On September 5th, David Price notched the 100th win of his career against Baltimore. Nine days earlier, Yovanni Gallardo had done the same against Toronto (one of the few pitchers to beat the Blue Jays last month). Those two followed Clayton Kershaw, who collected his century win against Colorado on May 15th. What else do these three have in common? All have yet to embark on their age 30 season, making them the latest of just 92 pitchers to win 100 games since 1961 and do so before their age 30 season. More after the jump.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the 107th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round adds to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1883 and 1884. Rules and lists are after the jump.

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I’ve fallen behind on the posts for our COG election winners, so here’s a recap post on the most recent inductees: Eddie Collins, Walter Johnson and Ty Cobb. All were deservedly no-doubters as COG honorees, so much so that Grover Cleveland Alexander, another most worthy candidate, is still waiting his turn. More on this illustrious trio after the jump.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the 106th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round adds to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1885. Rules and lists are after the jump.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the 105th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG). This round adds to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1886. Rules and lists are after the jump.

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Hall of Fame outfielder Tris Speaker earns induction to the COG as an easy first ballot winner in the 102nd round of COG balloting. The all-time doubles king, Speaker compiled a remarkable 133.7 WAR over 22 seasons, including 15 straight campaigns (1909-23) above 5 WAR. Speaker’s career milestones exceeding 3000 hits, 1500 runs, 1500 RBI and 400 stolen bases have been matched by only one other player – his exact contemporary Ty Cobb.

More on Speaker after the jump.

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All of these pitchers had a career winning record with 100 ERA+, all played in the American League, and all but three played for the Yankees. But, what distinguishes these pitchers among all others since 1914?

Congratulations to Richard Chester! He knew that these ten pitchers were the fastest to win 40 starts from the beginning of their careers. Specifically, they are the only pitchers since 1914 to do so within their first 75 games.

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As the Circle of Greats project approaches the final weekly voting rounds, I invite your feedback on:

(a) how those final rounds should be handled; and
(b) what our next HHS “project” might be

More after the jump.

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This post is for voting and discussion in the 104th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG).  This is the second of two rounds adding to the list of candidates eligible to receive your votes those players born in 1887. Rules and lists are after the jump.

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Billy Pierce

Billy Pierce, one of the game’s top pitchers during the 1950s, has died at the age of 88. Pierce debuted as a teenage fill-in for the Tigers in 1945 before moving on to the White Sox where he spent most of his career, teaming up in 1959 with Early Wynn and Dick Donovan to lead the Pale Hose to their first AL championship in 40 years. Pierce would finish his playing days with the Giants and play a key role in San Francisco’s pennant-winning season in 1962.

More on Pierce after the jump.

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