Pedro Martinez is the best professional athlete to wear the number 45. Yes, Bob Gibson is a Hall of Famer, and was a great pitcher. Let's compare the numbers.
In Pedro's 15-year career so far, here are his numbers:
In Pedro's 15-year career so far, here are his numbers:
- 206 wins, 92 losses
- .691 winning percentage
- 2.81 career ERA
- 1.74 best year ERA
- 162-game average of 249 strikeouts
- 313 best year strikeouts
In Mr. Gibson's 17-year career, here are his numbers:
- 251 wins, 174 losses
- .591 winning percentage
- 2.91 career ERA
- 1.12 best year ERA
- 162-game average of 209 strikeouts
- 274 best year strikouts
These stats are very close. Bob Gibson's best year ERA of 1.12 is absolutely amazing. However, Pedro's 1.74 best year isn't far off that mark. Given Pedro's .100 lead in winning percentage, his .10 lead in career ERA and his 162-game average of 249 strikeouts, we'll give him the nod. But it's real close.
(credit to baseball-reference.com for research information)
My Dad has always said that you can tell who the greatest athletes are if the leagues they played in had to change the rules because of them. MLB had to actually change the mound height because of Bob Gibson's dominance. That along with his stats and his intimidation of all players (even one's on his same team) have to make him the greatest #45 of all time.
ReplyDeleteThe best athlete to wear number 45 was Michael "AIR" Jordan! crackin up on the inside as I post this!
ReplyDeleteThis is true, it was M AIR J, BUT, I too am crackin' up right now!
ReplyDeleteI would put Gibby ahead of Martinez regardless, but one more thing to think about... Gibson was also a good enough basketball player to play with the Harlem Globetrotters back when they could beat many NBA teams. So if this is truly a poll of the best ATHLETE - It's Gibson... period.
ReplyDeleteAs for MJ - he get's his best as 23 - not 45... that was an abberation.
MJ was absolute garbage as 45. 23 = Air Jordan, 45 = AIrball Jordan
ReplyDeleteI prefer the guy who wore this number with this uniform before Pedro and that was the late Tug McGraw.
ReplyDeleteI agree - Tug!
ReplyDeleteGibson was a great pitcher, but his numbers are a product of their era. In the 1960s, several other pitchers (Koufax, Marichal, Seaver, Jenkins) had numbers similar to Bob Gibson's. Pedro stands alone as the greatest pitcher of his time. Adjusting for the context of the league, Martinez outpitched his peers by leaps and bounds. In 1968, the year of Gibson's 1.12 ERA, the ERA of the National League was 2.99. In 2000, when Pedro posted his career-low 1.74 ERA, his league's ERA was 4.91, almost 2 full runs per game higher.
ReplyDeleteTo put your #'s in complete context, one must focus on the percentages, not the run differential. Gibson's 1.12 is 37.458% of the 2.99 league avg. Pedro's 1.74 is 35.437 % of the 4.91 league avg. They are, almost, equally dominant performances.
DeletePerhaps Gibson was a better athlete, but it seams to me Pedro was probably a better pitcher.
ReplyDelete