staff.

Which starting pitching staff was the best ever?

I considered and reviewed every team that made it to the World Series and some other notable ones that did not. After viewing all the statistics, teams after the Dead Ball Era were only considered. Comparatively, considering teams before and after 1920 is more an apples-to-oranges comparison than an apples-to-apples one. (You can read Part II here.)

PART III

As much as you want your starters to win games, it goes without saying they should not lose them either and that results in a high winning percentage. Starting pitching staffs with a .700 winning percentage or better:

Wins and winning percentage are certainly tied to starting pitching, but they can also be tied to good fielding and hitting. Earned Run Average is more of a pitchers-only statistic. In the dead ball era that lasted till 1919, every team that made the World Series had a starting pitching staff with a combined ERA under 3.00. Three in fact, had a starting pitching staff with a combined ERA under 2.00: The 1907 Cubs (1.52), the 1906 Cubs (1.63) and the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics (1.70).

Starting pitching staffs that had an ERA under 3.00:

Run production has increased in modern times and after 1968, the pitching mound was lowered to give hitters a better chance to succeed. Those recent starting pitching staffs that had an ERA under 3.00 would appear to be a more impressive accomplishment than those of long ago.

COMING SOON: Part IV