Here's a fun stat. In the entire WhatIfSports database, there are nine pitcher-seasons with a BB/9 rate < 0.50. Of course, '90 and '89 Eckersely are two of those nine and rank 1-2 in erc#. Do you know who has the lowest rate in history and is ranked 3rd in erc# of the nine?
This guy (bb/9 = 0.27)...
1940 Johnny Podgajny, $1,164,740
Bespectacled right-hander John Podgajny jumped from a Class C league to the Philadelphia Phillies as a 20-year-old September call-up in 1940. He completed three of his four starts and issued only one walk in 35 innings, suggesting a bright future. The Phillies, however, were at the nadir of their long history, in the midst of five consecutive seasons with at least 100 losses. Thrust into a difficult situation without the chance to develop in the minors, Podgajny won 20 and lost 37 in parts of five seasons.
The Polish-speaking Podgajnys pronounced their surname Pod-GUY-neh in their mother tongue. However, the pronunciation was butchered throughout Podgajny’s professional career. It was once described as a “nightmare to many a radio announcer.”
8/11/2025 3:39 PM (edited)